Scientists: Analysis of Beethoven’s Hair Reveals Possible Cause of Mysterious Ailments

(FILES) A figurine of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven is seen in the souvenir shop of the Beethovenhaus museum, in Baden bei Wien, Austria. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP)
(FILES) A figurine of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven is seen in the souvenir shop of the Beethovenhaus museum, in Baden bei Wien, Austria. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP)
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Scientists: Analysis of Beethoven’s Hair Reveals Possible Cause of Mysterious Ailments

(FILES) A figurine of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven is seen in the souvenir shop of the Beethovenhaus museum, in Baden bei Wien, Austria. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP)
(FILES) A figurine of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven is seen in the souvenir shop of the Beethovenhaus museum, in Baden bei Wien, Austria. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP)

High levels of lead detected in authenticated locks of Ludwig van Beethoven’s hair suggest that the composer had lead poisoning, according to new research.

In addition to hearing loss, the famed classical composer had recurring gastrointestinal complaints throughout his life, experienced two attacks of jaundice and faced severe liver disease, CNN reported.

It is believed that Beethoven died from liver and kidney disease at age 56.

The composer expressed his wish that his ailments be studied and shared so “as far as possible at least the world will be reconciled to me after my death.”

An international team of researchers set out nearly a decade ago to partially fulfill Beethoven’s wish by studying locks of his hair, CNN said. Using DNA analysis, the team determined which ones truly belonged to the composer and which were fraudulent, and sequenced Beethoven’s genome by analyzing his authenticated locks.

The findings, published in a March 2023 report, revealed that Beethoven had significant genetic risk factors for liver disease and a hepatitis B infection before his death. But the results didn’t provide any insights into the underlying causes of his deafness, which began in his 20s, or his gastrointestinal issues.

Beethoven’s genome was made publicly available, inviting researchers around the world to investigate lingering questions about Beethoven’s health.

Meanwhile, scientists continue to figuratively go over the authenticated locks of Beethoven’s hair with a fine-tooth comb, teasing out surprising insights.

In addition to high concentrations of lead, the latest findings showed arsenic and mercury that remain trapped in the composer’s strands nearly 200 years after his death, according to a new letter published Monday in the journal Clinical Chemistry. And the insights could provide new windows not only into understanding Beethoven’s chronic health ailments, but the complicated nuances of his life as a composer, CNN said.



NASA's Stuck Astronauts Welcome Their Newly Arrived Replacements to the Space Station

 This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts Don Pettit, bottom center, hugging Kirill Peskov as astronauts greet each other after the SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)
This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts Don Pettit, bottom center, hugging Kirill Peskov as astronauts greet each other after the SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)
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NASA's Stuck Astronauts Welcome Their Newly Arrived Replacements to the Space Station

 This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts Don Pettit, bottom center, hugging Kirill Peskov as astronauts greet each other after the SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)
This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts Don Pettit, bottom center, hugging Kirill Peskov as astronauts greet each other after the SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP)

Just over a day after blasting off, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering the replacements for NASA's two stuck astronauts.

The four newcomers — representing the US, Japan and Russia — will spend the next few days learning the station's ins and outs from Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. Then the two will strap into their own SpaceX capsule later this week, one that has been up there since last year, to close out an unexpected extended mission that began last June.

Wilmore and Williams expected to be gone just a week when they launched on Boeing's first astronaut flight. They hit the nine-month mark earlier this month.

The Boeing Starliner capsule encountered so many problems that NASA insisted it come back empty, leaving its test pilots behind to wait for a SpaceX lift.

Wilmore swung open the space station's hatch and then rang the ship's bell as the new arrivals floated in one by one and were greeted with hugs and handshakes.

“It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive,” Williams told Mission Control.

Wilmore's and Williams' ride arrived back in late September with a downsized crew of two and two empty seats reserved for the leg back. But more delays resulted when their replacements' brand new capsule needed extensive battery repairs. An older capsule took its place, pushing up their return by a couple weeks to mid-March.

Weather permitting, the SpaceX capsule carrying Wilmore, Williams and two other astronauts will undock from the space station no earlier than Wednesday and splash down off Florida's coast.

Until then, there will be 11 aboard the orbiting lab, representing the US, Russia and Japan.