Science - The Times Of Central Asia

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Scientists in Turkmenistan Develop Lactose Gel for Skin Rejuvenation

Turkmen biotechnologists from the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan have developed an innovative lactose gel designed to rejuvenate and correct age-related skin changes. The State Service for Intellectual Property has officially recognized this technology and issued the relevant patent. The gel, based on milk whey, is used in dermatology and cosmetology. Its key task is to improve skin condition by restoring water and protein balance. Low-frequency ultra phonophoresis allows deep penetration of amino acid molecules, which contributes to cell recovery, improves cell nutrition and moisturizing, and stimulates the regeneration process. The basis of development is milk whey, which contains about 50% of the components important for maintaining skin health, such as proteins, lactose, vitamins, and minerals. These components are actively used in various industries, including cosmetics, due to their high biological value and unique physical and chemical properties. The head of the Academy's biotechnology department, Altyn Rakhmanova, emphasized that using whey in bionanotechnology is not only an effective way to create useful products but also an environmentally friendly approach. It is based on waste-free production, which minimizes the negative impact on the environment while increasing the value of the resulting products. Thus, this development demonstrates an innovative approach in the cosmetics industry, maximizing the benefits of natural resources and creating compelling products for the skin, providing comprehensive rejuvenation and restoration. Other developments in Turkmen science have been reported in recent weeks. Scientists have also developed a therapeutic ointment made of a widespread tree species in the country - maklura. The drug reduces inflammatory processes and helps to tighten wounds. In addition, scientists in Turkmenistan have developed a cream based on oil from silkworm cocoons, which is used in cosmetology. Before that, Turkmen scientists presented crackers made of camel thorn extract.

Desertification Biotechnology Science Economy

Turkmenistan To Harness Technology and Algae to Combat Desertification

The International Scientific and Technological Park of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan has received the copyright for the innovative development of nanocomposite material technologies based on blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). The development - which can improve eroded sandy and desert lands in dry steppe and desert zones - is designed to control desertification, wind erosion, and sand migration. This material can also be used as a raw material for producing construction materials and bio-products, which opens up a wide range of opportunities for its use. “Movable bare sands cause significant damage to the national economy, often covering agricultural lands, rivers, water bodies, canals, transportation highways, irrigation facilities and other objects. Therefore, controlling wind erosion and fixing sand are important tasks. We have proposed an effective way to combat desertification using blue-green algae (cyanobacteria),” said Altyn Rakhmanova, Head of the Biotechnology Department of ANT International Science and Technology Park. Cyanobacteria play a crucial role in soil improvement by participating in biochemical processes, accumulating substances and nitrogen, and destroying minerals. Their vital activity contributes to environmental changes and soil formation, especially by forming various overgrowths on its surface. Turkmenistan is actively combating land degradation following the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the National Action Program to Combat Desertification (NAPCD), which includes reforestation. In May 2024, the State Program for Integrated Development of Biotechnology in the Country for 2024-2028 was approved; one of the plans is to study and apply algae. The application of biotechnology for the development of new materials offers a promising and effective solution.

International Space Station Science International Cooperation Baikonur Space Exploration NASA Roscosmos

Crew of Record-Breaking Cosmonauts Land in Kazakh Steppe

The descent vehicle of the Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft has successfully landed in the steppe of Kazakhstan, near the town of Zhezkazgan. Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson were on board. Cosmonauts Kononenko and Chub spent 374 days in space, making their mission one of the longest in International Space Station (ISS) history. This is second only to the flights of Valery Polyakov and Sergey Avdeev, who spent 438 and 380 days in space, respectively, on the Mir station. Tracy Dyson stayed in orbit for 184 days. During their mission, Kononenko and Chub participated in several scientific experiments, took four Progress MS cargo ships, and conducted two spacewalks. The flight was an important contribution to the development of applied and fundamental research on the ISS. The spacecraft landed yesterday at 14:59, Moscow time. Kononenko and Chub's flight was a significant event for the space programs of Roscosmos and NASA. Despite completing their mission, the crew of the 72nd long-duration expedition, including Russian and American cosmonauts and astronauts, continues to work on the ISS. The station crew includes Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexei Ovchinin, Ivan Wagner, and Alexander Grebenkin, and NASA astronauts Donald Pettit, Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, Barry Wilmore, and Sunita Williams. The International Space Station (ISS) is one of mankind's most impressive engineering projects. It was launched in 1998, and is the product of 16 countries. The station revolves around the Earth every 90 minutes, allowing the crew to observe 16 sunrises and sunsets daily. In addition, the ISS is the largest object ever built in space, measuring about 109 meters long. The ISS is also considered the most expensive object built by humans, costing an estimated $120 billion by 2014, alone. According to NASA, the ISS "costs about $3 billion a year, roughly a third of NASA’s annual human space flight budget."

Science Space International Cooperation Space Exploration CIS

Uzbekistan to Head CIS Interstate Space Council

Uzbekistan will head the Interstate Space Council of CIS countries for 2024-2025, and Shukhrat Kadirov, Director of the Uzbekcosmos agency, was unanimously elected as the council chairman. This decision was made at the Fifth Council meeting, which was held in Tashkent. According to CIS rules, the council's chairmanship is passed alphabetically between the participating countries; Tajikistan held the previous chairmanship. Kadirov proposed enhancing cooperation in space education and initiating joint projects to train young specialists. He also noted that the council faces ambitious tasks, including coordinating within the UN and deepening cooperation in space technologies. In August this year, Uzbekistan announced its accession to the 1967 treaty on the exploration and use of space. It was also reported that Uzbekistan will not send weapons of mass destruction into space; the country has advocated reducing the risk of space militarization. The CIS Interstate Space Council is an organization established to coordinate the efforts of CIS countries in space activities. The Council deals with space research, technological developments, and the implementation of joint projects in the space sphere. The organization's importance lies in strengthening cooperation between the countries in using space technologies for scientific research, communications, and navigation. The Council also works on coordination within international organizations such as the UN.

Government satellite Bilateral Cooperation Science Space Bilateral Relations

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Plan to Launch Satellites into Space

Representatives of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Digital Technologies attended the recent Asia-Pacific Conference on Digital Transformation, which was held in Astana on September 2-3. The event was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). The conference touched upon possible cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on launching a group of satellites into space. In August Uzbekistan became a signatory to the Outer Space Treaty, which regulates international cooperation in space exploration. The Times of Central Asia has also reported that Kazakhstan plans to use Amazon's "Project Kuiper" satellite internet, a competitor to Elon Musk’s famous Starlink.

snow leopard Environment Science Digitalization

New Neural Network for Kazakh Study of Snow Leopards

Kazakhstan has launched an innovative project to study and protect snow leopards supported by a new neural navigation network, Yandex Qazaqstan. The network, developed with Kazakh-British Technical University students, scientists from the Institute of Zoology of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Snow Leopard Foundation, will significantly accelerate and simplify data analysis from camera traps and other sources, enabling a more effective means of tracking these rare animals' behavior and migration routes. The snow leopard, a symbol of Kazakhstan's mountain ecosystems, is found in regions such as Altai, Zhetysu Alatau, Saur, and Tien Shan. Although Kazakhstan's leopard population has doubled over the past 30 years, to between 141-183, their existence remains under threat from human activities and climate change, making conservation projects essential. Yandex Qazaqstan will help optimize the monitoring of snow leopards by automatically analyzing images from camera traps and quickly identifying the presence of the animals. As a result, scientists will be able to more accurately and quickly track changes in these rare predators' populations and migration routes. This collaboration between scientists, students, and IT specialists demonstrates Kazakhstan's commitment to protecting its nature and sustainable development and moreover, provide a template for the application of similar technologies in other conservation projects.