A comprehensive study of the territory using a number of methods has allowed us to build a geodynamic and geokinematic models of the northwestern part of the East European Platform. Their interpretation allows us to assess the geodynamic environment of the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant, as well as the overall geokinematic environment of the studied territory.

Nuclear power plants are sources of a large amount of electrical energy. Therefore, ensuring their safety is a priority for the successful development of nuclear energy engineering. When studying the relief using structural and geomorphological analysis, alignment surfaces and weak zones were revealed, some of which have been transferred to the rank of low-amplitude faults. These faults and the surfaces of the foundation and relief make the framework of a 3D model created using the Roxar RMS 2013 software. The model is given a certain geodynamic setting. As a result, parameters were obtained to make it possible to determine that the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant is located in an unsafe area from the viewpoint of neogeodynamics, unlike the Kursk and Smolensk ones. The geodynamic conditions within a radius of 150 km around the plants are also interpreted using modeling, and the kinematics of faults are described.

The key principle of the Arctic development should be nature-saving nature management. The agro-landscape-ecological zoning of the Far North fodder ecosystems developed at the V.R. Williams Federal Research Centre for Forage Production and Agroecology is aimed at this very goal. About 90 % of Murmansk District is occupied by reindeer pastures, in some places disturbed as a result of their irrational use by reindeer herders, mining, construction, and transport; the ecological state of the territory is tense. In Yamal District, reindeer pastures occupy 65 % of the area; the ecological state of the ecosystems is tense or even critical in some places. The area of lichen tundras has decreased by 3,5–4 times, total fodder reserves in lichen-moss tundras, in those areas where they are still preserved, have decreased by 3–10 times. The total reserves of green grass fodder and shrubs has decreased by 1.5–2 and 2–8 times, respectively. Desertification of highlands (bare sands occupied about 6 %) and waterlogging of lowland areas is going on. Technogenic impact on tundra ecosystems disturbs soil and vegetation cover, hydrological regime. Waterlogging of lowlands due to thermoerosion is starting. It is necessary to find compromises between economy, ecology, social and national interests.

2024 marks the 140th anniversary of the beginning of the expeditions of the laboratory of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University under the supervision of Professor Ivan Nikolaevich Gorozhankin to study the Central Russian flora. The historical and scientific context of the studies of this traditional object for the Botanical Garden of Moscow University during the 18th – early 21st centuries is traced. It is shown how the long-term targeted field research by the staff of the laboratory of the Botanical Garden has contributed to a methodologically unified approach to the organization of the program for studying the flora of the Oka River basin allowed not only to expand the territorial coverage, going beyond the purely Moscow region, but also to significant contribute to the development of an important scientific problem, namely, the cognition of the phenomenon of the Oka River flora. Gorozhankin’s principle of systemic research of regional flora was successfully implemented at the end of the 20th century by scientists of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University in the study of the flora of Central Russia.

New data on the placoderm fish Plourdosteus livonicus (Eastman, 1896) from the Lower Frasnian deposits of the Mikhaylovsky Mine in the Kursk Region is described. These remains are currently housed at the Earth Science Museum of Lomonosov Moscow State University. The medio-dorsal plate from this locality allows reconstructing its form and proportion, as also early unknown anterior division of the bone. Only small fragments of medio-dorsal plates were formerly described and figured for P. livonicus from this and other localities in European Russia. So, the new data from the Mikhaylovsky Mine adds to the morphology information of this species. The medio-dorsals are of diagnostic significance and distinguish in the plourdosteids. The specimen from the Earth Science Museum’s collection is compared with the medio-dorsal plates of other Frasnian Plourdosteus species from the East-European platform.

Vinogradsky’s columns are known as a model of a microbial community for experiments in laboratory conditions. The article proposes a system of integrated use of Vinogradsky’s columns in the space of the Earth Science Museum as: a) a visual dynamic “living exhibit”, b) an interactive platform of the Youth Museum, and a mobile cluster for exhibitions and the Science Festival, c) a natural educational and methodological tool, and d) a laboratory naturalistic experimental setup. Making a series of Vinogradsky’s columns from different locations of the initial pedo-soil matrix of various compositions allows for a successful combination of scientific, experimental, educational, and demonstration-interactive tasks in the space of a natural science university museum. In the Earth Science Museum at Moscow State University (Hall 21 – East European Plain), a series of Vinogradsky’s columns has been developed, based initially on the materials of bottom sediments samples of pond reservoirs, selected by a team of novice nature explorers (students of Moscow State University and schoolchildren) as part of the project “Youth Museum” of Moscow State University. Two-year monitoring has allowed to obtain new data on the development of microbial communities and to arrange an original cluster in the hall and to present a series of columns at the All-Russian Science Festival.

This study establishes the authorship of the geological term “eluvium” and traces its evolution in geological and soil sciences. It confirms the priority of H. Trautschold (1817–1902) as the original author of this term, supported by analysis of his works from the 1870s. The term was first introduced by him in 1872. The article demonstrates that the modern interpretation of the term “eluvium” shows a high degree of correlation with H. Trautschold’s classical definition. The development of the concept of eluvium and ideas about eluvial processes is traced through the works of prominent Russian soil scientists – N.M. Sibirtsev, V.V. Dokuchaev, V.I. Vernadsky, B.B. Polynov, V.R. Williams, and N.P. Remezov. V.V. Dokuchaev systematized the concept of eluvium into a coherent framework: definition of eluvium → eluvial processes → stages and phases of eluvial rock transformations. He emphasized that “although these products are sometimes altered beyond recognition of the parent rock which they originated from, a genetic connection between them always persists.” Particular significance lies in the incorporation of the biogeochemical aspect into the concept of eluvium through the works of N.P. Remezov, who established biological accumulation of elements exceeding their removal during eluvial processes. This allowed eluvium formation to be viewed not as a purely abiotic process but as a phenomenon involving living organisms. The article reveals the historical continuity of scientific ideas in the hypothesis of the origin of the Russian Plain: H. Trautschold → V.V. Dokuchaev → B.B. Polynov → V.A. Kovda. H. Trautschold was the first to propose that the Russian Plain formed from deposits lying on top, which were influenced for millennia by atmospheric precipitation, initiating the concept of eluvial origin of plains. This idea was later reflected in the works of V.V. Dokuchaev and B.B. Polynov, and subsequently in V.A. Kovda’s hypothesis regarding the fluvioglacial origin of the Russian Plain. Our analysis confirms that the term “eluvium” is a fundamental concept uniting geology, geomorphology, geochemistry, and soil science, and its evolution reflects the advancement of understanding regarding the genesis of surface deposits and soils.

The open-air exhibition “Glaciers from the Arctic to Moscow” aims to present the interdisciplinary issues of complex cosmoglobal aspects and mechanisms of interaction between the geospheres, which are the product of climate change spanning the entire history of the planet and continuously affecting ecosystems. The exhibition is organized at the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University in collaboration with the Earth Science Museum of Moscow State University as a cluster of the Youth Museum. A synthetic version of the distribution of glacial covers in the territory of the East European Plain and a version of the most commonly accepted scale of glaciations and interglaciations of the Quaternary period with the main astrochronological reference points have been specially developed and designed to be easily understood by a wide range of visitors to the exhibition. Special attention is paid to Milanković’s cycles, and original information stands have been created to reflect their work. The natural basis of the exhibition is formed by a group of different-sized erratic boulders, arranged according to the reconstructed location of the rocks that form them in their parent locations, modeling the “glacier route” on the East European Plain. By analyzing the “travel notes” in the form of systems of characteristic grooves and “tan crusts,” as well as the composition of the rocks, together with each visitor, it is possible to reconstruct the path of a particular boulder, and, with the help of information boards, to try to understand the scenario of the glacier’s development, the history of the region, and the planet as a whole. The created exhibition can be positioned as a universal conceptual and design solution for the space of a university science museum.

A new multi-level model for calculating the carbon footprint of agroecosystem products is proposed. The concept of “final carbon footprint” is introduced, which includes both direct CO₂ emissions from the operation of tractors, combines, oxidation of soil humus, CO₂-eq. during the transformation of nitrogen fertilizers in the soil, and indirect CO₂ emissions – carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere during the production of tractors, combines, tillage equipment, mineral fertilizers etc.
Based on the results of field experiments on gray forest soils in the Southern Moscow region, it is shown that when applying average doses of mineral fertilizers to field crops, the indirect CO₂ emissions are comparable to the CO₂ input from organic fuel oxidation when machinery is operating in the field. At higher doses of fertilizers, the indirect emissions are significantly greater than the CO₂ emissions from machinery operation. In order of increasing CO₂ emissions per 1 ha of sowing, crops on gray forest soils are arranged as follows: corn for silage > barley > winter wheat > clover.
Clover is a carbon-negative crop (−1.7 t/ha CO₂), i.e., CO₂ sequestration in the soil exceeds all CO₂ emissions from hay crop production. The final carbon footprint for grain crops, calculated using the standard method, was as follows: for winter wheat (with a fertilizer dose of N40P40K40) – 116 kg CO₂ per 1 centner of grain, for barley (with a dose of N60P40K40) – 104 kg CO₂ per 1 centner of grain. The final carbon footprint, taking into account the aftereffects of predecessors, was: for winter wheat (predecessor: two-year clover) – 48 kg CO₂ per 1 centner of grain; for barley (predecessor: silage corn) – 113 kg CO₂ per 1 centner of grain.

Distribution features of cadmium, lead, partly Ag, Bi, In, Hg and Tl in suspended solids are considered. Studies were made on the Oka River in the area of the Prioksko-Terrasny Natural Biosphere Reserve on a river section remote from the zone of formation of the technogenic scattering stream, in the period 1983–2018. To assess the general trend of changes in the concentration of the elements over the period of the experiment, it was proposed to consider the results on their prevalence in the composition of suspended matter obtained in the intermediate hydrological phase of the river between the spring flood and the summer midden. This is the main feature and essence of our proposed approach in order to eliminate the influence of significant seasonal changes in the macro- and micro-component composition of suspensions. It is shown that the 35-year time interval can be divided into two periods, namely: the first one is characterized by a decrease in the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Pb), while the second one is characterized by the absence of any trend, relatively weak fluctuations in values. The direction of changes in the concentration of elements in the first period correlates with the literature data on the dynamics of a decrease in the intake of anthropogenic wastewater into surface waters in recent decades and with the results of our assessment of the decrease in river water pollution upstream from the experimental area.

This paper examines the hierarchical organization of principles in soil science, emphasizing their continuity with classical positions from various scientific fields and their role in integrating theory and practice. The study highlights differences in the genesis of principles, ranging from theoretical generalizations to experimentally validated propositions. Special attention is given to ideas of V.I. Vernadsky and V.V. Dokuchaev, who laid the foundations for the systemic and evolutionary-historical approaches to soil study. It is demonstrated that the scientific worldview serves as the pinnacle of this hierarchy, defining a system of generalizations, including the principles of systemicity, historicism, and the primacy of scientific approaches formulated by Academician G.V. Dobrovolsky. These principles ensure unity between theoretical and applied directions, rooted in the classical supra-conceptual ideas by V.V. Dokuchaev, whose works underpin the genetic approach to soil study. Within the hierarchy, following the scientific worldview come methodological principles neutral to specific disciplinary sections, followed by concepts, laws, and principles. For instance, N.M. Sibirtsev’s genetic principle, formulated in the 19th century, continues to define approaches to soil genesis. The paper underscores the importance of continuity, showing that Dokuchaev’s principles of systemicity and historicism remain fundamental for developing new scientific leads. The hierarchical organization of principles and their intra- and interdisciplinary continuity serve as key instruments for the progress in soil science, enabling integration of diverse knowledge into a unified scientific field. The necessity for further systematization of principles, particularly in biogeochemical cycles and interdisciplinary research, and terminology harmonization to strengthen the link between theory and practice is also emphasized.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serve as hubs for the redistribution of biogenic element flows, since they generate three output streams (liquid, solid and gaseous), where the proportional content of biogenic elements depends on the wastewater treatment technology. The circular economy principles require accounting for these flows to develop a strategy for utilizing biogenic elements to meet the needs of the growing urban population. Identifying sewerage basins within a river basin serves as a tool for calculating these flows. The maximum possible amount of biogenic elements (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) redirected by treatment plants to local water bodies, to the atmosphere, and to sewage sludge is estimated for each sewerage basin. Such calculations enable an assessment of the maximum biogenic load downstream of the treatment plant discharge point (in the event of a plant shutdown) and the design of potential technological chains for utilizing sewage sludge. The author proposes to use a GIS-based method to identify sewerage basins within a river basin. This approach allows for the calculation of maximum biogenic element flows based on the population within each sewerage basin, providing insights into the environmental load on each individual basin and the entire river basin as a whole. Additionally, this method identifies zones with the highest load on watercourses within the river basin and assesses the risks of watercourse pollution due to urban development and the emergence of new residential areas. The article presents a methodology for identifying sewerage basins within the Moscow River basin, calculating the population within their boundaries, and estimating the daily load of two indicators, namely: total nitrogen and phosphate phosphorus. Using geoinformation tools, a map of sewerage basins was plotted, identifying areas within the Moscow River basin with the highest and lowest coverage of wastewater treatment plants.

The article traces milestones of the formation and development of sciadography in the Botanical Garden of Moscow University in the 19–20th centuries in the aspect of the history of science. In accordance with the logic of the development of scientific know­ledge, taxonomic ideas about the Umbelliferae were transformed as research methods improved. Studying of the Umbelliferae became a specialty of the Botanical Garden of Moscow University. The evolution of approaches to the construction of the system of this family of angiosperms is considered: from G.F. Hoffmann’s artificial system (early 19th century), based on comparative morphological data, to B.M. Kozo-Polyansky’s natural system (early 20th century), based on the principles of evolutionary morphology, and further, to phylogenetic systematics based on modern research methods and quantitative methods of data processing. This approach was developed by V.N. Tikhomirov and M.G. Pimenov, their colleagues and students (since the 1970s). January 2025 marks the 265th anniversary of the birth of G.F. Hoffmann (1760–1826) and the 135th anniversary of the birth of B.M. Kozo-Polyansky (1890–1957).

The position of the nasal sacs and nostrils, as well as some features of the brain structure in antiarchs (placoderm fishes) are analyzed, based mainly on the examples of Bothriolepis and Asterolepis. A new possible reconstruction of the olfactory system and brain in antiarchs is proposed. The paired nasal sacs are closely located to the anterior wall of the telencephalon; tracti olfactorii are absent; telencephalon is situated anterior to the diencephalon, as it was reconstructed for other placoderms; and the epiphysis process is elongated. The mesencephalon, cerebellum and medula oblongata, bearing the fossa romboidea, are placed posterior to the diencephalon in the otico-occipital part of the endocranium.

The article examines the ethnographic collection of the Chaunsky Local History Museum, located in the town of Pevek, Chukotka autonomous district. The author, relying on the methodology of the Russian Ethnographic Museum and scientific literature, provides a classification of objects of applied art, everyday life and ethnography of northern peoples, gives a brief description of their things, describes the technologies of their manufacture. The formation of the ethnographic collection began with the receipt of items from a folk museum. The ethnographic collection of the museum consists of unique items of traditional Chukchi culture in the amount of 456 storage units. The geography of the places of receiving ethnographic items is concentrated in the vicinity of the Chaunsky district. Some ethnographic topics are represented by decorative and applied items and works of bone carving art. In general, the collection reflects the culture of primary production of the Chukchi, their livelihood methods, and reveals socio-normative relations of the northern peoples. However, the collection does not have enough items for a complete reconstruction of ethnographic topics; no traditional culture of the ethnic groups living in the region is represented; no history of collection is presented; and the names of the collectors require clarification. Based on the results of the study, the composition of the collection is analyzed, problematic issues of acquisition and attribution are revealed, and recommendations for promising areas of work of the museum with ethnographic items are given.

The aim of our study was to carry out a detailed stratigraphic dissection of sections of the western territories of Kazakhstan using the remains of ichthyosaurs. Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous ichthyosaurs were studied. Their collecting was carried out in the period of 2016–2023 from sections in the western Kazakhstan (the villages of Pogodayevo and Shchuchkino in the West Kazakhstan region, the village of Tushybek, Mangystau region (Central Mangyshlak Peninsula)) and the Middle Volga region (the village of Gorodishchi, Ulyanovsk region).

The article characterizes the reference sections of the Western region of the Republic of Kazakhstan with a description of the found remains of ichthyosaurs of the genera Kazakhstanosaurus, Nannopterygius, and Platypterygius. It has been established that fragments of their skeletons are found in the Upper Jurassic sediments of the sections near the villages of Pogodayevo and Shchuchkino in the West Kazakhstan territory, and in the village of Gorodishchi in the Ulyanovsk region, as well as in the sediments of the Lower Cretaceous of the Mangystau region. The species diversity of the genus Nannopterygius is noted.

Our study of the Upper Jurassic sections nearv. Pogodayevo, Shchuchkino and Gorodishchi, and the Lower Cretaceous section of nearv. Tushybek showed that the comparison of the identified Ichthyosaur genera with the Mesozoic scale complexes allowed accurate determination of the age of local stratons and the position of their boundaries.

The article discusses the results of our preliminary studies of Paleocene columnar stromatolites from the “Kamyshinskie Ushi” location, near the northwestern periphery of the town of Kamyshin. The morphology, composition and features of the buildings were studied. They can be attributed to the morphological type of columnar non-branching stromatolites; fan-shaped branching stromatolites are less common; their mineral composition differs little from the host rocks and consists mainly of quartz grains cemented by silicon oxide. Dark layers are much more saturated with ore inclusions. The concentration of chromium, molybdenum, wolfram, vanadium, cobalt and nickel in dark varieties increases noticeably, which confirms their stromatolite origin. The deposition settings of their formation remain controversial.

The article describes two groups of facies most widely represented in the collections of Lower Frasnian invertebrates of the Main Devonian Field in the Mining Museum (hardgrounds and pelecypod banks). The presence of three types of hardgrounds has been established, differing in the nature of the original bottom and the time of exposure of each hardground, and hence structural and textural features of rocks and systematic composition of oryctocenoses. The first type is crinoidal limestone with an extensive complex of sclerobionts and traces of bioerosion by Trypanites Mägdefrau, an uneven surface and a visually almost complete absence of impregnation. In hardgrounds of this type, three generations of sclerobionts are distinguished, namely: abiogenic substrates (first), incrustators of the remains of organisms of the first generation (second), and bioerosion organisms (third). The second type is micritic limestone with a smooth glass-type surface, a small complex of sclerobionts and traces of bioerosion by Trypanites Mägdefrau. The third type is pelecypod limestones with an uneven surface, isolated sclerobionts, numerous traces of bioerosion by Trypanites Mägdefrau and strong ferruginous impregnation. For the most widespread hardgrounds of the first type, the presence of specific taphofacies has been established, characterized by good preservation of organic remains of the first generation, an almost complete absence of organic remains of the second generation, and a complete absence of bioerodible organisms. The appearance of such taphofacies is due to the short exposure time of the hardground and the beginning of a rapid process of new accumulation immediately after the appearance of the first organisms of the second generation. The presence of such taphofacies emphasizes the importance of distinguishing taphofacies in certain paleofacies and certain types of oryctocenoses. In the oryctocenoses of pelecypod shells, three morphological and ethological types of cornulitids have been established. The most representative settlements of cornulithids were characteristic of calcareous clay soils with small areas of compacted bottom.

The problem of global climate warming and attempts to solve it, including using low-carbon power engineering, are analyzed. The success of solving this problem depends on the degree of understanding of the processes which cause it. As more and more data speak about natural causes of climate fluctuations, and of anthropogenic factors the greatest contribution to the warming is made by thermal pollution rather than the anthropogenic growth of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, low-carbon power, with all its positive qualities, is unable to solve the problem of climate warming.

The public perception of global natural processes in the climate change context plays an important role in modern political decision-making; and the country’s future depends on the younger generation. This survey was aimed at revealing public attitude to changes in global natural processes among the participants and organizers of the Thirteenth All-Russia Competition of children’s environmental projects “Man on Earth”. An online questionnaire “Biospheric processes, their understanding and consideration in your own research and environmental activities” was offered for completion in February–March 2023. We received 1173 voluntarily completed questionnaires from the respondents aged 6 to 60 and older. More than 70 % of respondents consider human activity to be the cause of global climate changes, with the majority of respondents having a negative attitude to climate warming. However, be there a possibility of climate management, the majority of respondents would like climate warning at a local level. With age, the number of those wishing for climate stabilization (return to the climatic norm) increases. Approximately 50 % of the respondents consider that global natural processes directly affect the status of the environment. At the same time, only 10 % attribute the unfavorable state of the environment to global factors. People aged over 60 are most concerned about global environmental problems.

To mark the 160^th anniversary of V.I. Vernadsky's birth, Lomonosov Moscow State University has organized an exhibition based on the theme of “living matter”, which to a greater or lesser extent permeates all the geospheres of our planet, provides many mechanisms of interaction between the geospheres and links between the planet and the cosmos. Natural exhibits demonstrate peculiarities of the geochemical transformation of individual organisms and their communities during the transition from the biosphere to the lithosphere, the diversity of biocosmic bodies in the history of our planet, the possibilities of modern sciences in reconstructing geobiosystems of the past. The structure of the exhibition includes a number of special blocks containing original exhibits and information, namely: “Scientist’s Cabinet” with information about the life path, scientific directions and some students and followers of Academician V.I. Vernadsky (connected to him through Moscow University). The cluster “Co-evolution of the Biosphere and Lithosphere” with disclosure of the mechanisms of transition of living matter and integral ecosystems into the “stone record” of the Earth, the structure of the pedosphere in a broad sense, the diversity of biogeoprocesses and their products in the history of the Earth, the formation of “archives of nature” in the geospheres, the functioning of geobiodynamically active zones on the example of the East European Platform; the cluster “University’s Lukomorye”, reflecting peculiarities of coastal geo-ecosystems for the general public (on the example of the Paleocene of the Volga region). Most of the exhibits of the exhibition have been obtained during the scientific and educational expedition “Flotilla of Floating Universities” (2015–2022) from the Volga region, the Caspian Sea, the Don region and the Urals and are considered in the future as the basis for the development of a model polygon of the “MSU Youth Museum”.

The palaeoichthyological collection from the Bilovo locality in the Tver’ region (Famennian of the Main Devonian field), currently housed at the Andreapol Museum of Local History, is continued to be studied. Placoderm fishes of the family Bothriolepididae Cope predominate in the ichthyocomplex of this locality. Rare plates of large-bodied Bothriolepis sp. with a flattened armor were found at the Bilovo locality in clay deposits in addition to numerous remains of crested bothriolepidids. The material on Bothriolepis sp. is represented by three posterior medio-dorsal plates only. These plates are described, figured and compared with a similar material on Late Devonian bothriolepidids from the Main Devonian field and other regions. A brief characteristic of the Bilovo locality is given as well.

In the northwestern part of the Saratov Volga region, an unusually large (more than
4 m) for the region erratic boulder of an irregularly rounded polygonal shape was found, composed of Shoksha quartzite with sandstone and gravelstone interlayers. Its locality was investigated by a special expedition, the sample was removed from the parent substrate, moved more than 220 km and installed on the territory of the Saratov State Technical University named after Yu.A. Gagarin. The experience of exhibiting it on the university campus showed the effectiveness of implanting the object into the system of landscape design of the territory, turning it into one of the symbols of the university and an element of cultural space, as well as the rationality of positioning it as an original museum exhibit in the format of the Natural History Museum of the SSTU. Today, the specimen is a key element of the “ice age micropark” being developed in the open air and is thematically associated with a part of the exposition of the central hall of the Museum of Natural History of the SSTU, reflecting the Quaternary stage of the development of nature and man. In addition to excursion activities, the exhibit is used to deliver field lectures and conduct specially designed practical classes on the «foundations of geology», «historical geology», «Earth science», and other disciplines. All accompanying materials collected by the expedition are arranged in the form of a special collection of the museum’s scientific funds. Assessment of the object from the standpoint of geo-heritage allows us to propose giving it the status of a natural monument of local importance.