Октябрь 2025 г.

Российская наука и мир (по материалам зарубежной электронной прессы)

CONTENTS / ОГЛАВЛЕНИЕ


• Rare 15th-century coin hoard of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania unearthed in Smolensk: The "Dollar of the Middle Ages" found
• 7,000-year-old Eneolithic settlement unearthed in Dagestan
• Longest woolly rhino horn ever recovered just popped out of the Siberian permafrost
• Unlocking photosynthesis potential: Replacing RuBisCO with PEPC to boost crop efficiency
• Enhanced plastic waste degradation and hydrogen production using nickel-substituted polyoxometalate-CdS single-cluster photocatalysts
• Russian scientists develop eco-friendly cryogel to prevent coal ash dispersion
• Roman fort found on Kerch Peninsula
• New catalyst to speed up clean hydrogen fuel production from wastewater contaminant
• Russia to recover remains of Soviet-era nuclear submarines from Arctic seabed
• Archaeologists find intact Merian axe from tenth century near Rostov, Russia
• Scientists create a new form of light matter in a quasicrystal
• Lancement de la deuxième campagne d'étude maritime conjointe Vietnam-Russie
• Origins of Scythian animal-style art began with functional objects, Tunnug 1 discovery reveals
• Roots in the dark: Russian scientists uncover hidden carbon dioxide uptake in plant roots
• Énigme archéologique : d’étranges poteries multimillénaires découvertes en Sibérie révèlent une culture complètement inconnue
• World’s first pulverized coal burner with variable flame vector tested in Russia
• Denisovans may have interbred with mysterious group of ancient humans

Экспедиция Института археологии РАН обнаружила в Смоленске редкий клад монет Великого княжества Литовского XV века. Большую часть находки из 48 серебряных монет составляют «доллары Средневековья» - пражские гроши, одни самых распространенных монет в то время. Еще две монеты оказались литовским денарием короля Витовта и золотоордынским дангом, отчеканенным в Крыму.

Smolensk archaeologists uncover 48 medieval silver coins, including Prague groschen - widely known as the ‘Dollar of the Middle Ages’ - a Lithuanian denarius, and a Crimean dang, shedding light on Eastern Europe’s monetary networks in the early 1400s.
Archaeologists in Russia’s Smolensk region have unearthed an exceptionally rare medieval treasure: a hoard of 48 silver coins dating back more than 600 years to the early 15th century. The discovery, made during routine construction works on Sobolev Street, marks only the second hoard from the era of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ever documented in the city. Experts say the find is of extraordinary importance, both for Russian archaeology and the broader study of medieval Eastern European trade.
The find in Smolensk
The coins were discovered inside a technological shaft during excavation work for a new water pipeline. According to the Smolensk expedition team of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the hoard had been deliberately hidden in the 1420s - a turbulent period when Smolensk stood at the crossroads of competing powers: the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Moscow, and the Golden Horde.
Most of the 48 silver coins turned out to be Prague groschen, one of the most widely circulated currencies of medieval Europe. Minted after the monetary reform of King Wenceslas II of Bohemia in 1300, the groschen quickly became a trusted international coinage, circulating across Central and Eastern Europe well into the 15th century.
Alongside these were two particularly significant coins: a denarius of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, struck during the reign of Vytautas the Great (1392-1430), and a Crimean dang minted around 1420 under Khan Beg-Sufi of the Golden Horde’s Crimean ulus. The presence of these three distinct monetary traditions in one small hoard highlights the intense commercial and political interactions that characterized the early 1400s.
Prague groschen: the Dollar of the Middle Ages
The Prague groschen was minted from nearly pure silver extracted from the Kutná Hora mines in Bohemia, one of Europe’s richest deposits at the time. Each coin weighed about 3.5 grams and was widely trusted for its consistent silver content. Historians often describe the groschen as the "dollar of the Middle Ages," since it was accepted from the Baltic to the Balkans. Its dominance made it a key driver of regional trade, including exchanges involving Smolensk merchants, who were active on routes between the Baltic ports, Novgorod, and the Black Sea.
The Lithuanian denarius and the Column symbol
The Lithuanian denarius included in the hoard bears the heraldic emblem known as the Columns of Gediminas, one of the earliest dynastic symbols of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. On the reverse, it displays a spear topped with a cross, emphasizing Vytautas’s authority and Christian legitimacy at a time when Lithuania was consolidating power as one of the largest states in Europe. The denarius was a small change coin, typically weighing less than a gram, but its presence in Smolensk confirms the city’s integration into the Lithuanian monetary sphere during Vytautas’s reign.
A Crimean link: the dang of Beg-Sufi
Perhaps the most surprising element of the hoard is the inclusion of a Crimean dang. Minted in the early 15th century, this coin carries the name of Khan Beg-Sufi, who ruled a Crimean branch of the Golden Horde from 1419 to 1421. Dangs were fractional silver coins, commonly used across the steppe and Black Sea trade hubs. Its presence in Smolensk suggests active trade contacts linking Lithuanian-controlled territories with Crimean ports such as Kaffa (modern Feodosiya), which were crucial for the export of grain, wax, and furs.
Why the hoard was hidden
Archaeologists believe the hoard was buried during political instability in the 1420s, when Smolensk’s allegiance was contested between Lithuania and Moscow. Hiding wealth in small earthen or wooden containers was common practice during times of unrest, with the hope of retrieving it once stability returned. In this case, the owner never came back.
Historical significance
The Smolensk hoard is only the second Lithuanian-era treasure ever documented in the city. The first, discovered in 1988, weighed over 12 kilograms and consisted entirely of silver coins-making it one of the largest medieval hoards ever found in Russia. By contrast, the new discovery is modest in size but remarkable for its diversity, featuring coins from three distinct political entities: Bohemia, Lithuania, and the Crimean Khanate.
Such finds provide crucial insights into medieval Smolensk as a hub of trans-regional exchange. They illustrate not only the circulation of wealth but also the overlapping spheres of influence-Lithuanian, Muscovite, and steppe-that shaped the city’s destiny in the 15th century.
Looking ahead
Excavations in Smolensk are ongoing, and archaeologists believe further discoveries may follow. "Finds like this remind us how deeply interconnected medieval Eastern Europe was," the expedition team noted. "Coins, even when small, can tell us entire stories of politics, economy, and cultural exchange."

Археологический памятник эпохи энеолита «Дагогнинское-2» на юге Дагестана стал одной из самых значительных находок этого года. Памятник был открыт еще в 2022 году, но его точную датировку и принадлежность к какой-либо культуре удалось определить только сейчас. Полученные данные позволили предварительно датировать находку V тысячелетием до н. э. и отнести ее к культуре Шулавери-Шомутепе. Это первое поселение носителей данной культуры, найденное на Северном Кавказе.

Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) have announced one of the most significant discoveries of 2025: a 7,000-year-old settlement in southern Dagestan. The site, named Dagogninskoe-2, provides unique insight into the Eneolithic period - also known as the Copper Age - and sheds light on how early farming and herding communities spread across the Caucasus.
Discovery Near the Caspian Sea
The settlement was uncovered near the coastal town of Dagestanskiye Ogni, during rescue excavations ahead of the expansion of the R-217 "Caucasus" highway north of Derbent. Although the site was first identified in 2022, only recent large-scale excavations confirmed its extraordinary age and cultural significance.
Archaeologists found two distinct cultural layers. The upper stratum dates to the Bronze Age (3rd-2nd millennium BCE), while the lower stratum, lying about two meters deep, belongs to the Eneolithic period (5th millennium BCE). This transitional era bridges the Stone Age and the Bronze Age, when people learned to smelt copper but still relied heavily on stone, bone, and wooden tools.
Connections Across the Caucasus
According to Professor Khizri Amirkhanovich Amirkhanov, head of the Stone Age Archaeology Department at RAS, the findings confirm that communities of the Shulaveri-Shomutepe culture, previously known only in the South Caucasus, also spread northwards into Dagestan:
"This settlement is one of the brightest archaeological discoveries of 2025. Never before have Eneolithic sites in Dagestan been studied on such a large scale using modern documentation methods. The finds help us understand how ancient cultures developed in the North and South Caucasus, how they migrated, and how their way of life evolved."
Among the artifacts are obsidian tools, which link the site to the volcanic regions of the South Caucasus, hundreds of kilometers away. The presence of this imported volcanic glass suggests long-distance contacts or migration routes along the Caspian Sea coast.
Life in a 5th Millennium BCE Village
Excavations revealed traces of dwellings, food-storage pits, burial sites, and everyday tools. Unlike their southern neighbors, who built mudbrick houses, the Dagestan settlers may have constructed circular semi-spherical huts resembling yurts, adapted to the steppe environment.
Archaeological remains show that inhabitants practiced early agriculture and animal husbandry. They raised cattle, sheep, and goats, cultivated wheat, millet, oats, and legumes, and possibly grew grapes. Funerary practices also emerged, with human remains buried in crouched positions, reflecting early spiritual or ritual traditions.
Artifacts recovered include:
Stone axes and flint blades
Bone tools and horn implements
Clay figurines of bulls, symbolizing fertility or ritual practices
Pottery fragments decorated with Eneolithic patterns
These discoveries provide a vivid picture of daily life in a settlement thriving around 5,000 BCE.
Filling a Historical Gap
The research team emphasizes that Dagogninskoe-2 will become a key reference site for understanding the Eneolithic in the North Caucasus. According to archaeologist Roman Mimokhod, senior researcher at the Bronze Age Department of RAS:
"Our next stage involves detailed analysis of the finds - archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological, and radiocarbon studies. This will help fill the chronological gap in the cultural sequence of the Caspian lowlands and make Dagogninskoe-2 a benchmark Eneolithic site for the entire region."
Radiocarbon dating is expected to refine the chronology further, but initial evidence places the lower settlement firmly in the first quarter of the 5th millennium BCE.
Why the Discovery Matters
This find transforms scholars’ understanding of how early farming communities spread into the North Caucasus. The Eneolithic era was a turning point in human history, as societies moved from stone-based economies to metallurgy, developed stable farming, and laid the foundations for complex cultures of the Bronze Age.
For Dagestan, this marks the first time such an extensive Eneolithic settlement has been excavated. It confirms that the Caspian coastal corridor served as a migration and cultural exchange route between the South Caucasus and the steppe regions to the north.
A New Chapter in Caucasus Archaeology
The discovery of Dagogninskoe-2 not only enriches the history of Dagestan but also connects the region to the broader narrative of human development in Eurasia. The settlement highlights how ancient peoples adapted to new environments, adopted innovations, and interacted across vast distances.
As further studies continue, this 7,000-year-old village promises to become a cornerstone for understanding the origins of agriculture, animal husbandry, and early metallurgy in the Caucasus - a region that has long been a cultural crossroads between Europe and Asia.

Якутские палеонтологи описали самый длинный рог шерстистого носорога, найденный в прошлом году. Его длина составляет почти 165 см (при средней длине около метра), а его обладательница (с большой долей вероятности это была самка) прожила не менее 40 лет - больше, чем все другие представители этого вида, обнаруженные на сегодняшний день.

If stretched out straight, this recently discovered woolly rhino horn would be taller than Lady Gaga with a hat on. It’s the longest rhino horn of its kind ever recovered, a record-breaking relic that’s shedding new light on one of the Ice Age’s most mysterious megabeasts.
Researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences and the M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University have recently found 12 woolly rhino horns in the permafrost of Yakutia in the Sakha Republic, eastern Russia. One of these specimens, discovered along the banks of the Mustur-Yuryuye River, is longer than any previously discovered horns, measuring 164.7 centimeters (5 feet and 4 inches) along its anterior curvature. This is 30.7 centimeters (12 inches) longer than the second-longest horn of the woolly rhinoceros, plus 6.7 centimeters (2.6 inches) longer than the bigger horn of a modern white rhinoceros.
However, aside from its curved length, the horn isn’t the largest in terms of mass or base width. Combined with its relatively small skull, this suggests it likely belonged to a female woolly rhinoceros, since females of modern rhino species are generally smaller than males. Much like modern African rhinos, some female woolly rhinos may have grown exceptionally long nasal horns despite their smaller overall size.
The woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) is an extinct species that lived in northern Eurasia during the last Ice Age until its extinction around 10,000 years ago. Since the late 18th century, a handful of wonderfully preserved woolly rhino bodies have been found in the frozen landscape of the Sakha Republic.
For researchers, finds like this one are invaluable. As permafrost continues to thaw, more relics of Pleistocene life are emerging from the ground, offering a rare chance to study them like frozen megafauna mummies.
"The thing that surprised me and my colleagues the most was that the discovery of a single horn allowed us to establish several interesting facts about the woolly rhinoceros," study author Ruslan Belyaev, from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, told IFLScience.
Horns can be dated by counting alternating dark and light keratin layers in their core, a bit like tree rings. Using this technique, the researchers found out the freakishly long horn comes from a woolly rhino that was over 40 years old when it died, making it the oldest member of this species discovered to date.
This longevity is particularly surprising when you consider this animal was living in the harsh Ice Age wilderness of Siberia.
"For the first time, we were able to show that in the harsh conditions of the Ice Age, woolly rhinos could live as long as modern species and reach an age of 40 years or more," noted Belyaev.
The study is published in the Journal of Zoology.

Замена необходимого для фотосинтеза фермента рубиско (рибулозобисфосфаткарбоксилаза) на ФЕПК (фосфоенолпируваткарбоксилаза) в сочетании с искусственно созданными метаболическими циклами может значительно повысить продуктивность растений в сельском хозяйстве и усилить их устойчивость к изменениям климата.

This substitution, combined with the development of a new metabolic cycle, the MOG cycle, could potentially revolutionize carbon fixation processes, greatly enhancing plant productivity. The shift promises to optimize photosynthesis, offering future applications in agricultural productivity and climate resilience.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, driving the production of biomass. However, its efficiency remains low, primarily due to the limitations of RuBisCO, the enzyme responsible for fixing carbon dioxide. Researchers have explored various strategies to increase photosynthesis efficiency, including optimizing RuBisCO’s function, but the enzyme’s inherent inefficiencies present a substantial challenge. This review delves into how replacing RuBisCO with PEPC, an enzyme with superior kinetic properties, could improve the process, especially when paired with engineered metabolic cycles.
A review published in BioDesign Research on 26 February 2025 by Viktor Melnik, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, outlines how replacing RuBisCO with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and introducing a new metabolic cycle - dubbed the MOG cycle - could dramatically enhance photosynthetic efficiency.
The research focuses on the inherent inefficiencies of RuBisCO, which is essential for photosynthesis but suffers from slow activity and a tendency to bind oxygen instead of carbon dioxide. These issues reduce photosynthetic efficiency, contributing to substantial energy losses in plants. The proposed solution centers on PEPC, an enzyme with a much higher turnover rate than RuBisCO and no affinity for oxygen, which would bypass some of the limitations of RuBisCO. The challenge lies in the fact that while PEPC is already used in C4 and CAM plants for carbon fixation, no plants naturally replace RuBisCO entirely with PEPC. The primary obstacle is the lack of a metabolic cycle to regenerate the substrate for PEPC, a gap that the research team aims to bridge with the development of the MOG cycle. This cycle, based on malonyl-CoA, oxaloacetate, and glyoxylate, could enable PEPC to function as the sole carbon-fixing enzyme by supplying it with its substrate in a way that mimics natural processes. However, as the MOG cycle produces glyoxalic acid, its integration into plant metabolism presents challenges, notably in terms of toxicity and efficiency. Additionally, the review suggests the potential benefits of combining the MOG cycle with the NOG cycle, which could further enhance carbon fixation, especially during the night, a time when CO2 absorption typically slows in plants. By leveraging nighttime carbon fixation, plants could maximize their productivity. However, creating a fully functional MOG-NOG system would require precise regulation of metabolic fluxes, fine-tuning gene expression, and managing the balance between metabolic pathways.
The shift from RuBisCO to PEPC represents an ambitious leap forward in photosynthesis efficiency. Though there are significant hurdles in regulating metabolic flux and ensuring substrate regeneration, the integration of the MOG cycle into plants could ultimately redefine agricultural productivity and carbon capture. If successfully implemented, plants engineered with the MOG-NOG system could exhibit vastly improved photosynthetic efficiency, leading to higher crop yields and enhanced resilience to climate change. Moreover, this research opens the door to new avenues in bioengineering, potentially paving the way for better carbon capture systems in plants, which could contribute to global efforts in combating climate change.

Китайско-российская исследовательская группа разработала инновационный катализатор для переработки пластика на основе полимолочной кислоты, состоящий из никельзамещенных полиоксометаллатов в сочетании с сульфидом кадмия (Ni-POM@CdS). Катализатор обладает двойным действием: не только успешно разлагает полилактид, но и способствует одновременному выделению водорода, который можно использовать в качестве топлива.

In a groundbreaking research effort addressing the burgeoning crisis of plastic waste, a team of scientists has developed an innovative catalyst composed of nickel-substituted polyoxometalates combined with cadmium sulfide (Ni-POM@CdS). This pioneering work, led by Professor Zhi-Ming Zhang from Tianjin University of Technology, seeks not only to tackle the enormous challenge of plastic pollution but also to produce hydrogen, a cleaner and renewable energy source, in a single, efficient process.
Plastic waste management is increasingly recognized as a critical global issue, with less than 10% of the nearly 400 million tons of plastic produced yearly being recycled. The predominant approaches of incineration and landfilling contribute to environmental hazards, leading to an urgent need for novel solutions. Recognizing the severity of the situation, Zhang’s team has engineered a catalyst that enables the dual function of degrading polylactic acid (PLA) - a widely used biodegradable plastic - and producing hydrogen gas, which can be utilized as a fuel source.
The research highlights the unique properties of the Ni-POM@CdS catalyst, particularly its remarkable photocatalytic efficiency in facilitating the evolution of hydrogen. What’s particularly striking is the electrochemical mechanism underlying this process. The team uncovered that the nickel polyoxometalate clusters exhibit an "electron sponge" effect, drastically enhancing the separation efficiency of charge carriers. This pivotal finding explains why the Ni-POM@CdS catalyst vastly outperformed pristine CdS in hydrogen generation activities.
Central to this innovation is the meticulous preparation of the Ni-POM clusters. By employing an impregnation method, the researchers ensured a uniform distribution of Ni-POM clusters ranging from 1.4 to 2.0 nm on the surface of cadmium sulfide nanospheres. This uniformity, confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and elemental mapping, plays a critical role in optimizing photocatalytic performance.
Spectroscopic analyses, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) studies, substantiated the researchers’ assertion that the Ni₉ cluster possesses exceptional properties for rapid electron capture. This ability significantly mitigates charge recombination, extending the lifetimes of holes required for the oxidation of PLA. The catalysis mechanism operates such that photogenerated electrons are captured by the Ni-POM component to facilitate hydrogen evolution, while simultaneously, the surface holes engage in the oxidation of the plastic waste.
Impressively, the study reported that the Ni₉@CdS-10 catalyst attained a staggering 160-fold enhancement in hydrogen evolution compared to unmodified CdS, demonstrating not only efficiency but also robustness over extended operational periods. The catalyst maintained its structural integrity and function even after 50 hours of continuous operation, highlighting its potential for practical applications in waste management and renewable energy production.
The implications of this research extend beyond merely addressing plastic degradation and hydrogen production. It aligns with the principles of waste valorization, converting hazardous waste into valuable resources, thus enhancing the economic viability of the process. The team’s approach produces pyruvate - a chemical with considerable market value - as a byproduct, setting the stage for commercial applications.
The research team is already contemplating the scaling of this technology for real-world applications. The versatility of the Ni-POM@CdS catalyst opens avenues for its use in microplastic remediation in freshwater environments, suggesting its potential to not only clear pollutants but also contribute to greener energy initiatives. As the urgency for sustainable solutions intensifies, this novel catalytic system could play a critical role in a future where waste processing and energy generation are intertwined.
The collaborative effort in this research also underscores the synergy between various institutions, including contributions from Tiangong University and the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The extensive support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China illustrates the importance of facilitating interdisciplinary research aimed at solving pressing environmental issues.
In conclusion, the advancements represented by the Ni-POM@CdS catalyst signify a substantial leap in material science and environmental chemistry. As researchers delve deeper into optimizing these catalytic systems, the potential to generate hydrogen while tackling plastic waste signifies a promising path towards sustainable energy and responsible waste management. The future is ripe with possibilities as we seek to reconcile our energy needs with environmental stewardship.

В Томском политехническом университете создали экологически чистый криогель, способный удерживать до 95% угольной пыли на золоотвалах угольных теплоэлектростанций. Криогель создает прочный эластичный поверхностный слой, предотвращая попадание золы в окружающую среду.

Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University have created and patented an innovative eco-friendly cryogel designed to prevent the dispersion of ash particles from coal-fired thermal power plant (TPP) waste sites.
The new material forms a resilient surface layer that binds dust particles and significantly reduces air, soil and water contamination caused by industrial ash emissions. This is reported by the official website of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.
Coal combustion in power plants generates vast quantities of ash and slag that are typically stored in ash disposal areas, where strong winds can lift fine particles into the atmosphere. Existing dust suppression technologies often face limitations in efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The newly developed cryogel offers a simple, adaptable and sustainable alternative.
The solution is based on an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol mixture with a concentration ranging from 2.5 per cent to 10 per cent, depending on the site's conditions. When sprayed over the surface during transitional seasons - autumn or spring - as temperatures fluctuate around freezing, the compound forms a durable elastic film that binds and stabilises ash particles, preventing them from being blown away.
"The proposed dust suppression method is universal and suitable for various industrial sites. It helps minimise the impact of fine particulate matter on the environment, thereby improving local ecological conditions," said Dmitry Glushkov, Director of the Research School of High-Energy Physics at Tomsk Polytechnic University.
Laboratory tests confirmed the cryogel's high effectiveness: researchers assessed its rheological properties, sedimentation stability, sprayability, and the adhesion of the gel film on ash and slag materials. The results showed that the compound can retain up to 95 per cent of ash particles, offering a significant environmental advantage.
Currently, field trials are underway near the city of Omsk, Russia, using a 5 per cent cryogel solution applied to an active TPP ash dump. The experiments include drone-assisted spraying to test the compound's performance under diverse meteorological conditions.
Further studies will focus on determining the optimal dosage for large-scale application, examining the mechanical properties of the treated ash layer, and analysing the longevity and degradation dynamics of the cryogel film under sunlight exposure.

Археологи Южно-Боспорской экспедиции обнаружили на Керченском полуострове руины небольшой римской крепости конца I в. до н. э. Крепость площадью около 1000 кв. м была частью системы форпостов Боспорского царства, находившегося в тот период в зависимости от Римской империи.

Archaeologists from the South Bosporus Expedition have found a Roman fort during excavations on the Kerch Peninsula, Crimea.
The expedition is a joint research initiative between the Institute of Archaeology of Crimea, the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Archaeology Foundation.
The fortress was uncovered near Yakovenkovo, which during the Roman period was located within the Bosporan Kingdom (also known as the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus), a client kingdom that flourished on both sides of the Kerch Strait.
Covering an area of only 1,000 square metres, the fortress is modest in scale yet remarkably sophisticated in design. Archaeologists describe it as "architecturally complex", defined by a circular moat and wall that encloses a central guard tower and internal structures.
According to expedition leaders Denis Beilin and Irina Rukavishnikova, the fort dates from the late 1st century BC and served as part of an interconnected network of Bosporan communication outposts to protect the interests of the Roman Republic.
Roman communication forts, or signal stations, were fortified structures used for relaying messages across long distances using methods like fire, smoke, and potentially other visual signals.
Excavations also uncovered a well-preserved amphora with double handles, dating to the second half of the 1st century BC. The vessel is believed to have been produced in Heraclea Pontica, located in present-day Turkey, offering further evidence of the Bosporan Kingdom’s trade connections across the Black Sea.
Excavations will continue in the summer of 2026, as the expedition aims to fully uncover the site’s layout and learn more about its role in the broader defensive system.

Исследователи Сколтеха создали катализатор для получения водородного топлива из мочевины, содержащейся в сточных водах. Ученые использовали никелевые нанопровода в оболочке из однослойных углеродных нанотрубок, дополнительно обработав их азотной плазмой. Это сделало катализатор устойчивым к агрессивной щелочной среде.

Skoltech researchers have created a promising catalyst to speed up a chemical reaction producing clean hydrogen fuel from the urea contained in wastewater. While that process is known to be catalyzed by various forms of nickel, the Skoltech team has now shown nanowires of that metal embedded in purposely defective carbon nanotubes treated by nitrogen plasma to be particularly fit for withstanding the aggressive alkaline environment of the reaction. This makes the new nickel-based catalyst not just effective but long-lasting, which is an important advantage for future electrolyzers producing hydrogen in a clean way, while also removing urea from wastewater. The findings are reported in the journal Small. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation.
"As humanity phases down fossil fuels, one of the main available ways of storing clean energy is in the form of hydrogen fuel. There are multiple industrially relevant chemical reactions used to produce hydrogen, all of them relying on catalysts. Urea oxidation is a promising approach, because it consumes less energy than other competing processes and because it doubles as a wastewater purification technique. We have optimized the catalyst material, reducing its degradation in the harsh reaction environment. This could later be used in electrolyzers producing hydrogen," said the first author of the study, Aliya Vildanova, a research intern at the Laboratory of Nanomaterials of Skoltech Photonics and a PhD student in the Institute’s Materials Science and Engineering program.
The way the team protected the catalyst from the harsh reaction environment is by embedding nickel into single-walled carbon nanotubes - cylinder-shaped nanosized formations of carbon atoms. This has not been done for that particular metal in that reaction before.
"Noble metals such as platinum and palladium are the most prominent catalysts. Encapsulated inside nanotubes, they have been employed in hydrogen-related catalytic reactions and urea oxidation. While their performance for the latter processes is not outstanding, nickel and nickel oxide demonstrate the best results," study co-author Assistant Professor Fedor Fedorov from Skoltech Photonics commented. "However, nickel and its oxide are prone to degradation in the harsh environment related to these processes. When nickel is confined inside single-walled carbon nanotubes, we observe much better results - an approach that has not been previously reported as a catalyst for urea oxidation."
The principal investigator of the study, Professor Albert Nasibulin from Skoltech Photonics said: "We add another twist by exposing the carbon nanotubes to nitrogen plasma for a carefully controlled period of time before embedding nickel. The plasma creates defects in nanotubes, which you can picture as holes in their walls. These defects play two roles: First, they serve as inlets, enabling more nickel to find its way into the nanotubes, resulting in longer nanowires and therefore better performance. Second, the defects turned out to work as active sites of catalysis. That is, by attracting the reactants into close proximity with the nickel catalyst, they further speed up the reaction."
The optimal mode of plasma treatment that causes all the right defects was first investigated by molecular dynamics simulations and then experimentally confirmed by the researchers.
The team reports that its single-walled carbon nanotubes loaded with nickel exhibit good performance, measured as catalytic activity per unit mass, compared with metal foams and other forms of nickel. The new catalyst is clearly superior in terms of its longevity. When tested, its activity degraded by less than 2% after 1,000 cycles of operation.

В проект федерального бюджета заложили средства на подъем со дна арктических морей советских атомных подлодок К-27 и К-159. На 2026 год запланирована подготовка, сами работы - на 2027 год. К-27 была затоплена в Карском море в 1981 г., К-159 затонула в Баренцевом море в 2003 г. во время буксировки для утилизации, при этом погибли девять человек. Вопрос об подъеме и утилизации подлодок поднимался неоднократно из-за угрозы радиационного загрязнения окружающей среды, однако до сих пор никаких подвижек не произошло.

Russia is working on a multi-billion-dollar project to extract two nuclear submarines from their graveyard on the Arctic seabed. The project, which is being planned decades after the submarines sank, aims to address the fears that they could lead to radioactive waste in the water.
The two submarines - K-27 and K-159 have been submerged for decades.
Last year, Norway’s Bellona Foundation raised concerns about the threat posed to the environment by the two nuclear submarines. The two nuclear submarines "contain 1 million curies of radiation, or about a quarter of that released in the first month of the Fukushima disaster," the op-ed piece by Bellona read.
In the past, Russia had stated that it wanted to start the project to retrieve the submarines from their watery grave, however no specific advancements being made in this regard.
Retrieving the nuclear submarine from the Arctic floor
According to a report by the Russian news portal RBC, Moscow had included funds in the draft federal budget for the recovery of the nuclear submarines from the Arctic seabed. The preparation is scheduled for 2026, with work set to begin in 2027.
The K-27 was an experimental attack submarine built in the 1950s for the Soviet Union Navy. It had two reactors with a radical coolant system involving molten metal. It entered service in 1963, but within just three days of entering the sea, the vessel’s coolant system leaked radioactive gases into the engine room. In the next two decades, the then Soviet Union tried countless times to repair or replace the reactors, but the project did not bear fruit. It was decommissioned in 1979.
The problem with the K-27 nuclear submarine was not diagnosed in a timely manner by the crew, and this led to its sinking, with at least nine of the crew members dying of radiation poisoning.
The nuclear submarine was decommissioned in 1979, and the then Soviet Navy filled the reactor component with tar to seal it before sending it off to shallow waters in the Kara Sea. The shallowness keeps it exposed to tides and currents, which can break it apart and lead to contamination.
However, the problem is that the sealant around the reactors was only meant to stave off leaks until 2032; the highly enriched fuel in the vessel could also generate an uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction, leading to a release of radiation.
K-159 vessel with 1,764 pounds of fuel
The K-159 nuclear submarine was not meant to be sunk, but it too met a similar fate due to a faulty operation.
The K-159 was also an attack submarine that suffered radiation leaks, leading to contamination of the entire vessel. Throughout its life, the nuclear submarine needed constant repairs to function. The vessel was finally decommissioned in 1989 and left to rust for over a decade.
In 2003, Russia received money from Baltic nations to dismantle the K-159 alongside other vessels. However, by the time the vessel’s hull had deteriorated severely due to rust, and it sank while being towed to the shipyard.
The incident resulted in nine Russian soldiers losing their lives, and 1,764 pounds (800 kilograms) of nuclear fuel went to the seabed 700 feet below, along with the nuclear submarine.
Recovering a nuclear submarine from the seabed is expensive, but Dutch salvage company Mammoet had succeeded in lifting Russia’s Kursk vessel from the Barents Sea in 2002. It remains to be seen whether the Dutch firm will be helping Russia with resources or expertise now.

При раскопках поселения X-XIII вв. в Ярославской области археологи обнаружили хорошо сохранившийся железный топор. Подобные узколезвийные топоры были распространены у финно-угорских народов в раннем средневековье, а данный экземпляр был изготовлен представителями народа меря, жившего в этом районе с VI в. н. э.

Russian researchers announced on the Rostov Kremlin State Museum's VKontakte page that an intact 10th-century Merian axe had been unearthed near the village of Shulec in Yaroslavl, reported Lenta.ru. The iron blade, preserved after a millennium underground, measured 12 cm by 6.6 cm and weighed about 550 g, according to the same report.
Anatoly Kirpichnikov’s typology of medieval weapons placed the find in the category of ear-shaped, narrow-bladed axes, a design common among Finno-Ugric communities of the early Middle Ages. Such axes served both daily work and combat, noted Kommersant.
"For the Rostov land, this is a very rare find," said museum employees, according to Gazeta.ru. They added that only three comparable axes had surfaced previously, all a century ago at the Sarskoye fortified settlement; none had been recovered elsewhere until now.
Archaeologists from the Rostov Kremlin Museum and the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences surveyed farmland around Shulec from July to September, aiming to map a rural settlement dated to the 10th-13th centuries and to document a nearby burial ground, reported Izvestia.
The team logged dozens of copper and iron objects - blades, domestic fittings, and fragments of farm tools. "An archaeological sensation," wrote Kommersant, noting that complete iron tools from early medieval layers of north-eastern Rus were exceptionally scarce.
The Rostov region preserves clear traces of the Merians, a Finno-Ugric people who lived in the upper Volga basin. The newly discovered axe expands the small group of reference specimens for Merian metallurgy that previously rested on the three Sarskoye examples, explained Gazeta.ru.
After cataloguing, conservators will stabilize the blade in the Rostov Kremlin collections before public display, and metallographers plan to analyse forging methods, charcoal residues, and ore sources to link the tool to regional workshops. If associated pottery or organic samples confirm its context, the axe may anchor an absolute date for rural Merian occupation, offering a clearer timeline for life on the early medieval frontier.

Группа ученых из Сколковского института науки и технологий, Института спектроскопии РАН, Исландского университета и Варшавского университета создала новую форму световой материи в поляритонном двумерном квазикристалле. Полученные результаты открывают пути к исследованию сверхтекучих жидкостей и твердых тел в условиях апериодичности.

Researchers have for the first time created a reconfigurable polariton 2D quasicrystal. The team from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Iceland, the University of Warsaw, and the Institute of Spectroscopy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, demonstrated that this unique state of matter exhibits long-range order and a novel type of phase synchronization, opening new pathways for research into exotic phenomena such as supersolids and superfluidity in aperiodic settings.
The breakthrough, published in Science Advances, was achieved using exciton-polaritons - hybrid quasiparticles that are part light and part matter. By arranging these polaritons in a Penrose tiling, a famous aperiodic pattern with five-fold symmetry, the team observed the emergence of a macroscopic coherent state where the individual nodes synchronized in a nontrivial way, unlike anything seen in conventional periodic crystals.
The allure of the aperiodic
Since their controversial discovery by Dan Shechtman in 1984, for which he later won the Nobel Prize, quasicrystals have fascinated scientists. They possess a paradoxical structure: They lack the repeating pattern of ordinary crystals yet exhibit a strict, long-range order. The unique structure of quasicrystals can be used to create extremely durable, nonstick coatings for frying pans and razor blades, making them last significantly longer. In the future, quasicrystals may lead to more efficient insulation for buildings and improved LED technologies for lighting.
From a fundamental point of view, quasicrystals reveal fractal energy spectra and unusual wave transport properties, such as Anderson localization of light. While studied in various electronic, photonic, and atomic systems, their behavior in a nonequilibrium, laser-driven quantum fluid remained largely unexplored until now.
The experiment: Painting with light
To build their quasicrystal, the Skoltech researchers used a sophisticated optical technique. They shaped a laser beam with a spatial light modulator to project a Penrose tiling pattern - composed of thick and thin rhombuses - onto a semiconductor microcavity sample. This "imprinting" of an array of pump spots onto the semiconductor material creates a potential landscape for interacting polaritons.
When the laser power was increased above a certain threshold, exciton-polariton condensates formed at each node of the tiling. Due to their hybrid nature, these condensates are not localized on the spots pumped by a laser but can flow ballistically across the sample, interacting and interfering with one another. By fine-tuning the laser power, the number of nodes, and the spacing between them, the researchers achieved precise control over the polariton system in aperiodic settings.
Long-range order and nontrivial phases
The team's most striking observation was the spontaneous formation of macroscopic coherence across the entire aperiodic structure, extending over distances 100 times larger than the size of a single condensate. The emergence of long-range order was confirmed by the appearance of sharp, tenfold symmetric Bragg peaks in the momentum-space photoluminescence - a clear hallmark of quasicrystalline order.
Furthermore, using a sensitive interferometry technique, the researchers measured the map of the relative phases between the condensates. They discovered that the nodes synchronized with phase differences that were neither perfectly in phase nor perfectly out of phase, a phenomenon not seen in periodic lattices. This "nontrivial phase locking" is a direct consequence of the complex, aperiodic environment of the Penrose tiling.
"The results are literally beautiful," said Sergey Alyatkin, the first author of the paper and an assistant professor at the Photonics Center of Skoltech. "We found a complex interference pattern in the plane of the microcavity sample as polaritons from different nodes of the Penrose mosaic ballistically propagate and interact."
The authors believe that the implemented optical approach opens a route to further physical realization of an aperiodic monotile recently discovered by mathematicians. The discovered monotile requires only a single shape of a tile to cover the entire plane without any gaps. Before this discovery, it was believed that a 2D quasicrystal could be tiled with at least two distinct shapes of tiles, the prototypical example being the Penrose quasicrystal made up of a pair of thin and thick rhombuses realized in this work.

23 октября началась вторая совместная исследовательская программа ДВО РАН и Вьетнамской академии наук и технологий на судне «Академик Лаврентьев». Ее целью является обновление и пополнение данных, которые позволят изучить геологическое строение морского дна, газогеохимический цикл, процессы формирования донных осадков, структуру океанических вод и оценить потенциал морских минеральных ресурсов. Экспедиция завершится 20 ноября.

Le navire de recherche scientifique Académicien Lavrentyev a accosté au port international de Cam Ranh, dans la province de Khanh Hoa, le 24 octobre, marquant le début de la deuxième étude marine conjointe entre l'Académie vietnamienne des sciences et technologies (VAST) et l'Académie russe des sciences.
L'étude, qui se déroulera du 23 octobre au 20 novembre dans les eaux vietnamiennes, vise à actualiser et à enrichir les données en géologie, géophysique, géochimie des gaz et océanographie afin de contribuer à la recherche sur les structures géologiques des fonds marins, les cycles géochimiques des gaz, la formation des sédiments, les couches d'eau océaniques et l'évaluation des ressources minérales marines.
Trente scientifiques vietnamiens et russes participent à la campagne pour effectuer des mesures, des prélèvements et des analyses dans de nombreuses stations de recherche du Nord au Sud du pays.
Prenant la parole lors de la cérémonie d'accueil, le professeur Tran Tuan Anh, vice-président de la VAST, a salué la coopération fructueuse et de longue date entre les deux académies au fil des ans. Il s'est dit convaincu que l'expédition actuelle enrichira les données scientifiques sur la géologie, la géophysique, les ressources et l'environnement de la Mer Orientale, tout en renforçant les capacités de recherche et en encourageant les jeunes talents scientifiques des deux côtés.
Il a exprimé sa gratitude envers les autorités compétentes des deux pays, en particulier les scientifiques et les équipages des navires de recherche Académicien Oparin et Académicien Lavrentyev, pour leur étroite coordination et leur soutien à la mise en œuvre harmonieuse du programme de coopération 2018-2025 et de la présente campagne géologique et géophysique.
De son côté, le docteur Renat Shakirov, chef de la délégation des scientifiques russes, a souligné le caractère particulier de cet événement, organisé alors que le Vietnam et la Russie célèbrent le 75ᵉ anniversaire de l’établissement de leurs relations diplomatiques et que la VAST marque son 50ᵉ anniversaire. Il a précisé que cette campagne ne se limite pas à un trajet de la Russie à Hanoï, mais traverse plusieurs provinces et villes vietnamiennes, mobilisant de nombreux chercheurs ainsi que des équipements de recherche modernes russes.
Les deux académies ont convenu de poursuivre les activités conjointes d’exploration et prévoient de signer, en décembre 2025, une feuille de route pour la coopération durant la période 2026-2035.
Le docteur Shakirov a insisté sur l’intérêt particulier que la partie russe porte aux données maritimes et océaniques. Il a estimé que cette campagne, menée à un moment riche en événements marquants, apportera des résultats prometteurs pour le développement de la coopération scientifique entre les deux pays.
Poursuivant le programme de coopération lancé en 2019, cette deuxième campagne contribue à promouvoir la recherche marine, à renforcer les liens de confiance et à consolider la coopération entre les deux principales académies des sciences du Vietnam et de la Russie. Elle s’inscrit dans le cadre du 75ᵉ anniversaire de l’établissement des relations diplomatiques (1950-2025), revêtant une signification concrète dans le renforcement de la coopération scientifique et technologique ainsi que dans la protection de l’environnement marin.
Les résultats de l'expédition seront présentés lors d'un atelier scientifique prévu le 21 novembre.

Археологи из Института истории материальной культуры РАН, Эрмитажа и Института геоантропологии Общества Макса Планка описали артефакты, найденные на территории Тывы в кургане Туннуг-1. Предметы относятся к раннему этапу развития скифского «звериного стиля» и проливают свет на его происхождение.

A new archaeological study has shed light on the early development of the Scythian "animal style," one of the most iconic art traditions in the ancient world. Researchers led by Dr. Timur Sadykov have analyzed finds from Tunnug 1, a monumental burial mound in the Republic of Tuva, Russia, dated to the late ninth century BCE. Their finds, published in Antiquity, provide rare insights into the development of this symbolic art form that would later dominate the Eurasian steppe.
The Scythians, originally of Iranian stock, were an ancient nomadic people known from as early as the 9th century BCE. They were renowned for their equestrian skills and played a key role in shaping the cultural and artistic traditions of the Eurasian steppe.
The Scythian animal style, famous for its stylized depiction of animals in gold, bronze, and bone, has been of long standing interest to scholars. It appears on such varied items as horse gear, weapon fittings, jewelry, and tattoos, and was more than a decoration - it was a visual language revealing identity, power, and cosmological beliefs among mobile pastoralist societies. The origins of the tradition have been in dispute for a long time, however, largely because most of the artifacts lack secure archaeological contexts.
The site of Tunnug 1, within the Uyuk Valley - known as the "Valley of the Kings" for its monumental burial mounds - opens a special window onto this formative period. Initially discovered in 1980 but abandoned for decades due to the swampy terrain, Tunnug 1 has recently yielded an unparalleled collection of artifacts, human remains, and horse sacrifices. The tomb, which can be precisely dated to between 833 and 800 BCE, is one of the earliest known examples of Scythian-type material culture and includes the full "Scythian triad" of weapons, horse gear, and animal-style motifs.
What sets Tunnug 1 apart is the simplicity of its artistic expression. Unlike later Scythian masterworks filled with gold and mythic symbolism, the ornaments here display only four species of animals - felines, birds, snakes, and ovicaprids (presumably wild argali sheep). The majority were made of bronze or bone, not precious metals, and served to adorn practical items like cheekpieces, harness appliqués, and weapon handles. This limited iconographic range suggests that early Scythian art was focused on wild animals as spiritual symbols of nature rather than on complex mythological scenes.
The narrow but powerful repertoire at Tunnug 1 contrasts with the vast menagerie that later evolved across the steppe. Researchers believe this first phase reflects a society engaged in formulating its social and artistic identity. The stylistic diversity of the artifacts indicates interaction among multiple nomadic groups, each bringing its distinct traditions and technologies to the funerary rites performed in the valley. Such interaction may have initiated the formation of a shared artistic vocabulary - one that evolved into the iconic Scythian animal style spanning from the Black Sea to Mongolia.
Tunnug 1’s findings also contradict previous theories that described Scythian culture as the result of a gradual eastward diffusion. Rather, the evidence supports a Central Asian origin in South Siberia and Inner Asia and suggests the possibility that the Scythian art tradition developed indigenously among early steppe groups and was not brought over from the west.
Aside from its artistic significance, the excavation of the site provides significant chronological data on the emergence of Iron Age nomadic societies. The precise dating and intact condition make Tunnug 1 a cornerstone in reconstructing the way ritual, technology, and art intertwined during the first millennium BCE.
Scholars continue to analyze the remaining material from the site in order to enhance our understanding of how these ancient nomads conceptualized their world through art.

В Кабардино-Балкарском госуниверситете им. Х.М.Бербекова провели модельный эксперимент с целью установить влияние внешних факторов на выделение и поглощение углекислого газа листьями и корнями растений. Ранее ученые установили, что почти четверть биомассы растений формируется за счет углекислого газа, который поступает именно через корни.

We’ve all learned the same story in school: plants breathe in carbon dioxide (CO₂) through their leaves during photosynthesis, and breathe it out through respiration. The roots? They’re just for water and nutrients, right?
Think again.
In a surprising twist to one of biology’s most fundamental processes, a new study published on October 17, 2025, in the open-access journal Carbon Research has revealed that plant roots can actively absorb CO₂ from the soil - and this hidden process is powerfully influenced by light, fertilizer, and atmospheric conditions.
Led by Dr. Amiran Khabidovich Zanilov at the Center for Decarbonization of the Agro-Industrial Complex and Regional Economy, Kabardino-Balkarian State University Named After H.M. Berbekov, this innovative model experiment is rewriting the textbook on how plants feed themselves - and offering fresh insights into the global carbon cycle.
A New Window into Plant Breathing
To crack the mystery of root-level CO₂ dynamics, Dr. Zanilov and his team designed a custom experimental system with hermetically sealed chambers for both leaves and roots, equipped with high-precision CO₂ sensors. This allowed them to track CO₂ fluxes in real time across the entire soil-plant-atmosphere continuum - a rare feat in plant physiology research. Using 19 maize plants over a 40-day period, they tested four distinct environmental scenarios, each designed to mimic real-world changes in farming and climate.
Light Switches On a Hidden Root Mechanism
In Mode A, the team explored how day-night cycles affect CO₂ exchange. What they found was striking: as daylight ended and photosynthesis paused, CO₂ concentrations in the leaf chamber rose, while those in the root chamber dropped sharply - revealing an inverse correlation (r = -0.859). This means that when leaves stop absorbing CO₂, roots kick in, potentially scavenging carbon directly from the soil air. Even more fascinating: root CO₂ uptake peaked during daylight when atmospheric CO₂ reached 367-417 ppm - levels eerily close to today’s real-world concentrations.
"This suggests that root-based CO₂ absorption isn’t just a curiosity - it may be an alternative carbon nutrition pathway," says Dr. Amiran Khabidovich Zanilov. "When light is abundant, roots might help buffer or supplement carbon supply, especially under fluctuating atmospheric conditions."
Fertilizer’s Double-Edged Effect
In Mode B, the researchers introduced ammonium nitrate fertilizer - a common practice in modern agriculture. But instead of boosting carbon uptake, the results showed a short-term setback: leaf respiration increased at night, and daytime CO₂ absorption dropped significantly, from 70.4 ppm to 92.3 ppm compared to unfertilized plants.
"The nitrogen boost comes at a cost," explains Dr. Zanilov. "It appears to shift the plant’s energy balance, increasing metabolic activity but temporarily reducing its ability to fix carbon during the day. Farmers may need to consider timing and dosage to avoid undermining photosynthetic efficiency."
Brighter Light, Slower Shutdown
Mode C tested how light intensity affects plant behavior. When illumination doubled - from 1750 to 3500 lux - something unexpected happened after lights-out: the leaves didn’t start respiring immediately. Instead, there was an 80-minute delay before CO₂ began to rise in the leaf chamber. This lag suggests that high-light-grown plants store more energy or carbon intermediates, allowing them to maintain internal balance longer once photosynthesis stops. It’s like a battery charge that keeps the lights on a little longer after sunset.
When the Air Gets Thick: Roots Shut Down
Finally, in Mode D, the team simulated rising CO₂ levels - such as those caused by intense soil microbial activity or climate change. As CO₂ in the leaf chamber climbed from 500 to 1500 ppm, something dramatic occurred: root CO₂ absorption stopped completely. At high atmospheric CO₂, the concentration gradient reverses, making it harder for roots to take up gas from the soil. This could mean that in a future high-CO₂ world, this newly discovered root carbon pathway may become less effective - unless plants adapt.
Why This Changes Everything
For decades, scientists assumed that plant roots were net producers of CO₂ through respiration, not consumers. This study challenges that view, showing that under normal conditions, roots can act as carbon sinks, not just sources.
These findings have profound implications:
For climate models, which must now account for potential root-level CO₂ uptake in terrestrial carbon budgets.
For agriculture, where optimizing light, fertilizer, and soil conditions could enhance carbon capture and crop resilience.
For ecology, as we rethink how plants interact with soil carbon in forests, wetlands, and croplands.
Spotlight on Kabardino-Balkarian State University
At the heart of this discovery is the Center for Decarbonization of the Agro-Industrial Complex and Regional Economy at Kabardino-Balkarian State University Named After H.M. Berbekov in Nalchik, Russia. Under Dr. Zanilov’s leadership, this regional research hub is emerging as a leader in innovative carbon science, combining engineering ingenuity with ecological insight to tackle global challenges from the ground up.
"This work shows that breakthroughs don’t always come from big cities or well-funded labs," says Dr. Zanilov. "Sometimes, they grow quietly - in a controlled chamber, in the roots of a maize plant, waiting to be seen."
The Roots of the Future
Plants are far more complex than we thought. They don’t just reach for the sun - they also listen to the soil, respond to nutrients, and adjust their breathing to the rhythm of light and atmosphere. Thanks to the pioneering work of Dr. Amiran Khabidovich Zanilov and his team, we now see a fuller picture of plant life - one where roots play a starring role in the planet’s carbon story. So the next time you walk past a field of corn, remember: beneath your feet, a quiet carbon exchange is taking place. And science is finally starting to understand it.

При раскопках жилого сооружения конца IV - начала III века до н. э. в Венгеровском районе Новосибирской области сотрудники Института археологии и этнографии СО РАН обнаружили необычную керамику, которая может принадлежать неизвестной ранее археологической культуре.

L’archéologie ne progresse pas toujours par grandes découvertes, mais parfois par des indices minuscules, enfouis là où personne ne pensait chercher. Au cœur des steppes sibériennes, une architecture inhabituelle, des ossements déplacés avec soin et des poteries aux motifs inédits dessinent peu à peu les contours d’une culture archéologique inconnue, révélée non par sa grandeur, mais par sa singularité silencieuse.
Un habitat figé entre deux ères
Dans les plaines de la forêt-steppe de Baraba, en Sibérie occidentale, les archéologues ont mis au jour un site qui pourrait bouleverser notre compréhension des sociétés eurasiennes à l’aube de l’âge du fer. D’apparence modeste, la structure fouillée dans la zone Tartas-1 se révèle être un complexe rituel unique, à mi-chemin entre l’habitation, l’atelier métallurgique et le sanctuaire. Ces édifices rectilignes, aux murs droits et aux fondations ordonnées, tranchent nettement avec les architectures connues de la région, souvent circulaires, creusées et fragmentées. Les chercheurs n’ont observé aucun foyer, aucune fosse de stockage ni aucun indice d’usage domestique.
C’est au sein de cette construction que des fragments osseux humains ont été découverts, mêlés à des vestiges de fourneaux et à des objets en bronze. L’organisation même du site laisse deviner des rituels de manipulation post-mortem, où certains ossements, tels qu’un talon ou un bassin, étaient volontairement déposés près des murs avant l’ensevelissement du reste du corps. Un agencement cohérent qui, selon les chercheurs, signe une pratique cérémonielle élaborée. L’équipe de Vyacheslav Molodin, de l’Institut d’archéologie et d’ethnographie de Novossibirsk, décrit ce site comme le premier complexe cultuel avéré de Sibérie occidentale pour la période de transition entre l’âge du bronze et l’âge du fer.
La culture archéologique inconnue se dessine à travers les vestiges rituels
Parmi les objets exhumés figurent des perles, des pointes de flèches, un ciseau, un fer de lance tordu volontairement, mais aussi des masses de bronze brut jamais utilisées. Leur disposition autour d’un autel en pierre suggère une fonction votive plus qu’utilitaire. Ce sont ces indices, répétés sur plusieurs structures, qui ont conduit les chercheurs à exclure l’hypothèse d’un atelier ou d’un habitat classique.
En parallèle, les fragments de poterie mis au jour dans l’une des maisons intriguent. Certains présentent des motifs en damier obtenus par impression textile, une technique sans équivalent dans les traditions céramiques connues de Sibérie. D’après les premières analyses, ces poteries pourraient appartenir à la mystérieuse culture d’Ust-Tartas, très peu documentée, ou même révéler l’existence d’une toute nouvelle culture archéologique encore inconnue, contemporaine des phases finales de l’âge du bronze. Cette hypothèse, avancée par l’équipe russe dans une interview à l’agence TASS, relance le débat sur les dynamiques culturelles propres à cette région charnière entre Oural, Altaï et Asie centrale, longtemps restée en marge des grands courants de l’archéologie eurasiatique .
Ce caractère inédit se manifeste dans les sépultures que les archéologues ont découvertes à l’est du site. Dépourvues d’objets funéraires, ces tombes accompagnaient pourtant la construction des structures voisines, comme si les bâtisseurs et les fossoyeurs suivaient une même logique. Dans cette organisation, chaque élément (bâtiment, métal, os ou poterie) acquiert une portée symbolique qui dépasse sa simple fonction matérielle.
Entre influences et innovations, une culture en mutation
L’analyse microscopique de la céramique extraite du site Tartas-1 a révélé une stratification culturelle insoupçonnée. Trois groupes se détachent nettement. Le plus abondant appartient à la variante orientale de la culture de Pakhomovo, une tradition régionale bien identifiée. Un second groupe, bien plus rare, présente des traits caractéristiques des poteries de la culture Begazy-Dandybai, originaire du Kazakhstan actuel. Enfin, un troisième ensemble combine des éléments des deux précédents, signe probable d’échanges ou d’acculturation. À cela s’ajoutent deux fragments tournés au tour, une technique étrangère à la Sibérie de l’époque, mais répandue en Asie centrale entre 1800 et 1500 avant notre ère.
Ces traces d’interactions valident l’hypothèse selon laquelle la région participait activement à des réseaux de diffusion technique et symbolique plus vastes, au lieu de demeurer isolée. Le fait que les chercheurs aient retrouvé l’un de ces fragments en contexte rituel, dans la même fosse que des objets de la culture Irmen (IXᵉ-VIIIᵉ siècle av. J.-C.), met en évidence la contemporanéité de ces influences et révèle la coexistence de plusieurs traditions au sein d’un même espace cérémoniel.
L’enquête archéologique se poursuit depuis plus de vingt ans sur le site de Tartas-1, découvert par hasard lors d’un projet d’installation de fibre optique, comme l’explique Arkeonews. Plus de 800 sépultures ont déjà été recensées, et la fouille méthodique continue de dévoiler une stratification impressionnante, allant du Néolithique à l’âge du fer. C’est dans cette profondeur temporelle que se niche donc la singularité du complexe, et peut-être, la clé d’un pan encore invisible de la protohistoire eurasienne.

Специалисты Всероссийского теплотехнического института провели испытания первой пылеугольной горелки с изменяемым вектором пламени, что позволяет регулировать его направление по высоте камеры сгорания и адаптировать режим горения к характеристикам топлива и параметрам работы котла.

A Russian thermal engineering institute has successfully tested the world’s first pulverized coal burner with a variable flame vector.
The new type of vortex burner can adjust the flame direction along the height of the combustion chamber. Developed by specialists from the steam generator and combustion equipment department at JSC VTI, the new solution is claimed to help reduce the process’s negative impact on the atmosphere, improve economic efficiency, and strengthen the technological independence of the domestic energy sector.
New pulverized coal burner design
This development is the first to be implemented at an industrial power unit and is unique in the global energy sector. The team claimed that the new pulverized coal burner design allows for vertical and horizontal flame direction adjustment, thereby adapting the combustion mode to the specific fuel’s characteristics and the current boiler operating parameters. A pulverized coal burner is a mechanical device that burns coal ground into a fine powder, or "pulverized coal," for high-temperature industrial heating. An additional benefit of this design is the ability to reduce nitrogen oxide formation by optimizing the distribution of oxidizer and fuel along the flame. This solution is innovative in global energy practice and is the first to be implemented in an industrial power unit, according to a press release.
New possibilities for solid fuel-fired power plants
"The VTI development opens up new possibilities for solid fuel-fired power plants. The ability to adjust the flare direction provides flexibility when switching between different coal grades, reduces the risk of slagging, and helps maintain optimal steam parameters," noted specialists from the Steam Generators and Furnace Equipment Department at VTI JSC.
The team highlighted that the development underwent pilot testing at Tomsk State District Power Plant-2, a branch of Tomsk Generation JSC. The tests were conducted under various loads and combustion conditions, allowing for an assessment of the impact of flame position on the boiler’s thermal performance and heating surface operation. The specialists also claimed that the technology can be utilized in both the modernization of existing power units and the design of new boiler systems.
Variable flame vector stabilizes the superheated steam temperature
Generally, a pulverized coal burner that burns coal ground into a fine powder operates by injecting pulverized coal with primary air into a combustion chamber, where it is mixed with secondary air to create a turbulent, high-efficiency flame suitable for applications such as kilns and boilers.
During a year of trial operation, VTI specialists observed the stable operation of the rotary elements at high temperatures, the absence of jamming, and the consistent performance of the device. Testing confirmed the reliability of the mechanical components and the effectiveness of the control system, as per the release.
The team also underlined that traditional burners are designed to burn a single, designated fuel type. However, in today’s environment, the Russian thermal power industry is faced with the need to switch to different types of coal, each with a different ash content and calorific value.
The institute’s new development addresses this challenge: a variable flame vector stabilizes the superheated steam temperature, regulates the heat absorption in the combustion chamber, and ensures a uniform temperature distribution, thereby improving boiler reliability and efficiency.

Исследователям из Германии, США, Канады, Швеции и России удалось получить второй полный геном денисовского человека. ДНК была выделена из зуба возрастом около 200 000 лет, найденного в Денисовой пещере в 2020 году. Расшифровка генома показала, что существовало как минимум три отдельные популяции денисовцев. Кроме этого, ранние денисовцы скрещивались с неизвестной группой древних людей и с ранее неизвестной популяцией неандертальцев.

For only the second time, researchers have obtained the full genome of a Denisovan, a group of ancient humans who lived in Asia. The DNA was extracted from a single 200,000-year-old tooth found in a Siberian cave.
The genome reveals that there were at least three populations of Denisovans, with different histories. It also shows that early Denisovans interbred with an unidentified group of ancient humans - and with a hitherto-unknown population of Neanderthals.
"This is a bombshell paper," says David Reich at Harvard University.
"This study really expanded my understanding of the universe of the Denisovans," says Samantha Brown at the National Research Center on Human Evolution in Spain.
Denisovans were the first ancient humans to be described using just DNA. A sliver of finger bone from Denisova cave in Siberia held DNA unlike that of either modern humans or the Neanderthals from western Eurasia. The genome revealed that Denisovans interbred with modern humans: people in South-East Asia, including the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, carry Denisovan DNA.
Since the initial reports in 2010, researchers have identified a handful of other Denisovans, all from East Asia. In June, a skull from Harbin, China, was identified as a Denisovan using molecular evidence, revealing for the first time what a Denisovan face looked like. However, while several specimens have yielded fragments of DNA, the original specimen has been the only one to yield a high-quality genome.
Researchers led by Stéphane Peyrégne at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany have now added a second. (Peyrégne declined to be interviewed because the study hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed.)
The team found a single molar tooth, belonging to a male Denisovan, in Denisova cave in 2020 and sequenced an entire genome from the preserved DNA.
Based on the number of mutations in the genome and comparisons to other ancient humans, the team estimated that the individual lived about 205,000 years ago. In line with this, the sediments in which the tooth was found were dated to 170,000-200,000 years ago. In contrast, the other high-quality genome is from a Denisovan who lived 55,000-75,000 years ago, meaning that the new genome reveals a much earlier stage of Denisovan history.
Based on comparisons with other remains from Denisova cave, the team says there seem to have been at least three discrete Denisovan populations. The oldest group included the male whose tooth was analysed. A second group replaced this older population at Denisova cave, thousands of years later.
"Understanding how early Denisovans were replaced by later Denisovans highlights a significant human event," says Qiaomei Fu at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in China.
The third group, not represented at the cave, interbred with modern humans, based on DNA testing. In other words, all the Denisovan DNA in modern humans comes from a population of Denisovans that we know little or nothing about.
The new genome reveals that Denisovans repeatedly interbred with Neanderthals, who sometimes lived in or near Denisova cave. Crucially, the genome includes traces of a Neanderthal population that lived 7000-13,000 years before the male Denisovan. These traces don’t match any known Neanderthal genome, suggesting the Denisovans interbred with a Neanderthal group that has not yet been sequenced.
The Denisovans also seem to have interbred with an unidentified group of ancient humans, one that had evolved independently of Denisovans and modern humans for hundreds of thousands of years. One possibility is Homo erectus, which, based on current knowledge, was the first hominin to migrate outside of Africa, living as far afield as Java, Indonesia. However, no DNA has yet been recovered from H. erectus, so we can’t be sure.
"It’s endlessly fascinating that we keep discovering these new populations," says Brown.

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