In the May/June 2007 issue of Russian Life, Mikhail Ivanov's column on the use of "zero," "null," etc. in Russian slang got us wondering: just when and how was the concept and notation of zero introduced into Russian. We could find nothing in our printed references or anywhere online. So we polled some experts. Below we reprint two excellent replies we received.

Meet the TU-144, Russia's achievement, albeit short lived, in supersonic flight. On Dec. 31, 1968, Russia's TU-144 supersonic airliner made its first flight, several months ahead of the Anglo-French Concorde.

On the 45th anniversary of the first manned space flight, Russia lays out an ambitious space plan.

Finding the remains of the prehistoric giant mammoth in the far reaches of northern Siberia is not an unusual occurrence. Bones and tusks reveal themselves when the permafrost thaws. However, the discovery of an intact mammoth is something for scientists to get excited about.

What fell from the sky ninety years ago in a remote region of Siberia? Was it the beginning of a pattern of events leading to the doomsday prediction of the future?

Do you think the Cold War was over? Existing tensions between Russia and the U.S. regarding missile defense and NATO expansion are increasing. Is it possible for both to protect their interests against perceived threats without becoming a threat to each other?(originally published Feb. 2001)

Part II looks at the concern many have for a 'new' cold war.

Soviet cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Svitskaya made history when they were the first woman in space and first woman to walk in space, respectfully. Elena V. Kondakova represents the new age of Russian Federation cosmonauts as a member of the US/Russian STS-84 crew.