Science
Ask a person to name an important research subject of recent years and the chances are, they’ll say “the Higgs Boson.” Indeed, this elusive particle has been a big deal in the scientific world – but what’s next now that we’ve proven that it exists? And what effect, if any, will it have within our lifetimes? Dmitry Karlovets, a senior physics researcher at ITMO University, recently spoke at length on the subject – and ITMO.NEWS were there to get the rundown.
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Time, they say, is money – and that’s rarely as true as when it comes to synthesizing materials. For instance, physicists from ITMO have cut down the time needed to produce anodized thin film from seven hours to a whopping two minutes. The method, which substitutes a liquid electrolytic medium for vacuum to achieve this improved production time, should prove useful in diagnostics, solar cells, and specialized optical equipment.
Read more: ITMO Physicists Simplify Thin Film Anodization for Allergy Diagnostics
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Readers of Nature Methods should be on the lookout for a new article about Strainy – a new algorithm developed by scientists from ITMO University. The software’s purpose is simple yet complex: to compare great amounts of bacterial metagenome data and compile a comprehensive chain of all known mutations of individual microorganisms. As a result, scientists should be able to more easily assess the pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance of a given bacteria type.
Read more: ITMO Researchers Develop Algorithm for Rapid DNA Analysis
Technology
Smart homes just got a lot smarter: ITMO’s Faculty of Physics has demonstrated a working prototype of a wireless home charging system. With just two small units – a transmitter and a receiver – it can transmit energy to any compatible devices within the range of several meters. And that’s just the start: the researchers are already promising that their invention can be scaled up to function over distances of several hundred meters.
Read more: First Russian Wireless Charging Technology for IoT and Smart Homes Developed at ITMO
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Imagine if you could get groceries delivered by drone to anywhere, no matter how remote? Like, say, to a country house – or to the Arctic circle. VOSTOK, a local navigation system for unmanned vehicles, promises to do just that. Based on LED beacons, it can provide guidance to self-navigating systems in areas where a regular GPS signal may be deemed unreliable, including underground.
Read more: ITMO Researchers Develop Analog GPS System for Autonomous Systems
Education
In a rush to get your career going? Applicants to ITMO University can now join a fast-track program and complete both their Master’s and PhD degrees in merely four years. Dozens of students have already availed of the opportunity. Programs compatible with the fast-track initiative are available in a variety of subject areas including photonics, chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Read more: Master’s and PhD in Four Years: How To Fast-Track Your Academic Career
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With the indie video game industry booming, now’s the time to make your move as a developer. Appropriately, ITMO’s Game Development School is launching Finish the Game, an initiative that supports young game devs in completing their first projects and releasing them onto the market. Experts from the school assist participants with every step of the process: from expanding the development team and finding the right investor to adding new features and polishing existing ones.
Read more: New Initiative for First-Time Game Devs Launched at ITMO
