Michael Zhilaev

N. Semenov Michael Zhilaev

This story is about Nikolay Semenov (1896-1986), one of the most distinguished and influential scientists in the post-war USSR, and the first Soviet scientist to win the Nobel prize for chemistry. Semenov's discoveries about branched chain reactions in the early 1930s became his most significant scientific contribution. The Institute of Chemical Physics, led by him since 1931 until his death, played a crucial role in many Soviet military projects, most importantly the Atomic Project. Besides being a talented scientist, Semenov was a true visionary. His legacy is the Noginsky Scientific Center in Chernogolovka, where his dream of scientific collaborations at all levels was realized with the help of his associate Fedor Dubovitsky, a gifted and enthusiastic leader and administrator. Many Soviet physicists were taught by Semenov and established their own scientific schools to continue his legacy of exploration and discovery for future generations. This book includes some original never published before photos.