Monday is this country's Science Day, marking 286 years since Emperor Peter the Great decreed the creation of the Russian Academy of Sciences. President Yeltsin established the occasion in 1999 on the Academy's 275th foundation anniversary.
Full Member of the Academy Professor Vladimir Fortov conducts research into physical phenomena occurring under super-high pressures and temperatures. He briefed our correspondent on latest progress in his field:
"Experiments at the Nuclear Research Centre in Sarov produced deuterium plasma compressed to several million atmospheres. My colleagues around the world hail this as a significant achievement.
Pressure inside giant planets like Jupiter may reach 60 million atmospheres. Attempts to create such conditions by focused explosion result in up to 5 million atmospheres".
- For 15 years now, you and some of your colleagues in Germany have been successfully using the Russian Mir orbiter and the International Space Station for examining the properties of dust plasma in zero gravity. Many believe this research deserves a Nobel Prize. What are your latest breakthroughs in it?
"A week ago, a Russian-German experiment conducted by remote control from the Russian Space Training Centre near Moscow created regular crystals out of dust plasma on board the ISS. Many look forward to fantastic technologies at the end of this research avenue".
Could you prioritize challenges and tasks before this country's science?
"Setting priorities in fundamental science is mission impossible. The problem is breakthroughs usually happen where we least expect them. Speaking of science socially, I would prioritize measures to attract young talent to R&D work".
- How are you going to mark Science Day?
"By working in my lab".
Please rate: