yeast: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Oct. 5, 2026

Photos and Videos

Cluster of budding yeast cells with round green bodies and small protrusions, shown against a dark purple background.

A full round loaf of sourdough bread and a sliced half loaf rest on a cooling rack, showing the bread's golden crust and airy, open crumb interior.

Making ancient Egyptian beer

Small brown mushrooms growing at the base of a tree.

Behind the scenes: How Samuel Adams beer is made

Fruit flies: The hidden secret to better beer flavors?

Notice the growth of Penicillium and yeast

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Topics

Torula Saccharomyces nutritional yeast brewer’s yeast compressed yeast dry yeast baker’s yeast fungus mushroom psilocybin mushroom toadstool portobello mushroom truffle matsutake mushroom lichen porcini Ascomycota slime mold

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Key People

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Emile Christian Hansen

Danish botanist

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Susan L. Lindquist

American molecular biologist

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Edward L. Tatum

American biochemist

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Eduard Buchner

German biochemist