Декабрь 2023 г.

Российская наука и мир (по материалам зарубежной электронной прессы)

CONTENTS / ОГЛАВЛЕНИЕ


• Russian Arctic Center finds unlikely partner for mollusk study
• Des chercheurs russes développent un gel pour la cicatrisation rapide des plaies
• Light-stimulated adaptive artificial synapse based on nanocrystalline metal-oxide film
• Tomsk Oblast's small rivers record high carbon concentration
• Russian scientists develop organic compound to make used fuel reprocessing more efficient
• Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated scientists from Russia and Germany on receiving the UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize
• Le prix « ВЫЗОВ », un défi russe au prix Nobel ?
• Scientists reveal the molecular structure of a complex bacteriophage
• Long-extinct lake from the Jurassic period named the largest lake ever on Earth
• Russian researchers identify astrocytes, not neurons, as first sign of brain aging
• La Nasa et la Russie vont continuer leurs vols croisés vers l’ISS jusqu’en 2025

Федеральный исследовательский центр комплексного изучения Арктики имени академика Н.П.Лаверова УрО РАН и Университет Туамасины (Мадагаскар) заключили соглашение об обмене сотрудниками и аспирантами, стажировках и совместных экспедициях. Стороны намерены сотрудничать по вопросам дрейфа континентов, изменения климата и методик генетических исследований.

The Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Studies (FECIAR), the Ural branch of the Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences (IGRAS), will cooperate with the University of Toamasina in Madagascar, the center's director, Ivan Bolotov, told TASS on Thursday.
According to Bolotov, an agreement has been signed with the university - the first partner of FECIAR in Africa. The collaboration will involve discussing water bodies for research on continental drift, the effects of climate change, and training in genetic research techniques.
"The Center has concluded a cooperation agreement with the University of Toamasina, Madagascar. For FECIAR, this is the first partner university in Africa, the first agreement we have concluded with an African university. The agreement was signed on the exchange of employees, graduate students, on joint training, expeditions. We have several directions of joint work," Bolotov said.
Freshwater invertebrates, specifically Naiad mollusks, will be the focus of the collaboration. The purpose of this study is to gain knowledge about the role of ancient continents dividing and interfering with the formation of flora and fauna in different parts of the world.
"It is interesting to see how the freshwater mollusks that live in Madagascar correlate evolutionarily with those that live in Africa and those that live in India nowadays," Ivan Bolotov explained. FECIAR staff will be given guidance on how to obtain the necessary permission for fieldwork in remote areas.
The most up-to-date information about the Naiad in these reservoirs goes back over a century.
The Arctic Center is in the process of collaborating with other partners in Africa, Bolotov added. In Morocco, Russian scientists are already working with colleagues to improve clam systematics. Moreover, Russian experts are keen on studying the significant rivers of the continent.

В Научно-исследовательском институте клинической и экспериментальной лимфологии (филиал Института цитологии и генетики СО РАН) разработали прототип препарата на основе антибактериального пептидомиметика и инертного полимерного геля для лечения инфекционных поражений кожи. Средство малотоксично, эффективно уничтожает болезнетворные бактерии и способствует более быстрому заживлению ран.

Des scientifiques de l'Institut de recherche en lymphologie clinique et expérimentale, relevant de l'Académie des sciences de Russie, ont mis au point un gel antibactérien pour la cicatrisation rapide des plaies, a annoncé l'institut mardi.
"Des chercheurs ont développé un prototype de médicament basé sur un peptidomimétique antibactérien et un gel polymère inerte pour le traitement des lésions infectieuses de la peau et des tissus sous-cutanés", précise un communiqué de l'institution académique, située à Novosibirsk en Sibérie occidentale.
"Le produit détruit efficacement les bactéries pathogènes et favorise une cicatrisation plus rapide des plaies", poursuit la même source, notant que le gel ne présente pas de toxicité élevée.
"Le peptidomimétique antimicrobien est efficace contre divers agents pathogènes, notamment les champignons du genre Candida", a expliqué le chef du département de pharmacologie expérimentale de l’institut, Pavel Gennadievich Madonov.
Un tel gel antimicrobien pourrait s’avérer utile dans le domaine de la chirurgie et pour le traitement des lésions cutanées qui ne guérissent pas (ulcères trophiques) dont souffrent 0,3 à 1,6% des personnes âgées en Russie et 19% des patients diabétiques, ajoute-on.
Le produit fera l’objet de tests précliniques puis d’études cliniques, détaille le communiqué, notant que la mise en production du nouveau médicament sera possible dès 2030.

Одно из направлений развития информационных технологий - нейроморфные системы, опирающиеся на принципы работы человеческого мозга, способного выполнять одновременно несколько задач. Физики и нейробиологи МГУ имени М.В.Ломоносова создали искусственный синапс на основе нанокристаллической пленки оксида цинка, позволяющий передавать и обрабатывать информацию аналогично тому, как нейроны взаимодействуют друг с другом. Кроме того, искусственный синапс обладает как кратковременной, так и долговременной памятью, что делает его ценным ресурсом для хранения и поиска информации в нейроморфных системах.

The quest for more efficient and versatile computing methods has given rise to innovative solutions, moving beyond traditional digital architectures. The limitations of the von Neumann architecture, which separates memory from processing units, have prompted the exploration of new frontiers in artificial intelligence.
Collaborations between physicists and neuroscientists are at the forefront of these developments, uniting diverse expertise to create novel solutions for neuromorphic computing. A new publication from Opto-Electronic Science discusses light-stimulated adaptive artificial synapse based on nanocrystalline metal-oxide film.
The human brain's remarkable efficiency is attributed to its spiking mode of information transmission and the seamless integration of information and memory within its neural units. These principles have inspired the development of spiking neural networks (SNNs), offering low-power, high-data-processing solutions for artificial intelligence tasks. Such interdisciplinary collaborations have enabled the infusion of neuroscience principles into the design of neuromorphic systems, making them more biologically plausible.
Neuroscientists bring their profound understanding of the brain's operation to the table, guiding physicists in the development of materials and devices that mimic the behavior of biological synapses. Their insights into synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of this research. This cross-disciplinary synergy opens the possibility of using neuromorphic approaches to simulate and test a number of neurobiological hypotheses using artificial synapses.
The usage of optical signals for transmission of synaptic spikes between neurons is a significant innovation, one that has been made possible through the collaborative work of physicists and neuroscientists. Optoelectronic approaches, guided by the knowledge of neural signal transmission, could reduce heat losses and enable a multitude of network connections and high-rate spike transmission. These advances, driven by the combined expertise of physicists and neuroscientists, offer a promising avenue for future developments in neuromorphic computing.
In this context, this paper introduces a groundbreaking light-stimulated adaptive artificial synapse based on a nanocrystalline zinc oxide film. This collaborative effort showcases the fusion of physics and neuroscience, as the material properties are fine-tuned to replicate neural behavior. The result is an artificial synapse that efficiently transmits and processes information, drawing from the knowledge of both physicists and neuroscientists. This interdisciplinary approach not only propels neuromorphic computing forward but also deepens our understanding of the brain's remarkable capabilities.
In this study, a group of scientists led by Professor Andrey Fedyanin of the Faculty of Physics of Moscow State University, using the materials science expertise of colleagues from the Faculty of Chemistry, was able to demonstrate biosimilar properties for optoelectric structures based on zinc oxide.
As a result of a thoughtful discussion of the possibilities of optoelectric structures with Konstantin Anokhin, a neuroscientist, Academician of the Russian Academy of Science and Director of the Institute for Advanced Brain Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University it was possible to frame a set of experiments that exposed the spike properties of artificial synapses and demonstrated the effects of adaptation. This research was achievable only due to established interdepartmental relationships at Lomonosov Moscow State University.
The development of an adaptive artificial synapse based on a nanocrystalline zinc oxide film represents a significant leap in the field of neuromorphic computing. This artificial synapse not only replicates essential properties of biological synapses but also offers unique advantages in terms of energy efficiency and versatility.
The photoconductivity of this zinc oxide-based artificial synapse exhibits spike-type signal responses, closely resembling the behavior of biological synapses. This means it can efficiently transmit and process information in a manner akin to how neurons communicate with one another.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this artificial synapse is its memory capabilities. It possesses both short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM), a crucial feature for many cognitive tasks. This LTM is maintained for an extended duration, making it a valuable resource for information storage and retrieval in neuromorphic systems.
The transition from STM to LTM is a pivotal milestone in the development of artificial synapses, and this nanocrystalline zinc oxide film-based synapse successfully achieves it. This transition is a key feature in biological synapses and has now been replicated in an artificial system, bringing us closer to emulating the cognitive processes of the human brain.
Another remarkable property of this artificial synapse is its paired-pulse facilitation (PPF). This phenomenon, where the second pulse elicits a stronger response than the first, is a critical feature in neural systems and has significant implications for information processing and learning.
Furthermore, this artificial synapse retains memory from previous exposures, a feature essential for continuous learning and adaptation. This ability to store and retrieve past information allows it to adapt to changing conditions and enhance its performance over time.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this paper is the development of spike-frequency adaptation. This property, common in biological neurons, allows the artificial synapse to adjust its response based on the frequency of incoming signals. This adaptation provides a level of complexity and versatility that is essential for emulating the intricate functioning of the human brain.
In summary, the nanocrystalline zinc oxide film-based adaptive artificial synapse marks a significant step toward creating neuromorphic computing systems that replicate the efficiency and adaptability of the human brain. Its ability to reproduce fundamental synaptic behaviors, including STM, LTM, PPF, and spike-frequency adaptation, makes it a promising candidate for future neuromorphic chips and sensorics systems. This development not only showcases the potential for light-stimulated synaptic devices but also opens the door to more advanced and biologically inspired computational technologies.

Ученые Томского госуниверститета зафиксировали в малых реках Томской области высокую концентрацию углерода, влияющего на образование парниковых газов. Его уровень оказался в три-четыре раза выше, чем в крупнейших реках России Оби и Лене. Таким образом, роль малых рек в глобальной трансформации климата может оказаться гораздо более важной, чем предполагалось.

Bodies of water contain significant amounts of carbon, which is crucial in greenhouse gas formation. Having studied a number of small rivers in the Tomsk Oblast, Tomsk State University scientists found that the rivers store more dissolved and suspended carbon than major Russian waterways such as the Ob and Lena. Thus, the role of small rivers in global climate transformation may be much more important than previously imagined. The results of the research are outlined in an article published in the journal Science of The Total Environment (Q1).
"Small rivers are rarely studied, given how isolated they usually are," explains Ivan Krickov, a staff scientist at the TSU BioGeoClim Laboratory. "However, the role that they may play in the carbon cycle is often underappreciated. We studied the formation and emission of carbon in the surfaces of the Inguzet, Anga, Okunevka, Ket, Suiga, Chulym, Chichkayul, and Tazyrbak rivers. The concentration of organic matter in these rivers turned out to be three to four times higher than in the largest rivers of Russia, the Ob and Lena."
Previously, it was assumed that the amounts of emissions from the surfaces of small rivers could be neglected, that the data from large rivers and reservoirs is sufficient. But the analysis of the Siberian rivers showed that major amounts of carbon dioxide are cultivated in the Tomsk Oblast. The maximum bar for these emissions is 3 to 4 grams per square meter per day. At the same time, during the spring flood the amount of CO2 emissions is 1.5 to 2 times larger than the average amounts during the low-water discharge in summer and fall.
"A significant portion of organic matter-dead plant particles, soil particles entering the river from catchment areas-rapidly undergoes photo- and biodegradation, which contributes to the release of greenhouse gases," notes Artem Lim, another staff scientist at the TSU BioGeoClim Laboratory. "These processes are especially clearly manifested during spring, when rivers overflow, and large amounts of last year's vegetation and litterfall get covered by water. This is when rivers turn into carbon-creating 'bioreactors'.
If we take Canada's Quebec-an area with a similar climate-for comparison, we will find that during the low-water discharge period the amounts of carbon dioxide generated by the small rivers of Tomsk Oblast are 1.5 to 2.5 times higher than those generated by rivers in Quebec. The one aspect that distinguishes the rivers in Western Siberia from other rivers is that they flow through a swamp-filled plain, where organic soils are plentiful: The latter can enrich rivers with organic matter," says Ivan Krickov.
According to scientists, if the climate warming continues, the riparian vegetation and flood levels of areas prone to flooding will shift, which will contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
The study of carbon cycle is a large-scale project implemented by TSU. Jointly with the Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems, V.E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics, and Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture and Peat, TSU established a carbon polygon in the flood plain of the Ob, where scientists monitor carbon levels in the atmosphere, water, and soil. At the same time, a carbon farm was created for developing and testing technologies that enable efficiently accumulating carbon and processing or disposing of it.
The Tomsk carbon polygon operates as part of the large-scale strategic project Global Earth Changes: Climate, Ecology, Quality of Life, implemented by TSU with the support of the federal program Priority 2023.
TSU BioGeoClim Laboratory was established under a megagrant and with the support of the government of the Russian Federation. The head of the laboratory is a scientist at TSU and Midi-Pyrenees Observatory (Toulouse, France). The mission of the laboratory is to study climate change in the arctic and sub-arctic areas of Russia and assess its impact on the functioning of natural ecosystems, biochemical processes, and socioeconomic aspects of human life.

Коллектив российских ученых из МГУ, Курчатовского института, РУДН и Сеченовского университета создал органическое соединение, которое помогает более эффективно разделять компоненты отработанного ядерного топлива при переработке.

A team of Russian scientists from several large scientific centres have created an organic compound that helps to more effectively separate and components of used fuel during reprocessing, the press service of Lomonosov Moscow State University reported. This supports research to develop the technologies needed for the transition to a closed nuclear fuel cycle which will expand the nuclear fuel base and significantly reduce the need to mine natural uranium in large volumes. Radiochemical reprocessing of used fuel and extraction of valuable nuclear materials, primarily plutonium and uranium, is a key stage necessary for closing the fuel cycle.
A widely used method for separating chemical elements in the nuclear industry is extraction. The efficiency of the process directly depends on the selection of the extraction agent. In radiochemistry, compounds based on the nitrogen-containing polycyclic compound phenanthroline have long been used to separate used fuel components, the press release noted.
At the same time, for the extraction of metals in chemistry, macrocycles are often used - large ring molecules that can bind to a metal atom. The more closely the size of the metal particle matches that of the cavity formed by the molecular ring, the higher the selectivity - the degree of extraction of this metal from solutions.
Researchers at the Faculty of Chemistry of Moscow State University, as well as the National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and Sechenov University proposed combining two classes of compounds.
"We decided to create a new ligand in the form of a macrocycle based on phenanthroline diamides and test whether this would produce a synergistic effect," said Ulyana Leksina, one of the authors of the work from the Department of Radiochemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry of Moscow State University. "The new compound has interesting properties: we can quantitatively carry out extraction in a highly alkaline environment, in which other known phenol-based macrocycles, calixarenes, no longer work. The selectivity also increased by 10-15 times compared with known extractants."
She added that most research is devoted to the extraction of waste components from acidic environments, since, in the nuclear industry, used fuel is most often dissolved in nitric acid. However, some specialised enterprises store a large amount of nuclear legacy alkaline waste, which also needs to be processed. "Currently there is not much work in this direction, so our compound can become a starting point for the creation of new ligands for alkaline media," noted Leksina.

В Москве состоялась церемония вручения Международной премии ЮНЕСКО-России имени Д.И.Менделеева за достижения в области фундаментальных наук. Лауреатами 2023 года стали академик РАН Ирина Петровна Белецкая (за новаторские разработки новых металлоорганических реакций и применение катализаторов на основе переходных металлов и металлических наночастиц в органическом синтезе) и почетный директор Института исследования полимеров Общества Макса Планка Клаус Александр Мюллен (за выдающиеся открытия в области базовых химических и полимерных дисциплин).

Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the ceremony to award the UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize. The prize was established in 2019 and is awarded in recognition of achievements in the basic sciences. The ceremony took place at the presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
"I am convinced that research and education must transcend political expediency and remain one of the outstanding manifestations of humanism," the Deputy Prime Minister said. "Amid international turbulence, it is particularly important to preserve and expand existing international ties and relations, and to join efforts in addressing issues that are crucial for humanity. We welcome and support all efforts aimed at fostering international scientific, technological, and educational cooperation."
Russia remains open to the world of science, as the prize clearly shows. The award ceremony is broadcast in several languages, and representatives from nearly 50 countries and 26 ambassadors attended it. The jury includes distinguished scientists from around the world.
"I would like to thank everyone who has participated and is participating in the efforts to support the UNESCO International Prize. The prize in fundamental sciences is an important component of the constructive international dialogue in the professional community, as well as the dialogue between peoples and countries," Dmitry Chernyshenko said.
The ceremony was also attended by Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences Lidia Arthur Brito, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov, Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, and Rector of Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy.
"I am honoured and privileged to join you in presenting the second UNESCO-Russia Prize in the Basic Sciences," Lidia Arthur Brito said during the ceremony. "This is the only global prize that rewards scientists working in fundamental sciences for projects that foster sustainable development. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly stated that sustainable development is not just one of the UN goals, but also represents hopes, dreams, rights, and expectations worldwide. And science is a key factor in implementing the agenda of the 21st century."
This year, the prize went to two outstanding contemporary chemists, namely, Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Organoelement Compounds, Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University Academician Irina Beletskaya, and Director Emeritus of the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, Klaus Alexander Mullen. Each laureate will receive a monetary reward in the amount of $250,000, a gold medal, and a special diploma.
"On behalf of all organic chemists, I would like to thank the Mendeleev International Prize jury, because I see this award as a symbol of international recognition of organic chemistry," Academician Irina Beletskaya said. "Organic chemistry is the key to environmentally safe production, affordable and effective medicine, and innovative materials. Each new reaction can improve our world. But such discoveries do not occur out of nowhere. They require persistent efforts over many years by thousands and thousands of organic chemists. My award represents gratitude to these people."
The prize is awarded annually to two natural science community members in recognition of their contributions to science. The decision to award the prize was made upon recommendation of the international jury, which includes scientists with a global reputation: Eugenio Coronado Miralles (Spain), Martin Moeller (Germany), Grigory Trubnikov (Russia), Ana Maria Cetto Kramis (Mexico), Krishna Nagappa Ganesh (India), Samia Charfi Kaddur (Tunisia), and Tebello Nyokong (South Africa).
"This is a high honour for many years of scientific work and brilliant scientific results," President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov said. "It is particularly gratifying to see the ceremony take place at the Russian Academy of Sciences in the run-up to its 300th anniversary. This is an international-level event attesting the importance of the Academy of Sciences as a platform for humanitarian cooperation."
Rector of Lomonosov Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy highlighted the importance of the prize and the contribution made by the laureates to fundamental science.
"Russia’s leading university fully supports the choice made by the members of the UNESCO international jury, which awarded the Mendeleev Prize this year to our professor Irina Beletskaya and outstanding German chemist Klaus Mullen. This is the best proof that genuine science truly knows no boundaries, and the international community of scientists continues to be a bearer not only of fundamental knowledge but also of universal human values such as solidarity, progress, and humanism. The broad international recognition of the UNESCO-Russia Prize for achievements in natural sciences once again confirms the unwavering high standing of Russian science and Russian scientists, who continue the work of Lomonosov and Mendeleev. This is a great gift to Moscow University on the eve of its 270th anniversary, and an inspiring example for young scientists," Viktor Sadovnichy said.
The prize is presented by the Director-General of UNESCO or his representative to the two laureates during an official ceremony hosted alternately by the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and in Russia.
The first prize was awarded in 2021 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris to Russian scientist Yury Oganesian and Italian chemist Vincenzo Balzani.

Недавно учрежденная российская научная премия «Вызов» присуждается за научные открытия и технологические инновации, которые могут изменить ландшафт современной науки и жизнь каждого человека в ближайшее десятилетие. Первыми лауреатами стали Рауль Гайнетдинов (новые подходы к фармакологическому лечению заболеваний головного мозга), Гамлет Ходжибагиян (разработка технологий производства высокотемпературных сверхпроводниковых магнитов для ускорителей заряженных частиц и накопителей энергии), Илья Семериков (разработка квантового компьютера на захваченных ионах) и Павлос Лагудакис (исследования в области поляритонных вычислительных платформ и разработка оптического транзистора).

Les scientifiques et les artistes étaient particulièrement mis en avant dans la Russie de l’ère soviétique. C’est sans doute (au moins en partie) pour reprendre cette tradition qu’une fondation privée a lancé, avec le soutien du gouvernement, un nouveau prix scientifique et technologique dont on peut penser, à première vue, qu’il renouvelle pour le XXIe siècle le concept du prix Nobel. Parmi les membres du conseil chargé d’attribuer ce nouveau prix, on trouve Artem Oganov, dont le nom est certainement familier des lecteurs de Futura depuis un moment.
Depuis plus d'une décennie, Futura suit régulièrement les travaux du physicien, chimiste et cristallographe russe Artem Oganov, dont certains pensent qu'il ne serait pas surprenant qu'on finisse par lui attribuer un prix Nobel. Pur produit de la prestigieuse université d'État Lomonossov de Moscou, c’est aussi un représentant de la tout aussi prestigieuse école de physique de la matière condensée russe, qui s’est illustrée avec des prix Nobel de physique tels Lev Landau ou Andre Geim et Konstantin Novoselov. Il a été professeur et chercheur dans plusieurs institutions mondiales, de l'University College de Londres à l'École polytechnique fédérale de Zurich.
Aujourd’hui, comme il l’a indiqué à Futura, il est le président du comité scientifique chargé de choisir les lauréats d’un nouveau prix scientifique russe, pour le moment réservé à la sphère nationale, mais qui a vocation à devenir international. Il s’agit du prix du « Challenge » ou encore du « Défi », c’est-à-dire en russe le prix « ВЫЗОВ ». Il est doté d'un manifeste bien dans l'esprit de la science de l'ère soviétique, dont on connaît les performances impressionnantes.
Une tradition de prix scientifiques russes
Il existait déjà des prix internationaux russes en science comme le prix Pomerantchouk en physique théorique, décerné annuellement depuis 1998 par l'Institut de physique théorique et expérimentale à Moscou en mémoire d'Isaac Pomerantchouk, qui avait fondé le département de physique théorique de l'Institut avec Lev Landau. Roger Penrose et Freeman Dyson en ont été lauréats, pour ne citer qu’eux.
Il y a également le prix Bogolioubov pour les jeunes scientifiques, à la mémoire du physicien théoricien et mathématicien Nikolaï Bogolioubov, formé jadis à l'Université de Kiev et dont les travaux sur la théorie quantique des champs ont été utilisés par Steven Hawking pour découvrir le rayonnement des trous noirs. Prix qui a été attribué à Aurélien Barrau.
À y regarder de près, le prix « ВЫЗОВ » (phonétiquement en russe cela se lit « vizof ») apparaît comme une forme complètement modernisée du prix Nobel en science, ou pour le moins un cousin de ce prix qu’il ne remplace pas étant donné ses différences. Il vient d’être officiellement attribué ce 19 décembre 2023 à quatre lauréats dans quatre catégories différentes, avec pour chacun un prix d’environ 100 000 euros - ou, plus précisément, de 10 millions de roubles.
L'objectif de ce prix est de mettre en lumière des découvertes fondamentales et des innovations technologiques susceptibles de changer le paysage scientifique et technologique à court terme. Il concerne donc plus précisément les percées, idées et inventions fondamentales qui changent le paysage de la science moderne et la vie de chaque personne. Il s’agit de découvertes faites récemment ou de travaux qui devraient déboucher sur des découvertes et des applications d’ici trois à dix ans environ.
Un prix Nobel modernisé à vocation internationale ?
Le prix « ВЫЗОВ » aura donc tendance à récompenser des chercheurs jeunes et tout de suite après leurs découvertes, alors que le prix Nobel est plus souvent attribué à des chercheurs ayant atteint au moins la cinquantaine, voire presque ou déjà à la retraite, et qui plus d’une fois ont expliqué que le prix Nobel leur aurait été bien plus utile dans leur jeunesse, juste au moment où ils développaient leurs travaux et qu’ils auraient eu besoin de fonds pour en mener d’autres d’importance.
Le prix a une autre particularité : les candidatures peuvent être faites directement par ceux qui se considèrent comme des lauréats potentiels, en plus de la nomination traditionnelle par des collègues ou par des organisations. Enfin, il est plus souple que le prix Nobel qui tend à se cantonner à des disciplines précises ; le nouveau prix pourra récompenser des développements franchement interdisciplinaires et des solutions de pure ingénierie. En bref, si l'intersection avec les Nobel classiques n'est pas nulle, il ne s'agit pas non plus de copies.
Si comme on l’a dit, ce prix est pour le moment interne à la Russie, dès 2024 il s’étendra, comme l’a expliqué Artem Oganov dans une interview : « Une nomination internationale sera ajoutée l'année prochaine. Nous ne regardons pas la citoyenneté, les opinions politiques, la nationalité, le sexe, etc. Le prix est décerné uniquement pour des résultats scientifiques ».
Rappelons que même pendant la période stalinienne ou pendant la guerre froide, les communautés scientifiques de l'Ouest et de l'Est entretenaient des communications. Très ami avec l'impressionnant prix Nobel Igor Tamm, le tout aussi impressionnant Paul Dirac, l'un des fondateurs de la mécanique quantique, voyageait fréquemment en Russie pendant les années 1930 et également après-guerre tout en communiquant aussi avec Piotr Kapitza et Vladimir Fock. Plus récemment, au cours des années 1970 et 1980, on peut citer également le prix Nobel Kip Thorne qui visitait fréquemment le groupe d'astrophysique et de cosmologie relativiste de Yakov Zeldovitch à Moscou.
Du cerveau à l'information quantique en passant par la lumière et la supraconductivité
Pour 2023 ont été sélectionnés des scientifiques qui ont réalisé des progrès significatifs dans la pharmacologie des maladies cérébrales, la photonique et les nouvelles plateformes informatiques, les ordinateurs quantiques et le développement de nouveaux dispositifs scientifiques.
Dans la catégorie « Scientifique de l'année », le prix est décerné à Raul Gainetdinov, MD, PhD, de l'Université d'État de Saint-Pétersbourg, pour ses découvertes notamment sur le système dopaminergique, ce qui a permis de nouvelles approches pour les traitements pharmacologiques des maladies cérébrales.
Dans la catégorie « Solution d'un problème d'ingénierie », le prix est décerné à Hamlet Khodzhibagiyan, PhD, de l'Institut commun de recherche nucléaire (JINR) de Doubna, pour avoir développé une technologie de production d'aimants basés sur des supraconducteurs à haute température pour les accélérateurs de particules chargées et l'accumulation d'énergie.
Dans la catégorie « Promesse » (réservée à des scientifiques de moins de 35 ans), le prix est décerné à Ilya Semerikov, PhD, de l'Institut physique Lebedev de l'Académie des sciences de Russie, à Moscou, pour la création d'un processeur quantique à ions piégés et pour une démonstration d'algorithmes quantiques.
Dans la catégorie « Percée » (pour la résolution d'un problème scientifique ou technologique majeur), le prix est décerné au professeur Pavlos Lagoudakis, PhD, du Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skoltech, le MIT russe, pour ses recherches avancées sur les plateformes informatiques basées sur les polaritons et pour le développement d'un transistor optique.

Команда вирусологов из Японии, России, Китая и Тайваня впервые детально описала молекулярную структуру хвостатого вируса-бактериофага DT57C. Такие вирусы способны заражать бактерии своей ДНК с помощью хвоста и могут применяться для борьбы с бактериальными инфекциями. Ученые использовали криоэлектронную микроскопию и компьютерное моделирование методом полноатомной молекулярной динамики, позволяющие определить структуру белков на атомном уровне.

The word "virus" is often associated with negative connotations. However, it is important to note that not all viruses are harmful. In fact, there are many viruses that live inside our bodies and play important roles in our health. One example is bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria and can be used to keep bacterial infections under control.
These viruses are known to have more complex shapes and have not been studied in full detail at the atomic level before. They can be engineered to better suit applications of human interest, such as providing an alternative to the use of antibiotics.
Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) together with their international collaborators at MSU Moscow and Shenzhen, and Academia Sinica in Taiwan, have studied the molecular architecture of the Tequintavirus (DT57 bacteriophage), also known as T5-like bacteriophages, to understand how these viruses are organized at a molecular level. T5 viruses are nonenveloped viruses with a head that has an icosahedral shape and contains the viral DNA, and a non-contractile flexible tail which acts as the channel for DNA injection into the bacterial host cell.
The scientists obtained atomic models for all structural components of the virus. This is the first time that a tailed virus with a flexible tail has been revealed in its entirety at this level of detail. The results of their study have been published in the journal Nature Communications and set the basis for future studies on the mechanism of infection of these viruses.
"To engineer and modify these viruses efficiently for specific purposes, we must know their organization at an atomic level and the mechanisms through which they infect their target bacteria. For these reasons, we decided to use cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the DT57C bacteriophage at high-resolution in its entirety," Prof. Matthias Wolf, head of the Molecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Unit, explained.
Researchers working on phage therapies which use bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections in agricultural crops, fish aquaculture and other fields, can benefit from the results of this study. "The structural knowledge we have obtained can enable the engineering of bacteriophages with improved ability to kill these bacterial pathogens," Prof. Wolf added.
Does this mean that bacteriophages are ‘good’ viruses? Dr. Rafael Ayala, lead author of the research paper, explained that these viruses are ‘good’ when their actions benefit us and ‘bad’ when they cause us harm, as is the case with bacteria.
An example of how bacteriophages can benefit us is their use in gene therapy. "One of the ways to distribute genes to cells is to put them into a human virus that has been modified in two ways, first to not cause disease, and second to also carry the genes that you want to introduce to cure a specific disease. In this way the virus is used as a vehicle to introduce a cure," Dr. Ayala said.
One of the main challenges of the research was to reconstruct the bacteriophage as a whole from electron micrographs in significant detail, and not just some of its components. The DT57C bacteriophage comprises a head, a neck, a tail and a baseplate at the end of the tail. Many of these components are flexible and can move freely, which makes it difficult to visualize their molecular architecture in detail, similar to how difficult it is to take a good photo of an object that is moving fast.
To deal with this, the researchers developed new methods that they plan to apply to other viruses with complex shapes. "We had to think of new ways to tackle the problems we encountered, and we believe that the methods developed in this study will be of interest to many researchers studying viruses," Dr. Ayala explained. "Phage therapy is an active area of research, and it is very likely that we are going to see these treatments in our lifetime."
Using viruses to modify bacteria is a huge area of interest because bacteria are at the core of many natural and engineered processes, including nutrient recycling, symbiosis, bioremediation (bacteria are used to clean up environmental pollutants), and food production. This research will be useful in designing viruses to combat bacterial diseases that affect humans, plants and other organisms.

Древнее озеро Паратетис включили в Книгу рекордов Гиннесса как самое большое озеро в истории Земли. Его размеры были рассчитаны в совместном исследовании 2021 года, опубликованном в журнале Scientific Reports нидерландскими, бразильскими, российскими, румынскими и немецкими учеными. Озеро существовало примерно 11,6 млн лет назад, занимая территорию 2,8 млн квадратных км от Восточных Альп до Казахстана, а его объем составлял 1,77 млн кубических км.

Megalake Paratethys, a long-extinct lake that existed during the Late Jurassic period, has recently achieved a notable milestone by being recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest lake ever to grace the Earth. This monumental water body, named by geologist Vladimir Laskarev back in 1924, surpassed the collective size of all contemporary lakes, holding an awe-inspiring volume of water that was ten times greater.
At its zenith approximately 11.6 million years ago, Megalake Paratethys spanned a vast expanse from Austria to Turkmenistan, covering an impressive 1.08 million square miles (2.8 million square kilometers), as reported by various media outlets. Scientific reports delved into the lake's remarkable dimensions, revealing a staggering volume of 407,000 cubic miles (1.77 million cubic kilometers) of water. This extinct lake, which played a significant role in the Earth's geological past, has now officially etched itself into the pages of the Guinness Book of World Records.
As per reports, the lake was home to diverse species, including the smallest-known baleen whale called Cetotherium riabinini and the colossal Deinotherium in the surrounding swamplands.
The recognition of Megalake Paratethys in the record book not only highlights its sheer size but also underscores its geological importance. The lake serves as a captivating glimpse into the ancient landscapes of our planet, offering valuable insights into Earth's dynamic history and the profound changes that have occurred over millions of years. This acknowledgment adds another layer to our understanding of Earth's prehistoric environments and the colossal forces that shaped them.
The GWR website states that the study was a collaboration between Utrecht University (Netherlands), the University of São Paulo (Brazil), the Russian Academy of Science (Russia), the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (Germany) and the University of Bucharest (Romania), led by paleo-oceanographer Dr Dan Palcu of the University of São Paulo.
As per scientist Dan Palcu from Utrecht University, the study of the Paratethys reveals crucial lessons for addressing current and future environmental challenges, especially in regions like the Black Sea.
If online reports are to be believed, the sediments in the Black Sea and remnants of the Paratethys both hold potential threats and benefits. It is possible that the trapped methane in these sediments could be released due to climate change and may lead to other issues.

Исследовательская группа российских нейробиологов обнаружила, что первыми индикаторами старения головного мозга являются не нейроны, а астроциты, отвечающие за питание и очистку нейронов. Результаты этого исследования меняют сложившиеся взгляды на развитие нейродегенеративных заболеваний, таких как болезнь Альцгеймера. Именно в астроцитах начинается процесс уменьшения восстановленных митохондриальных цитохромов, меняется белковый состав. Функции же нейронов существенно не страдают до самых поздних стадий этих заболеваний, когда когнитивные функции заметно ухудшаются.

Researchers from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences have made a breakthrough discovery in the field of neurobiology. They have identified astrocytes, not neurons, as the earliest indicators of brain aging. This groundbreaking finding could significantly impact our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Uncovering the Hidden Markers of Aging
The research team, which included scientists from both the Institute and the Biology Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University, discovered that in older adults, astrocytes - cells responsible for nourishing and cleaning neurons - undergo significant changes. They observed that the processes of these cells become shorter and thicker, and have fewer terminal extensions. Furthermore, proteomic analysis revealed that the protein composition within these metabolic cells alters with age. These changes potentially lead to impaired function, even while neurons continue to operate normally. Astonishingly, these cellular transformations were observed to occur after the age of 50.
Implications for Neurodegenerative Diseases
The findings of this study challenge previously held notions about the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. It was believed that such diseases significantly affected neuron function from the early stages, leading to cognitive decline. However, the researchers have found that neuronal function is not significantly affected until the very late stages of these diseases, which is when cognitive functions noticeably deteriorate.
Shaping the Future of Neurobiology Research
As a result of these compelling findings, researchers now believe that astrocytes and other components of the brain’s extracellular matrix, which change with age, should be a primary focus for future research. This could prove instrumental in developing therapeutic strategies and prevention methods for neurodegenerative diseases. As these cells are the earliest sign of brain aging, they could provide critical insights into early detection and intervention strategies for diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Роскосмос и NASA продлили соглашение о перекрестных полетах на Международную космическую станцию до 2025 года - на американских пилотируемых кораблях Crew Dragon и российских «Союзах» будет отправляться смешанный американо-российский экипаж. Таким образом, в случае непредвиденных обстоятельств на МКС всегда будут представители обеих сторон.

La Russie et la NASA vont donc continuer de collaborer. L’agence spatiale russe (Roscosmos) a en effet annoncé ce jeudi 28 décembre le prolongement jusqu’en 2025 des vols croisés avec la Nasa vers la Station spatiale internationale (ISS). Le but ? « Maintenir la fiabilité du fonctionnement de l’ISS en général » indique le communiqué.
Ce dernier ajoute que ces vols croisés permettent de « garantir la présence d’au moins un représentant de Roscosmos et de la Nasa sur leurs segments respectifs de la station ». Deux additifs à l’accord entre la Russie et la Nasa sur les vols vers l’ISS ont été signés à ces fins en juillet et en décembre 2023, selon la même source.
Le projet d’une station orbitale russe
Ce prolongement de coopération ne change pas les plans russes. Dès juillet 2022, Moscou avait annoncé son intention de se retirer « après 2024 » de l’ISS, où se trouvent en permanence ses cosmonautes et dans laquelle elle joue un rôle clé. Modèle de coopération internationale réunissant l’Europe, le Japon, les États-Unis et la Russie, l’ISS doit être mis à la retraite en 2024, même si la Nasa a estimé qu’elle pouvait fonctionner jusqu’en 2030.
De son côté, la Russie à pour projet de créer une nouvelle station orbitale russe. Présentée comme la priorité russe par Roscosmos, la première pièce de ce projet devrait voir le jour en 2027. À cette date, le premier segment de cette nouvelle station spatiale russe devrait être mis en orbite en 2027. Un projet ambitieux qui doit relancer la conquête de l’espace par la Russie après de récents revers.
Le secteur spatial russe, qui fait historiquement la fierté du pays, souffre depuis des années de problèmes de financement, de scandales de corruption et d’échecs comme la perte en août de la sonde lunaire Luna-25.

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