As part of the Ask a Scientist educational project for schoolchildren organized by the Ministry of Education and Science of Altai Krai, researchers from Altai State University presented by their developments, which have already found applications in the real economy and beyond.

Altai State University physicists have developed a mathematical model that enables satellites to "see" the state of the Earth’s surface. The satellites detect signals emanating from the surface, while the scientists' formula converts these signals into understandable data, indicating where the soil is dry or moist and how saline ocean water is. This information is essential for meteorologists when preparing weather forecasts and for farmers, who can assess the condition of their fields without having to visit them.

Vsevolod Shcherbinin, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, emphasizes not only of the applied significance of this work but also its fundamental value:

"One of our main achievements was a fundamental model linking brightness temperature to soil moisture. This work, which resulted from long-term collaboration with the Kirensky Institute of Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is of global significance. Since 2012, it has been used to process data from the MIRAS radiometer onboard the SMOS satellite (European Space Agency)."

In addition to space, the Institute's researchers focus on developing practical products for use on Earth: antennas and filters that improve communication quality, as well as precision liquid flow meters that enable the accurate dosing of irrigation water and seed-treatment chemicals.

The second development comes from the field of biology. Scientists have developed a treatment for dangerous plant disease caused by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The disease causes malformed growths to appear on the roots of apple, grape, and rose plants, damaging the crop.

Biotechnologists have identified a natural substance that destroys only this harmful bacterium while remaining completely safe for bees, soil worms, and humans.

Researcher Evgeniya Kolosova explains that the treatment has already undergone laboratory testing and will soon be used in orchards:

"Scientists used metabolic engineering methods to create a highly productive recombinant producer strain. 'Agrocin-84' acts selectively against the pathogen without suppressing beneficial soil microflora and is safe for humans and pollinating insects. The treatment can be used both to preventatively treat seedlings before planting and to treat already infected plants at an early stage." The product is currently being prepared for field testing, and in the future, will help gardeners produce healthy crops without using harsh chemicals.

Thus, the developments created by Altai scientists demonstrate how fundamental research can be transformed into practical products: some help monitor the planet from space, while others help protect gardens without harming nature.