Апрель 2026 г.

Российская наука и мир (по материалам зарубежной электронной прессы)

CONTENTS / ОГЛАВЛЕНИЕ


• Extraordinary burial: Dog sacrifices found beneath overturned child cradles in Yakutia
• Russian scientists develop wearable device to measure stress through skin
• Russian researchers develop spruce-based compounds believed effective against blood clotting
• Russia delays lunar missions as US marks historic flight
• 10th-century treasure discovery reveals Europe-wide trade links
• Scientists show that nickel compound can convert heavy oil into light oil in the reservoir
• En Tchétchénie, une ville médiévale perdue vient-elle de refaire surface ?
• Medieval Karelian warrior burial discovered in Russia reveals rare Christian cross with Gotland links
• Ce qui arrive à la mer Caspienne rappelle la catastrophe de la mer d'Aral et c'est tout aussi inquiétant
• Ancient wallets lost in fire: Coin discovery in Phanagoria reveals daily life - and counterfeits
• GM poplar trees show tolerance to salt stress

Якутский государственный объединенный музей истории и культуры народов Севера имени Ем. Ярославского представил на выставке «Сэдэх экспонаттар» находку, сделанную сотрудником музея в 2006 г. в Таттинском районе Республики Саха (Якутия): внутри остатков жилища были похоронены две собаки, накрытые детскими колыбелями. Вероятно, это было жертвоприношение, предназначенное для предотвращения детской смертности - сохранились описания шаманских ритуалов XIX в., в ходе которых собак, которые в сибирских и центральноазиатских культурах часто рассматривались как посредники между людьми и духами, приносили в жертву.

A striking archaeological discovery in northeastern Siberia is shedding new light on ancient beliefs surrounding child mortality and ritual protection. Researchers in Yakutia have uncovered a rare burial of two dogs placed beneath overturned wooden cradles - an arrangement that experts believe reflects a sacrificial ritual intended to safeguard children from death.
The unusual find, now displayed in a museum exhibition in Yakutsk, offers a rare material glimpse into spiritual practices that were previously known only through ethnographic records.
A Burial Unlike Any Other
The burial was originally discovered in 2006 by archaeologist Vasily Popov in the Maaya Bochchuotaya area of the Tattinsky District in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). What makes the site extraordinary is not just the presence of animal remains, but the careful and symbolic arrangement of the burial. The remains belong to a male and a female dog, both placed on their left side with their heads oriented north. Their front legs were bent, while their hind legs were extended - suggesting deliberate positioning rather than casual disposal. Most remarkably, each dog was covered by a wooden child’s cradle placed upside down, an element that immediately signaled ritual intent.
The burial was found at a shallow depth of around 25-30 centimeters inside a dwelling with a rounded base, reinforcing the idea that this was not an isolated act, but one integrated into domestic or communal life.
Evidence of Ritual Sacrifice to Protect Children
According to Anatoly Semyonov, head of archaeology and ethnography at the Yakutsk State Museum, the burial aligns closely with 19th-century ethnographic accounts of shamanic rituals performed to reduce child mortality. Historical sources describe ceremonies in which two dogs were sacrificed to malevolent spirits - known in Yakut belief systems as abaahy - in order to divert illness and death away from children. Rather than being random offerings, the dogs likely functioned as symbolic substitutes for human lives, embodying a deeply rooted belief that misfortune could be transferred or appeased through ritual sacrifice.
"This is a highly unusual discovery that forces us to reconsider the spiritual strategies used by past societies," Semyonov explains. "The burial may represent a tangible example of rituals aimed at protecting children by offering animals in their place."
Dogs in Ritual and Belief Systems
The Yakutian discovery fits into a broader archaeological pattern in which dogs occupy a liminal role between the human and spiritual worlds. Across ancient cultures, dogs were frequently associated with:
• Guardianship of thresholds (both physical and spiritual)
• Guidance of souls in the afterlife
• Protective roles against evil forces
In Siberian and Central Asian traditions in particular, dogs were often regarded as mediators between humans and spirits, making them ideal candidates for sacrificial substitution. Archaeological parallels have been documented in other regions as well. In parts of ancient Eurasia, dog burials have been found near human graves, settlements, and ritual spaces - sometimes interpreted as offerings, companions, or protective agents. However, what sets the Yakutia find apart is the explicit connection to children, emphasized through the presence of cradles. This detail transforms the burial from a general ritual act into something far more specific: a targeted attempt to intervene in the fragile boundary between life and death in early childhood.
A Rare Archaeological Confirmation of Oral Tradition
Until now, much of what scholars understood about such practices came from ethnographic accounts recorded centuries after the rituals themselves were performed. Physical evidence directly supporting these traditions has been scarce.
This burial provides something different: archaeological confirmation of a belief system long preserved in oral and written records. The combination of animal sacrifice, symbolic objects, and domestic context offers a rare, multi-layered dataset for understanding how ancient communities confronted one of their greatest challenges - the high mortality rate of infants and young children.
Exhibition Brings the Discovery to Public View
The burial is currently featured in the exhibition "Sedekh: Artifacts of the Yakut Museum", which opened on April 2 in Yakutsk. The exhibition presents more than 60 artifacts collected through archaeological excavations and ethnographic research across the region. By placing this discovery within a broader cultural framework, the exhibition highlights not only the technical aspects of the find but also its emotional and human dimension.
A Ritual Designed to Protect Children
This find is more than an unusual burial - it is a powerful reminder of how past societies coped with uncertainty, illness, and loss. In a world where medical knowledge was limited, ritual practices became a form of emotional and spiritual resilience, offering communities a sense of control over forces they could not otherwise understand.
The Yakutia dog burial stands as a rare and poignant testament to that struggle - one in which animals were not merely companions, but participants in a deeply human effort to protect the next generation.

В Институте физики полупроводников СО РАН разработали и запатентовали недорогой и эффективный датчик, отслеживающий в реальном времени уровень стресса. Портативный прибор закрепляется на руке и определяет концентрацию кортизола через кожу. Сенсор обладает повышенной чувствительностью к кортизолу за счет использования тончайшего слоя полупроводника всего в 20 нанометров.

Researchers at the Institute of Semiconductor Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed and patented a wearable sensor that attaches to the arm and measures stress levels through the skin.
The device is sensitive to cortisol concentrations and other stress indicators found in sweat. Monitoring stress is important for early detection of serious conditions, lifestyle adjustments and maintaining mental health. According to the researchers, existing solutions often lack sufficient sensitivity to cortisol and cannot accurately track real-time changes in psychological and emotional states. They also tend to be costly and rely on indirect indicators, such as skin conductivity or antibody-based methods, reducing their effectiveness.
The new device aims to address these limitations. It is low-cost, easy to manufacture and simple to use, while delivering more precise results. The sensor achieves high sensitivity to cortisol using a flexible substrate coated with an ultra-thin, 20-nanometre layer of a conductive composite material made of graphene, an organic polymer and ethylene glycol, which reduces electrical resistance and enhances sensitivity. The layer can be applied using two-dimensional printing or drop-casting techniques.
The researchers said sweat consists of about 98 percent water and 2 percent chemical compounds, including salts, oxygen, glucose, adrenaline, cortisol, dopamine and enzymes.
The sensing unit is worn on the wrist, allowing sweat to interact with the sensitive layer. This leads to charge accumulation and increased electrical conductivity of the sensor.

Красноярские ученые разработали антикоагулянт на основе природного полисахарида галактоглюкоманнана, выделенного из еловой древесины. К полисахариду были добавлены сульфатные группы, что улучшило растворимость соединений в воде и повысило их биологическую активность.

Russian researchers have developed new compounds based on spruce extracts, which they say, as shown in lab tests, are effective in slowing blood clotting, according to a recently published study.
According to the study published in the open-access scientific journal Polysaccharides, the researchers obtained the chemical compounds after modifying the structure of a natural polysaccharide substance extracted from spruce, a process involving adding sulfates that can make the compounds better dissolve in water.
Natural plant polysaccharides are known for being safe and biocompatible with the human body.
In the study, researchers from the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center, in partnership with the Siberian Federal University and the Russian Ministry of Health, found in lab tests that the modified compounds can work to slow down blood clotting, which is important in preventing diseases such as thrombosis.
In addition, the online report said that the compounds demonstrated strong antioxidant properties, neutralizing up to 96 percent of free radicals - harmful molecules that can damage cells and speed up aging and the development of diseases.
Researchers believe that the new findings could lead to the development of new, more effective medicines with fewer side effects and lower doses, and that the modified compounds could also be used to develop drug delivery systems and biomedical coatings that resist clot formation.

Россия отложила запуск трех лунных миссий, «Луна-28», «Луна-29» и «Луна-30», до 2032-2036 годов.

Russia has pushed back the launch of three moon missions, the Interfax news agency said on Tuesday, a setback to its ambitious lunar exploration programme as longtime space rival, the United States, celebrated an historic flight around the moon.
The launches of Russian spacecraft Luna-28, Luna-29, and Luna-30 have been postponed to 2032-2036, Interfax quoted Russian Academy of Sciences Vice President Sergei Chernyshev as saying.
It did not say when they had originally been slated to lift off, but the unexplained delays follow postponements last year to other Russian lunar and space missions and the crash of its unmanned Luna-25 craft into the surface of the moon in 2023.
Russia sees lunar exploration as vital to its national interests, the head of Russia's space agency Roskosmos said after the failed 2023 mission, saying the race was on to develop the moon's natural resources.
The Soviet Union launched the world's first satellite and sent the first human into space in the 1960s, but Russia's once mighty space programme has declined in the post-Soviet era, falling behind the U.S. and, increasingly, China.
This week, four astronauts from NASA's Artemis II mission were the first to fly around the moon in over 50 years, travelling further into space than any humans before them.

Клад последней трети X века, получивший название «Воздвиженский», был обнаружен в 2024 г. при раскопках на Софийской стороне Великого Новгорода. Помимо монет, археологи обнаружили несколько десятков украшений, в том числе серебряные бусины разнобразных форм и узоров. Исследование, проведенное учеными из Института археологии РАН и НИЦ «Курчатовский институт», позволило определить регионы происхождения бус, а также способы изготовления и состав металла.

A large hoard of jewellery discovered in the Russian city of Veliky Novgorod is providing new insights into long-distance trade and cultural exchange in medieval Europe. Veliky Novgorod is one of the oldest cities in Russia, mentioned in the Sofia First Chronicle and the Novgorod First Chronicle from the 9th century AD.
The hoard, known as the Vozdvizhensky Treasure, dates to the late 10th century AD and consists of 39 intricately crafted silver beads alongside an ornate necklace. According to a new study by researchers from the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the hoard underscores the extensive international networks that shaped this key trading hub. The beads show a wide range of forms, including smooth, ribbed, granular, hemispherical, filigree, openwork, lobed and spiral designs. Researchers identified similar items in the Gnezdovo treasure and at Scandinavian sites such as Gotland and Värby.
By analysing stylistic and structural features, the team traced the origins of the beads across Europe. Granulated and openwork pieces likely came from Moravia, hemispherical beads from West Slavic regions, spiral forms from Scandinavia and lobed examples from Volyn.
"This diversity reflects an international style and demonstrates the status, wealth, and cultural identity of the ancient elite," the study’s authors explained.
Evidence of use and value
Close examination revealed varying degrees of wear among the beads. Granular and spiral pieces showed significant signs of use, while hemispherical beads were better preserved. This suggests the hoard may have combined older, well-worn jewellery with newer items.
The discovery of paired beads indicates they may have been worn or traded in sets. Importantly, even heavily worn pieces retained their value, pointing to silver jewellery as both an adornment and a store of wealth.
Advanced scientific analysis
To investigate the composition and manufacture of the beads, scientists employed a range of modern techniques, including optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray and neutron tomography.
The results showed that all items were made from high-purity silver, often fashioned from solid metal. Some beads contained internal defects such as microcracks and delamination, offering insight into the technical limitations of early medieval metalworking.
"The uniformity of the sizes of granules, wire, and foil suggests a highly developed craft tradition and possible standardisation of tools and methods used by different artisans. This confirms the existence of established production networks and a high level of craftsmanship," said the study authors.
A window into the Viking Age economy
The Vozdvizhensky Treasure is a striking representation of life in the late 10th century, when Veliky Novgorod was an important connection between the Baltic, Byzantium and the Islamic world. Silver - which was often obtained from Islamic coinage - was extensively reused for jewellery production.
While coins in the hoard allowed the date to be established, the jewellery itself reveals deeper insight into trade patterns, craftsmanship and social identity.
The reason for the treasure’s burial is unclear. It could have been hidden in an era of political instability, researchers say, or deposited as part of a ritual practice.

Казанские ученые при участии мексиканских и йеменских коллег разработали математическую модель, описывающую превращение тяжелой нефти в легкую прямо в пласте с помощью соединений никеля.

Scientists from the Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies, together with colleagues from Yemen and Mexico, have developed a mathematical model describing the transformation of sulfur-containing compounds during the upgrading of heavy oil in the reservoir.
It confirmed the high efficiency of the nickel-containing catalyst they had previously developed. The results of the study, supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation, were published in the journal Fuel.
To develop the model, oil field conditions were recreated in the laboratory, with dibenzyl sulfide replacing the heavy oil to simulate hydrocarbon molecules.
"To trace the key chemical stages of the process, we used a model sulfur-containing compound, dibenzyl sulfide, rather than a complex natural mixture. It allows us to reproduce the behavior of sulfur-containing components characteristic of unconventional hydrocarbon feedstocks while accurately recording the direction of transformations and reaction rates," says Ameen A. Al-Muntaser, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Petroleum Engineering.
According to the researcher, the sulfur-containing model substance helped create a reliable kinetic model, since real heavy oils contain thousands of compounds that simultaneously undergo various parallel reactions.
The experiment revealed that the nickel-based catalyst can remove up to 97 percent of sulfur-containing compounds, significantly increasing their fluidity. The model developed by the scientists includes 15 possible reactions occurring during the processing of sulfur-containing compounds.
"It not only demonstrated the effectiveness of using nickel compounds but also explained their mechanism of action. All of this will improve heavy oil production and processing technologies, thereby reducing labor costs and process costs," adds Mikhail Varfolomeev, project lead and director of the Kazan Federal University's Small-Tonnage Chemical Technology Park. "In the future, we plan to explore transition metal-based systems that, on the one hand, will possess surface-active properties and allow for the displacement of more hydrocarbon feedstock by altering interfacial tension, and, on the other hand, will form active catalyst phases during transformation for partial processing of heavy oil in the reservoir."

Городище площадью около 350 гектаров, найденное в прошлом году при раскопках Майртупского могильника (Северный Кавказ), может оказаться изчезнувшим городом Магасом, столицей Аланского государства. Магас, полностью разрушенный во время Западного похода монголов (1236-1242), неоднократно упоминается в арабских, китайских и персидских источниках X-XIII веков, однако его точная локализация - давний объект научных споров.

Les archéologues de l’Académie des sciences russe devaient simplement s’assurer que la voie était libre pour permettre le passage du gazoduc Novogrozny-Serzhen-Yurt par la Tchétchénie. S’ils pouvaient s’attendre à faire des découvertes archéologiques en chemin, rien ne les préparait à ce qu’ils ont trouvé...une cité perdue du Moyen Âge.
Alors qu’ils fouillaient le site de Mairtup, dans la république de Tchétchénie, les chercheurs ont mis au jour plusieurs éléments qui tendent à démontrer qu’il s’agit de la cité de Magas, capitale du royaume d’Alanie, prospère du VIIIe au XIIIe siècle. Le site s’étend sur plus de 350 hectares et doit être analysé pour valider ou infirmer cette hypothèse, rapporte le média russe TASS.
Des traces factuelles qui correspondent aux récits médiévaux
Le site tchétchène de Mairtup est déjà le plus grand campement médiéval jamais découvert dans le nord du Caucase. C’est en regardant la complexité des structures, de l’architecture et des objets enterrés - notamment des pièces de monnaie - que les archéologues ont commencé à s’interroger sur la véritable nature de l’endroit. Le site ne serait pas un lieu d’habitation lambda mais une véritable ville fortifiée.
Tout ce qui a été découvert jusqu’à présent à Mairtup correspond, de plus, aux descriptions historiques de Magas. C’est à travers les écrits de voyageurs arabes comme Ibn Rustah et Al-Bakri que l’on connaît certaines choses sur cette ville, dépeinte comme la capitale de l’Alanie. On sait par exemple que la cité se situait à trois jours de voyage du royaume de Sarir, dans le Daguestan actuel. Cela correspond à la localisation de Mairtup.
Une ouverture sur un pan inexploré de l’histoire
Le site en question porte des traces d’habitation sur des millénaires. S’il s’avère que c’est réellement Magas, cela permettra de mieux comprendre le Caucase et les dynamiques de pouvoir, tant politiques qu’économiques, qui s’y sont jouées. "Cette découverte nous permettra de rectifier l’histoire ancienne et médiévale de la Tchétchénie. Il s’agit précisément de la période historique pour laquelle il existe une lacune importante", indique Abbaz Osmayev, directeur adjoint scientifique de l'Institut de recherche intégré Ibragimov de l'Académie des sciences de Russie.
S’il s’agit de Magas, les archéologues en apprendront également davantage sur le royaume alain et sa civilisation, à la croisée des chemins européens et asiatiques.

В Приозерском районе Ленинградской области археологи Музея антропологии и этнографии имени Петра Великого РАН обнаружили богатое захоронение карельского воина XIII века - предположительно, одного из дружинников новгородского князя. Помимо оружия, монет и металлических нашивок-украшений, в гробнице обнаружился необычный крест - такие экземпляры до сих пор находили только на острове Готланд, игравшем в Средние века важную роль в торговле на Балтике.

A rich medieval burial of a Karelian warrior discovered in northwestern Russia is shedding new light on the early Christianization of Karelia and its connections to the wider Baltic world. Archaeologists working in the Priozersky District of the Leningrad Region uncovered what appears to be the grave of a high-status retainer - likely a member of a princely military elite serving Novgorod.
The find, dating to the 13th century, includes an exceptional assemblage of grave goods: a sword, spurs, silver coins, decorative metal fittings, and most notably, a rare bronze pectoral cross that may point to long-distance cultural and religious links across the Baltic Sea.
The excavation is being led by specialists from the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Over the weekend, the site was inspected by Alexander Soklakov, head of the Priozersky District administration, together with a local initiative group from the Sevastyanovskoye settlement.
A High-Status Warrior from Medieval Karelia
The burial was identified within a cemetery associated with the period when the Karelians - Finno-Ugric people inhabiting regions between modern-day Russia and Finland - were undergoing profound religious transformation. Archaeologists believe the individual interred was not an ordinary soldier, but a druzhinnik, a professional warrior in service to a prince, likely connected to the powerful medieval city-state of Novgorod.
The presence of weaponry such as a sword and riding equipment like spurs indicates not only martial status but also mobility and elite affiliation. These items were typically reserved for individuals integrated into princely military structures, suggesting that Karelia was more deeply tied to the political networks of medieval Rus’ than previously assumed.
Silver coins and ornate metal appliqués found in the grave further reinforce the idea of wealth and prestige. Such items often served both as markers of identity and as symbols of allegiance within the hierarchical world of medieval Eastern Europe.
The Cross: A Symbol of Faith and Identity
At the center of the discovery is a bronze pectoral cross, worn on the chest and likely displayed openly during life. This detail is particularly significant in the context of Karelia’s Christianization, which officially began in 1227 under Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich.
Unlike earlier periods where religious identity might remain less visible, newly converted elites often emphasized their faith publicly. Wearing a cross over clothing was not just a spiritual act - it was also a political and cultural statement, signaling alignment with Orthodox Christianity and the expanding influence of Novgorod.
What makes this cross especially remarkable is its rarity. According to archaeologists, comparable examples have only been found on the island of Gotland, a major trading hub in the Baltic Sea during the medieval period. This raises compelling questions about trade routes, artistic exchange, and shared religious symbolism between Karelia and Scandinavian-influenced regions.
Karelia at a Cultural Crossroads
The discovery underscores Karelia’s position as a borderland between East and West, where Orthodox Christianity, local traditions, and external influences intersected. During the 13th century, the region was not isolated; rather, it was part of a dynamic network linking Novgorod, the Baltic trade sphere, and even Northern Europe.
Karelians, originally practicing animistic and shamanistic belief systems, gradually adopted Christianity through political integration and missionary activity. However, archaeological evidence suggests that this transition was neither immediate nor uniform. Graves like this one illustrate a hybrid cultural identity, where traditional burial customs coexist with new Christian symbols.
The presence of a cross alongside weapons is particularly telling. In strictly Christian burial norms, weapons were often excluded, yet here they remain central. This suggests a negotiated conversion, where warrior identity and spiritual transformation were intertwined rather than mutually exclusive.
Scientific Analysis and Future Plans
Researchers have conducted X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis on the burial objects, allowing them to determine the elemental composition of the metals. This non-destructive technique provides insight into manufacturing techniques, trade connections, and material sourcing - key factors in understanding the broader economic landscape of medieval Karelia.
Local authorities have already expressed interest in preserving and promoting the site. Plans are underway to expand the excavation area and potentially designate the location as a historical and cultural heritage site. There is also discussion of creating a regional heritage cluster to support tourism, education, and continued research.
A Region Shaped by Faith and Trade Networks
Beyond the richness of the grave itself, this discovery contributes to a growing body of evidence that Karelia played a more active role in medieval Eurasian networks than previously recognized. The rare cross, in particular, acts as a tangible link between distant regions, hinting at connections that transcend modern national boundaries.
For historians and archaeologists, the burial offers a rare glimpse into the lives of individuals navigating a world in transition - where faith, loyalty, and identity were being redefined.

Обмеление Каспийского моря идет уже давно, но с начала XXI века его темп заметно увеличился: уровень воды снижался примерно на 6 см в год, а с 2020 года снижение доходило до 30 см в год. В июле 2025 года российские ученые зафиксировали самый низкий уровень с начала инструментальных измерений. Если раньше колебания водного баланса Каспия, представляющего собой замкнутую систему, были обусловлены сочетанием природных и антропогенных факторов, например, отводом воды для сельского хозяйства, то сейчас основной причиной является глобальное потепление. Экологические последствия дальнейшего отступления моря будут катастрофическими для уникальных каспийских экосистем, некоторые из которых рискуют полностью исчезнуть.

Elle nourrit des millions de personnes, abrite des espèces uniques et fait battre le cœur d’une région stratégique. Pourtant, ses eaux se retirent à une vitesse vertigineuse, laissant derrière elles des ports à sec et des terres désertifiées. Face à ce déclin brutal, la question n’est plus de savoir si elle disparaîtra, mais quand.
Le recul alarmant de la Caspienne, plus grande mer fermée du monde, entraîne des bouleversements écologiques, humains et géopolitiques dans toute cette zone aux confins de l'Europe. Les pays qui l'entourent semblent déterminés à agir, mais leur réaction risque d'être trop lente face à ce changement très rapide.
C'était autrefois un refuge pour les flamants, les esturgeons et des milliers de phoques. Mais les eaux qui reculent rapidement transforment la côte nord de la mer Caspienne en étendues arides de sable sec. Par endroits, la mer s'est retirée de plus de 50 kilomètres. Les zones humides deviennent des déserts, les ports de pêche se retrouvent à sec, et les compagnies pétrolières draguent des chenaux toujours plus longs pour atteindre leurs installations offshore.
Le changement climatique est à l'origine de ce déclin spectaculaire de la plus grande mer fermée du monde. Située à la frontière entre l'Europe et l'Asie centrale, la mer Caspienne est entourée par l'Azerbaïdjan, l'Iran, le Kazakhstan, la Russie et le Turkménistan, et fait vivre environ 15 millions de personnes.
La Caspienne est un centre de pêche, de navigation et de production de pétrole et de gaz, et son importance géopolitique est croissante, puisqu'elle se trouve à la croisée des intérêts des grandes puissances mondiales. À mesure que la mer s'appauvrit en profondeur, les gouvernements sont confrontés au défi crucial de maintenir les industries et leurs moyens de subsistance, tout en protégeant les écosystèmes uniques qui les soutiennent.
Je me rends sur la Caspienne depuis plus de vingt ans, pour collaborer avec des chercheurs locaux afin d'étudier le phoque de la Caspienne, une espèce unique et menacée, et soutenir sa conservation. Dans les années 2000, l'extrême nord-est de la mer formait une mosaïque de roselières, de vasières et de chenaux peu profonds grouillants de vie, offrant des habitats aux poissons en frai, aux oiseaux migrateurs et à des dizaines de milliers de phoques qui s'y rassemblaient au printemps pour muer.
Aujourd'hui, ces lieux sauvages et reculés oùnous capturions des phoques pour des études de suivi par satellite sont devenus des terres sèches, en transition vers le désert à mesure que la mer se retire, et la même histoire se répète pour d'autres zones humides autour de la mer. Cette expérience fait écho à celle des communautés côtières, qui voient, année après année, l'eau s'éloigner de leurs villes, de leurs quais de pêche et de leurs ports, laissant les infrastructures échouées sur des terres nouvellement asséchées, et les habitants inquiets pour l'avenir.
Une mer en retrait
Le niveau de la mer Caspienne a toujours fluctué, mais l'ampleur des changements récents est sans précédent. Depuis le début de ce siècle, le niveau de l'eau a baissé d'environ 6 cm par an, avec des chutes allant jusqu'à 30 cm par an depuis 2020. En juillet 2025, des scientifiques russes ont annoncé que la mer était descendue en dessous du niveau minimum précédent enregistré depuis le début des mesures instrumentales.
Au cours du XXe siècle, les variations étaient dues à une combinaison de facteurs naturels et de détournements d'eau par l'Homme pour l'agriculture et l'industrie, mais aujourd'hui, le réchauffement climatique est le principal moteur du déclin. Il peut sembler inconcevable qu'une masse d'eau aussi vaste que la Caspienne soit menacée, mais dans un climat plus chaud, le débit d'eau entrant dans la mer par les rivières et les précipitations diminue, et il est désormais dépassé par l'augmentation de l'évaporation à la surface de la mer.
Même si le réchauffement climatique est limité à l'objectif de 2 °C fixé par l’Accord de Paris, le niveau de l'eau devrait baisser jusqu’à dix mètres par rapport au littoral de 2010. Avec la trajectoire actuelle des émissions mondiales de gaz à effet de serre, le déclin pourrait atteindre 18 mètres, soit environ la hauteur d'un immeuble de six étages.
Comme le nord de la Caspienne est peu profond - une grande partie n'atteint qu'environ cinq mètres de profondeur -, de petites diminutions de niveau entraînent d'immenses pertes de surface. Dans une recherche récente, mes collègues et moi avons montré qu'un déclin optimiste de dix mètres mettrait à découvert 112 000 kilomètres carrés de fond marin - une superficie plus grande que l'Islande.
Ce qui est en jeu
Les conséquences écologiques seraient dramatiques. Quatre des dix types d'écosystèmes uniques à la mer Caspienne disparaîtraient complètement. Le phoque de la Caspienne, une espèce menacée, pourrait perdre jusqu'à 81 % de son habitat de reproduction actuel, et l'esturgeon de la Caspienne perdrait l'accès à des zones de frai essentielles.
Comme lors de la catastrophe de la mer d’Aral, où un autre immense lac d'Asie centrale a presque totalement disparu, des poussières toxiques issues du fond marin exposé seraient libérées, avec de graves risques pour la santé.
Des millions de personnes risquent d'être déplacées à mesure que la mer se retire, ou de se retrouver confrontées à des conditions de vie fortement dégradées. Le seul lien de la mer avec le réseau maritime mondial passe par le delta de la Volga (qui se jette dans la Caspienne), puis par un canal en amont reliant le Don, offrant des connexions vers la mer Noire, la Méditerranée et d'autres systèmes fluviaux. Mais la Volga est déjà confrontée à une réduction de sa profondeur.
Des ports comme Aktau au Kazakhstan et Bakou en Azerbaïdjan doivent être dragués simplement pour pouvoir continuer à fonctionner. De même, les compagnies pétrolières et gazières doivent creuser de longs chenaux vers leurs installations offshore dans le nord de la Caspienne.
Les coûts déjà engagés pour protéger les intérêts humains se chiffrent en milliards de dollars, et ils ne feront qu'augmenter. La Caspienne est au cœur du « corridor médian », une route commerciale reliant la Chine à l’Europe. À mesure que le niveau de l'eau baisse, les cargaisons maritimes doivent être réduites, les coûts augmentent, et les villes comme les infrastructures risquent de se retrouver isolées, à des dizaines, voire des centaines de kilomètres de la mer.
Une course contre-la-montre
Les pays riverains de la Caspienne doivent s'adapter, en déplaçant des ports et en creusant de nouvelles voies de navigation. Mais ces mesures risquent d'entrer en conflit avec les objectifs de conservation. Par exemple, il est prévu de draguer un nouveau grand chenal de navigation à travers le « seuil de l'Oural » dans le nord de la Caspienne. Mais il s'agit d'une zone importante pour la reproduction des phoques, leur migration et leur alimentation, et ce sera une zone vitale pour l'adaptation des écosystèmes à mesure que la mer se retire.
Comme le rythme du changement est si rapide, les aires protégées aux frontières fixes risquent de devenir obsolètes. Ce qu'il faut, c'est une approche intégrée et prospective pour établir un plan à l'échelle de toute la région. Si les zones oùles écosystèmes devront s'adapter au changement climatique sont cartographiées et protégées dès maintenant, les planificateurs et décideurs politiques seront mieux à même de faire en sorte que les projets d'infrastructures évitent ou minimisent de nouveaux dommages.
Pour ce faire, les pays de la Caspienne devront investir dans le suivi de la biodiversité et dans l'expertise en matière de planification, tout en coordonnant leurs actions entre cinq pays différents aux priorités diverses. Les pays de la Caspienne reconnaissent déjà les risques existentiels et ont commencé à conclure des accords intergouvernementaux pour faire face à la crise. Mais le rythme du déclin pourrait dépasser celui de la coopération politique.
L'importance écologique, climatique et géopolitique de la mer Caspienne fait que son sort dépasse largement ses rivages en recul. Elle constitue une étude de cas essentielle sur la manière dont le changement climatique transforme les grandes étendues d'eau intérieures à travers le monde, du lac Titicaca (entre le Pérou et la Bolivie) au lac Tchad (à la frontière entre le Niger, le Nigeria, le Cameroun et le Tchad). La question est de savoir si les gouvernements pourront agir assez vite pour protéger à la fois les populations et la nature de cette mer en mutation rapide.

При раскопках в Фанагории, в слое середины VI века, когда город был практически полностью уничтожен пожаром, сотрудники Института археологии РАН обнаружили небольшие скопления монет. Судя по всему, некогда они находились в кожаных или тканевых кошельках, утерянных горожанами во время пожара. Среди монет - позднебоспорских бронзовых статеров - обнаружилось и несколько фальшивых, причем, похоже, изготовленных с помощью одних и тех же штемпелей с ошибками в надписях.

A remarkable archaeological discovery in southern Russia is offering a rare glimpse into everyday life in Late Antiquity, after researchers uncovered clusters of coins believed to be the contents of "lost wallets" dropped during a catastrophic fire.
The finds were made at Phanagoria, an ancient city founded by Greek colonists in the 6th century BC. Excavations conducted between 2023 and 2024 in the city’s Lower Town revealed several tight groupings of coins - interpreted as the remains of at least four wallets lost as residents fled a devastating blaze in the mid-6th century AD. The research, led by archaeologists Mikhail Abramzon and Sergey Ostapenko, was published by the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
A Greek city at the crossroads of worlds
Phanagoria was a major centre of the Bosporan Kingdom, strategically located on the Taman Peninsula between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. For centuries, it served as a cultural and commercial hub linking the Greek world with steppe populations and eastern trade routes. Classical writers even regarded the nearby Kerch Strait as a symbolic boundary between Europe and Asia.
Fire, siege and a moment of chaos
The coin clusters were discovered within a destruction layer dated between 545 and 554 AD. Evidence suggests the fire was linked to a violent attack rather than an accident. A coin minted during the reign of Justinian I helps date the event, while historical accounts from Procopius of Caesarea describe the destruction of the city. Excavations revealed a synagogue complex and surrounding buildings - all destroyed in the same blaze - along with stone projectiles likely used in siege warfare. As the city came under attack, residents appear to have fled in haste, dropping their belongings in the chaos.
Modest wealth - and counterfeit coins
Each "wallet" contained between three and ten bronze staters - coins originally minted by rulers of the Bosporan Kingdom. While modest in value, the coins reveal important details about the local economy. Strikingly, many of the coins had been in circulation for more than 200 years by the time of the fire, suggesting a prolonged use of older currency in a frontier economy. Even more revealing was the presence of counterfeit coins. These imitations, likely produced locally, featured crude designs and misspelled inscriptions - indicating economic strain and a shortage of official coinage in the city’s final years.
A city’s final chapter
Following the destruction, Phanagoria was largely abandoned for more than a century before being reoccupied under the Khazar Khaganate. The city eventually faded from history in the early 10th century, during campaigns linked to Oleg of Novgorod.
A moment frozen in time
Though small in scale, the discovery carries powerful human significance. These scattered coins represent individuals caught in a moment of crisis - their possessions lost as their city burned. Beyond economics, the find offers a deeply personal window into the lives of ordinary people in a Greek-founded city at the edge of the ancient world - preserving a fleeting moment when history abruptly changed course.

Ученые Сибирского института физиологии и биохимии растений СО РАН вывели две линии генетически модифицированных тополей с повышенной устойчивостью к высокой засоленности почвы. Использовались гены дегидрина TaWCS120 и HvDHN5. Особо устойчивыми оказались трансгенные тополя линии HvDHN5, выжившие в условиях очень высокой солености. У линии TaWCS120 замедлился рост, а для немодифицированных образцов используемая концентрация хлорида натрия оказалась смертельной.

Researchers from the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, developed two transgenic lines of genetically modified (GM) poplar trees carrying dehydrin genes TaWCS120 and HvDHN5 to improve tolerance to high salinity. The findings of the study offer potential benefits for both the wood industry and agriculture.
The research team exposed both modified and non-modified plants to increasing concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) to assess root formation and growth. The study found that high concentrations significantly reduced growth in control plants and those carrying the TaWCS120 gene. In contrast, poplar trees with the HvDHN5 gene maintained normal growth under moderate stress and showed better resilience as salt levels increased.
The findings revealed that HvDHN5-transgenic poplars survived high salinity conditions that proved lethal to non-modified plants. The researchers conclude that these genes could be used to develop salt tolerant crops and trees, which could support productivity in challenging environments.
For more information, read the abstract from EDP Sciences.

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