Brief information is given about several Russian microbiologists--naturalists whose names are found on the pages of V.I. Vernadsky’s diaries. Despite the variety of topics, their works always found hot reaction of V.I. Vernadsky. The knowledge of these materials helps one to understand the evolution of the scientists’ ideas, trends of the development of science.

Due to the large volume of coal mining in the Russian Federation and other countries, there is a serious issue of the formation of waste heaps from coal dumps, which pose a significant threat to the environment of adjacent territories. One of such areas is the Donetsk coal basin, whose area is more than 60 thousand km2. Phytoreclamation is the most common and cost-effective method recommended for the restoration of degraded coal dump soil, which reduces the removal of toxic substances with dust emissions and water runoff. However, plant growth on these soils is hindered by their phytotoxicity and unfavorable physical and physicochemical properties. The aim of this research was to develop a biogeochemical technology for the reclamation of coal dumps in Donbas based on phytoreclamation with various additives. Our experiments involved soil samples taken from the upper layer of the Ayutinskaya mine waste heap in the Donetsk coal basin, as well as zonal ordinary chernozem samples. The experiments were conducted in microfield conditions in bottomless vessels with an area of 0.1 m2 dug into the ground. The additives used were wood biochar and other sorbents, including mineral (diatomite and vermiculite) and organic (acidic and neutralized peat) ones, as well as ordinary chernozem and quarry sand – clean and with biohumus additives. The soil was seeded with a drought-resistant lawn mixture. All additives had a positive effect on the growth of green mass of drought-resistant lawn, measured during 3 cuttings ib the vegetation season of 2024. However, the best results were obtained with the addition of neutralized peat and chernozem at doses of 25 %, as well as quarry sand at doses of 25 and 50 % with the addition of biohumus; at the same time, the additional addition of 5 % biochar to all these samples gave no desired result.

Vladimir Vernadsky’s scientific and philosophical legacy still holds much value for the present-day world. It is largely concerned with the potential importance of two decentralized structures which can efficiently function on our planet. These are (i) the biosphere, construed as an integral entity, and (ii) the noösphere, a planet-wide human brains-based “film”. A fascinating mystery is the mechanism of the biosphere’s coordination and stable operation; important evidence has recently been presented concerning the probable regulatory role of the biosphere-wide field of signal molecules (ecomones) which include many neurotransmitters. As for the currently developing noösphere, humankind still has to invent strategies of conscious managing its activities. It is suggested that the functioning of the decentralized global noöspheric network should be subject to regulation by social chaperones. This term refers to network structures which subtly guide and promote the activities of other decentralized network structures in society.