A team of restorers and biologists have cleaned the Medici Chapel in Florence. Dirty stains on Michelangelo's work got removed with the help of various strains of bacteria, The New York Times reports.
The experiment was completely secretive. According to the restorers, the facade of the bell tower was damaged 60 years after the construction. The reason for this was the remains of Alessandro de' Medici, who was resting there. According to them, the stains have not been removed so far.
Biologists selected eight species of bacteria and released them into the bell tower. Previously, they tested it on a small area. They say microorganisms are harmless to humans and monuments. They feed on the glue, oil, and phosphates found in the chapel.
