Elementy science site
A Russian popular-science site about fundamental research: science news explained, a picture of the day with a real story, puzzles and answers to kids' questions.
What it is
Elementy ("Elements of Big Science") is a Russian popular-science site focused on fundamental research: physics, biology, chemistry, math, linguistics and more. It has been running since 2005. The main sections are science news with explainers on new studies, a science picture of the day, an events calendar, puzzles (including a weekly problem), answers to children's questions, and a library of popular-science articles reprinted from Russian magazines.
There is also a big section on the Large Hadron Collider: how it works, what physicists are looking for, how to read particle physics news and which headline clichés to distrust.
Why we picked it
The internet is full of "amazing facts" with no sources. Elementy is written by scientists and science journalists who are not afraid of detail. The easiest way in is the picture of the day: one photo or diagram and a short but substantial story. Recent ones covered garden eels, a clever climbing plant called akebia, von Economo neurons, and silicon carbide and moissanite, so anything from fish to minerals. The puzzles are a good brain workout, and the kids' questions section answers things children ask in a way adults enjoy too. Everything is in Russian; a browser translator works well on the articles, and it is excellent reading practice for advanced learners.
Where to start
- Open the picture of the day and scroll back through the last couple of months.
- Have a go at the problem of the week.
- Pick a kids' question you cannot answer yourself.
- Read science news in a field you care about.
- Physics fans: explore the collider section and its glossary of journalistic clichés.
Who it's for
High school and university students, teachers, engineers, advanced learners of Russian, and anyone who wants to follow science without clickbait.
Quick answers
Is it free? Yes, the content is open to read.
How often is it updated? Regularly; for example, a picture of the day was published on 26 September 2026.
Is it suitable for teens? Yes, especially the puzzles and kids' questions, though some news pieces assume background knowledge.
