Exciting Scientific Discoveries: From Ancient Yeasts to Modern Mosquitoes
Science news this week: Ötzi the Iceman used to make sourdough, Italian teenagers discover Roman villa under school, Google plans to release 64 million mosquitos, and RIP to NASA's Maven probe

Image: Livescience
This week in science, researchers revealed that Ötzi the Iceman's body contained ancient yeasts used to create a delicious sourdough. Meanwhile, Google seeks to release 64 million bacteria-infected mosquitoes to combat disease, and NASA mourns the loss of its MAVEN probe after 11 years of Mars exploration.
- 01Ötzi the Iceman's body was found to contain ancient yeasts, which scientists used to create sourdough bread.
- 02Google plans to release 64 million male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia to reduce disease transmission.
- 03NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, which studied Mars for 11 years, is confirmed dead after losing contact last December.
- 04Italian teenagers discovered a Roman villa dating back 1,800 years beneath their school gymnasium.
- 05The first whole-genome sequence of the Greenland shark was completed, shedding light on its long lifespan and cancer resistance.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
This week’s science news highlights remarkable discoveries and developments. Researchers found that Ötzi the Iceman, who died over 5,300 years ago, had ancient yeasts in his body, which they used to create a notably good sourdough bread. In a significant modern initiative, Google has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to release 64 million non-biting male mosquitoes infected with the bacterium Wolbachia. This effort aims to control mosquito populations and the diseases they spread, such as West Nile virus. Meanwhile, NASA announced the death of its MAVEN spacecraft, which had been studying Mars for over a decade, after losing contact late last year. Other notable findings include the discovery of a Roman villa by Italian teenagers and the completion of the first whole-genome sequence of the Greenland shark, known for its longevity. These discoveries not only enrich our understanding of history but also hold potential implications for modern science and health.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The mosquito release could significantly reduce disease transmission in affected areas, improving public health.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
What do you think about the release of genetically modified mosquitoes to control disease?
Connecting to poll...
More about NASA
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.







