Publications
On August 14, at the age of 84, the well-known Russian scientist and popularizer of science, academician Sergei Kapitsa passed away. He was born on February 14, 1928, in Cambridge, UK, where his father – outstanding physicist and future Nobel Prize winner Pyotr Kapitsa worked at the time.In 1935 his family moved to Moscow. After school Sergei entered the Moscow Aviation Institute and in 1961 he earned a PhD degree in physics and mathematics. He worked at the Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute, whence he was fired after his father fell into disgrace. Sergei also worked for the Institute of Geophysics and the Pyotr Kapitsa Institute of...
Winning more medals than in Beijing 2008, the Russian national team delivered a decent performance in London if one forgets about the Soviet times. Russian Olympians ranked fourth in the national teams classification, but we have all grounds to hope for a higher rank in Sochi 2014 and then in Rio de Janeiro 2016.The Thirtieth Olympic Games that started in London on July 27 have already become history. This is not the saddest, though by no means the most glorious chapter for the national sports. Russia ranked fourth in national teams classification, having won 24 gold, 25 silver and 33 bronze medals. By the number of bronze medals we...
On August 12 our nation celebrated another round date: the 100th anniversary of the National Air Force. The aviation show in suburban Zhukovsky dragged on three days, from August 10th to 12th. And frankly speaking, there was a lot to see. Understandably, all the very best in the country is gathered for a festival. Judging by what took off and landed in Zhukovsky, we still have wonders to show.Another thing was confusing. When about two months ago the president puzzled various officials with his question about whether the country was ready to celebrate the 100th jubilee of the Air Force, a suspicion sneaked into my mind: somebody is trying to...
The law of national linguistic policy signed this week by Viktor Yanukovych is yet more proof of a well-known truth: the Russian language in Ukraine is an important instrument of the political game. When in the neighboring state, where almost half of the population speaks Russian, they start talking about imparting an official status to the Russian language, it’s absolutely clear that they are not pursuing the interest of common folks.The notorious circumstances of adopting the law “On Fundamentals of National Language Policy” are well-known. Having been twice in Ukraine this summer (to Lvov and Kiev), I could personally...
The World Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated on August 9 baffled the author of this column: are Russians an indigenous ethnic group in Russia? In fact they aren’t. The UN places 370 million people residing in 70 countries in the category of indigenous peoples, but there are no Russians among them, why?Before answering this question, I’ll tell you about my trip last year to Ooelkal. This is a camp of nomadic Eskimo hunters in Chukotka, living in full exposure to nature. In front of them is an ice-cold sea and behind them is the ever-frozen tundra, with 300 miles separating them from the nearest human settlement – no roads or...
In his interview for the Russkiy Mir portal sculptor Grigory Pototsky reflects on why the era of Mamontovs and Morozovs does not set in and why monuments to Dandelion should be installed all over the world? – The passion to set up monuments to Dandelion in different countries is perceived by many as freak. Aren’t you afraid of such a reputation?– I don’t mind this reputation, for it helps me do such seemingly odd things. Several countries have already welcomed my initiative and today seven of my Dandelions have “grown” in Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Austria, Germany, France and China.– And soon...
