Research
There’re bright times ahead! Quite literally – all thanks to a new technology developed by the researchers at ITMO’s Faculty of Physics. Solar cells, LEDs, photodiodes: all these devices can benefit greatly from the use of semiconductor perovskites. To utilize them properly, manufacturers must etch special patterns into the material, which is not always an easy process. The scientists produced a roundabout solution – instead of applying the etching directly onto the perovskites, they devised a titanium dioxide film that then “fuses” with the underlying material.
Read more: Butterfly Effect: ITMO Researchers Create Colorful Perovskite Films for Optoelectronics
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How does one study a tiny nanoparticle while making sure that it’s free of any external influence? The solution is levitation – a method that’s become highly widespread in various industries concerned with the development of such materials. And now, physicists from ITMO have come up with a way to make the method even more precise. Per their idea, the particles are placed in an optimal state of transition between linear and non-linear movement, in which they can be measured by any metric – such as electric, magnetic, optical, or gravitational factors.
Read more: ITMO Scientists Increase Sensitivity of Levitating Particle Sensors
Read also:
ITMO Scientists Design Model to Analyze Surfaces of All Sizes
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Antibiotic resistance is a topic that’s becoming ever more prevalent, pushing scientists to develop newer solutions to the problem. An algorithm developed at ITMO University seeks to identify molecules that'll improve the effects of medical treatments against some of the most common infections – and it has already identified 56 compounds that show promise in that department. Right now, researchers are focused on treatments for E. coli, while future research may focus on other ailments, such as salmonella.
Read more: AI Pharmacist: ITMO-Developed Algorithm Helps Produce New Efficient Antibiotics
University
It’s been a minute since we’ve shared an update on ITMO Highpark, our new campus-and-innovation-hub in the south of St. Petersburg. So, here’s one: the construction site was recently visited by St. Petersburg’s Vice Governor, who was given a tour of the premises and discussed the project’s investment plan – including a total of 5 billion rubles provided towards ITMO Highpark’s very own techno valley.
Read more: ITMO Highpark Techno Valley Receives 5 Billion-Ruble Investment
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Ivan Martinez is a man of science in every regard – both as a researcher and a teacher. A chemist, he’s currently at ITMO University to share expertise and conduct research into desalination technology, which is vital both to industry and to public health. He recently spoke to ITMO NEWS about his life’s work, branching out, and getting to know the locals in St. Petersburg.
Culture
Science isn’t just hard facts – it’s culture, too. So, we never miss the chance to examine the impact of scientific thought on entertainment. This time around, we’ve examined the curious phenomenon of eco-horror: a genre that combines ancient fears with modern anxieties. How is it defined and how do you start exploring it? We’ve got the answers.
Read more: Eco-Horror: What It Is and Why We Love To Fear It
