Category: Наука

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The 4th School of Young Scientists on Synchrotron Research Methods in Materials Science is taking place at Novosibirsk State University from November 13-15. The project is supported by the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Synchrotron and Neutron Research. The event was organized by the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF) Collective Use Center, and Novosibirsk State University. Over 100 young researchers from Novosibirsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Koltsovo, Ufa, Tomsk, Barnaul, Dolgoprudny, Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk, Yekaterinburg, and Troitsk participated in the school.

NSU Rector and RAS Academician Mikhail Fedoruk welcomed the School participants. He noted that this is the second year in a row that the event has been held at NSU, but this year, the School participants will be hosted in a new classroom building, which opened on September 1st.

"The school's program is becoming more extensive year after year, and the geography of its participants is expanding. I'm confident that with the commissioning of SKIF, the intensity and richness of the events at future schools will only increase. The current school's program offers unique content, including master classes from leading experts in synchrotron radiation research, as well as lectures from leading scientists," said Mykhailo Fedoruk.

The work of the School opened with a lecture by the chief researcher of the SKIF Center for Use, Associate Professor of the Department of Solid State Chemistry of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU and the Department of Physical Methods for Solid State Research of the Faculty of Physics of NSU, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Jan Zubavichus, “Source of synchrotron radiation of the SKIF Center for Use: stages of commissioning and implementation of the Scientific Program,” in which he highlighted the main milestones of the construction of SKIF, introduced its design, instrumentation and technical equipment, visually presented the general scheme of the megascience installation with first-stage stations and spoke in detail about each, especially focusing on station 1-7 “Basic methods of synchrotron diagnostics”, intended for educational, research and innovation activities, as well as to increase the efficiency of the educational process and solve research problems for NSU students using the capabilities of a modern synchrotron radiation source. At this experimental station, it is planned to jointly implement several research methods: powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence analysis. This research complex will allow solving a wide range of scientific problems for various fields of science, including physics, biology, chemistry, geology, archeology and medicine and will become a main element in the practical training of scientific and technical personnel for synchrotron research. In their research, NSU students will be able to use equipment from other stations, in particular, a wide range of high-temperature cells for conducting in situ/operando experiments, unique superconducting undulators developed by the BINP SB RAS for generating superbright beams with a high degree of spatial coherence in the energy range 3-12 keV, as well as a unique electromagnetic undulator with switchable polarization developed by the BINP SB RAS. It is possible to generate X-ray beams with a circular cross-section; the station also has unique optical elements for focusing X-ray beams to submicron sizes developed by IKBFU. Kant and IPM RAS and unique ultrafast X-ray detectors for monitoring fast development processes at the Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS. The areas of research for which the station is designed are wide and varied: functional chemical technologies and materials, catalysis, geology, ecology, structural materials and materials for energy, structural biology, pharmaceuticals.

Completion of this experimental station is scheduled for December of this year. At that time, work on the Generation 4 synchrotron radiation source will be completed, and the integrated commissioning phase and design parameter acquisition will begin.

Each day of the school begins with plenary lectures from leading experts in the field of synchrotron radiation. Alexander Trigub, PhD (NRC Kurchatov Institute, Moscow), spoke about the study of local atomic and electronic structure using X-ray absorption spectroscopy; Ivan Bataev, Doctor of Engineering (Novosibirsk State Technical University), discussed the use of synchrotron radiation in specialized materials analysis; and Konstantin Kuper, PhD (National Research Center of Nuclear Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences), discussed X-ray microscopy and tomography using synchrotron radiation.

On the final day of the school, there will be lectures by Evgeny Sterkhov, PhD (Chemistry), (N.A. Vatonin Institute of Metallurgy, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg), on the analysis of the symmetry of modes of distorted structures of layered perovskites, and Igor Chernykh, PhD (Physics and Mathematics), (Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences), on how artificial intelligence can help in chemistry and materials science.

The plenary lectures will be followed by presentations by young scientists – students and postgraduates from Novosibirsk State University, Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, International Tomography Center SB RAS, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS, Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion SB RAS, A.V. Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SB RAS, A.V. Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS, M.A. Lavrentiev Institute of Hydrodynamics SB RAS, SKIF Collective Use Center, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Federal Research Center for Coal and Coal Chemistry SB RAS (Kemerovo), V.V. Engelhardt Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow), and others. This year, a representative of the Republic of Belarus, Ivan Grekov, from the Scientific and Practical Center for Materials Science of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (Minsk), is participating in the school.

"We consider presentations by young researchers an important part of our school, whose goal is not only to provide young researchers with the opportunity to attend lectures by recognized experts in the field but also to present the results of their research. Therefore, the speakers include not only graduate students but also fourth-year undergraduates. For many of them, this is their first experience of publicly speaking to the scientific community, and this is crucial, as the ability to present their research results to an audience is a crucial skill for every scientist. Some young researchers, on the other hand, are presenting reports on their work over the past year, as this school is a logical continuation of the previous one. However, the program of each school differs from previous ones, so new topics are added and the lineup of speakers is updated," explained Sergei Tsybulya, Head of the Department of Physical Methods for Solid State Research at the Faculty of Physics, Chief Researcher of the Catalyst Research Department at the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, and Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

As part of the School, young scientists will present approximately 40 oral and more than 20 poster presentations.

Master classes are an important part of the School, and young scientists are particularly interested in them. While at previous Schools they were held in parallel, this year the organizers decided to hold them sequentially: participants expressed a strong desire to attend several master classes at once, or even all of them, as part of the School's program. This year's School will feature four master classes: "Refining Structural Models Using Powder Diffraction Data in the GSAS-II Software Package," "Creating Models of One-Dimensional Disordered Crystals and Calculating X-ray Diffraction Patterns Based on Them Using the XD1DD Software," "Processing X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Data," and "Determining Parameters of the Local Atomic Environment from EXAFS Spectra." During the master classes, young researchers are taught, using practical examples and specific software, how to solve problems they will encounter in their work using synchrotron radiation methods.

The SKIF Center for Collective Use will be operational at the end of next year. It will be able to accommodate 2,000 scientific groups annually, so developing a user community is particularly important for us. This community should be comprised of researchers who understand how to use synchrotron radiation and how to use it to solve various interdisciplinary problems. I am confident that virtually every scientific and educational organization would be interested in collaborating with the SKIF Center for Collective Use, so it is crucial to provide the scientific community with the fullest possible information about its capabilities and to train specialists capable of using them. This school fully meets these goals. We value our ongoing and effective collaboration with NSU in organizing and developing the school's program and believe that this work has become increasingly important.

The school's program offers a balanced combination of theoretical knowledge and practical training. It is relevant and modern. The lecture program is very well-designed, covering various synchrotron research methods and the basics of synchrotron physics. Master classes on key X-ray synchrotron methods, using specialized data processing software, are offered in NSU computer labs. These classes are taught by world-class specialists, leading Russian experts in the relevant fields. This is crucial for preparing the SKIF Center for Collective Use's user community, said Jan Zubavichus.

The school is a satellite event of the International Conference "SKIF Center for Collective Use Users Congress: Advanced Research Using Synchrotron Radiation," which will be held from November 17 to 21 at the Boiling Point Center in Novosibirsk Academpark.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Novosibirsk, November 13, 2025: Today, the 3rd Scientific and Industrial Forum "Golden Valley 2025" opened at Novosibirsk State University. It is a key event in Siberia, bringing together representatives of science, industry, high-tech companies, and government agencies. This year, the forum brought together over 1,000 participants from across the country, including Khabarovsk, Barnaul, Kemerovo, Tomsk, Omsk, Kazan, Rostov-on-Don, St. Petersburg, Moscow, and other cities.

"This forum continues the glorious traditions established here in Akademgorodok by the founding fathers—the idea of close collaboration between education, science, and industry. The forum's overarching theme is the 125th anniversary of Mikhail Alekseevich Lavrentiev. His contribution to science and the organization of science is, of course, invaluable for our entire country. November 19 marks the birthdays of two great scientists and statesmen—Mikhail Alekseevich Lavrentiev and Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov. Therefore, holding the 'Golden Valley' forum on the eve of this momentous occasion is highly symbolic," noted NSU Rector and RAS Academician Mikhail Fedoruk.

The forum will discuss technology trends in key areas, divided into six sections: "Aviation and Unmanned Systems," "Microelectronics and Critical Technologies," "Energy," "Industrial Innovation," "Medicine and Longevity," and "Smart City Technologies and AI." Special attention will also be paid to the role of artificial intelligence in various areas of human activity. The forum will include panel discussions, roundtables, and open lectures.

"The forum's central theme is the anniversary of Mikhail Alekseevich Lavrentiev, the founder of the Siberian Branch. But this year, as we all know, we also celebrate the centenary of Gury Ivanovich Marchuk, who also laid the foundations for scientific fields in Akademgorodok. Since the founding of the Siberian Branch in 1957 and the subsequent establishment of the university, both science and education in our region have developed inextricably. Then, innovative structures—technology parks—began to emerge. Currently, Novosibirsk and Akademgorodok boast several growth areas, including, of course, Novosibirsk State University, Akadempark, and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. I am confident that the forum will gain momentum. Novosibirsk is rightly called the scientific capital of Russia; it fully deserves this title and will, I am confident, continue to uphold it," emphasized Dmitry Markovich, First Deputy Chairman of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

It's worth noting that this year's event is taking place in the new classroom building, which officially opened on August 29 with the participation of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Nikolaevich Chernyshenko. The building accommodates approximately 1,700 students and features four classrooms, one of which, with a capacity of 400, is the largest at NSU. It also houses a research library with a collection of over 1 million books. The building offers excellent conditions for student learning and project activities, as well as for hosting such large-scale events.

"We are honored to bring together the best minds in science, representatives of leading educational institutions, corporations, innovative companies, and industrial enterprises within the walls of Novosibirsk State University, in the heart of our Akademgorodok. This forum is a clear embodiment of our key goal: the integration of academic science, higher education, and high-tech business. The regional government sees its role as purposefully creating an environment conducive to such interaction. We place a special emphasis on supporting technological entrepreneurship and the commercialization of developments. To this end, we are implementing and developing a range of support measures: from grants for startups and incentives for innovative companies to expanding the infrastructure of our technology park. Our shared goal is to build effective 'tech elevators' that will enable Novosibirsk know-how to quickly move from a scientific idea and laboratory prototype to a sought-after product on the global market. It is here, at the forum, that the foundations for their launch are laid," emphasized Vadim Vasiliev, Minister of Science and Innovation Policy of the Novosibirsk Region.

Representatives of leading companies will speak at the forum, including the United Engine Corporation, Gazprom Neft, 2GIS, Novosibirsk Generating Company, and others. On the first day, a strategic session, "Innovations in the Fuel and Energy Sector," will be held, along with a meeting between industrial leaders and the leadership of Novosibirsk State University and SB RAS institutes, with the participation of the Office of the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Siberian Federal District and the Interregional Association "Siberian Agreement." The second day will feature a strategic session, "Using Artificial Intelligence Technology to Solve Public Sector Problems," with the participation of the Novosibirsk Region Ministry of Digital Development, and the MTS True Tech Day conference, "The World of IT from Within."

The forum will also feature opening lectures: on the first day, Mikhail Lavrentyev, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, will deliver a lecture entitled "Academician Mikhail Alekseevich Lavrentyev: Milestones in His Life," while Pyotr Marchuk will speak about the 100th anniversary of Academician Gury Ivanovich Marchuk. On the second day, Academician Sergei Alekseenko will present a lecture entitled "Extreme and Catastrophic Climate Events: Relationships with Energy," and Academician Dmitry Zharkov will discuss how cells repair genes.

The forum's partners included the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Council of Rectors of the Novosibirsk Region, the "Commonwealth. Efficiency. Development" (CED) Business Club of Enterprise Managers, the NSU Alumni Association, the Novosibirsk Academgorodok Technopark, the Sistema Charitable Foundation, and the MTS digital ecosystem. The forum is supported by the Government of the Novosibirsk Region.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Comet 3I/ATLAS is the third interstellar object discovered by the American ATLAS automated telescope system. Unlike the previous interstellar objects—the asteroid 1I/Oumuamua and comet 2I/Borisov—which remained very faint throughout their entire period of visibility, comet 3I/ATLAS is comparatively bright, reaching a maximum brightness of approximately 10th magnitude, making it observable even with amateur telescopes, at least with relatively large ones.

The main feature of this comet is the pronounced hyperbolicity of its orbit, which makes it an interstellar object. The shape of an object's orbit around its center of mass is determined by its eccentricity. If the eccentricity is less than one, the orbit is closed; it can be closer to circular when the eccentricity is near zero, or, conversely, an elongated ellipse if the eccentricity approaches one. The orbits of objects gravitationally "bound" to the Sun are either elliptical (like planets, asteroids, and periodic comets) or near-parabolic. The latter case refers to non-periodic or long-period comets from the hypothetical Oort cloud, which is believed to be a cluster of cometary nuclei surrounding the Solar System at a distance of approximately 100,000 AU. The orbits of comets that fly from this cloud into the solar system have an eccentricity value of about 1 (i.e. their orbit is very close in shape to a parabola), which means that, while in the Oort cloud, they have a near-zero velocity relative to the Sun and generally move around the center of our Galaxy together with the Sun.

Comet 3I/ATLAS has an eccentricity of 6.14. This is the highest eccentricity ever discovered for a celestial body. It indicates that the comet was already moving at a fairly high velocity when it passed through the Oort Cloud, which increased further as it moved further into the inner Solar System. This suggests that this comet does not originate from the Oort Cloud, which would classify it as a Solar System object, but likely originates from another solar system. It encountered the Solar System by chance on its long journey through our Galaxy. It will pass through it and, unlike solar comets, will not remain in the Oort Cloud, but will continue on its way.

The exact origin of this comet is currently impossible to determine, including the star from which it came, as its age is estimated at several billion years, during which time it has traveled a very long distance in orbit around the center of the Galaxy. However, it was likely ejected from a stellar system as a result of gravitational disturbances during its approach to a large planet in that system or to the star itself.

Otherwise, aside from the hyperbolic orbit, 3I/ATLAS is a fairly ordinary comet. Some peculiarities in its composition have been identified, such as the relatively large amount of carbon dioxide it emits, and spectral analysis has revealed the presence of atomic nickel in the absence of iron, although these two elements typically occur in pairs in cosmic objects. However, nothing particularly out of the ordinary has been observed for this comet, either in its composition or appearance. Even some comets in the Solar System are far more unusual in this regard. However, comet 3I/ATLAS still deserves considerable attention from scientists, as its observation and study presents a good opportunity to study the composition and dynamics of an object that has arrived from very distant lands.

Material prepared by: Mikhail Maslov, engineer at the Vega Observatory of Novosibirsk State University

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The template effect of a small amount of additives of compounds with a similar structure (various saturated carboxylic acids and alkanes) on the process of self-assembly and crystallization of the channel trigonal structure of carbamazepine using a mechanochemical approach, crystallization in solution and melt was demonstrated by a first-year master's student in the Chemistry program and the training profile "Methodological support for physicochemical studies of condensed phases" Faculty of Natural Sciences of Novosibirsk State University (NSU Natural Sciences Department) Daria Zheltikova, under the supervision of Evgeny Losev, a research fellow at the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, senior lecturer in the Department of Solid State Chemistry at the NSU Natural Sciences Department, and candidate of chemical sciences. The key focus of her research was studying the phenomenon of polymorphism and the conditions for the formation of new solid forms of medicinal compounds, particularly carbamazepine, as well as methods for their controlled production. The effect of the compounds examined in the study on carbamazepine had never been previously studied.

Polymorphism is the ability of the same substance to exist in different crystal structures (polymorphic modifications). These structures differ in the arrangement of atoms (or molecules) and may have different physicochemical properties (e.g., solubility, melting points).

"The pharmaceutical industry is focused on studying the conditions for the formation of new crystalline forms of medicinal compounds, investigating their structures and physicochemical properties, and their interconversions. These processes address such important issues as the reproducibility of obtaining the desired substances, establishing the stability of drugs prone to polymorphism, and improving fundamentally important pharmaceutical characteristics: dissolution rate, bioavailability, storage stability, hygroscopicity, and other properties. To screen new crystalline forms, we primarily used a mechanochemical approach. This is a common method for screening the conditions for obtaining new solid forms of molecular compounds. Thanks to the wide range of parameters available for mechanochemical experiments, researchers can comprehensively study a selected system and draw conclusions about the putative mechanism of the processes occurring during the experiment. In recent years, mechanochemical reactions and transformations initiated by mechanical stress have been actively studied using various in situ methods using synchrotron radiation," explained Daria Zheltikova.

The young researcher's object of study was carbamazepine, a drug with antiepileptic and anticonvulsant properties, widely used in the treatment of nervous system disorders. According to the biopharmaceutical classification system, carbamazepine belongs to class II drugs, meaning it has low solubility in aqueous solutions and high intestinal permeability. Currently, five polymorphic modifications of this drug are known, which is quite unique and places carbamazepine in the class of highly polymorphic molecular compounds. Each polymorphic modification has a different crystal structure and molecular packing. In 1987, polymorphic modification II of carbamazepine, which has a trigonal space symmetry group, was first isolated and characterized. A distinctive feature of the crystalline structure of this form is the presence of extended tubular voids (channels) formed by the CH groups of the benzene fragments of the carbamazepine molecules. This substance is a good model object for studying the influence of experimental parameters on the selective production of specific polymorphic modifications and crystalline forms. The knowledge and patterns gained can be further transferred to other systems prone to polymorphism.

— The trigonal structure of carbamazepine, since its elucidation in 1987 and for several decades, was considered a polymorph. However, using a combination of physicochemical methods, it was recently established that the trigonal structure, which should have consisted solely of carbamazepine molecules, is a host-guest inclusion compound, where the carbamazepine molecules form a channel-type framework with solvent molecules embedded within the voids. The inclusion molecules will vary depending on the experimental conditions. It is the inclusion molecules that stabilize the trigonal crystal structure and enable its formation. Currently known inclusion compounds of carbamazepine are characterized by the presence of a small number of guest molecules in a highly disordered state, making their study quite labor-intensive. Various inclusion bodies of the trigonal form of carbamazepine can be classified as clathrates—compounds in which molecules of one substance (the "guest") are trapped within the crystal lattice of another substance (the "host"). The host molecules form a framework, while the guest molecules are located within it and held in place by weak intermolecular interactions, explained Daria Zheltikova.

Research into carbamazepine polymorphism and its formation of various crystalline forms began quite some time ago and was conducted as part of several projects implemented over the years with support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, the Russian Science Foundation, and the Priority-2030 program. The results were published in peer-reviewed international journals. This study continues work conducted earlier in the previous stages of the NSU Physics Faculty's youth competition "X-ray, Synchrotron, and Neutron Methods of Interdisciplinary Research," with support from the Priority-2030 program.

The aim of this study is to optimize the conditions for obtaining single crystals of carbamazepine clathrates with various guest molecules using various crystallization techniques and their analysis using a set of physicochemical methods.

Such exploratory work, despite its significant fundamental component, often leads to the establishment of the existence of new, previously unknown polymorphic modifications of medicinal compounds, which has direct practical significance, and also establishes correlations between the parameters and results of crystallization experiments, which can be useful in the study of systems similar in structure and properties.

One of the new scientific results obtained in this study is the demonstration of the template effect of small amounts of structurally similar compounds on the self-assembly and crystallization of the channel trigonal structure of carbamazepine using various methods—a mechanochemical approach, solution crystallization, and melt crystallization. Saturated carboxylic acids and alkanes—compounds containing a long, unbranched carbon chain—were used as structurally similar compounds. The template effect observed in the preparation of carbamazepine clathrates is based on the ability of the template (in this case, various carboxylic acids and alkanes) to organize the reactant (carbamazepine) molecules around itself, enabling the formation of a seed cluster, which serves as a precursor for the targeted formation of the final crystalline structure. All newly obtained compounds are clathrates of the trigonal form of carbamazepine, that is, the structure of carbamazepine contains inclusion molecules of the corresponding acids and alkanes.

— Currently, we are focused on optimizing methods for obtaining single crystals of various carbamazepine clathrates for further study and investigation of their stability at elevated temperatures. We obtained nine clathrates with saturated carboxylic acids and alkanes under various conditions. Our study examined six carboxylic acids and three alkanes. We have focused on only a few compounds from each group, as obtaining single-crystal samples for each individual compound is quite labor-intensive due to differences in formation conditions and certain experimental details. The compounds obtained have an acicular morphology—in simpler terms, they are thin, needle-like crystals. In some cases, the needle size is so small that it precludes single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis using laboratory diffractometers. For this reason, not all of them have had their crystal structures determined yet. We characterized compounds whose crystal structures had not been obtained using Raman and NMR spectroscopy, said Daria Zheltikova.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Gaysaa Hamud, a postgraduate student at NSU and a research assistant at the Laboratory of Functional Diagnostics of Low-Dimensional Structures for Nanoelectronics at the Analytical and Technological Research Center "High Technologies and Nanostructured Materials" of the NSU Faculty of Physics, was awarded a diploma for the best oral presentation, "Study of the Conductivity Type of Films of Non-Silicate Germano-Silicate Glasses," at the 16th Valiev International Conference "Micro- and Nanoelectronics – 2025," held from October 6 to 10 in Yaroslavl. The young researcher, who is also a research engineer at the A.V. Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, presented her paper in the "Materials for Optoelectronic Devices" section. For Gaysaa Hamoud, this presentation was her first oral presentation at an adult conference; previously, she had successfully participated only in student and youth conferences.

“We were the first to study the type of conductivity in germanosilicate glasses. This is the novelty of my research. This knowledge is important for understanding the conductivity mechanism in these nonideal dielectrics (in which so-called leakage currents are significant). In any materials – both semiconductors and dielectrics – there is a different type of conductivity: either electronic type, or hole, or bipolar. To improve the performance of devices that use a particular dielectric, it is important to know what type of conductivity is characteristic of it. The object of study in my research was germanosilicate glasses, which can be used for the manufacture of photosensitive MIS structures (metal-insulator-semiconductor structures). Previously, we obtained in them the effect of very good photosensitivity, which is important in their application for technical vision, light-sensitive sensors and memristors, and decided to explain the mechanism of its occurrence. The fact is that germanosilicate glasses are not an ideal dielectric; they conduct electric current. We take advantage of the non-ideal nature of germanosilicate glass (leakage currents) to achieve the beneficial properties of MIS structures based on them. For example, in MIS structures such dielectrics suppress the dark current, but do not greatly weaken the photocurrent. This leads to an improvement in their photosensitivity. And, perhaps, devices based on such dielectrics will replace more expensive industrial photosensitive devices. It is possible that such new materials and devices will be inexpensive, small in size, and consume little energy. However, in order to improve photosensitivity, it is necessary to establish the mechanism of photocurrent generation and the type of conductivity, said Gaisaa Hamoud.

The young researcher began studying the properties of germanosilicate glasses at the very beginning of her graduate studies about three years ago, under the supervision of Vladimir Volodin, a leading researcher at the Laboratory of Functional Diagnostics of Low-Dimensional Structures for Nanoelectronics, Department of the Analytical and Thermal Analysis Center, Faculty of Physics, NSU, a leading researcher at the A.V. Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a professor in the Department of General Physics, and Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. It took about a year to study the conductivity type in these structures.

Routine semiconductor methods such as the Hall effect, thermal probes, or dielectric charge relaxation are not applicable in this case for a number of reasons. Therefore, the scientists used the classical nonequilibrium depletion method by injecting minority charge carriers from the substrate into the dielectric in a metal-insulator semiconductor (MIS) structure. This method studies the current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of samples in the dark and under illumination. The study covered four sample compositions grown on different silicon substrates—n-type with n-type conductivity and p-type with p-type conductivity. A total of eight samples were examined. The authors varied the ratio of germanium oxide to silicon oxide in the films. They noted that silicon oxide has been well studied to date, while germanium oxide remains poorly understood, and a mixture of the two has not been studied at all.

Using the nonequilibrium depletion method with minority carrier injection, we can inject carriers of different charges—both negative and positive—into a dielectric. These are either electrons or holes. We can then observe whether they pass through our dielectric. The essence of this method lies in the controllability of the injection process. It is considered a classic, and researchers have been using it for over 40 years. One of the method's authors is Professor Vladimir Alekseevich Gritsenko of the Institute of Semiconductor Physics SB RAS. Using this method, we discovered that germanosilicate glasses have bipolar conductivity, which can involve both electrons and holes. We then refined this method by analyzing photo-EMF (the electromotive force that occurs in semiconductors when exposed to light). We noticed that no EMF occurs in a dark MIS structure without applying an external voltage. However, when exposed to light, electron-hole pairs are generated in the silicon substrate, which are then separated by the built-in field, generating a photo-EMF. Solar cells operate on the same principle: we expose p-n junction silicon to light, and electron-hole pairs are generated in the sample, which are separated by the field built into the p-n junction. If we short-circuit a light-illuminated MIS structure to a payload, the light energy is converted into electrical energy, explained Vladimir Volodin.

The MIS structures studied, based on germanosilicate glass films, can also be used as solar cells, but this was not the goal of the study, so the scientists did not optimize the relevant parameters. For this reason, their efficiency as solar cells does not exceed 0.01%, while 10% is required. Therefore, using them for this purpose is impractical, but that was not the researchers' intended purpose.

MIS structures based on germanosilicate films were studied in the dark and with illumination. Subsequently, by analyzing the nonequilibrium depletion during minority carrier injection from the substrates, the scientists concluded that germanosilicate glass films of various compositions exhibit bipolar conductivity. These findings were confirmed by analyzing the sign of the photo-EMF generated in the MIS structures under illumination.

It was important to confirm the results obtained from studying the current-voltage and capacitance-voltage characteristics. For this, we used an approach based on photo-EMF analysis. In our structures, even without applying an external voltage, but only under the influence of light, we observed depletion with band bending of approximately 0.5 volts in both substrate types. In our opinion, photo-EMF should not occur in the case of purely hole conductivity in an n-type silicon substrate, because holes do not accumulate in them but pass through the dielectric. However, if the resulting voltage reached the flat-band voltage (0.5 volts), this would indicate the presence of only n-type conductivity. However, when photo-EMF occurs that does not reach the flat-band voltage, both n-type and hole conductivity are present. We found that this effect is observed in all our samples when the photo-EMF is lower than the flat-band voltages for n-type and p-type silicon. Simply put, if the photo-EMF is zero, one type of conductivity is present, depending on the substrate; if the photo-EMF reaches its maximum values, another type is present. At intermediate photo-EMF values, both types of conductivity are present simultaneously, said Gaysaa Hamoud.

This fact further confirms that germanosilicate glass exhibits bipolar conductivity. In the future, the scientists intend to focus on improving the photosensitivity of the MIS structures they are studying. The results of this research will be applied in the creation of photodetectors based on MIS structures without a p-n junction. Currently, commercially available photosensitive devices operate using a p-n junction, but photosensitive devices without this junction will be less expensive and easier to manufacture.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak on November 17. This stream, with a radiant in the constellation Leo, typically produces 10-15 meteors per hour annually. No increased activity is predicted for this year. The shower's radiant rises high in the sky in the second half of the night and produces fast meteors.

Significant outbursts of the Leonid meteor shower, up to hundreds or even thousands of meteors per hour (storm level), are expected in the 2030s, associated with the return of the parent comet 55P/Swift-Tuttle in 2031. The shower is expected to be especially active in 2033, 2034 (a meteor storm is possible), 2035, and 2037.

Another meteor shower that can be observed throughout the night in November is the Taurids. It consists of two branches—a southern and a northern one. This is a relatively inactive shower, with meteors being quite slow. However, it has a very long activity period—from mid-September to the end of November, with no distinct peak. Peak activity, about 5-10 meteors per hour, is observed during October and the first half of November. The shower also occasionally produces bursts of fireball activity. This year, the fireball cloud is expected to return for about a week around November 3rd. This is attributed to the Earth passing through a cloud of larger particles within the shower.

In November, two other weak meteor showers can be observed: the Alpha Monocerotids and the November Orionids. The Alpha Monocerotids have a radiant in the constellation Monoceros, while the November Orionids have a radiant on the border of the constellations Orion, Taurus, and Gemini. The Alpha Monocerotids peak on November 21st, at up to 5 meteors per hour, although historically, this shower has produced brief bursts of up to 420 meteors per hour in 1995 and up to 120 meteors per hour in 2019. The next peak in activity is expected in 2043. This shower is visible mainly in the second half of the night.

The November Orionids have a peak activity of about 3 meteors per hour, and the peak itself is not pronounced; it occurs around November 28, the radiant culminates around 2 a.m. and is quite visible for most of the night.

Another interesting event worth noting is the expected occultation of the Pleiades by the Moon on November 6th. Unlike the September event, this will occur in the evening, at a slightly lower but still respectable altitude above the horizon, although during a fuller phase of the Moon.

Here are the coverage parameters of the brightest stars of the Pleiades for Novosibirsk:

Electra. Starts at 21:00:44, altitude 27°, ends at 21:48:41, altitude 34°.

Merope. Start: 21:24:42, altitude 30°, end: 22:14:21, altitude 37°.

Alcyone. Starts at 21:52:36, altitude 34°, ends at 22:48:16, altitude 42°.

Atlas. Start: 22:46:44, altitude 41°, end: 23:04:31, altitude 44°.

The rather bright comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS will also be visible again. This comet is approximately 9th or 10th magnitude, perhaps even 1-2 magnitudes brighter. The first photos after perihelion show that it has developed a rather long tail. It can be seen in amateur telescopes low above the horizon in the mornings from late October to early November. Then, after the lunar passage, when the comet can be observed without light pollution, from mid- to late November (and especially in the third ten-day period of November), it will be visible high in the sky for most of the night. However, since its culmination time will be in the second half of the night, it will be more visible during this period.

The Leonids should be observed in the second half of the night, from about 1-2 AM until the morning, with peak activity occurring on the night of November 17-18. It's best to observe from outside the city, away from light sources. The same applies to other meteor showers. Comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS will also be visible in the morning.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Novosibirsk, November 5, 2025: Researchers at the Novosibirsk State University Center for Artificial Intelligence (NSU CAI) have developed a voice assistant for smart home systems that can operate completely autonomously—without an internet connection. The new device, dubbed "Commander," enhances security and privacy, allowing users to control their devices with their voice without fear of hacking or personal data leakage.

"The key feature of the Commander is that no voice travels beyond the device—everything happens locally, without accessing external servers. This significantly reduces the risk of hacking and data leakage," said Evgeny Pavlovsky, a leading researcher at the NSU Center for Information Security. "This solution is, of course, more expensive, but it's essential for those who are particularly concerned about information security and don't want a microphone in the home eavesdropping and sending recordings to the cloud."

The development was completed by Ahsan Shakur, a master's student in the English-language master's program "Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics" at the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics at NSU, under the supervision of specialists from the NSU Center for Information Technologies. In its current version, "Commander" can recognize commands such as "turn on the light," "turn off the fan," or "turn on the lamp in three minutes." But this is just the beginning—the system already supports several AI models and, in the future, will be able to analyze user habits, predicting their actions.

"We're testing the system so it can respond not only to direct commands but also to context. For example, if a person says, 'It's dark,' the device will automatically understand that the light needs to be turned on. All the data stays internal—nothing is transmitted externally," explains Evgeny Pavlovsky.

The device's operation is based on three artificial intelligence models. The first converts speech into text, the second understands the meaning of what is said, and the third executes commands. All of these models run locally, without connecting to cloud services. NSU notes that controlling household appliances doesn't require high computing power: the system can even run on a Raspberry Pi minicomputer.

In the future, "Commander" will be able to control any device that supports standard smart home protocols—HTTP, ZigBee, and LoRaWAN. This means users won't need to install additional software or search for special gadgets—the assistant is compatible with most smart plugs, lamps, and household appliances.

Developers believe that in the age of ubiquitous digitalization, security issues are becoming especially pressing. According to Evgeny Pavlovsky, most modern voice assistants, including well-known commercial solutions, continuously record and send data to external servers. This makes them vulnerable to both leaks and hacker attacks.

"Our idea is different: to create a system that 'hears' but doesn't 'transmit.' It understands commands and controls the home, but remains completely under the user's control. This is the right ideology for smart homes, and the market for such solutions is already emerging," the scientist emphasized.

The NSU Center for Information Systems Research team is currently continuing to refine the technology. The next step will be to integrate all three models into a single system capable of learning and adapting to the owner's habits. The researchers are confident that such autonomous solutions will be an important step toward creating safe and truly "smart" homes of the future.

To protect users from internal system errors, Evgeny Pavlovsky and his colleagues intend to use their Kappa framework for managing datasets and artificial intelligence models, which is designed to create a trusted artificial intelligence management environment.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Russian-Chinese Conference "Differential and Difference Equations" The conference is taking place at Novosibirsk State University from October 31 to November 6. The event brings together scientists from nine countries: Russia, China, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates. Around 150 mathematicians are participating in the conference, including more than 30 from China. Mathematicians from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Perm, Yakutsk, Mirny, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, Nalchik, Khanty-Mansiysk, and other cities are also participating.

The conference is organized into three sections: “Partial Differential Equations,” “Functional Differential Equations,” and “Mathematical Modeling and Computational Mathematics.”

Opening the conference, leading researcher of the International Scientific and Educational Mathematical Center, head of the Department of Differential Equations Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSUGennady Demidenko, head of the Laboratory of Differential and Difference Equations at the Sobolev Institute of Mathematics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that this is a significant event for mathematicians. A similar event took place in Akademgorodok exactly two years ago.

— The conference program covers many sections of differential equations, as well as their applications to various areas of natural science. Differential equations have had in the past and, of course, will have in the future a huge impact on the main types of human activity. Very strong relationships have been established between Chinese and Russian mathematicians. We now maintain close ties with a group of scientists from Shanghai University and Shanghai Customs University. Our conference became possible thanks to the very close cooperation of mathematicians at the S.L. Institute of Mathematics. Sobolev SB RAS, Institute of Hydrodynamics named after M.A. Lavrentiev SB RAS, Institute of Catalysis named after G.K. Boreskov SB RAS, Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics SB RAS and, of course, Novosibirsk State University. The connections between these institutes and the university were established more than 60 years ago by the founding fathers of the Novosibirsk Academgorodok, the great scientists of the 20th century – academicians Mikhail Lavrentyev, Sergei Sobolev and Sergei Khristianovich. I note that these three scientists made a huge contribution to the development of the theory of differential equations. The International Mathematical Center in Akademgorodok provided significant assistance in preparing the conference, and employees of the Laboratory of Differential and Difference Equations of the Institute of Mathematics named after S.L. were responsible for the preparation and holding of the event. Sobolev SB RAS and the Department of Differential Equations of the MMF NSU, as well as the group “Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems” of the Mathematical Center,” said Gennady Demidenko.

Shanghai University Professor Hu Guangda emphasized the importance of collaboration between Russian and Chinese mathematicians.

"Russian science has a profound influence on mathematical research in China. Our country has many scientists engaged in applied and computational mathematics. This is my third visit to Novosibirsk to attend a scientific conference, and each time I gain a wealth of new information. At one such event in 2019, I met the great computational mathematician Sergei Konstantinovich Godunov. Professor Godunov's research is a source of pride for Russian and human civilization as a whole. I have learned a great deal from numerous scientific discussions with NSU professors. Through the exchange of ideas with my Russian colleagues, I have been inspired and have further developed my research. And my paper, which I will present at this conference, is related to this research," he emphasized.

In his welcoming speech, NSU Rector and RAS Academician Mikhail Fedoruk noted the relevance and significance of the event.

"Differential equations are the most important language for describing nature for us. I've spent my entire life working primarily with difference equations, the equations of mathematical physics—primarily nonlinear ones—and I'm amazed at how relatively simple equations can describe complex natural phenomena. This is what's called the incomprehensible effectiveness of mathematics. Therefore, I'm confident that this conference will further advance both the theory of differential and difference equations and their application to practical problems, which, in my view, is the most important thing," said Mikhail Fedoruk.

Cong Yuhao, Rector of Shanghai Customs University, emphasized the importance of deepening academic cooperation in areas of science directly related to the conference's theme.

"Today, our Russian colleagues, following the academic traditions of their illustrious predecessors, combining theoretical and applied aspects, are achieving new scientific results. We hope that during this conference, we will be able to learn from their experience and become familiar with the latest research of Russian scientists. Mathematics is an international science, and strengthening academic exchange between scientists from different countries is an important path to continuous development. And our participation in this conference reflects this idea," noted Cong Yuhao.

Igor Marchuk, Dean of the NSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, said that studying at the NSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics is closely linked to research. In this area, the Faculty has established a long-standing and fruitful collaboration with the People's Republic of China. Students from China successfully study at the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics and defend not only bachelor's and master's theses, but also PhD theses.

Approximately a quarter of the conference participants will be young scientists presenting their papers. Many have previously successfully participated in student and youth conferences, but presenting at such a prestigious event will be their first.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The issues of infrastructure development of the territories adjacent to the construction of the Center for Collective Use "Siberian Ring Photon Source" (CCU "SKIF") were discussed on October 29-30 at the site new campus of NSU During the strategic session, Deputy Governor Irina Manuilova opened the strategic session. In her welcoming remarks, she emphasized the project's importance not only for the region but for the entire country.

"Today, we're discussing more than just a world-class scientific facility—we're talking about a strategic driver of innovative and economic development for the Novosibirsk Region and the entire country. The SKIF project embodies the best traditions of Russian science and opens up fundamentally new opportunities for breakthrough research. We see SKIF not only as a cutting-edge scientific infrastructure, but also as a powerful tool for shaping an innovation ecosystem, attracting talent, and developing high-tech industries in the region. I'm confident that this discussion will enable us to develop effective solutions to maximize its potential as a growth hub," emphasized Irina Manuilova.

The event brought together representatives of government, science, business, and the expert community to develop a comprehensive vision for the future of this large-scale scientific project. On the first day of the session, Alexey Ogonev, Deputy Director of the Department of Budget Investments at the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, also delivered a welcome address. Participants were presented with a master plan for the area adjacent to the SKIF Center for Collective Use, a presentation on which was given by NSUADI Rector Natalia Bagrova.

"Just as the decision to establish Akademgorodok in the Novosibirsk Region was right, I believe the decision to build a facility like SKIF here was just as right. Most of the people involved in developing the SKIF equipment are scientists from Akademgorodok institutes. It turns out that one point of growth gives rise to another. And the creation of SKIF marks the beginning of the development of the surrounding area. And today we will discuss what the territory of Akademgorodok and the Koltsovo Science Center will look like in the next 20-40 years," said Alexey Ogonev.

A key part of the program was the work of expert groups in three strategic areas: Scientific and Educational Ecosystem (integration of institutes, universities, and laboratories, attracting scientists and students); Urban Environment, Infrastructure, and Transport (access roads, housing, logistics, energy, and social services); Development and Implementation (financing models, business participation, support for startups and industrial partners).

On the second day, expert groups presented their work at the plenary session, "The SKIF Center for Collective Use as a Regional Growth Point." Airat Gatiyatov, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, participated in the discussion via videoconference. He emphasized that the creation of a mega-class facility is only the first step, which must be followed by the development of a full-fledged innovation ecosystem, including not only research infrastructure but also a comfortable urban environment, effective models of cooperation with industry, and programs to attract young scientists.

"The implementation of the SKIF Common Use Center project is designed to strengthen Novosibirsk's status as a leading center of global science, advanced industry, and knowledge generation nationwide, and to create a powerful scientific and technological hub around it. Our key goal is to make the SKIF Common Use Center not only a unique scientific facility but also a magnet for young scientists and innovation. All initiatives, comments, and suggestions received during this discussion will be reviewed and, where possible, incorporated into the master plan for its improvement," noted Airat Gatiyatov.

Expert groups presented their proposals on the integration of institutes, universities, and laboratories of the SKIF Center for Collective Use, with particular attention paid to attracting young scientists and students, shaping the urban environment—social infrastructure and transport accessibility—and creating conditions for attracting business.

Participants in the strategic session identified five key projects for immediate implementation: the construction of the SKIF Center for Collective Use (CCU) training center—a separate building for student work—a scientific and business communications center, a cooperative data center, a pavilion complex for anchor residents, and an interdisciplinary research complex for aerodynamics, mechanical engineering, and energy.

NSU is one of the key universities training personnel for SKIF, offering specialized interdisciplinary educational programs. The university also annually organizes a school for young scientists on "Application of Synchrotron Radiation for Solving Biological Problems" and a school on synchrotron research methods in materials science. Furthermore, the SKIF-NSU research and education station will be one of the first stations at the megascience facility.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Faculty and students of the Department of Solid State Chemistry Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNS) of NSU participated in the International University of California, Santa Cruz, High Pressure Workshop on High-Pressure Crystallography (IUCr High Pressure Workshop). The workshop was held in Shanghai, China, from September 21 to 26.

The seminar program included presentations on various areas of high-pressure crystallography: from geological research and the analysis of superconducting materials to technical aspects such as the design of synchrotron and neutron stations. The event brought together high-pressure crystallography specialists from around the world, with 169 participants. A competition was held among the young scientists' submissions.

Elena Boldyreva, Professor of the Department of Solid State Chemistry at the NSU Department of Natural Sciences, presented an invited talk online. Poster presentations were presented by Nikita Bogdanov, Senior Lecturer in the Department; Svetlana Sharaya and Polina Kalinina, PhD students; and Grigory Zhdankin, Master's student at the Moscow Institute of Physical Chemistry and Physics. Nikita Bogdanov and Polina Kalinina's work was awarded prizes for the best work in the Young Scientists Competition and for the best talk. The talks presented research results, including those from Russian Science Foundation projects being implemented at NSU: "The Relationship Between Crystal Structure and Photoisomerization of Cobalt Pentaammine with Various Anions" (No. 24-22-00293) and "Structural Aspects of Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Phase Transitions in Organic Crystals under High Pressure and Low Temperature Conditions" (No. 24-23-00410).

The conference included a tour of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, where participants were able to see the experimental stations designed for studying substances under high pressure. They also visited the HPSTAR Center for Advanced High-Pressure Science and Technology.

The participant shared their impressions:

Grigory Zhdankin, a second-year student of the master's program "Methodological Support for Physicochemical Studies of Condensed Phases" at the Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, NSU:

I really enjoyed the diversity of the oral and poster presentations at the conference: from projects for synchrotron radiation stations designed to study substances under extreme conditions to research in mineralogy and the synthesis of new substances at high pressures (over two million atmospheres). I had the opportunity to interact in person with a large number of interesting people whom I had previously only known through their articles. This gave me a huge boost of motivation to continue my scientific work.

Shanghai itself turned out to be quite an interesting city for tourism. Between listening to presentations, we managed to visit several interesting places: Yuyuan Garden, the Shanghai Aquarium, Nanjing Road, and People's Square.

Polina Kalinina, first-year PhD student at the Faculty of Natural Sciences:

It was fascinating to interact with various scientists, both leading experts in high-pressure crystallography and emerging young researchers. It was also helpful to see firsthand how high pressures are applied in various fields of research—it broadens your horizons and inspires new research beyond your own. For example, I was particularly interested in the work investigating the composition of the Earth's mantle, as well as the work aimed at producing hexagonal diamond—lonsdaleite. It was gratifying to see the conference participants' interest in my work and that of my colleagues; there were many positive wishes and encouragement. I am very motivated when my work is interesting to people who are seeing it for the first time.

Svetlana Sharaya, 3rd year PhD student at the Faculty of Natural Sciences:

A huge number of presentations at the conference were devoted to synchrotron topics and the use of synchrotron radiation for high-pressure crystallography research. It was very interesting to hear the experiences of colleagues from China and other countries in setting up stations and conducting experiments using synchrotron radiation. This was useful for us, as the knowledge gained can be applied at the SKIF facility currently under construction in Koltsovo.

Furthermore, the conference featured presentations that weren't directly related to crystal study methods, but focused on the fundamentals of mathematical crystallography. This was useful for me as a budding scientist. I particularly remember the presentation on predicting crystal symmetry before and after a phase transition, taking into account the structure and properties based on group theory.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.