The Russian Academy of Sciences has presented the top ten most important achievements of Russian science in 2024. The final list includes developments and discoveries in various fields - from healthcare and energy to archeology and robotics.
The final list was formed by the expert commission of the Russian Academy of Sciences on the basis of proposals of the specialized departments of the Academy. As emphasized in the press-service, the list includes results of high applied potential or fundamental importance.
One of the main achievements is the development of an artificial intelligence system capable of diagnosing more than 40 diseases using an eye fundus image. The algorithm recognizes signs of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and other pathologies. The system is already being implemented in Russian clinics.
Also in the field of medicine, a microstent for glaucoma treatment, created from domestic biodegradable materials, was noted. The device improves the outflow of intraocular fluid. The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation has already approved it for use in medicine.
In agriculture, a new variety of winter wheat “Jubilee 100”, bred at the Crimean Federal University, made the list. It is characterized by high yield, resistance to drought and diseases, as well as long-term storage in gene pool collections.
In the field of precision instrumentation, Russian physicists presented atomic clocks based on cold rubidium atoms. Their accuracy is 100 times higher than existing domestic analogs, which makes them promising for use in space, communication and navigation systems.
Engineers and chemists have developed new generation solar batteries based on perovskites. Such cells have high efficiency and stability in aggressive conditions, including on Mars.
Scientists from the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed a bioplastic from bacterial cellulose. The new material is environmentally friendly, decomposes in the natural environment and can be used in the food and medical industries.
Among the technical achievements, the robot pilot - a universal platform for autonomous testing of aviation systems - stands out. The robot has already undergone test flights and is capable of replacing humans when testing new technologies.
Also in the top was a domestic digital platform that allows using AI to predict the properties of chemical substances and their interaction. The development significantly accelerates the search for new drugs and materials.
The discovery of paleontologists from the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences received special attention. In Transbaikalia they found the skull of an ancient saber-toothed predator about 250 million years old. This is the first representative of the mahairodont family found in Russia.
The list is rounded off by the technology of obtaining especially strong porous materials with controllable properties developed by scientists from UrFU. These are substances with the smallest holes that can be “customized” to meet the needs of different industries. Thanks to this they can be used, for example, in medicine, filtration or chemical industry. The materials combine strength and flexibility in application.
As noted in the RAS, all the achievements are the result of the work of Russian scientific teams and organizations, and some developments are already undergoing implementation or industrial testing.