On July 12, Skoltech held its traditional “What?!” popular science festival. This year, the event became part of the large-scale “Summer in Moscow” project. Guests enjoyed dozens of workshops, lectures, a large interactive exhibition area, film screenings, science stand-up comedy, performances, and an open-air ice cream celebration. 

This year’s theme was the synthesis of science and art — two worlds that inspire each other to create new solutions that change our lives. The event was opened by Associate Professor Tatiana Podladchikova, who heads the Skoltech Engineering Center. She invited guests on a scientific, educational, and visual-audio journey, showing how solar storms echo Stravinsky’s rhythms and magnetic fields dance like Van Gogh’s brushstrokes. 

The lecture program also featured speakers discussing how scientific topics emerged in cinema, how AI creates texts, music, images, videos, and 3D worlds, what photonic resonances exist in nature, what multisensory perception is, and whether animals see the world as beautifully as we do. 

The lecture series concluded with a talk by Vladimir Surdin, a senior research scientist at Moscow State University’s Sternberg Astronomical Institute. The astronomer spoke about time — why precision matters, why clocks run faster on the Moon, why we need daylight saving time, and why time zones are arranged the way they are. The lecture generated great interest — the scientist received many questions and engaged in a lively dialogue with the audience. 

Throughout the day, guests participated in 18 workshops — from creating their own perfume compositions and photography with vintage wooden cameras to 3D modeling and DNA assembly. 

The festival also welcomed visitors to the events in other formats. Through quizzes and a stand-up show, guests explored food from a scientific perspective. An interactive business game showcased Skoltech’s approach to innovation. Demonstrations showed how new prosthetic control systems enable musicians to play guitar. An art tour featured the “Here and Now” festival. Nauka Mail.ru hosted a workshop on science communication. Kurilka Gutenberga presented cartoons about Russian science history. The Laboratory of Scientific Cinema 2.0 with partners premiered the Key to Oil movie. For the first time, guests experienced science fairy tales created by Skoltech researchers through special water painting techniques. The Scientists vs Movies skeptic show by Antropogenez.ru featured discussions between scientists and film critics about science representation in cinema.

Throughout the day, an expansive fair showcased Skoltech’s latest technological advancements and partner innovations, where visitors could also explore newly released books from participating publishers. The celebration of science and art culminated in Skoltech’s courtyard with a performance by the Isotope science theater, an AV-live show by MISIS students, and an ice cream festival.