Asia Times: Russian scientists see flying saucers


	August 29, 2001	atimes.com

Central Asia/Russia

Russian scientists see flying saucers
By Sergei Blagov

MOSCOW - A group of Russian scientists has come up with sensational claims of fundamental discoveries. However, their assertions provide more questions than answers about the current, deplorable state of Russian science.

The group, headed by Professor Valerian Sobolev, claims "seven major discoveries". One of these relates to a new electrochemical process, which allows production of new, previously unknown types of materials from silicon. Sobolev, who heads the Material Technology Research Center in Volgograd, Central Russia, claims that his new materials may contain electromagnetic impulses and could therefore become a source of virtually free electric energy.

Sobolev says that his know-how may help to build new types of engineless flying machines evocative of flying saucers. He and his team have sent a letter informing Russian President Valdimir Putin of their "discoveries" - casually pointing out that commercialization of their know-how would require some US$2 million.

The Russian scientists say they can build generators of free electric energy on a commercial basis within 18 months. However, established researchers remain skeptical. "They are yet to show us any concrete proof," said prominent physicist Sergei Kapitsa. The talk about new materials and sources of energy is either "an honest mistake or an intentional deception", he added.

Large sections of the Russian media have not expressed any doubts over Sobolev's claims. For instance, the official RIA news agency, which also organized a media briefing for Sobolev earlier this month, presented his assertions as fact and omitted Kapitsa's and other critical remarks.

The former Soviet Union used to pride itself on its scientific achievements, notably advances in natural sciences, and the country had a system of finding and encouraging prodigies to become scientists. These days, however, Russian physicists and mathematicians are complaining that fewer talented young people are willing to embrace scientific pursuits and prefer, instead, to work abroad or in business.

Government funding for fundamental research programs in Russia has plummeted more than 12-fold since 1991, according to Yuri Osipov, chairman of the Russian Academy of Sciences. During the same period, Osipov added, the number of scientific workers dropped to 1 million from 3 million. More than half of the nation's scientists live in Moscow or areas adjacent to the city, yet the capital's high cost of living serves as an additional incentive to abandon research.

Once the country's scientific elite, associated with the Russian Academy of Science, known by its Russian acronym RAN, scientists now must contend with unpaid wages and falling prestige. Within the past decade, RAN has seen nearly 100,000 scientists leave for the lucrative private sector.

Russian officials suggest various ways to support scientific research. Earlier this month, Russia's Education Minister Vladimir Filippov suggested the merger of research centers with money-making colleges and universities. However, it remains to be seen whether Russian scientists would do well in the education sector. As recently as the 1970s, more than two-thirds of Russian students pursued engineering, natural sciences and medicine, but enrolment fell, along with prestige, after the end of the Cold War.

Peter the Great launched the RAN nearly three centuries ago by recruiting academics from Europe. Now, according to official statistics, some 20,000 Russian scientists work abroad. Many of them have taken with them the results of decades of collective work that often had yet to be patented. Russia thus is losing potential for much-needed earnings.

As younger scientists join the brain drain, the average age of remaining holders of doctoral degree has risen to 60 years, Osipov said. He urged a review of current legislation, which causes over-taxation of private grants to fund fundamental research. Russia's state budget allocates hardly enough to ensure the mere subsistence of state-employed scientists. Not surprisingly, many researchers survive relying on grants from the International Science Foundation of US billionaire George Soros, as well as smaller grants from the Russian Fund for Basic Research.

Experts say that Russia - both the private and state sectors - now invests less than $200 million per year to commercialize high-tech know-how, including military technologies. This is a far from adequate figure for a country with thousands of research centers and high-tech enterprises.

However, skeptics argue that Russia's perceived "great science" was not based in reality, as scientific achievements were used for Cold War aims such as making atomic bombs, and other weapons. By contrast, the general population saw no benefits. Scientists counter that their achievements could be used for more practical goals.

A few scientists have managed to take care of themselves - notably Russia's controversial billionaire Boris Berezovsky, who worked as a mathematician in the Soviet era. But his former colleagues argue Berezovsky's notorious wealth, acquired "via a variety of murky means", is not the kind of achievement for which Russian science should pride itself.

Russian science still has considerable potential, as technology transfer, and commercialization of intellectual property could bring Russia up to $1 billion per year, according to official estimates. These would-be huge revenues remain somewhat of a dream, however.

It remains to be seen whether Sobolev's claims prove to be true or a sheer hoax. If they turn out to be fraudulent, however, this would further illustrate the desperate measures that Russian scientists must embrace to attract publicity and funding.

(Inter Press Service)

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