Annual credit: scientists were awarded for a microscope in orbit and the "transparency" of a nuclear reactor

Specialists in the field of microelectronics, biomedicine and radiation control systems and other fields have received prestigious awards from the Moscow government in honor of Russian Science Day. The technologies they have developed have already gone beyond laboratories and are used in key industries, from healthcare to the space and nuclear industries. Izvestia spoke with three of the laureates — read more in our article.

Space under the microscope

One of the laureates was Artem Loginov, the leading designer of the Proton Plant, the author of a unique probe microscope, which was first placed on board a small CubeSat satellite. Such ultra-small spacecraft weighing up to several kilograms are used for scientific research and educational purposes.

The device works directly in orbit and automatically records how solar wind, radiation and cosmic dust affect spacecraft materials. The microscope is installed on an open platform on board the Nanoprobe-1 satellite, launched into orbit in 2023, and regularly scans the surface of the test plate, which is under direct exposure to cosmic radiation, forming three-dimensional images of its condition.

The practical benefits of such a system manifest themselves in several directions at once.

"The data obtained helps to assess the level of pollution and radiation load in different orbits, which is important when choosing trajectories for expensive long—life satellites. In addition, the results are used in the design of interplanetary missions, where vehicles have been in an aggressive space environment for years. Research has also shown a link between solar activity and the rate of degradation of materials, which makes it possible to take into account the phases of the solar cycle when planning launches and increase the reliability of future missions," Artem Loginov told Izvestia.

Viruses against cancer

Anastasia Lipatova, a senior researcher at the V.A. Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, won the award with a project to create recombinant oncolytic viruses, a new class of drugs for the treatment of malignant tumors. They selectively attack cancer cells, including aggressive and poorly amenable forms of standard therapy, without damaging healthy tissues. This approach is effective against tumors resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and treatment is not accompanied by serious side effects.

The key feature of the development is the dual mechanism of action.

— Viruses not only destroy the tumor directly, but also "highlight" it to the patient's immune system, helping the body to fight the disease on its own and prevent the appearance of metastasis. Within the framework of the project, special models were created for preclinical trials, which confirmed the safety and high efficacy of the therapy. The drugs are currently undergoing clinical trials, and the technology itself opens the way to more affordable and personalized cancer treatment," Anastasia Lipatova noted.

A safe atom

Maria Deryabina, Chief Designer of spectrometric radiation monitoring Equipment at JSC Specialized Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Engineering, became another laureate. She has developed specialized spectrometric complexes for radiation safety of nuclear power plants. These devices make it possible to analyze in real time the composition of inert radioactive gases in the ventilation system of nuclear power plants and the coolant in VVER-type reactor installations (shell-mounted nuclear power reactors using ordinary water simultaneously as a moderator and coolant).

"Unlike the already familiar systems that recorded only the general level of radiation, the new spectrometers identify specific unstable atoms (isotopes) capable of spontaneous radioactive decay with the emission of ionizing radiation, and allow measuring their activity," she said.

This accuracy makes it possible to monitor the state of the reactor core and nuclear power plant emissions at a fundamentally new level. This is important not only for the operational management of technological processes, but also for the protection of the public and the environment. The development took five years and has no direct analogues either in Russia or abroad. Today, these complexes are part of modern automated radiation monitoring systems and fully comply with international safety requirements.

The details of the projects were shared with Izvestia in the press service of the Moscow Department of Education and Science. All three stories show that science is not only theoretical research, but also applied solutions to real problems. From the choice of orbits for satellites and the treatment of severe forms of cancer to ensuring the safety of nuclear energy, the developments of young scientists are already influencing key industries and shaping the technological groundwork for years to come, they stressed.