Belgian-American physicist Francis Halzen has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the IceCube observatory. This is the first time since 1992 that the prize has been awarded to a single scientist.
Powerful flares of the M1.9 and M1.4 levels occurred on the Sun, putting them among the strongest in the fall of 2026. The star ejected at least two clouds of plasma towards Earth.
Astronomers at the University of Warwick have discovered a “phoenix” exoplanet in the constellation Cetus at a distance of 270 light years. The second-generation planet was formed from matter ejected by a white dwarf when it died.
Scientists at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, using optogenetics, methods of Nobel laureates in 2026, showed that stimulation of certain hippocampal neurons increases depressive-like behavior in laboratory rats, and suppression of serotonergic cells in the midbrain was also carried out using optogenetics.
A joint expedition from Purdue University and the Archaeological Heritage Institute headed to the Nikumaroro Islands to study an object that may be the plane of missing aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart in 1937.
Chief Researcher at INR RAS Zhan-Arys Dzhilkibaev said that the idea of a neutrino telescope was proposed by Soviet scientist Moses Markov in 1960, and Francis Halsen received the Nobel Prize for implementing the project 45 years later.
The Nobel Committee awarded the 2026 Physics Prize to Francis Halzen for his contributions to the development of the IceCube neutrino observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos, which open up new opportunities for studying astrophysical processes in the Universe.
Scientists from the Kazan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences are studying lichens to search for photoprotection genes in wheat. The goal of the project is to increase crop yields by 40% under drought conditions by activating mechanisms that protect the photosynthetic apparatus from excess light.
Scientists from SUSU and Zhejiang University tested a new type of durable barriers in the Minqing Desert to combat wind erosion and desertification of the planet, using the method of enzymatic precipitation of calcium carbonate.
One of the most unpredictable volcanoes in Kamchatka, Shiveluch, can begin a powerful explosive eruption at any moment. This was announced by the head of KVERT Olga Girina, noting the increase in activity of the new dome and ash emissions.
The return of the crew of the Crew-12 mission from the ISS to Earth is expected on October 8. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the station on October 7, NASA reports.
Russian scientists, together with foreign colleagues, have established that the sensitivity of a cancer tumor to mitocan drugs depends on the amount of the sirtuin-3 protein in the mitochondria. Cells with high levels of sirtuin-3 are resistant to mitocans, while cells with low levels are sensitive. The discovery will make it possible to predict the effectiveness of therapy for personalized cancer treatment.
A medieval treasure with silver items from the 10th to 14th centuries was found in the Leningrad region, which is the largest in the history of Russian archeology from similar finds of this period in the North-West of Russia. The treasure includes round medallions, a hryvnia, coin pendants, a Karelian-type head adornment, silver chains, a ring, a fibula, a leather necklace and three coins, including an Arab dirham from 907–912 and unique Uppsala-type bracteates made in Sweden. Among the finds is a medallion with an image possibly related to Scandinavian mythology (Odin's ravens Hugin and Munin and the spear Gungnir), which creates a mystery due to its proximity to Christian symbolism. The weight of the treasure exceeds two kilograms. Specialists from the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Kunstkamera) and the St. Petersburg Research Center “Actual Archeology” participated in the excavations.
Shiveluch is the most dangerous and unpredictable volcano in Kamchatka, which can begin an explosive eruption at any moment, said Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT). In April 2024, a new lava dome “300 years of the Russian Academy of Sciences” was discovered on the slope of Old Shiveluch. Since the beginning of 2026, explosive events with ash removal up to 10–11 kilometers above sea level have occurred from time to time. On Monday morning, the volcano threw ash to a height of about six kilometers.
Russian scientists have prepared the “Centaur Manifesto,” which raises the question of the influence of artificial intelligence on science and university education. The authors see the only way out in the organized collaboration of humans and AI and propose three conditions: reveal the nature of interaction with AI, check the results and leave responsibility for the research to humans. HSE Vice-Rector Dmitry Zemtsov suggests taking the manifesto as a reason to rethink university policies in the field of using AI and emphasizes the importance of creating a horizontal community of researchers.
The Nobel Week in Stockholm will open on October 5 with the announcement of the physiology or medicine laureate, followed by physics on October 6, chemistry on October 7, literature on October 8, the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on October 9, and the economics prize on October 12.
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Technical Sciences Garry Alekseevich Popov, creator of advanced electric propulsion engines for spacecraft, died at the age of 92. Under his leadership, plasma injectors were developed that successfully operated on the Mir orbital station and the ISS.
Scientists from Russia and China will announce joint selection of stud bulls to produce highly productive offspring. The project includes genomic assessment of fertility, use of mesenchymal stem cell exosomes for sperm cryopreservation, and modification of reproductive technologies. The work is being carried out within the framework of the international project “Scientists of the Future”.
Scientists at the Institute of Automation and Control Processes of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences are developing a “laboratory on a chip” to analyze the biochemical composition of blood in real time using induced photoluminescence and a plasma signal amplification system, which will allow diagnostics with a minimum volume of blood, potentially even through a smartphone.
On the morning of October 5, 2026, the Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka ejected ash to a height of about six kilometers above sea level; the event was recorded by cameras of the Federal Research Center of the Unified Geological Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Shiveluch is one of the most active volcanoes in the region, located 47 km from the village of Klyuchi and 440 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
A strong flare of M1.0 level was recorded on the Sun, which occurred on Monday at 21:48 Moscow time, reports the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Institute of Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences. There are currently no solar flares observed.
Russian cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov has officially taken command of the International Space Station, replacing astronaut Jessica Meir. The ceremony to hand over the symbolic key took place on Sunday, after which the SpaceX Crew-12 crew began preparations for returning to Earth.
Russian archaeologists have discovered in the Leningrad region a medieval treasure weighing more than two kilograms, consisting of silver items from the 10th to 14th centuries, including medallions, a hryvnia, coins and jewelry. The find was made at the Tiversky town monument and, according to preliminary estimates, is the richest treasure of this period in the North-West of Russia.
