Muse of spheres: the jubilee "Calendar of Ideas" presented the main technological breakthroughs of Russia

The Polytechnic Museum's Calendar of Ideas tells about Russian scientists who have made significant discoveries and world-class inventions. This annual publication systematizes the historical memory of Russian achievements in science and technology. This year's calendar is published for the 50th time. The presentation of the anniversary edition on the eve of the Day of Russian Science was held in the Open Collection of the Polytechnic Museum. About who created the alternative technology of color cinema, and who built the "flying ships" - in the material of Izvestia.

Which inventions are included in the "Calendar of Ideas" of the Polytechnic Museum

The first alternative technology of color cinema appeared in Russia. It was based on shooting on black and white film through red, green and blue filters. Then three separate films were combined to obtain a color image. The author of the invention was Sergey Maksimovich, who in 1909, exactly 115 years ago, together with the famous photographer Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky, patented a color film system.

This and other interesting facts from the history of Russian invention are told by the Calendar of Ideas, an annual periodical published by the Polytechnic Museum, Russia's largest repository of objects from the history of science and technology. The presentation of the project, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the publication of its printed version, took place on the eve of Russian Science Day in the museum's Open Collection.

In the jubilee Calendar, information about major Russian scientific achievements is presented in chronological order. Among them are the production of synthetic rubber under the leadership of Sergei Lebedev, the creation of the world's first "electric candle" — an incandescent lamp by Pavel Yablochkov, the first flight of an ekranoplane under the leadership of Rostislav Alekseev and the project of an international thermonuclear reactor proposed by Igor Kurchatov.

— Our calendars are more than reference books. It is a chronicle of human genius, a map of scientific progress, and evidence of an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. When we collect and systematize information and talk about great achievements, we don't just look back. We inspire new scientists, researchers, engineers and inventors to make their own discoveries," Dmitry Kozhanov, General Director of the Polytechnic Museum, told Izvestia.

He explained that the funds of the Polytechnic Library, a structural unit of the museum, became the information base for the Calendar. They number more than 3.6 million storage units, which cover the period from the 16th to the 21st centuries. During the preparation of the publication, the library staff carefully organized historical information, confirming each event and date with references to primary sources — journal articles, books and other publications.

How did the idea of a "chronicle" of Russian inventions develop?

According to library Director Irina Polyanskaya, on February 5, 1976, the first printed edition of the Calendar of Anniversaries and Commemorations in the Field of Natural Sciences and Technology was signed and then printed. However, the history of the project began much earlier.

— After the Great Patriotic War, the Polytechnic Museum, together with the Polytechnic Library, became part of the All-Union Society Znanie. The library's collection has become the main source of information for the society's lecturers. At the same time, the Commission on the History of Technology of the Department of Technical Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences, headed by Academician Sergey Vavilov, entrusted the library with the honorable duty of compiling bibliographic manuals on the history of technology, the specialist said.

Thus, starting in 1949, the cultural institution began to prepare a "Calendar" every year. Initially, it consisted of several sheets of typewritten text, then it began to be produced as a small brochure printed on a rotary printer, she added. A new stage in the history of the Calendar began 50 years ago, when it was first printed in the form of a book with a volume of 70 pages and a circulation of 500 copies. In 2019, the publication was named the "Calendar of Ideas" and came to its modern concept.

— The first significant anniversary is considered to be the fifth anniversary. Therefore, experts include in the collection the successes of modern Russian scientists who have proven their importance," Irina Polyanskaya clarified.

Now the creators are trying to demonstrate the full path from an idea to a breakthrough in a story about domestic inventions, she said. Another important task is to explain the essence of scientific discoveries to a wide audience in simple language. The paper version of the Calendar covers more than 100 events. In addition, every year specialists prepare an expanded version of the publication in electronic form, which is distributed at the request of organizations. It includes descriptions of more than 400 inventions.

— This book is a chronicle of the memory of Russian technological breakthroughs and discoveries. It is interesting for both adults and children. Anyone who is interested in technology and technology can find useful information and a source of inspiration for scientific creativity in it," said Yulia Davydova, co—organizer of the project, Director of Marketing and Brand Communications at T1 IT Holding.

According to her, the long history of the publication is a weighty proof of the relevance of knowledge about domestic achievements in the field of science and technology.