Ridiculous stories can also happen to scientists who seem to be able to foresee everything. A similar thing happened with young Semyon Volfkovich, who would later be entrusted with high positions. But then, in the 20s of the 20th century, through carelessness or, conversely, absent-mindedness, he was classified as a ghost. At night, a blue glow formed around him, giving him the nickname “bright monk”. People did not find an explanation, believing that this could only happen to saints. But everything was trivially simple. A scientist just starting his career worked with phosphorus, not knowing or being unable to hide its properties. In the 20-30s of the last century, a strange man appeared on the streets of Moscow, from whom a blue glow emanated. As I walked, sparks flew from under my feet. He always appeared in one place – next to the Moscow Institute of National Economy – and walked along the sidewalk. Surprised evening passersby turned away or, completely not understanding what was happening, followed him. It turned out that the ghost can speak and is very similar to an ordinary person. But the blue light from his clothes haunted him because this never happened to ordinary people. The shining man turned around, convincing people that he was just like them – a living, real person. It didn’t help much, and as soon as he turned away, the crowd followed him. Moscow burning ghost Rumors of an incomprehensible phenomenon spread throughout Moscow. Curious people began to gather closer and closer to Moscow State University to observe the unprecedented phenomenon. They began to call him the “bright monk,” probably due to the fact that they simply could not give a logical explanation, and radiation was associated with holiness. Thus, Semyon Volfkovich received both ghosts in the flesh and religious ranks. Semyon Volfkovich in his youth The hero of Moscow legends was the aspiring scientist Semyon Volfkovich. In his early years he worked with phosphorus, an element about which little was known. A significant event occurred thanks to a meeting with geologist Alexander Fersman in the 20s of the twentieth century in the old building of Moscow University on Mokhovaya. This greatly influenced the development of phosphate deposits located in the country, and there are many such mineral deposits. Development will take years, but Semyon Volfkovich’s achievements will be recognized with high awards. Meanwhile, using primitive methods, he tried to study the processes of the transition of phosphorus from a solid state to a vapor state, without melting and boiling, which began in the laboratory of Semyon Volfkovich immediately after graduation. At the same institution, he remained in the role of teacher and began scientific activity at the Faculty of Chemistry. In the same year, he managed to obtain white phosphorus in an electric furnace in a laboratory on Mokhovaya. The palm glows in the dark from a powder containing phosphorus. Working with phosphorus requires compliance with safety precautions, as it is a dangerous substance. But the scientist, without special equipment, conducted experiments, standing at the stove in his ordinary clothes. Phosphorus vapor permeated it, making it glow in the dark. Being a workaholic, Semyon Volkovich did not sleep at work, and when he went home, it was already dark. Phosphorus began to show its property – to shine on clothes, creating a blue halo, and the heels of shoes, drawing on the asphalt, caused sparks. This is how the image of the “bright monk” appeared. Semyon Volfkovich – professor, academician, scientist Semyon Volfkovich’s developments helped create a mineral phosphorus fertilizer that increased productivity. He conducted a lot of research in the field of chemical technology, achieved success and filed 40 copyright and patent applications. After his first experiments with electric furnaces, he developed new ones that operate at the Chernorechensky plant. After graduating from the institute, he received the position of head of the laboratory, and then began teaching, but did not abandon his developments. He believed that a student cannot do without practice, and introduced this provision among his students, alternating theory with practice. This approach to teaching remained at the institute. In 1940, the scientist joined the state planning body for the development of the national economy of the Soviet Union, was a member of the Scientific and Technical Council, and after the war, already as a professor, he taught at the institute. The achievements of Lomonosov Semyon Volfkovich are truly great, and for this he received many awards. There was also the Stalin Prize, considered the highest form of reward for achievements before the country, and a large gold medal named after. Lomonosov, which can be awarded to only one Russian scientist per year. Semyon Volfkovich’s incendiary mixtures against tanks were considered the most effective during the Great Patriotic War; his knowledge helped fight the enemy. He used his favorite element phosphorus, which became a weapon in the fight against fascist tanks. The scientist created incendiary mixtures based on phosphorous substances. At the pilot plant, an alloy of phosphorus and sulfur was formed, which was then bottled into glass bottles. The liquid spontaneously ignited when the container was broken and did not deteriorate even in water, and the strong white smoke had the side effect of blinding. Anti-tank “shells” that were yellow-green or dark brown in color because they could additionally contain carbon disulfide proved effective on the battlefield. The burning time of the “projectile” was 2-3 minutes at temperatures up to 1000 °C. Later, the flammable mixture was included in a list of similar ones called “Molotov cocktails.” Semyon Volfkovich wrote many books, and died at his next job, sitting at his desk with a pen in his hands in 1980, when he. was 84 years old. In the Middle Ages, he would have been called an alchemist, ranking him among the cohort of strange people. This is exactly how Hennig Brand, who discovered phosphorus, Isaac Newton, who studied motion, gravity, optics, or Mikhail Ostrogradsky, who came up with a brilliant idea right on the street, seemed at that time. There were other interesting, outstanding scientists with their own epoch-making discoveries and oddities.
How the “bright monk” appeared in Moscow in the 1920s and why he received the highest Soviet award
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