News

HSE University and the University of Delhi (India), in partnership with Geoscan (a portfolio company of the Innopraktika non-state development institute), have agreed to establish an international scientific mirror laboratory on data storage, processing, and transmission in space systems. The agreement was signed on January 15, 2025, during a visit to India by an HSE University delegation led by Rector Nikita Anisimov.

Mathematicians from Russia, including two HSE graduates, have disproven a well-known mathematical conjecture that, despite lacking solid proof, had been considered valid for 40 years. The ‘Bunkbed Conjecture’ belongs to percolation theory—a branch of mathematics that studies the formation of connected structures in independent environments.

Dr Gerwin Schalk is a professor at Fudan University in Shanghai and a partner of the HSE Centre for Language and Brain within the framework of the strategic project 'Human Brain Resilience.' Dr Schalk is known as the creator of BCI2000, a non-commercial general-purpose brain-computer interface system. In this interview, he discusses modern neural interfaces, methods for post-stroke rehabilitation, a novel approach to neurosurgery, and shares his vision for the future of neurotechnology.

The AI Journey international conference hosted a session led by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko highlighting the achievements of Russian research centres in artificial intelligence. Alexey Masyutin, Head of the HSE AI Research Centre, showcased the centre’s key developments. 

On December 9, 2024, the winners of the Vyzov Prize for Future Technologies were announced. Professor Leonid Fershtat from the Joint Department of Organic Chemistry with the RAS Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry was honoured in the ‘Future’ category for his advanced research on creating functional organic materials for multi-purpose use based on high-nitrogen molecular architectures.

Scientists from HSE and Sechenov University have developed a methodology for identifying priority areas and breakthrough technologies to drive the pharmaceutical industry's development. Their joint research, supported by Innopraktika, aims to pinpoint key scientific directions crucial for addressing diseases with significant medical and social impact in the future. An analysis of current and projected data revealed that lung cancer, breast cancer, and stomach cancer contribute the most to the medical, social, and economic burden on healthcare systems. 

Life satisfaction is higher among those who engage in diverse leisure activities, researchers from HSE University have found. However, the specific types of activities people engage in are less important. The contribution of individual leisure activities to a sense of well-being accounts for no more than 2% of the variance. Only the diversity of leisure activities is significantly linked to overall life satisfaction and a sense of meaningful time usage. 

HSE has announced the latest ‘International Academic Cooperation of HSE University’ open competition of joint basic research projects. The competition is aimed at strengthening global scientific collaboration, expanding the university's research agenda, and involving students and postgraduates in world-class fundamental research.

Ekaterina Alexandrova, Academic Supervisor of the Egyptology programme at HSE University, has studied the funerary practices of ancient Egyptians based on religious texts and the works of Egyptologists from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Traditionally, it was believed that Egyptian religion was built solely on the fear of death. However, an analysis of texts reveals that ancient Egyptian beliefs were not merely reflections of a fear of death, but a complex system aimed at preserving order and stability both in life and the afterlife. The study has been published in the journal Shagi/Steps.

In competitions, esports players, like other athletes, face stress and show worse results due to pressure. A substantial decrease takes place in the performance of esports players during overtime. This effect, however, is significantly mitigated in online competitions compared to live events—the difference can reach 30%. A study by a team of authors from HSE University’s Moscow and Perm campuses and European University Viadrina (Germany) explores the phenomenon of choking under pressure within the context of esports. The study was published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization.