Июнь 2025 г.

Российская наука и мир (по материалам зарубежной электронной прессы)

CONTENTS / ОГЛАВЛЕНИЕ


• Long-running physics experiment dashes hope of new particles and forces
• Astronomers detect new ultracompact binary system with unusually bright, infrequent outbursts
• Russia unveils diamond transistor for space and nuclear energy
• Russian scientists develop sub-ångström technology for next-gen quantum processors
• TSU installs weather station at 3,600m on Aktru glacier
• Famous Ice Age "puppies" likely wolf cubs and not dogs, study shows
• Whoa - A new island appeared from out of nowhere
• Volcanic microbes under the microscope: Scientists identify optimal DNA extraction method
• Chalcolithic cultural treasures unearthed in Caucasus
• Annonce de la liste des candidats retenus pour le Prix Mondial de l'Énergie 2025
• HSE scientists reveal how staying at alma mater can affect early-career researchers
• Scientists explain how shale oil-bearing rocks of the Volga-Ural region came to be
• Position of flask on magnetic stirrers can drastically affect reproducibility of experiments
• Scientists showed how to manage motion of liquid in crystals with a help of heating

Международная коллаборация Muon g-2, в которую входят 34 исследовательских учреждения из 7 стран (Россию представляет Институт ядерной физики им. Г.И.Будкера СО РАН), опубликовала итоговые результаты многолетнего эксперимента по измерению магнитных свойств мюона. Итог подтвердил предыдущие измерения 2021 и 2023 годов, а также теоретические результаты, опубликованные неделю назад другой группой. Иначе говоря, магнетизм мюона полностью согласуется со Стандартной моделью. С одной стороны, это означает, что физики-теоретики и экспериментаторы могут независимо определять свойства частиц с высокой точностью, с другой - надежды на открытие «новой физики» не оправдались.

A famous particle physics experiment has ended not with a bang, but a whimper. For nearly a quarter-century, physicists with the Muon g-2 experiment had reported that a subatomic particle called the muon was more magnetic than predicted by the standard model, the well-tested theory that describes fundamental particles and their interactions. The discrepancy suggested new particles and forces might lurk on the horizon. However, this week the Muon g-2 collaboration presented its final results at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) and dashed those hopes: The muon’s magnetism exactly matches the latest theoretical results, released a week earlier. The discrepancy vanished not because experimenters previously erred, but because the theoretical estimate changed.
"In the end, the g-2 experimental value is entirely consistent with the standard model," says Aida El-Khadra, a theorist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. "I can’t say I’m not a little sad." However, Sally Dawson, a theorist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, says the new results show how theorists and experimenters can independently determine a particle's property to mind-boggling precision. "It’s a triumph."
The muon is a short-lived, heavier cousin of the electron, and is magnetized like a little compass needle. To measure its magnetic strength, physicists fed muons moving at near-light-speed into a 14-meter-wide ring-shaped magnet with an exquisitely uniform field, which causes the particles to run laps around the ring and twirl as they go.
The simplest analysis suggests a lone muon should twirl exactly as fast as it orbits the ring, so its magnetic pole always points in the direction it’s going. But quantum theory predicts that "virtual" particles popping in and out of the vacuum of empty space around the muon will boost its magnetism by about 0.1%, an adjustment denoted by "g-2" in physicists’ equations. The extra magnetism causes the muon to twirl slightly faster than it orbits, roughly 30 times every 29 laps. Experimenters can precisely measure that precession - and, hence, the muon’s magnetization - by studying electrons emitted as the muons decay.
The Muon g-2 experiment first ran at Brookhaven from 1997 to 2001 and found the muon was more magnetic than predicted by 8.6 parts per billion. The tantalizing but not conclusive difference led scientists to lug the ring 5000 kilometers by barge and truck from New York state to Fermilab, in Illinois, in 2013, so they could continue the measurements. The team released a result in 2021 that confirmed the Brookhaven result and another in 2023 that was twice as precise.
Now, the team has upped its precision by another factor of two, measuring the muon’s magnetism with a precision of 148 parts per trillion, 9% better than hoped. "Fifteen years ago we wrote down an ambitious goal," says David Hertzog, a longtime collaborator at the University of Washington. "And this team beat that goal."
But that measurement no longer disagrees with the prediction. In 2020, a team called the Muon g-2 Theory Initiative published an "official" standard model prediction that disagreed with the experimental result at the time. However, last week, just in time for the latest experimental reading, the initiative released a new value that now agrees with the measurements, old and new.
To predict the muon’s magnetism, theorists must account for all the possible ways virtual standard model particles can affect the muon. Calculations involving particles called quarks are particularly thorny because they interact through the strong nuclear force, which is nearly intractable mathematically. In principle, researchers can use data from high-energy particle colliders to deduce those contributions exactly. But the data needed for one particular contribution aren’t entirely consistent - a problem worsened last year when physicists with an experiment called CMD-3 in Russia published data that disagreed even more with previous data.
Meanwhile, theorists have been improving a computational technique that simplifies strong-force calculations by mathematically breaking up continuous space and time into a "lattice" of discrete points. After decades of development, multiple groups have produced lattice estimates for the particular quark contribution that are consistent and sufficiently precise, says El-Khadra, who leads the theory initiative. So the theorists replaced the data-driven value with the one from the lattice groups, which changed the standard model prediction.
The move is a vindication for one leading lattice theory group, called the Budapest-Marseille-Wuppertal (BMW) collaboration, which in 2020 had already suggested the data-driven approach was wrong. "I’m very happy that the other lattice groups are confirming our results," says Zoltan Fodor, a theorist at Pennsylvania State University and leader of the BMW group.
One group of experimenters isn’t ready to move on. Physicists at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex plan to perform their own g-2 measurement with a much smaller ring and fewer muons. "Ours is the only experiment that can test the Brookhaven-Fermilab result," says project leader Tsutomu Mibe, a physicist with Japan’s High Energy Accelerator Research Organization.
But that experiment will be less precise, predicts Lee Roberts, a physicist at Boston University, so the Fermilab result is "the end of the road." A member of the Muon g-2 collaboration from the start, Roberts, who is 78, adds, "I never imagined I would spend the rest of my life on the same experiment. When you’ve got a good horse, ride it."

Международная группа астрономов (Россия, США, Бельгия, Франция, Германия, Япония, ЮАР) сообщила об открытии новой сверхкомпактной двойной звезды, принадлежащей к редкому классу катаклизмических переменных звезд типа AM CVn.

An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of a new ultracompact binary of the AM CVn type exhibiting infrequent outbursts. The detection of the newfound system, designated TCP J07222683+6220548, was detailed in a paper published May 27 on the arXiv preprint server.
Cataclysmic variables (CVs) are binary star systems that include a white dwarf (WD) and a normal star companion from which the WD accretes matter. Observations show that the brightness of CVs increases irregularly by a large factor, then returns to a quiescent state.
The so-called AM CVn stars (named after the star AM Canum Venaticorum) are a rare type of CV in which a WD accretes hydrogen-poor matter from a compact companion. These systems are helium-rich binaries, not showing traces of hydrogen in their spectra, with orbital periods ranging from five minutes to about an hour.
Now, a group of astronomers, led by Alexander Tarasenkov of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reports that on January 20, 2025, a new AM CVn was identified as part of the New Milky Way survey (NMW). The system was detected during an outburst lasting seven days, which was followed by multiple rebrightenings in January-March 2025. Its AM CVn nature was confirmed by follow-up observations.
According to the paper, TCP J07222683+6220548, or J0722, is located some 1,874 light years away. Its spectrum shows a blue continuum with prominent broad absorption lines of helium and lacks the Balmer hydrogen lines. Such spectrum is typical for an AM CVn system in an outburst.
The outburst of J0722 peaked at 12.45 mag, which makes it one of the brightest AM CVn outbursts ever observed. Moreover, the peak absolute magnitude of the outburst, at a level of 3.4 mag, suggests that the accretion disk in J0722 is viewed almost face-on, which maximizes its apparent brightness.
The study detected periodic modulation with a period of approximately 46.87 minutes in the light curve of J0722. The astronomers assume that this modulation represents positive superhumps - a type of photometric variation observed in some dwarf novae and related systems.
The researchers noted that the superhumps became clearly visible during the first re-brightening of J0722, which started on day 18 and ended on day 24 after the initial outburst. They added that no convincing change in the superhump period was detected.
Summing up the results, the authors of the study underlined that the overall shape and duration of the outburst of J0722 are similar to those found in long-period AM CVn systems. Their findings highlight the need for follow-up observations to identify new AM CVn binaries.
"Some outbursting AM CVn systems lacking such detailed follow-up may remain unrecognized among the newly discovered cataclysmic variable candidates," the scientists concluded.

Специалисты Российского технологического университета (РТУ МИРЭА) разработали транзистор с алмазным слоем толщиной менее 1 микрона и улучшенной производительностью по сравнению с существующими аналогами. По мнению создателей, новый транзистор может использоваться в ядерной энергетике и космических технологиях.

Specialists from the Russian Technological University MIREA have developed a diamond-based field-effect transistor (FET), reported the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. According to its creators, the new transistor (a device that controls electric current using an electrical signal through a semiconductor) will find application in nuclear energy and space technology.
"The new device uses a crystallographically perfect diamond layer less than 1 micron thick, created by thermochemical treatment. This technology allows you to eliminate surface defects, which significantly improves electrophysical characteristics," the press service noted.
According to the leading developer, head of the laboratory "Diamond Microwave Electronics" Andrey Altukhov, the transistor will be able to demonstrate 10-15% better performance compared to existing analogues. "The key advantage is the combination of high temperature resistance, radiation resistance and energy efficiency," the designer said.
Diamond transistors will find application in next-generation communication systems, radar stations, medical equipment and industrial electronics. The development is especially relevant for applications in extreme conditions - from space technology to nuclear energy, where conventional silicon transistors quickly fail.
Russia is creating electronic components based on diamond materials for radiation and cosmic ray sensors, as well as high-speed and powerful transistors and diodes.

В МГТУ им. Н.Э.Баумана совместно со Всероссийским НИИ автоматики имени им. Н.Л.Духова разработали технологию создания логических элементов для вычислительных устройств на основе туннельных диэлектриков толщиной 0,8-2 нм с точностью ±0,2 ангстрема (Å). Новая технология дает возможность серийно производить квантовые процессоры с тысячами кубитов.

The nanotechnology center of the Quantum Park cluster at Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU), in collaboration with the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Dukhov Automatics Research Institute" (VNIIA), has announced the development of a sub-ångström fabrication technology for next-generation processors.
The researchers have discovered a method and developed a technique to create logic elements for computing devices using new physical principles with a precision of ±0.2 ångströms (1 Å = 0.1 nanometers ≈ the diameter of an atom). This iDEA technology enables the mass production in Russia of quantum processors with thousands of superconducting qubits (artificial atoms), each manufactured to exact specifications, accelerating progress toward practical hybrid supercomputers.
Sub-Ångström Precision: Why It Matters
Modern processors for supercomputing, graphics, and AI contain tens or even hundreds of billions of transistors on a single silicon chip. Shrinking transistor size to the scale of atoms is a major goal in the semiconductor industry. However, only a few companies are entering the "ångström era" of CMOS technologies. Intel introduced 18Å (1.8 nm) technology in 2025, Samsung is preparing 12Å (1.2 nm) SF2, and TSMC is developing 20Å (2 nm) N2 nodes.
These technologies typically achieve transistor dimensions of 12-14 nm, with critical attention on gate dielectric thickness, often between 1.5-2 nm. Leading manufacturers have achieved dielectric thickness control with ±0.2 nm (±2 Å) precision.
Further miniaturization demands new physical principles of operation. Hybrid computing systems that integrate current CMOS platforms with post-CMOS coprocessors could offer vast performance gains. Such systems have the potential to transform sectors ranging from healthcare and transportation to space exploration.
Superconducting quantum coprocessors are currently the leading post-CMOS platform. Countries including the U.S., China, Japan, and EU members are pursuing hybrid information processing systems based on superconducting qubits - artificial atoms manufactured on silicon chips using methods similar to traditional CMOS. But quantum systems require far greater fabrication precision: artificial atoms must be nearly identical, matching the uniformity of natural atoms.
iDEA Technology: Sub-Ångström Control of Superconducting Qubits
Russia’s iDEA technology (ion beam-induced DEfects Activation), developed at Shukhov.Nano, allows the formation of qubit elements using tunnel dielectrics just 0.8-2 nm thick with ±0.2 Å precision. This is made possible by a new physical mechanism for controlling dielectric thickness: when bombarded with ions, targeted defects are created in the crystal lattice, enabling ultra-precise tuning of the metal-oxide interface - critical for practical quantum computing.
One of the main barriers to useful quantum computing is the error rate in two-qubit operations, often caused by slight mismatches in qubit frequencies. If the energy levels of qubits and circuit elements align unintentionally, it causes crosstalk, leading to energy loss and computational errors. As qubit counts rise, these errors increase exponentially.
"Identical atoms used to be nature’s domain alone. Even small variations - ±5 nm in size or sub-nanometer in tunnel barrier thickness - rendered some qubits unusable," said Ilya Rodionov, head of Quantum Park. "A quantum processor integrates top-tier technologies, each of which must perform flawlessly. Our method enables critical control of qubit parameters - a major step toward practical quantum computing."
Qubit frequency is set by the tunnel dielectric in the Josephson junction. Even atomic-level deviations shift frequencies, disrupting system behavior and reducing accuracy. iDEA allows tuning dielectric thickness at sub-ångström levels using helium or neon ion beams to modify the crystal structure precisely. The process is automated and takes just one second per qubit.
"This process is pre-calculated at the molecular level," said Nikita Smirnov, lead developer of superconducting quantum processors at Quantum Park. "We tune each qubit to the target frequency, achieving deviations no greater than ±0.35%, which brings yield rates of quantum circuits close to 100%."
Scalable Quantum Chips with 1000+ Qubits
The serial version of the technology enables tuning qubit frequencies over a 10 to 400 MHz range (0.2-10% variance). Maintaining a 0.35% (±17 MHz) frequency spread across a chip with local treatment areas under 10 nm is currently only possible with iDEA. The method doesn’t degrade qubit coherence, and the most coherent transmon qubits in Russia - made using iDEA - have lifetimes exceeding 500 μs, comparable to top global standards.
The technique has been tested in superconducting quantum coprocessors that successfully ran materials science algorithms.
IBM Quantum estimates that its current fabrication precision (±14-18 MHz) limits it to chips with ~300 qubits. The iDEA method is already demonstrating the feasibility of ±10 MHz precision. Moreover, the VNIIA/BMSTU architecture has looser frequency constraints, potentially enabling 1000+ qubit processors with near 99% yield.
Global First in Focused Ion Beam Atom Processing
This is the first time focused ion beam processing of artificial atoms has been proposed globally. Competing hybrid coprocessor developers use laser annealing, electron irradiation, or electrical treatments - methods that act over much larger areas and cannot selectively process nearby nanoscale features. iDEA is faster (1 second per qubit), more precise, and causes less damage than competitors like IBM Quantum (tens of seconds) or Rigetti (hundreds of seconds).
Beyond Quantum
The iDEA technology can also be applied to other post-CMOS processors that rely on hidden dielectric layers, including transistors, memristors, and magnetic skyrmions - key components for next-gen computing and AI systems. The method paves the way for practical use of post-CMOS architectures, essential for overcoming the physical and energy limits of conventional semiconductor processors.
The international scientific community has taken notice: the research results were published by Science Advances, and the collaboration between BMSTU and VNIIA has placed Russia among global leaders in post-CMOS technology.

Гляциологи Томского государственного университета и Института географии РАН установили на поверхности ледника Актру в высокогорье Алтая автоматизированную метеостанцию. Полученные с ее помощью данные помогут выявить физические механизмы таяния ледников.

During a joint expedition the glaciologists from Tomsk State University and the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences installed an automated weather station (AWS) on the surface of the Aktru glacier near the highest point of the North-Chuysky range - Aktru-Bash Mountain. This station contains modern high-precision sensors, including a sensor that records incoming and reflected solar radiation, as well as thermal radiation from the atmosphere and ice surface. The data obtained using the AWS will help identify the physical mechanisms of glacier degradation in Altai. The study is conducted with the support of a grant from the Russian Science Foundation and the Priority 2030 federal program.
"The sun is a key source of energy for the formation of glacier mass balance. Cloud cover, smoke, dust, aerosols, and other factors can alter the amount of this energy. The composition of the atmosphere, the amount of cloud cover, and its moisture content also determine the thermal radiation of the atmosphere. In order to give a physical explanation for the behavior of mountain glaciation, we need to understand how the characteristics of the radiation balance are changing against the background of modern climate change", explains Alexander Erofeev, head of the Glacioclimatology Laboratory at the Faculty of Geology and Geography of TSU. "Equipment manufactured for us by our colleagues at the Institute of Geography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences will help us obtain the necessary data".
According to scientists, active glacier melting may occur not only due to a general increase in surface air temperature, but also due to changes in the components of the surface radiation balance and precipitation patterns.
"One of the latest reports from the World Meteorological Organization states that the situation varies greatly from region to region. At the same time, climatic features are also different: in some places, it may be temperature forcing, in others, increased cloud cover and precipitation, and in some places - droughts", notes Alexander Erofeev. "The new device allows us considering the details of what is happening in such an important place as the Altai highlands and formulating the most scientifically proven hypothesis of active glacier melting".
We should add that, despite the difficulties, scientists managed to place the equipment in an optimal location. First, the AWS was installed directly above the surface of the glacier on a large rock. A special mast was designed and manufactured for this purpose at the Institute for Monitoring Climate and Environmental Systems. Second, the meteorological complex was placed at a high altitude-3,600 meters above sea level. This ensures the maximum openness of the horizon, meaning that the surrounding mountains do not cast shadows on the device and have virtually no effect on solar radiation parameters.
Scientists from the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who worked with glaciologists from TSU during the May expedition, consulted their colleagues on the ways to calculate the optimal location for installing the device.
"Data from AWS will be used not only in research conducted by the university glaciologists, but also as part of the task for developing parameterization of mountain glaciation and snow cover on Earth, which will eventually be implemented in the domestic Earth System Model of the Russian Academy of Sciences - Moscow State University. This model will significantly improve the accuracy of river flow and global sea level change simulations, as well as the regional climate response caused by mountain glaciers", says Pavel Toropov, head of the Glaciology Department at the Institute of Geography, meteorologist and glacioclimatologist.
It should be added that glacier melting is one of the most sensitive indicators of global environmental transformation. Glaciologists at TSU are monitoring several large sites in the Altai Mountains: the Left Aktru, Vodopadny, and Maly Aktru glaciers. Scientists use not only a large range of tools, but also unmanned aerial vehicles to obtain information on the nature and dynamics of changes. Based on aerial photography, they use special software to construct detailed maps and 3D models of retreating glacier tongues.
In 2025, scientists from TSU and the Institute of Geography assessed changes in the mass balance of the Aktru glaciers, which have the longest series of mass balance observations in North Asia. The monitoring results showed that in 2024, the surface of the Left Aktru glacier, with an area of 5.2 km, decreased by an average of 1,024 millimeters in water equivalent, which is 1.15 m of ice. If the trend continues, it will cause the imbalance in high-altitude ecosystems.
Glacier melting is one of the key research areas of the TSU strategic project "Global Changes on Earth: Climate, Ecology, Quality of Life," which Tomsk State University is implementing with the support of the Priority 2030 program. Technical cooperation with the Institute for Monitoring Climate and Environmental Systems SB RAS is supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant (No. 25-27-00409).

Международный коллектив ученых (Великобритания, Дания, Бельгия, Германия, Швеция, Россия, Канада, Норвегия) опубликовал результаты исследования найденных в вечной мерзлоте двух детенышей псовых возрастом 14 тысяч лет. Отлично сохранившиеся останки животных были обнаружены в 2011 и 2015 годах возле якутского села Тумат. Первоначально ученые предположили, что щенки могли быть ранними одомашненными собаками, однако анализ ДНК показал, что они принадлежали к ныне вымершей популяции волков. Результаты нового исследования позволили сделать вывод, что волчата были из одного помета, погибли в возрасте около двух месяцев и употребляли разнообразную пищу - последней незадолго до их гибели стали шерстистый носорог и мелкая птичка, скорее всего, трясогузка.

New analysis of the remains of two "puppies" dating back more than 14,000 years ago has shown that they are most likely wolves, and not related to domestic dogs, as previously suggested.
The genetic analysis also proved that the cubs were sisters at the age of around two months, and like modern day wolves had a mixed diet of meat and plants. Researchers, however, were surprised to see evidence of a wooly rhinoceros as part of their last meals, as this would have been a considerably large animal for a wolf to hunt.
The "Tumat Puppies" are two remarkably well-preserved puppy remains found in northern Siberia, about 40 km from Tumat, the nearest village. One was found in 2011 and the other in 2015 at what’s now called the Syalakh site.
The puppies were discovered in layers of soil, preserved in ice, alongside the bones of woolly mammoths, some of which showed signs of having been burned and processed by humans. This led scientists to wonder if the site was once used by humans to butcher mammoths, and whether the puppies might have had a connection to people, possibly as early dogs or tamed wolves that hung around humans for food.
There are no visible injuries or signs of attack to the cubs, and so they were likely to have been inside an underground den, resting after their meal, until a potential landslide collapsed their home, trapping the cubs inside.
A new study, led by the University of York, however, has shown that, based on genetic data from the animals’ gut contents and other chemical "fingerprints" found in their bones, teeth and tissue, that the way they were living, what they were eating, and the environment they existed in, points to the puppies being wolf cubs and not early domesticated dogs.
Both were already eating solid food, including woolly rhinoceros meat and, in one case, a small bird called a wagtail. However, their bodies still showed signs of having nursed, meaning they were likely still getting milk from their mother too.
Despite being found near human-modified mammoth bones, there was no evidence of the cubs consuming mammoth, but the piece of wooly rhinoceros skin found in the stomach of one of the cubs had not been fully digested, suggesting they died not long after their last meal.
Last meal
It is thought that the wooly rhinoceros may have been a young calf, rather than a fully grown adult, and likely hunted by the adult pack and fed to the cubs, but even if this was the case, a young woolly rhinoceros would have been considerably bigger than prey modern-day wolves typically hunt.
This has led researchers to think that these Pleistocene wolves may have been somewhat bigger than the wolves of today. Previous DNA testing suggests that the cubs most likely belonged to a wolf population that eventually died out and didn’t lead to today’s domestic dogs.
Anne Kathrine Runge, from the University of York’s Department of Archaeology, who analysed the cubs as part of her PhD, said: "It was incredible to find two sisters from this era so well preserved, but even more incredible that we can now tell so much of their story, down to the last meal that they ate."
Black fur
The original hypothesis that the Tumat Puppies were dogs is also based on their black fur colour, which was believed to have been a mutation only present in dogs, but the Tumat Puppies challenge that hypothesis as they are not related to modern dogs.
Anne Kathrine added: "Whilst many will be disappointed that these animals are almost certainly wolves and not early domesticated dogs, they have helped us get closer to understanding the environment at the time, how these animals lived, and how remarkably similar wolves from more than 14,000 years ago are to modern day wolves. It also means that the mystery of how dogs evolved into the domestic pet we know today deepens, as one of our clues - the black fur colour - may have been a red herring given its presence in wolf cubs from a population that is not related to domestic dogs."
Tiny fossilised plant remains were discovered in the cubs’ stomachs, indicating that they lived in a diverse environment with a variety of plants and animals to consume, including prairie grasses, leaves from the shrub genus Dryas and willow twigs. This suggests the landscape they inhabited included different types of habitats that could support rich and varied ecosystems.
Varied diet
Dr Nathan Wales, from the University of York’s Department of Archaeology, said: "We know grey wolves have been around as a species for hundreds of thousands of years based on skeletal remains from palaeontological sites, and researchers have done DNA testing of some of those remains to understand how the population changed over time. The soft tissues preserved in the Tumat Puppies, however, gives us access to other ways of investigating wolves and their evolutionary line. We can see that their diets were varied, consisting of both animal meat and plant life, much like that of modern wolves, and we have an insight into their breeding behaviours too. The pair were sisters and likely being reared in a den and cared for by their pack - all common characteristics of breeding and raising of offspring in wolves today. Today, litters are often larger than two, and it is possible that the Tumat Puppies had siblings that escaped their fate. There may also be more cubs hidden in the permafrost or lost to erosion. The hunting of an animal as large as a wooly rhinoceros, even a baby one, suggests that these wolves are perhaps bigger than the wolves we see today, but still consistent in many ways, because wolves still tend to hunt easy prey while some of the pack is engaged in cub rearing."
The research findings, however, means that the hunt for the oldest dog - and their place of origin - is still on.
The research, in collaboration with researchers based in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Russia and Sweden is published in the journal Quaternary Research.

Сотрудники Института океанологии им. П.П.Ширшова РАН, Каспийского филиала ИО РАН и Астраханского государственного заповедника подтвердили существование нового острова в северной части Каспийского моря, примерно в 30 километрах к юго-западу от острова Малый Жемчужный. Небольшая полоса суши была замечена на спутниковых снимках еще в ноябре 2024 г., но окончательные доказательства ее существования были получены только сейчас в ходе совместной экспедиции. Появление острова объясняется циклическим понижением уровня воды в Каспии, связанным с изменением климата и тектонической активностью.

Although the ocean covers roughly 71% of Earth’s surface, more than 80% of that ocean has yet to be mapped, explored, or even seen by humans. So, it isn’t surprising that some stray land formations go unnoticed - like a whole new island in the northern part of the Caspian Sea, recently discovered by researchers from Russia.
The currently unnamed island is located 19 miles southwest of Maly Zhemchuzhny Island, Russia. According to a translated report from TSS (a state-owned Russian news agency), a team from the P. P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology (IO) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) originally identified the formation in November of 2024 via imaging captured from space. The images showed a small sliver of dried bank peaking above the water (though this wasn’t convincing enough evidence for some researchers).
Since then, the team has made an expedition to the northern part of the island and officially confirmed its existence. However, researchers were unable to make landfall because of shallow waters and poor weather conditions.
"It is obvious that during the low-water period, when the water level is minimal, the island’s elevation above the water’s edge will be more significant," the report reads. "At the time of the survey, the island’s surface was a damp flat plain complicated by ridges of sand waves."
The island’s emergence is thanks to a perfect storm of events. "The occurrence of new islands in the Caspian Sea is associated with cyclical processes of long-term fluctuations in the level of [these] landlocked waters," Stepan Podolyako, a senior researcher at IO RAS, wrote in the statement to Live Science. "Awash islands are uplifts on the seabed that come to the surface during periods of falling sea level."
And this isn’t the first time the area has seen shallow waters - according to Podolyako, Caspian Sea water levels fell during the 1930s, 1970s, and the 2010s. He says the cyclical levels of the Caspian Sea depend partly on evaporation rates, so the water level could be attributed to climate change. The warming global temperatures associated with climate change speed up the water cycle (which includes evaporation), leaving certain areas in extreme droughts and others with overwhelming amounts of precipitation. Podolyako also cited tectonic plate shifts as a potential reason for the sea level changes.
As for the future of the island, Podolyako said that the next expedition is planned for the latter half of 2025. Once researchers investigate the isle and identify any distinguishing features, the team will decide on a name. Excitingly, the IO RAS anticipates that the island may become a valuable nesting site for rare bird species and a rookery (or a breeding place of a colony) for Caspian seals.

Российские исследователи при участии американских коллег впервые провели геномный анализ микробных сообществ, обитающих в фумаролах - трещинах на склонах вулканов, через которые выходят раскаленные газы и пар, а также определили оптимальный метод выделения ДНК. Образцы были взяты с фумарольных полей трех вулканов: Эльбруса, Ушковского и Фудзиямы. Оказалось, что наборы микроорганизмов каждого вулканического региона различны и зависят от геохимических условий окружающей среды.

A research team from Skoltech, the Institute of Physical, Chemical, and Biological Problems of Soil Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other scientific organizations in Russia and the U.S. conducted a study of microbial communities living in extreme conditions in the fumarolic fields of the Elbrus (Russia), Ushkovsky (Russia), and Fuji (Japan) volcanoes.
The authors discovered the most efficient technique for separating DNA from microbial samples and demonstrated that the microbial communities of every volcanic region are distinct and influenced by the geochemical conditions of their environment.
The findings are published in the Scientific Reports journal.
Volcanoes are one of the most mysterious and captivating places on Earth. Cracks or openings in Earth's crust on their slopes and at their bases lead to the release of hot gases and steam. These regions are known as fumarolic fields, forming in zones of volcanic activity where magma heats underground water, converting it into vapor.
Despite these harsh conditions, life exists even there - archaea and bacteria thrive on fumaroles with interesting adaptational mechanisms that remain largely unexplored.
"Samples collected from fumaroles represent a highly challenging material for DNA extraction. Meanwhile, thermophilic bacteria capable of surviving at extreme temperatures possess intriguing adaptive strategies," explained lead author Alla Shevchenko, a Ph.D. student in the Life Sciences program at Skoltech. "Our study provided the first description of microbial communities inhabiting the fumaroles of Elbrus, Ushkovsky, and Mount Fuji. Samples taken from beneath the snow cover on Elbrus exhibited a soil surface temperature of approximately +22.5°C. Summer collections from the Ushkovsky Volcano yielded specimens from a fumarolic area with a surface temperature reaching up to +68.4°C. Fuji samples consisted of frozen sediment deposits. After collection, all samples were preserved at -20°C."
Researchers used different methods of soil sample pulverization prior to DNA extraction - vertical and horizontal homogenization (mixing). Vertical homogenization proved more effective regarding both DNA yield and detection of archaeal sequences when compared to horizontal homogenization.
"The majority of DNA was extracted via vertical homogenization. Variations in microbial populations correlate with specific features of each volcano. Acidobacteria and Pseudomonas dominate the soils of Elbrus. Ushkovsky fumaroles harbor numerous members of the Crenarchaeota group. Fuji's frozen soil harbors fewer microorganisms overall but retains Actinomyces and additional species of bacteria," stated Professor Mikhail Gelfand, a study co-author and research supervisor, the vice president for biomedical research at Skoltech.
These findings highlight the significance of selecting an optimal methodology for sample preparation, particularly under extreme conditions. Microorganisms residing within fumaroles serve as sensitive indicators of environmental change.
Their adaptability mirrors ecosystem responses to factors like temperature, moisture levels, pH values, and heavy metal concentrations.
Changes in the structure and composition of bacterial and fungal colonies could be a sign of global warming, thermal regime shifts, and anthropogenic impacts.

Экспедиция Института археологии РАН провела в Дагестане раскопки поселения, верхние слои которого относятся к III-II тысячелетиям до н.э., а нижние - к V тысячелетию до н.э., эпохе халколита - медно-каменному веку. Среди находок - остатки жилых построек, каменные, костяные и обсидиановые орудия, керамика.

Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences have uncovered 13 Chalcolithic-era sites, each yielding a wealth of cultural artefacts and material evidence.
Excavations are in preparations for the R-217 "Kavkaz" highway expansion in the Republic of Dagestan, located in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe. The most significant of the newly identified sites is "Dagoginskoye 2," located near the town of Dagestanskie Ogni, approximately 15 kilometers north of Derbent.
The site contains a wealth of cultural artefacts and material evidence, including residential structures, utility pits, stone and bone tools, ceramics, burials, and a clay figurine of a bull. According to the archaeologists, the site dates to around the 5th millennium BC during the Caucasus Chalcolithic period.
Of note is the discovery of obsidian tools and the stone objects, a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed when lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth.
Given that there are no active or dormant volcanoes within the Republic of Dagestan, the discovery suggests a long-distance trading network with the Caucasus Mountains hundreds of miles to the south.
"The site’s scientific value is immense. Never has such a settlement bearing these cultural markers been identified in the North-East Caucasus. The artefacts and structures suggest a previously unknown cultural layer that could redefine the prehistoric narrative of the Caspian Lowland region," said the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The researchers emphasise the need for a multidisciplinary analysis, including radiocarbon dating, soil and pollen studies, to build a fuller picture of the site’s past. Once complete, "Dagoginskoye 2" may become a benchmark example of Chalcolithic life in the North-East Caucasus.

Объявлен шорт-лист международной премии «Глобальная энергия» 2025 года. В него вошли 15 ученых из 8 стран: Австралии, Чили, Китая, Италии, России, Швейцарии, Великобритании и США.

La liste de présélection comprend 15 scientifiques de huit pays : Australie, Chili, Chine, Italie, Russie, Suisse, Royaume-Uni et États-Unis. L'établissement de cette liste marque la conclusion de la deuxième étape du cycle de nomination pour le prix.
La première étape, du 1er janvier 2025 au 20 avril 2025, a donné lieu à 90 nominations issues de 44 pays et territoires. Les candidatures ont été évaluées en fonction des critères définis, notamment leur innovation scientifique, leur pertinence et leur potentiel de mise en œuvre. Sur la base des résultats de l'évaluation, cinq projets ayant obtenu la note moyenne la plus élevée ont été sélectionnés dans chaque catégorie pour accéder à la finale du prix. "Ces projets répondent aux défis actuels en matière d'énergie et présentent un potentiel d'application à grande échelle. Il est également important que le prix reste une plateforme où la science transcende les frontières et rassemble les chercheurs pour contribuer à un avenir durable", a déclaré Rae Kwon Chung, lauréat du prix Nobel de la paix et président du comité international du prix.
Liste des candidats retenus cette année :
Nominations dans la catégorie "énergie traditionnelle"
1. Pietro Barabaschi, Italie. Directeur d'ITER
2. Jinliang He, Chine. Professeur à l'Université Tsinghua
3. Valery Chuyanov, Russie.
4. Shu-Yuen Ron Hui, Chine. Professeur à l'Université municipale de Hong Kong
5. Dmitry Zverev, Russie. Directeur du Bureau d'études expérimentales Afrikantov
Nominations dans la catégorie "énergie non traditionnelle"
1. Yu Huang, États-Unis. Professeur à l'Université de Californie à Los Angeles
2. Issa Batarseh, États-Unis. Professeur à l'Université du Centre de la Floride
3. Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian, Australie. Professeur à l'Université de technologie Swinburne
4. Wanlin Guo, Chine. Directeur de laboratoire à l'Université d'aéronautique et d'astronautique de Nankin
5. Jose Heraclito Zagal, Chili. Professeur honoraire à l'Université de Santiago du Chili
Nominations dans la catégorie "nouvelles applications énergétiques"
1. Vladislav Khomich, Russie. Directeur scientifique de l'Institut d'électrophysique et d'ingénierie électrique, Académie des sciences de Russie
2. Mohammad Nazeeruddin, Suisse. Professeur honoraire à l'École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
3. Yulong Ding, Royaume-Uni. Professeur à l'Université de Birmingham
4. Laura Gagliardi, États-Unis. Professeur à l'Université de Chicago
5. Amit Goyal, États-Unis. Directeur de l'Institut RENEW, Université d'État de New York à Buffalo
Les lauréats seront dévoilés en juillet et la cérémonie de remise des prix aura lieu en octobre.

В НИУ ВШЭ проанализировали влияние академического инбридинга (когда начинающие ученые продолжают свою научную карьеру в том же университете, где учились) на публикационную активность в области естественных наук и математики. Обычно считается, что инбридинг отрицательно сказывается на качестве научной работы и инновационном потенциале. Оказалось, что уровень негативного воздействия зависит от ряда факторов: местоположения и статуса университета, текучести кадров на академическом рынке труда в регионе и др.

Many early-career scientists continue their academic careers at the same university where they studied, a practice known as academic inbreeding. A researcher at the HSE Institute of Education analysed the impact of academic inbreeding on publication activity in the natural sciences and mathematics. The study found that the impact is ambiguous and depends on various factors, including the university's geographical location, its financial resources, and the state of the regional academic employment market. A paper with the study findings has been published in Research Policy.
In Russia, nearly half of all PhD holders continue working at the same university where they earned their degree - a career path known as academic inbreeding. This practice is believed to contribute to academic isolation and diminish the potential for innovation. Nevertheless, the impact of academic inbreeding on the productivity of early-career scientists remains insufficiently studied.
Victoria Slepyh, Junior Research Fellow at the HSE Laboratory for University Development, examined the career trajectories of 1,132 Russian scientists who earned their PhDs in 2012 in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, and mathematics. To assess research productivity, the author analysed publications in international journals, their citation counts, and the presence of articles in first-quartile (Q1) journals.
The analysis was conducted on two levels. First, the author examined all 1,132 PhD holders who remained in academia during the first eight years following their dissertation defence. Among this group, the rate of academic inbreeding was 61%. The results showed that graduates who moved to different universities after earning their degrees were, on average, more likely to publish, have articles accepted in prestigious journals, and receive higher citation counts compared to those who remained at their alma mater.
The most pronounced negative effect of academic inbreeding was observed at universities without special status - those not designated as federal or national research universities and not participating in government science support programmes. Early-career researchers at such universities published, on average, 34% fewer articles indexed by Scopus, and their likelihood of having at least one publication in a prestigious journal was nearly half that of more mobile scientists.
According to the author, if an early-career researcher remains at a university with limited scientific activity and resources, they tend to reproduce low academic standards. Moreover, a limited professional experience reduces their competitiveness compared to their more mobile colleagues.
"In prestigious, research-oriented institutions, academic inbreeding generally does not have a significant impact on productivity. This can be attributed to a rich professional environment, including a strong research team, modern equipment, stable collaborations with other organisations, and involvement in major projects," explains Slepykh.
Next, the author identified a subgroup of the most productive scientists - 417 individuals whose number of publications exceeded the median (ranging from four to six publications during the first eight years of their academic careers). The proportion of inbreds was 56% in this sample. At the same time, the impact of academic inbreeding on productivity within this subgroup was minimal and appeared only in certain cases - specifically, among graduates who earned their degrees in regions with a saturated academic employment market.
In regions with numerous scientific institutions, graduates have greater opportunities to move to a different employer. When remaining at one’s alma mater under such circumstances stems from inertia rather than a deliberate choice, early-career researchers may miss the opportunity to thrive in a more suitable professional environment. In less developed regions, academic inbreeding is typically driven by limited alternatives. The study findings support the hypothesis that when early-career scientists have more employment options, remaining at their alma mater can negatively affect their productivity.
Additionally, the study revealed differences in behaviour across scientific disciplines. For example, mathematicians were more likely to pursue mobile career paths and less likely to remain at the universities where they earned their degrees, whereas physicists and chemists exhibited a stronger tendency toward academic inbreeding. The author attributes these differences to the nature of research infrastructure and publication traditions in various scientific fields.
"Academic inbreeding, in itself, is not necessarily problematic. However, its consequences can adversely affect scientific productivity, especially at universities without special status or with limited resources. To mitigate the risks of isolation, measures should be implemented to encourage academic mobility and the expansion of external collaborations. These may include internships, academic exchanges, and the development of partnerships with leading research centres. Such initiatives will enhance not only productivity but also the overall quality of the academic environment," according to Slepykh.

Ученые Казанского федерального университета исследовали уникальные доманиковые нефтеносные отложения (семилукский горизонт) Волго-Уральского региона. Этот тип сланцевых осадочных пород может стать новым источником нефти, хотя добывать ее будет сложно.

The researchers have studied the geochemical composition and conditions of formation of Domanik deposits (Semiluksk horizon) in the Volga-Ural oil and gas province, which made it possible to determine their oil-generating properties.
"Traditional oil reserves in our region are at a very late stage of development - they are close to exhaustion. In order to maintain the resource sustainability of the region, we need to look for new sources. High-carbon Domanik deposits are prospective of future oil production," says Anton Kolchugin, Chair of the Department of Mineralogy and Lithology.
In addition, according to the scientist, Domanik deposits, which are interbedded high-carbon carbonate and carbonate-siliceous rocks, are the oil-producing strata for most of the deposits in the Volga-Ural region, located in Udmurtia, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Orenburg Oblast, and Perm Krai.
"Domanik deposits are found throughout Tatarstan at depths of 1,200 to 1,800 meters. And the giant Romashkino field, one of the ten largest in the world, most likely owes its origin to them," Anton Kolchugin notes.
In order for oil production from Domanik rocks to be effective, it is necessary to study their mineralogical, lithological, and geochemical properties.
Core samples taken from wells located in different parts of Tatarstan were comprehensively studied at KFU using X-ray phase and X-ray fluorescence analysis, mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Special geochemical and pyrolytic studies, correlation analysis of data, and other studies were also carried out.
This allowed the researchers to glance into the distant past of the Earth and reconstruct the conditions that existed within the modern Volga-Ural oil and gas province 370 million years ago. It was during this period that sedimentation of high-carbon rocks in the Upper Devonian sea basin took place.
"We found out the main conditions and patterns of formation of these sediment complexes. At that time, on the eastern edge of the East European platform, there was a vast shallow basin, which in the Domanik period became somewhat deeper due to the general rise in the level of the world ocean. This contributed to the accumulation of specific carbonate-siliceous sediments, saturated with organic matter, which were subsequently transformed into high-carbon rocks, often called 'black shales'. Why did so much organic matter accumulate? The fact is that in the place of the modern Ural Mountains, there were volcanic ridges of the type of the Kamchatka and Kuril volcanic belts. They supplied a huge mass of ash material that fell into the reservoir. Large volumes of ash after volcanic eruptions were carried across the entire water area of the shallow basin. There was a rapid increase in biological productivity in this reservoir, because ash material is a very good nutrient medium for a huge number of microorganisms. In addition, the Devonian stage is marked by the active dispersal of vegetation on the continents. This stage is associated with the rapid spread of vascular plants in a continental environment that was still completely unoccupied by biodiversity. This contributed to the intensification of soil formation processes, the accumulation of organic mineral matter and its removal into the waters of the adjacent sea basin. It should be noted that the climate was hot and humid, and the basin was located in subequatorial latitudes. The removal of the organic mineral matter into the oceans could also provoke an explosion of bio-productivity in shallow shelf basins and, as a result, the accumulation of significant masses of organic matter on their bottom," elaborates Dr. Kolchugin. According to the geologist, various microscopic algae and other microorganisms (mainly plankton) living in the water column multiplied rapidly. After dying, they formed silts rich in concentrated organic matter, from which high-carbon rocks were later formed.
"Subsequently, under the influence of elevated temperatures and corresponding pressures, oil was generated and released, which formed oil deposits in porous and permeable rocks," concludes the scientist.
He sheds light on why it is extremely difficult to extract oil from Domanik deposits in Tatarstan, "On the territory of Tatarstan, these objects are in not very good temperature conditions. The reservoir temperature is approximately 30 degrees. In order for the extraction of shale oil to become possible, it is necessary to heat the reservoir to approximately 60 degrees and form artificial porosity and fractures in it using hydraulic fracturing, so that oil from high-carbon rocks penetrates into the cracks and micropores."

Магнитные мешалки, широко используемые в лабораториях для проведения химических реакций, могут вызывать проблемы с воспроизводимостью экспериментов, поскольку результаты реакции могут меняться в зависимости от положения лабораторного сосуда. К такому выводу пришли сотрудники Института органической химии им. Н.Д.Зелинского, одновременно проводя одну и ту же реакцию в разных пробирках, расположенных на одной мешалке. Ученые также определили «зеленые зоны», где режим перемешивания будет наиболее стабильным, рекомендовав проводить в них контрольные эксперименты.

Varying the position of a reaction vessel on a magnetic stirrer can significantly change the outcome of a chemical reaction. That’s the conclusion of scientists working with Valentine Ananikov from the Russian Academy of Sciences, who made this discovery while running the same reaction in parallel in different vials placed side-by-side on the same stirrer. "We found that reaction speed, product quality and even the formation of nanoparticles changed depending on the vessel’s location," explains Ananikov. "In some cases, the differences were large enough to explain why another lab might fail to reproduce the results." To solve this problem, the team recommends running control experiments in what they call the "green zone" of the stirrer, where stirring is most stable and efficient.
"Many chemists rely on magnetic stirrers every day, assuming that they work uniformly across their surface, but our experiments revealed a somewhat surprising picture," says Ananikov. He and his colleagues observed that the nature of the bar rotation changed when it was placed at different positions on and above the stirrer, stopping completely at some locations. The new results are not only important for chemistry but also for areas like biology, life sciences and material sciences.
Ananikov and his team warned in 2019 that "dirty" stirrer bars contaminated with minute quantities of metal could be responsible for the unexpected reactivity reported in some experiments.
The researchers analysed several types of reactions using magnetic stirrers from different manufacturers. The experimental setup was quite simple: they used cameras to record colour variations and carried out NMR spectroscopy and electron microscopy studies to detect chemical changes and look at the products in detail.
One of the processes they studied was the formation of palladium particles in solution. "We found that, depending on where the vial sat on the magnetic stirrer, the particles formed at different rates and had different sizes, even though everything else was kept exactly the same," says Ananikov.
The team also looked at the preparation of palladium-on-carbon catalysts, which are widely used in organic synthesis. "Again, the location of the vial on the stirrer caused differences in how fast the catalyst formed and what the final structure looked like," explains Ananikov. In some vials, the carbon support was even physically damaged by the stirrer bar, changing the shape of the catalyst, he adds.
In another test, the researchers scrutinised the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, which plays an important role in the production of drugs and agrochemicals. They noticed that the same reaction mixture gave very different product yields depending on its position on the stirrer. "We saw conversion differences of about 10 to 20%, and in some cases even more," says Ananikov. "That’s enough to make a successful experiment seem like a poorly reproducible failure in another lab." The scientists also tested processes like polymerisation or the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction - famous for its oscillating, colour-changing patterns - and in all cases, the reproducibility of the results was affected by stirring inconsistencies.
Based on their results, the team introduced a simple procedure to map magnetic fields - using a metallic powder - and estimated the most efficient and stable stirring positions on the plate. "For any important experiment, we strongly recommend doing a control run with a single vial placed in this 'green zone'", suggests Ananikov. He also recommends reporting the type of stirrer, the stir bar, and the type and size of the reaction vessel in the experimental section. "Manufacturers could also help by marking the most efficient stirring zones on their devices, so researchers can see where to place their reactions for best performance," he adds.
Rick Danheiser from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, who wasn’t involved in the study, recognises that experienced synthetic chemists have long been aware that the way in which reaction mixtures are stirred can impact the results of chemical processes. "Ananikov and co-workers now describe an impressive systematic study of the effect of the positioning of reaction vials on magnetic stirrers on the outcome of several heterogeneous reactions," he says. "Their work will serve to encourage researchers to pay closer attention to this experimental variable and to take care to describe, in more detail, the type of stirring when reporting experimental procedures in publications."

Ученые Балтийского федерального университета имени Иммануила Канта, Института проблем машиноведения РАН и Познаньского экономического университета математически описали, как микроскопические потоки вещества в жидких кристаллах движутся под воздействием изменения температуры. Оказалось, что направление и скорость потоков зависят от направления нагрева.

Scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University made a numerical description how microscopic flows of substance in liquid crystals move under the influence of temperature change. It turned out that direction and velocity of motion of liquid crystals' components depend on the side of the material that heats. Obtained information will be useful for elaboration of microfluidic devices that can be used in systems of drug delivery and biomedical sensors. Results of the research are published in journal Crystals.
Liquid crystals are materials that combine characteristics of liquids and solid bodies. They are fluid, like liquids, but have uneven texture, like solid bodies. Liquid crystals are widely used for displays and temperature detectors due to their ability to change color depending on changes of the environment (for example, temperature, tension of magnetic or electronic fields). However, it is not yet clear how you can effectively manage properties of liquid crystals that lie in micro-or nanochannels - elements of microfluidic devices. Such constructions are perspective for medicine: on their base you can create systems of drug delivery and biosensors. In that case it is not always possible to use electric fields for management, because they can damage biological samples. As alternative you can use temperature gradients - gradual changes of temperature in liquid - that enable to manage the motion of molecules very softly.
Scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (Kaliningrad), Institute of Problems of Mechanical Engineering, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg) and Poznan University of Economics (Poland) mathematically described the behavior of 10 micrometers width liquid crystal's layer, that is sandwiched between two surfaces with different temperatures.
Calculations showed that direction of heating greatly influences the direction and velocity of liquid. Thus, if you heat surface, that is situated over the liquid crystal, substance begins to "run" from the hot zone downwards, thus creating flow along the bottom cold surface. If you heat bottom surface, liquid, on the contrary, begins to move upwards, but slower, and the main flow appears in the center of liquid crystal's layer.
By this, authors mathematically proved that flows of liquid in microscopic channel are greatly influenced by compressibility of liquid crystal - its ability to change its density under external action. Thus, in contrast to incompressible (or practically incompressible) liquids, for example, water, liquid crystals form complex three-dimensional flows. They must be taken into account during designing of microfluidic systems, where it's important to control the movement of matter.
"We mathematically showed how with the help of temperature gradients it is possible to control microscopic flows in liquid-crystal systems. This knowledge will be useful in microfluidics, material engineering and electronics. Thus, for example, management of liquid's movement with the help of temperature can be used in systems of drug delivery and microchips for blood tests, where different zones of heating direct drops with samples in target places," tells Pavel Maslennikov, Ph.D. Biology, member of Laboratory of Natural Antioxidants, associate professor of Institute of Medicine and Life sciences.
In future authors are planning to pass from theoretical description to experiments, widen model for more complex conditions and create prototypes of microfluidic devices. This enables not only to understand thermomechanical effects in liquid crystals better, but to widen their application in real technologies - from biomedical sensors to "smart" materials of new generation.

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