History of science and technology (Collection of scientific papers of the State University of Infrastructure and Technologies) / Історія науки і техніки (Збірник наукових праць Державного університету інфраструктури та технологій)
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Історичне підґрунтя дров’яного випалу кераміки в печах перехресного потоку
No full textThis work is a comprehensive study that covers the historical, technical and creative aspects of the unique process of wood firing of ceramics. The conducted research allowed to understand the essence of wood firing, its aesthetic and cultural value more deeply. Analysis of the historical development of wood firing revealed its deep roots in the cultural traditions of different peoples. This technique, which originated thousands of years ago, remains relevant due to its ability to create unique textures, effects and emphasize the natural beauty of the material. The historical aspect shows how wood firing has transformed from a utilitarian process into an important artistic tool. A key feature of wood firing is the use of special kilns designed to maintain high temperatures for a long time. Research into different types of cross-flow wood kilns revealed their technical features and impact on the final result. It has been established that the firing process depends on many factors, including the type of wood, the atmosphere of the kiln, the temperature and the duration of firing. These parameters form the unique character of each product. The use of wood firing for artistic purposes allows to achieve unique visual effects, such as natural ash pouring, textured surfaces, natural color transitions. Wood firing is a unique process that combines tradition and innovation, technology and art. Its significance lies in the ability to create objects that are not only visually striking, but also carry a deep emotional content. This technique requires skill, patience and understanding of the material, as well as the willingness to work with the element of fire, which becomes a full-fledged co-author. The research conducted not only deepened knowledge about wood firing, but also showed its limitless possibilities for creative expression. The study demonstrates that this technique remains relevant and inspiring for contemporary artists, offering endless opportunities for discovery in the field of artistic ceramics. The technology of wood firing in cross-flow kilns continues to develop, and its capabilities open up new horizons for contemporary ceramic art. Wood firing is not only a technology, but also a philosophy. It reflects the interaction of man with nature and fire, allowing the creation of unique ceramic products that cannot be repeated. This is precisely its value and unfading relevance in the world of ceramic art.Дана робота є комплексним дослідженням, яке охоплює історичні, технічні й творчі аспекти унікального процесу дров’яного випалу кераміки. Проведене дослідження дозволило глибше зрозуміти суть дров'яного випалу, його естетичну та культурну цінність. Аналіз історичного розвитку дров’яного випалу виявив його глибокі корені в культурних традиціях різних народів. Ця техніка, що виникла тисячоліття тому, залишається актуальною завдяки своїй здатності створювати унікальні текстури, ефекти й підкреслювати природну красу матеріалу. Історичний аспект показує, як дров’яний випал перетворився з утилітарного процесу у важливий художній інструмент. Ключовою особливістю дров'яного випалу є використання спеціальних печей, призначених для підтримки високої температури протягом тривалого часу. Дослідження різних видів дров’яних печей перехресного потоку розкрило їх технічні особливості та вплив на кінцевий результат. Встановлено, що процес випалу залежить від багатьох факторів, включаючи тип деревини, атмосферу печі, температуру та тривалість випалу. Ці параметри формують неповторний характер кожного виробу. Використання дров’яного випалу в художніх цілях дозволяє досягти неповторних візуальних ефектів, таких як натуральна зольна полива, текстуровані поверхні, природні колірні переходи. Дров’яний випал є унікальним процесом, який об’єднує традиції та інновації, технології та мистецтво. Його значення полягає у здатності створювати об’єкти, які не лише вражають візуально, але й несуть глибокий емоційний зміст. Ця техніка вимагає майстерності, терпіння та розуміння матеріалу, а також готовності працювати зі стихією вогню, який стає повноправним співавтором. Проведене дослідження не лише поглибило знання про дров’яний випал, але й показало його безмежні можливості для творчого самовираження. Дослідження демонструє, що ця техніка залишається актуальною й надихаючою для сучасних митців, пропонуючи нескінченні можливості для відкриттів у галузі художньої кераміки. Технологія дров’яного випалу в печах перехресного потоку продовжує розвиватися, і її можливості відкривають нові горизонти для сучасного керамічного мистецтва. Дров’яний випал - це не лише технологія, а й філософія. Він відображає взаємодію людини з природою та вогнем, дозволяючи створювати унікальні керамічні вироби, які неможливо повторити. Саме в цьому полягає його цінність і незгасаюча актуальність у світі керамічного мистецтва
Штучний інтелект і робототехніка в давні часи: Між міфом і тлумаченням
No full textThis research examines the concept of artificial intelligence and robotics across ancient times, where philosophers and scientists in ancient civilizations such as Greece and China sought to imagine beings capable of thinking and interacting, thus embodying humanity's desire to transcend the limits of its biological capabilities. These ideas manifest in mythical figures such as the "Golem" and "Automata" indicating the human preoccupation with the idea of creating intelligent beings. The study is of significant importance by helping us understand the historical roots of the cultural visions that have shaped the concept of artificial intelligence today. It also raises issues regarding the boundaries between myth and reality and what can actually be achieved. These issues relate to human ambitions versus technological possibilities, raising questions about ethics and the necessity of setting limits on these innovations. Additionally, this topic contributes to the analysis of philosophical and cultural thought in human and machine interactions, that strengthens our comprehension of the complex interaction between humans and technology in the contemporary world. Thus, this topic represents a bridge between the past and the future, where ancient myths can help guide us toward a future of artificial intelligence and robotics with a human and ethical character. It is worth noting that the evocation of these ancient visions is not limited to the historical dimension alone, but also opens the way for us to understand how human imagination has always been the primary driving force behind scientific and technological progress. The myths crafted by ancient civilizations were not merely symbolic tales; rather, they constituted an initial framework for reflecting on issues that remain relevant today, such as the boundaries of consciousness, the possibility of simulating the human mind, and the question of what it means to be human. Re-reading these myths in light of current developments in artificial intelligence and robotics offers us an opportunity to reshape our relationship with technology – not merely as a useful tool, but as a cultural and ethical force that demands critical awareness and shared responsibility.У цьому дослідженні розглядається концепція штучного інтелекту та робототехніки в контексті давніх часів, коли філософи й учені стародавніх цивілізацій, таких як Греція та Китай, намагалися уявити істот, здатних мислити й взаємодіяти, уособлюючи тим самим прагнення людства перевершити межі своїх біологічних можливостей. Ці ідеї проявляються в міфічних постатях, таких як Голем і Автомати, що свідчить про давнє людське захоплення ідеєю створення розумних істот. Дослідження має важливе значення, оскільки допомагає зрозуміти історичні корені культурних уявлень, які сформували сучасну концепцію штучного інтелекту. Воно також порушує питання щодо меж між міфом і реальністю та щодо того, що насправді можна досягти. Ці питання стосуються людських амбіцій у порівнянні з технологічними можливостями, порушуючи етичні аспекти та необхідність встановлення меж для таких інновацій. Крім того, дана тема сприяє аналізу філософської та культурної думки у взаємодії людини й машини, що поглиблює наше розуміння складної взаємодії між людиною та технологією в сучасному світі. Таким чином, ця тема є своєрідним мостом між минулим і майбутнім, де стародавні міфи можуть допомогти нам спрямувати розвиток штучного інтелекту та робототехніки у гуманістичному та етичному напрямі. Варто зазначити, що звернення до цих давніх уявлень не обмежується лише історичним виміром, а й відкриває шлях до розуміння того, як людська уява завжди була головною рушійною силою наукового та технологічного прогресу. Міфи, створені стародавніми цивілізаціями, не були просто символічними оповідями; вони становили початкову основу для роздумів над питаннями, що залишаються актуальними й сьогодні – такими як межі свідомості, можливість імітації людського розуму та сутність людської природи. Переосмислення цих міфів у світлі сучасних досягнень штучного інтелекту й робототехніки дає змогу по-новому осмислити наше ставлення до технологій – не лише як до корисного інструменту, а як до культурної та етичної сили, що вимагає критичної свідомості та спільної відповідальності
Інституціоналізація технології бетонного будівництва: Соціотехнічне формування сучасної архітектури в Індонезії
No full textThe institutionalisation of construction technology in postcolonial architecture has seldom been studied through Science and Technology Studies, particularly in developing countries where political agendas often shaped modernisation more than industrial growth. This article addresses this gap by analysing the socio-technical process of institutionalising concrete construction technology in Indonesian architecture between 1959 and 1981. Drawing on Berger and Luckmann’s social construction theory, especially externalisation and objectivation, the study frames the Old Order and the New Order as successive regimes that produced and stabilised technological meanings within their respective national development narratives. The research investigates presidential speeches, governmental policies, and practitioners’ writings to trace historical discourses linking technology and national development. Findings indicate that these discourses were initially divergent: the Old Order focused on nation building through monumental projects, whereas the New Order emphasised social welfare through economic growth. Gradually, these contrasting discourses interacted and contributed to the objectivation of concrete as the dominant material and construction method in post-independence Indonesian architecture. Developmental discontinuity under the Old Order (1959-1966) generated modernity arising from economic constraints but marked by innovation through unprecedented concrete applications. In contrast, the New Order (1966-1981) produced modernity characterised by efficiency, utilisation of local materials, and social empathy amid economic surplus. Despite these differences, concrete construction technology persisted architecturally, bridging both regimes. The institutionalisation process thus represents a negotiated socio-technical transition rather than a linear diffusion of modern technology. This Indonesian case contributes to global Science and Technology Studies debates by offering a Southern perspective on how modern architecture materialises through historically and contextually contingent technological constructions.Інституціоналізація технології будівництва в постколоніальній архітектурі рідко досліджується з позицій досліджень науки і технологій, особливо в країнах, що розвиваються, де процес модернізації частіше визначався політичними програмами, ніж індустріальним зростанням. Ця стаття заповнює зазначену прогалину, аналізуючи соціотехнічний процес інституціоналізації технології бетонного будівництва в індонезійській архітектурі в період з 1959 по 1981 роки. Спираючись на теорію соціального конструювання Бергера та Лукмана, зокрема на поняття екстерналізації та об’єктивації, дослідження розглядає періоди Старого порядку та Нового порядку як послідовні режими, що формували й закріплювали технологічні значення у межах власних національних наративів розвитку. У дослідженні аналізуються президентські промови, урядові політики та публікації практиків з метою простежити історичні дискурси, які пов’язували технологію з національним розвитком. Результати свідчать, що ці дискурси спочатку були різноспрямованими: Старий порядок зосереджувався на розбудові нації через монументальні проєкти, тоді як Новий порядок наголошував на соціальному добробуті через економічне зростання. Згодом ці протилежні дискурси взаємодіяли й сприяли об’єктивації бетону як домінуючого матеріалу та методу будівництва в архітектурі після здобуття незалежності. Розрив у розвитку під час Старого порядку (1959–1966) породив модерність, що виникла з економічних обмежень, але вирізнялася інноваційністю через безпрецедентне використання бетону. Натомість період Нового порядку (1966–1981) характеризувався модерністю, заснованою на ефективності, використанні місцевих матеріалів і соціальній емпатії в умовах економічного піднесення. Попри відмінності, технологія бетонного будівництва зберегла архітектурну тяглість, поєднавши обидва режими. Таким чином, процес інституціоналізації є узгодженим соціотехнічним переходом, а не лінійним поширенням сучасної технології. Індонезійський досвід робить внесок у глобальні дискусії з досліджень науки і технологій, пропонуючи Південну перспективу на те, як сучасна архітектура матеріалізується через історично та контекстуально зумовлені технологічні конструкції
Колоніальна технополітика в Нідерландській Ост-Індії: Дослідження гідроелектроенергетики на плантації Паманоекан та Чіасемланден
No full textThis study aims to explore the historical development of hydroelectric power technology in the Dutch East Indies during the early 20th century, with a particular focus on the Pamanoekan and Tjiasemlanden plantation, currently managed by PTPN VIII Tambaksari-Ciater Plantation area in Subang, West Java. It seeks to investigate the transformation of water engineering technology from indigenous vernacular irrigation systems to modern irrigation and eventually to hydroelectric power plants. The study also examines the process of technological adaptation, the role of colonial engineers, the origin of technical components, and the operational mechanisms of hydroelectric stations within the broader context of Ethical Policy and colonial technocracy. The study integrates textual archives, and material remains into an interpretive narrative using a historical archaeology method. Private colonial plantations are treated as sites where domination over natural resources was enacted. Fieldwork focused on three hydroelectric stations – Cijambe, Gunungtua, and Cinangling – and was complemented by diverse textual sources, including newspapers, engineering journals, speeches and proceedings of Dutch engineers, colonial water regulations, company booklets, geological surveys, and plantation maps. This study's analysis applies the concept of technopolitics, framing technology not as a neutral instrument but as integral to the political-economic agendas of colonial rule. Findings indicate that the three hydroelectric stations expanded the colonial infrastructure regime following the implementation of irrigation projects in Pamanoekan and Tjiasemlanden. The Ethical Policy provided a civilizing narrative that legitimized technical rationalization. Through water flow engineering, colonial authorities and private enterprises – mediated by engineers – rendered rivers calculable and measurable, sustaining plantation-based industrial production while maintaining indigenous subsistence rice cultivation. Thus, the development of hydroelectric technology in Pamanoekan and Tjiasemlanden was not merely a technical achievement but a technopolitical project that mobilized water resources to consolidate economic productivity through networks of private enterprises, technocratic agencies, and international equipment distributors.Це дослідження присвячене історичному розвитку технологій гідроелектроенергетики в Нідерландській Ост-Індії на початку XX століття, з особливим акцентом на плантацію Паманоекан та Чіасемланден, нині частини плантацій регіону VIII Тамбаксарі-Сіатер у Субанзі, Західна Ява. Метою є дослідження трансформації водної інженерії – від традиційних місцевих зрошувальних систем до сучасних зрошувальних мереж і, зрештою, до гідроелектростанцій. Дослідження також розглядає процес технологічної адаптації, роль колоніальних інженерів, походження технічних компонентів та механізми роботи гідроелектростанцій у ширшому контексті політики етичності та колоніальної технократії. Використано метод історичної археології, поєднуючи текстові архіви та матеріальні залишки для інтерпретативного наративу. Приватні колоніальні плантації розглядаються як простори, де реалізовувалось домінування над природними ресурсами. Польові дослідження охоплювали три гідроелектростанції – Чіямбе, Ґунунгтуа та Чінанглінг, доповнені різноманітними текстовими джерелами: газетами, інженерними журналами, промовами та протоколами нідерландських інженерів, колоніальними водними нормативами, буклетами компаній, геологічними дослідженнями та картами плантацій. Аналіз застосовує концепцію технополітики, розглядаючи технологію не як нейтральний інструмент, а як невід’ємну частину політико-економічних стратегій колоніального правління. Виявлено, що три гідроелектростанції розширили колоніальну інфраструктурну мережу після реалізації зрошувальних проектів на Паманоекан ен Чіасемланден. Політика Етичності забезпечила «цивілізаційний» наратив, що легітимізував технічну раціоналізацію. Через інженерне регулювання водних потоків колоніальні адміністрації та приватні підприємства, за посередництвом інженерів, зробили річки вимірюваними та контрольованими, підтримуючи промислове виробництво на базі плантацій, одночасно зберігаючи традиційне місцеве вирощування рису для самозабезпечення. Отже, розвиток гідроелектричних технологій на Паманоекан ен Чіасемланден був не лише технічним досягненням, а й технополітичним проєктом, який мобілізував водні ресурси для консолідації економічної продуктивності через мережі приватних підприємств, технократичних агентств та міжнародних постачальників обладнання
PREFACE
Get PDFDear Readers, We are pleased to present the latest issue of our scholarly journal, which brings together the results of interdisciplinary research aimed at understanding the historical stages in the development of science and technology, technological innovations, and their impact on society. This publication continues our commitment to fostering dialogue between historians, engineers, scientists, and cultural theorists, offering a platform for rethinking the intersections of knowledge systems across time and disciplines. By highlighting both well-established and emerging fields of inquiry, we strive to demonstrate the enduring relevance of historical analysis in addressing contemporary challenges.
This issue reflects our belief that science and technology are not only engines of progress but also complex cultural phenomena. Each article invites readers to explore how inventions, practices, and theories were shaped by – and in turn shaped – the societies in which they emerged. Through critical engagement with sources, methods, and narratives, we seek to illuminate the human dimension of scientific and technical change, encouraging reflection on its ethical, social, and philosophical implications.
The central focus of this issue is a fundamental study devoted to the work of Ukrainian geneticist Oleksii Sozinov (1930–2018), one of the key figures in 20th-century agricultural science. The article explores the development and implementation of phytotron technologies in plant breeding at the All-Union Selection and Genetics Institute (now the National Center for Seed Science and Variety Research). The authors not only reconstruct Sozinov’s scientific career but also introduce a new array of archival sources into academic circulation, allowing for a reassessment of the innovative methods used to increase crop yields. This study convincingly demonstrates that an interdisciplinary approach – combining microhistory, source studies, history of science, and agrotechnology – can reveal the contributions of individual scientists to global transformations.
The theme of technological evolution continues with a timely study on the development of supercharging systems for piston aircraft engines. The authors meticulously reconstruct the chronology of these technologies, from the earliest days of aviation, focusing on technical innovations that significantly improved engine altitude performance. By combining technical analysis with historical context, the study offers insight not only into engineering features but also their impact on military aviation in the first half of the 20th century – a rare fusion of engineering precision and historical depth.
Another remarkable example of a technological breakthrough that influenced the course of history is radar technology during World War II. The related article discusses not only engineering solutions (such as Chain Home, Freya, SCR-270) but also the strategic role of radar in crucial battles including the Battle of Britain, the Atlantic campaign, and the Pacific theater. The authors also examine how the postwar development of radar influenced air defense systems, meteorology, and modern navigation. This analysis shows that technical innovation can become a bifurcation point in history – impacting both military strategy and civil progress.
The history of medicine is represented by an engaging comparative study of medieval Georgian medical culture and European practices. Special attention is given to the treatise Ustsoro Karabadini, which reveals the influence of Greco-Roman traditions on Georgian medicine. The article explores the four humors theory, dietary advice, childcare approaches, and seasonal diagnostics, offering a comprehensive view of the scientific culture of the time. It also highlights parallels between agricultural traditions, viticulture, and medical knowledge in Georgia and Europe, showing deep integration of cultural knowledge with natural medicine.
A completely different dimension of scientific progress is reflected in the review of the evolution of forensic bloodstain analysis. From visual inspection to the use of AI, this evolution mirrors the broader trend of science digitalization. The article traces how modern methods – such as spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, chromatography, and machine learning algorithms – enable accurate determination of stain age, opening new frontiers for forensic science. Despite these advances, the authors emphasize ongoing challenges such as standardization, environmental factors, and substrate differences. This study stands at the intersection of bioinformatics, analytical chemistry, and law.
Among contemporary issues, cybersecurity receives particular attention. The article on computer viruses provides a historical overview from the legendary Morris Worm to WannaCry, showing how technical threats became the subject of scientific inquiry. The focus is on the evolution of countermeasures: from signature-based antivirus software to machine learning, behavioral models, and deep neural networks. The study underscores the dual nature of this field: increasing complexity of threats alongside constant improvements in AI-based defense. The authors argue that the future of cybersecurity lies in the synthesis of historical experience and technological adaptability.
In the following article, the Authors presents an interdisciplinary study combining historical analysis and experimental research to examine the vulnerability of military drones made from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to laser destruction. It explores the historical development of CFRP use in military drones, highlighting its adoption due to the need for lightweight, durable, and radar-evading materials, influenced by geopolitical and technological factors. Concurrently, the study investigates the rise of high-energy laser systems as precise countermeasures against fast, small, and stealthy drones, driven by concerns over swarm attacks and limitations of traditional defenses. Experimentally, CFRP samples were tested under controlled laser radiation to identify damage mechanisms and energy thresholds causing material failure. By integrating historical context with laboratory results, the article offers a comprehensive view of how past material choices have created current vulnerabilities and how modern laser weapons exploit these weaknesses, advancing more effective counter-drone strategies for present and future military applications.
This article examines the design, fabrication, and long-term operation of Kyiv’s Evgeny Paton Bridge, the world’s first all-welded highway bridge completed in 1953. Named after welding pioneer Evgeny Paton, the bridge marked a key advance in civil engineering and Soviet postwar reconstruction, showcasing the shift from riveted to welded structures through innovations in metallurgy, structural analysis, and automatic submerged arc welding. Using archival and technical sources, the study places the bridge within its political and economic context, highlighting its dual role as functional infrastructure and a symbol of Soviet scientific progress. The article reviews over seven decades of operational experience, focusing on the bridge’s durability, maintenance, and influence on later engineering worldwide. Serving as a living laboratory, the Paton Bridge demonstrates the practical application of scientific research in welded steel structures and remains relevant to modern infrastructure and engineering education.
A study of the electrification of Tashkent from 1914 to 1918 presents significant historical interest. Against the backdrop of geopolitical instability and the colonial approach of the imperial center, the development of energy infrastructure in the region appears as an attempt at modernization despite unfavorable conditions. While the number of power stations increased, a lack of industrial support and investment outflow hindered further progress. The analysis reveals how energy policy influenced the region’s economic potential and exposed untapped infrastructural resources.
Traditional technologies that have retained their relevance are highlighted in the article on wood-fired kiln ceramics. This topic offers a fresh interpretation of technology as a form of aesthetic and emotional experience. The authors trace the evolution of the practice from utilitarian craft to a philosophy of fire interaction. An analysis of kiln types, firing regimes, ash impact, and temperature variations helps explain why this technique continues to inspire contemporary artists.
A fascinating socio-technical case study is the history of automotive engineering in Francoist Spain. Through the lens of the Revista de la STA, researchers uncover the image of the engineer as a bearer of technical progress within an authoritarian state. Technological breakthroughs described by engineers themselves are presented as part of a collective imagination – a space where technology, the state, and professional pride coexist in a complex dynamic. This study demonstrates how cultural history shapes the history of technology.
Finally, the issue concludes with a study on the emergence of cinema as a technical and social phenomenon. It captures the transition from optical illusions and mechanical devices to digital technologies and virtual reality. The authors examine not only the technical foundations of cinema-mechanics, vision physiology, photochemistry – but also its cultural contexts: fairs, cinemas, and the public consumption of visuality. Cinema emerges as both a product of scientific knowledge and social demand, a communicative platform, and a technological system.
Taken together, this issue is a vivid illustration of the current state of historical and scientific studies. The articles transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, rethink the human role in technical transformations, and emphasize the importance of local contexts in global processes. A shared feature across all contributions is the blend of historical depth, source-based rigor, and interpretive boldness. We are confident that these articles will be of value to researchers, educators, students, and all who are interested in the development of science, technology, and culture.
We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and editorial team whose dedicated work made this issue possible. Their intellectual contributions and commitment to scholarly excellence ensure that each article meets the highest academic standards. We are equally grateful to our readers, whose interest and feedback continue to inspire us to expand the scope and depth of our publication.
As we turn the pages of this issue, we invite you to join us in exploring the intricate connections between past innovations and present realities. We hope that these studies will not only inform but also provoke new questions, spark dialogue, and encourage further research. May this issue serve as a valuable resource and a catalyst for deeper understanding of the ways in which science, technology, and culture shape – and are shaped by – each other through time.Dear Readers, We are pleased to present the latest issue of our scholarly journal, which brings together the results of interdisciplinary research aimed at understanding the historical stages in the development of science and technology, technological innovations, and their impact on society. This publication continues our commitment to fostering dialogue between historians, engineers, scientists, and cultural theorists, offering a platform for rethinking the intersections of knowledge systems across time and disciplines. By highlighting both well-established and emerging fields of inquiry, we strive to demonstrate the enduring relevance of historical analysis in addressing contemporary challenges.
This issue reflects our belief that science and technology are not only engines of progress but also complex cultural phenomena. Each article invites readers to explore how inventions, practices, and theories were shaped by – and in turn shaped – the societies in which they emerged. Through critical engagement with sources, methods, and narratives, we seek to illuminate the human dimension of scientific and technical change, encouraging reflection on its ethical, social, and philosophical implications.
The central focus of this issue is a fundamental study devoted to the work of Ukrainian geneticist Oleksii Sozinov (1930–2018), one of the key figures in 20th-century agricultural science. The article explores the development and implementation of phytotron technologies in plant breeding at the All-Union Selection and Genetics Institute (now the National Center for Seed Science and Variety Research). The authors not only reconstruct Sozinov’s scientific career but also introduce a new array of archival sources into academic circulation, allowing for a reassessment of the innovative methods used to increase crop yields. This study convincingly demonstrates that an interdisciplinary approach – combining microhistory, source studies, history of science, and agrotechnology – can reveal the contributions of individual scientists to global transformations.
The theme of technological evolution continues with a timely study on the development of supercharging systems for piston aircraft engines. The authors meticulously reconstruct the chronology of these technologies, from the earliest days of aviation, focusing on technical innovations that significantly improved engine altitude performance. By combining technical analysis with historical context, the study offers insight not only into engineering features but also their impact on military aviation in the first half of the 20th century – a rare fusion of engineering precision and historical depth.
Another remarkable example of a technological breakthrough that influenced the course of history is radar technology during World War II. The related article discusses not only engineering solutions (such as Chain Home, Freya, SCR-270) but also the strategic role of radar in crucial battles including the Battle of Britain, the Atlantic campaign, and the Pacific theater. The authors also examine how the postwar development of radar influenced air defense systems, meteorology, and modern navigation. This analysis shows that technical innovation can become a bifurcation point in history – impacting both military strategy and civil progress.
The history of medicine is represented by an engaging comparative study of medieval Georgian medical culture and European practices. Special attention is given to the treatise Ustsoro Karabadini, which reveals the influence of Greco-Roman traditions on Georgian medicine. The article explores the four humors theory, dietary advice, childcare approaches, and seasonal diagnostics, offering a comprehensive view of the scientific culture of the time. It also highlights parallels between agricultural traditions, viticulture, and medical knowledge in Georgia and Europe, showing deep integration of cultural knowledge with natural medicine.
A completely different dimension of scientific progress is reflected in the review of the evolution of forensic bloodstain analysis. From visual inspection to the use of AI, this evolution mirrors the broader trend of science digitalization. The article traces how modern methods – such as spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, chromatography, and machine learning algorithms – enable accurate determination of stain age, opening new frontiers for forensic science. Despite these advances, the authors emphasize ongoing challenges such as standardization, environmental factors, and substrate differences. This study stands at the intersection of bioinformatics, analytical chemistry, and law.
Among contemporary issues, cybersecurity receives particular attention. The article on computer viruses provides a historical overview from the legendary Morris Worm to WannaCry, showing how technical threats became the subject of scientific inquiry. The focus is on the evolution of countermeasures: from signature-based antivirus software to machine learning, behavioral models, and deep neural networks. The study underscores the dual nature of this field: increasing complexity of threats alongside constant improvements in AI-based defense. The authors argue that the future of cybersecurity lies in the synthesis of historical experience and technological adaptability.
In the following article, the Authors presents an interdisciplinary study combining historical analysis and experimental research to examine the vulnerability of military drones made from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to laser destruction. It explores the historical development of CFRP use in military drones, highlighting its adoption due to the need for lightweight, durable, and radar-evading materials, influenced by geopolitical and technological factors. Concurrently, the study investigates the rise of high-energy laser systems as precise countermeasures against fast, small, and stealthy drones, driven by concerns over swarm attacks and limitations of traditional defenses. Experimentally, CFRP samples were tested under controlled laser radiation to identify damage mechanisms and energy thresholds causing material failure. By integrating historical context with laboratory results, the article offers a comprehensive view of how past material choices have created current vulnerabilities and how modern laser weapons exploit these weaknesses, advancing more effective counter-drone strategies for present and future military applications.
This article examines the design, fabrication, and long-term operation of Kyiv’s Evgeny Paton Bridge, the world’s first all-welded highway bridge completed in 1953. Named after welding pioneer Evgeny Paton, the bridge marked a key advance in civil engineering and Soviet postwar reconstruction, showcasing the shift from riveted to welded structures through innovations in metallurgy, structural analysis, and automatic submerged arc welding. Using archival and technical sources, the study places the bridge within its political and economic context, highlighting its dual role as functional infrastructure and a symbol of Soviet scientific progress. The article reviews over seven decades of operational experience, focusing on the bridge’s durability, maintenance, and influence on later engineering worldwide. Serving as a living laboratory, the Paton Bridge demonstrates the practical application of scientific research in welded steel structures and remains relevant to modern infrastructure and engineering education.
A study of the electrification of Tashkent from 1914 to 1918 presents significant historical interest. Against the backdrop of geopolitical instability and the colonial approach of the imperial center, the development of energy infrastructure in the region appears as an attempt at modernization despite unfavorable conditions. While the number of power stations increased, a lack of industrial support and investment outflow hindered further progress. The analysis reveals how energy policy influenced the region’s economic potential and exposed untapped infrastructural resources.
Traditional technologies that have retained their relevance are highlighted in the article on wood-fired kiln ceramics. This topic offers a fresh interpretation of technology as a form of aesthetic and emotional experience. The authors trace the evolution of the practice from utilitarian craft to a philosophy of fire interaction. An analysis of kiln types, firing regimes, ash impact, and temperature variations helps explain why this technique continues to inspire contemporary artists.
A fascinating socio-technical case study is the history of automotive engineering in Francoist Spain. Through the lens of the Revista de la STA, researchers uncover the image of the engineer as a bearer of technical progress within an authoritarian state. Technological breakthroughs described by engineers themselves are presented as part of a collective imagination – a space where technology, the state, and professional pride coexist in a complex dynamic. This study demonstrates how cultural history shapes the history of technology.
Finally, the issue concludes with a study on the emergence of cinema as a technical and social phenomenon. It captures the transition from optical illusions and mechanical devices to digital technologies and virtual reality. The authors examine not only the technical foundations of cinema-mechanics, vision physiology, photochemistry – but also its cultural contexts: fairs, cinemas, and the public consumption of visuality. Cinema emerges as both a product of scientific knowledge and social demand, a communicative platform, and a technological system.
Taken together, this issue is a vivid illustration of the current state of historical and scientific studies. The articles transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, rethink the human role in technical transformations, and emphasize the importance of local contexts in global processes. A shared feature across all contributions is the blend of historical depth, source-based rigor, and interpretive boldness. We are confident that these articles will be of value to researchers, educators, students, and all who are interested in the development of science, technology, and culture.
We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and editorial team whose dedicated work made this issue possible. Their intellectual contributions and commitment to scholarly excellence ensure that each article meets the highest academic standards. We are equally grateful to our readers, whose interest and feedback continue to inspire us to expand the scope and depth of our
Міждисциплінарне дослідження впливу лазерного випромінювання на полімер армований вуглецевим волокном, в контексті протидії безпілотним літальним апаратам
No full textThis article presents an interdisciplinary study that combines historical analysis and experimental research to explore the vulnerability of military drones made from carbon fiber-reinforced polymer to destruction by laser radiation. The work is structured around two interconnected areas: the historical evolution of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer use in military drone construction and the parallel development of high-energy laser systems as precision countermeasures. The historical section traces the trajectory of carbon fiber composites from their initial applications in aerospace and defense industries during the late 20th century to their widespread adoption in military unmanned aerial vehicles, driven by the need for lightweight, durable, and radar-evading materials. Special attention is given to geopolitical, technological, and strategic factors that influenced the increasing reliance on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer for enhancing drone performance in terms of range, payload, and survivability. In parallel, the article examines the emergence of directed energy weapons, focusing on laser systems, as a response to the limitations of conventional kinetic countermeasures in neutralizing fast, small, and low-observable drones. The study outlines how the military’s growing concern with swarm attacks and stealth unmanned aerial vehicles has accelerated investments in laser-based air defense systems capable of engaging airborne targets with high accuracy and low operational cost. The experimental component investigates the mechanisms of laser-induced damage in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer materials through controlled laboratory tests, during which samples are exposed to varying intensities and durations of laser radiation. The results are analyzed to determine the energy thresholds and exposure conditions that lead to effective material destruction. By synthesizing historical and experimental data, the article provides a comprehensive understanding of how past material choices have shaped current vulnerabilities in drone technology and how modern laser systems are specifically adapted to exploit those weaknesses. This integrated approach not only bridges the gap between history and applied science but also contributes to the development of more effective and informed counter-drone strategies in contemporary and future military operations.Ця стаття представляє міждисциплінарне дослідження, яке поєднує історичний аналіз та експериментальні дослідження для вивчення вразливості військових дронів, виготовлених з полімеру, армованого вуглецевим волокном, до руйнування лазерним випромінюванням. Робота структурована навколо двох взаємопов'язаних областей: історичної еволюції використання полімеру, армованого вуглецевим волокном, у будівництві військових дронів та паралельного розвитку високоенергетичних лазерних систем як високоточних контрзаходів. В історичному розділі простежується траєкторія розвитку композитів з вуглецевого волокна від їх початкового застосування в аерокосмічній та оборонній промисловості наприкінці 20 століття до їх широкого впровадження у військових безпілотних літальних апаратах, що було зумовлено потребою в легких, міцних та радіолокаційно-ізолюючих матеріалах. Особлива увага приділяється геополітичним, технологічним та стратегічним факторам, які вплинули на зростаючу залежність від полімеру, армованого вуглецевим волокном, для підвищення продуктивності дронів з точки зору дальності польоту, корисного навантаження та живучості. Паралельно у статті розглядається поява зброї спрямованої енергії, зосереджуючись на лазерних системах, як відповідь на обмеження звичайних кінетичних контрзаходів у нейтралізації швидких, малих та малопомітних дронів. У дослідженні окреслюється, як зростаюча стурбованість військових щодо ройових атак та малопомітних безпілотних літальних апаратів прискорила інвестиції в лазерні системи протиповітряної оборони, здатні вражати повітряні цілі з високою точністю та низькими експлуатаційними витратами. Експериментальний компонент досліджує механізми лазерного пошкодження в полімерних матеріалах, армованих вуглецевим волокном, за допомогою контрольованих лабораторних випробувань, під час яких зразки піддаються впливу лазерного випромінювання різної інтенсивності та тривалості. Результати аналізуються для визначення енергетичних порогів та умов впливу, що призводять до ефективного руйнування матеріалу. Синтезуючи історичні та експериментальні дані, стаття забезпечує всебічне розуміння того, як минулий вибір матеріалів сформував сучасні вразливості в технології дронів та як сучасні лазерні системи спеціально адаптовані для використання цих слабких місць. Цей інтегрований підхід не лише усуває розрив між історією та прикладною наукою, але й сприяє розробці більш ефективних та обґрунтованих стратегій боротьби з дронами в сучасних та майбутніх військових операціях
PREFACE
Get PDFThe present issue of History of Science and Technology (Vol. 15, Issue 2, 2025) brings together a wide-ranging collection of studies that illuminate the long-term dynamics of scientific knowledge, technological systems, and their social, cultural, and political entanglements. The contributions assembled here reflect the journal’s enduring commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and to the integration of diverse geographical, chronological, and methodological perspectives. Taken together, the articles demonstrate that science and technology are not isolated domains of technical ingenuity, but historically contingent processes shaped by imagination, institutions, power relations, material practices, and cultural values.
A unifying theme of this issue is the continuity between past and present: ancient myths and early mechanical devices resonate with contemporary debates on artificial intelligence; nineteenth-century academic networks prefigure modern systems of scientific communication; industrial technologies mature through decades of negotiation between laboratories, factories, and regulatory regimes; and cultural technologies such as music, cinema, and transport reveal deep interconnections between material innovation and human perception. By juxtaposing case studies from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, this issue underscores the global character of scientific and technological development while remaining attentive to local contexts and specific historical trajectories.
The issue opens with Ahmed Shaker Alalaq’s study “Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Ancient Times: Between Myth and Interpretation”, which explores how ancient civilizations conceptualized artificial beings capable of thought and action. By examining myths such as Automata, the Golem, and other legendary constructs from Greek, Chinese, and Near Eastern traditions, the article demonstrates that the aspiration to create intelligent artifacts is not a product of the digital age alone. Rather, it is embedded in long-standing philosophical and cultural reflections on consciousness, creativity, and the boundaries of human agency. Alalaq’s contribution situates contemporary debates on artificial intelligence within a longue durée perspective, showing how ethical concerns, fears of loss of control, and hopes for human enhancement were already articulated in mythological form. In doing so, the article provides a conceptual bridge between ancient imagination and modern technological realities, reminding readers that innovation is often guided by deeply rooted narratives and symbolic frameworks.
Several contributions in this issue focus on the nineteenth century as a formative period for modern scientific institutions and communication networks. Denys Buhor’s article “Development of Ukrainian Mechanics: Context of Scientific Publications by Kharkiv Scientists of the 19th Century” offers a detailed historiographical and bibliometric analysis of the Kharkiv scientific milieu. By examining publications produced at Kharkiv University and the Kharkiv Institute of Technology, the study reveals how theoretical and applied mechanics developed in close institutional synergy. Figures such as Oleksandr Lyapunov and Volodymyr Steklov emerge not only as individual innovators but as representatives of scientific schools shaped by mentoring, academic heredity, and international exchange. Buhor’s work highlights the transition from isolated scholarly efforts to systematic research cultures aligned with industrialization and European scientific standards.
Complementing this perspective, the article by Natalya Pasichnyk, Renat Rizhniak, and Hanna Deforzh, “International Relations and Scientific Communication of the Imperial Novorossiya University in the Last Third of the 19th Century”, examines the mechanisms through which Odesa scientists integrated into the European scientific space. Focusing on translations, academic mobility, participation in international congresses, and the role of the Notes of the Novorossiya Society of Naturalists, the authors demonstrate how multilingualism and institutional platforms facilitated knowledge circulation. This study underscores that scientific globalization in the nineteenth century was not a one-way transfer of ideas from Western Europe to the periphery, but a complex process of adaptation, negotiation, and mutual recognition.
The transition from scientific knowledge to industrial application is examined in Artemii Bernatskyi’s article “Hybrid Laser-Arc Welding of Low-Alloy Steels: From Scientific Concept to Industrial Technology (1970s–2020s)”. This contribution traces the four-decade trajectory of hybrid welding from laboratory experiments to its selective stabilization in sectors such as shipbuilding, pipeline construction, wind-energy infrastructure, and offshore engineering. By emphasizing institutional conservatism, certification barriers, and capital intensity, Bernatskyi shows that technological diffusion of innovations is rarely linear or inevitable. The article also situates hybrid welding within contemporary sustainability debates, revealing how a technology originally developed for productivity gains later acquired environmental significance through reduced material consumption and extended service life of structures.
A cluster of articles addresses the socio-political dimensions of technology in architectural and infrastructural contexts. Bharoto Bharoto, Himasari Hanan, and Andry Widyowijatnoko, in “Institutionalising Concrete Construction Technology: A Socio-Technical Formation of Modern Architecture in Indonesia”, analyze how concrete became the dominant material of postcolonial Indonesian architecture. Drawing on social construction theory, the authors show that technological institutionalization unfolded differently under the Old Order and the New Order regimes, yet resulted in a durable socio-technical system that bridged ideological and economic transformations. This study contributes a valuable Global South perspective to Science and Technology Studies by demonstrating that modernity emerges through negotiated, context-specific processes rather than simple technological transfer.
Similarly, Hary Ganjar Budiman and colleagues explore colonial power relations in “Colonial Technopolitics in the Dutch East Indies: A Study of Colonial Hydroelectric Power in Pamanoekan and Tjiasemlanden Plantation”. By combining archival research with historical archaeology, the authors reveal how hydroelectric infrastructure functioned as an instrument of colonial technocracy. Hydropower stations are shown not merely as technical achievements, but as mechanisms for rendering nature calculable and for integrating local environments into global economic networks. The article foregrounds the concept of technopolitics, emphasizing that technology operates simultaneously as material infrastructure and as a means of governance.
Petra Hyklová’s contribution, “Negotiating a Great Telescope: The Case of Czechoslovakia”, offers a detailed reconstruction of the political, institutional, and personal negotiations surrounding the construction of the Ondřejov 2-m telescope. The article demonstrates that large scientific instruments are products of complex collaborations involving scientists, manufacturers, state administrations, and international partners. By highlighting the parallel development of similar telescopes in Czechoslovakia and Azerbaijan, Hyklová reveals how scientific ambitions intersected with Cold War politics, economic constraints, and long-term planning. The continued operation of these instruments today underscores the durability of such negotiated technological systems.
The cultural dimensions of technology are explored in the article “Pneumatics, Acoustics and Digital Sound: The Organ in the History of Science and Technology” by Olena Spolska and co-authors. Treating the organ as a long-lived technological system, the study traces its evolution from the ancient hydraulis to contemporary digital and hybrid instruments. The article demonstrates how advances in pneumatics, acoustics, metallurgy, electrification, and computation were gradually absorbed into organ building without erasing earlier traditions.
Transport history and the culture of speed form the focus of the next article “The History of the Emergence, Development and Improvement of High-Speed Railways”. By combining technical, socio-economic, and cultural analysis, the authors show how high-speed rail transformed perceptions of space and time while serving as a tool of regional integration and economic development. From the Shinkansen and TGV to contemporary maglev and Hyperloop concepts, high-speed rail emerges as a key component of twenty-first-century energy-intelligent mobility.
The issue concludes with the article “Silent Cinema as a Technological System: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Institutionalization (1890–1930)” by Liudmyla Vaniuha and colleagues. Challenging the view of silent cinema as a primitive precursor to sound film, the authors demonstrate that this period established the foundational technological and institutional structures of modern cinema. Projection systems, permanent theaters, studio infrastructures, special effects, and genre formation collectively transformed film into a global medium of mass communication. This study highlights cinema as a paradigmatic example of how technology, industry, and culture co-evolve.
Together, the articles in this issue of History of Science and Technology illustrate the richness and diversity of contemporary scholarship in the field. They reaffirm that the history of science and technology is best understood through interdisciplinary approaches that connect technical detail with social context, institutional frameworks, and cultural meaning. By bringing ancient myths into dialogue with artificial intelligence, colonial infrastructures with postcolonial modernity, and nineteenth-century scientific schools with global knowledge networks, this issue invites readers to reflect on the enduring and evolving relationship between humanity and its technologies.
We hope that this collection will stimulate further research, foster international dialogue, and contribute to a deeper understanding of science and technology as historical processes that continue to shape our present and future.
The Editorial Board expresses its sincere gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and members of the editorial team for their dedicated work and for supporting interdisciplinary scholarly dialogue.The present issue of History of Science and Technology (Vol. 15, Issue 2, 2025) brings together a wide-ranging collection of studies that illuminate the long-term dynamics of scientific knowledge, technological systems, and their social, cultural, and political entanglements. The contributions assembled here reflect the journal’s enduring commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and to the integration of diverse geographical, chronological, and methodological perspectives. Taken together, the articles demonstrate that science and technology are not isolated domains of technical ingenuity, but historically contingent processes shaped by imagination, institutions, power relations, material practices, and cultural values.
A unifying theme of this issue is the continuity between past and present: ancient myths and early mechanical devices resonate with contemporary debates on artificial intelligence; nineteenth-century academic networks prefigure modern systems of scientific communication; industrial technologies mature through decades of negotiation between laboratories, factories, and regulatory regimes; and cultural technologies such as music, cinema, and transport reveal deep interconnections between material innovation and human perception. By juxtaposing case studies from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, this issue underscores the global character of scientific and technological development while remaining attentive to local contexts and specific historical trajectories.
The issue opens with Ahmed Shaker Alalaq’s study “Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in Ancient Times: Between Myth and Interpretation”, which explores how ancient civilizations conceptualized artificial beings capable of thought and action. By examining myths such as Automata, the Golem, and other legendary constructs from Greek, Chinese, and Near Eastern traditions, the article demonstrates that the aspiration to create intelligent artifacts is not a product of the digital age alone. Rather, it is embedded in long-standing philosophical and cultural reflections on consciousness, creativity, and the boundaries of human agency. Alalaq’s contribution situates contemporary debates on artificial intelligence within a longue durée perspective, showing how ethical concerns, fears of loss of control, and hopes for human enhancement were already articulated in mythological form. In doing so, the article provides a conceptual bridge between ancient imagination and modern technological realities, reminding readers that innovation is often guided by deeply rooted narratives and symbolic frameworks.
Several contributions in this issue focus on the nineteenth century as a formative period for modern scientific institutions and communication networks. Denys Buhor’s article “Development of Ukrainian Mechanics: Context of Scientific Publications by Kharkiv Scientists of the 19th Century” offers a detailed historiographical and bibliometric analysis of the Kharkiv scientific milieu. By examining publications produced at Kharkiv University and the Kharkiv Institute of Technology, the study reveals how theoretical and applied mechanics developed in close institutional synergy. Figures such as Oleksandr Lyapunov and Volodymyr Steklov emerge not only as individual innovators but as representatives of scientific schools shaped by mentoring, academic heredity, and international exchange. Buhor’s work highlights the transition from isolated scholarly efforts to systematic research cultures aligned with industrialization and European scientific standards.
Complementing this perspective, the article by Natalya Pasichnyk, Renat Rizhniak, and Hanna Deforzh, “International Relations and Scientific Communication of the Imperial Novorossiya University in the Last Third of the 19th Century”, examines the mechanisms through which Odesa scientists integrated into the European scientific space. Focusing on translations, academic mobility, participation in international congresses, and the role of the Notes of the Novorossiya Society of Naturalists, the authors demonstrate how multilingualism and institutional platforms facilitated knowledge circulation. This study underscores that scientific globalization in the nineteenth century was not a one-way transfer of ideas from Western Europe to the periphery, but a complex process of adaptation, negotiation, and mutual recognition.
The transition from scientific knowledge to industrial application is examined in Artemii Bernatskyi’s article “Hybrid Laser-Arc Welding of Low-Alloy Steels: From Scientific Concept to Industrial Technology (1970s–2020s)”. This contribution traces the four-decade trajectory of hybrid welding from laboratory experiments to its selective stabilization in sectors such as shipbuilding, pipeline construction, wind-energy infrastructure, and offshore engineering. By emphasizing institutional conservatism, certification barriers, and capital intensity, Bernatskyi shows that technological diffusion of innovations is rarely linear or inevitable. The article also situates hybrid welding within contemporary sustainability debates, revealing how a technology originally developed for productivity gains later acquired environmental significance through reduced material consumption and extended service life of structures.
A cluster of articles addresses the socio-political dimensions of technology in architectural and infrastructural contexts. Bharoto Bharoto, Himasari Hanan, and Andry Widyowijatnoko, in “Institutionalising Concrete Construction Technology: A Socio-Technical Formation of Modern Architecture in Indonesia”, analyze how concrete became the dominant material of postcolonial Indonesian architecture. Drawing on social construction theory, the authors show that technological institutionalization unfolded differently under the Old Order and the New Order regimes, yet resulted in a durable socio-technical system that bridged ideological and economic transformations. This study contributes a valuable Global South perspective to Science and Technology Studies by demonstrating that modernity emerges through negotiated, context-specific processes rather than simple technological transfer.
Similarly, Hary Ganjar Budiman and colleagues explore colonial power relations in “Colonial Technopolitics in the Dutch East Indies: A Study of Colonial Hydroelectric Power in Pamanoekan and Tjiasemlanden Plantation”. By combining archival research with historical archaeology, the authors reveal how hydroelectric infrastructure functioned as an instrument of colonial technocracy. Hydropower stations are shown not merely as technical achievements, but as mechanisms for rendering nature calculable and for integrating local environments into global economic networks. The article foregrounds the concept of technopolitics, emphasizing that technology operates simultaneously as material infrastructure and as a means of governance.
Petra Hyklová’s contribution, “Negotiating a Great Telescope: The Case of Czechoslovakia”, offers a detailed reconstruction of the political, institutional, and personal negotiations surrounding the construction of the Ondřejov 2-m telescope. The article demonstrates that large scientific instruments are products of complex collaborations involving scientists, manufacturers, state administrations, and international partners. By highlighting the parallel development of similar telescopes in Czechoslovakia and Azerbaijan, Hyklová reveals how scientific ambitions intersected with Cold War politics, economic constraints, and long-term planning. The continued operation of these instruments today underscores the durability of such negotiated technological systems.
The cultural dimensions of technology are explored in the article “Pneumatics, Acoustics and Digital Sound: The Organ in the History of Science and Technology” by Olena Spolska and co-authors. Treating the organ as a long-lived technological system, the study traces its evolution from the ancient hydraulis to contemporary digital and hybrid instruments. The article demonstrates how advances in pneumatics, acoustics, metallurgy, electrification, and computation were gradually absorbed into organ building without erasing earlier traditions.
Transport history and the culture of speed form the focus of the next article “The History of the Emergence, Development and Improvement of High-Speed Railways”. By combining technical, socio-economic, and cultural analysis, the authors show how high-speed rail transformed perceptions of space and time while serving as a tool of regional integration and economic development. From the Shinkansen and TGV to contemporary maglev and Hyperloop concepts, high-speed rail emerges as a key component of twenty-first-century energy-intelligent mobility.
The issue concludes with the article “Silent Cinema as a Technological System: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Institutionalization (1890–1930)” by Liudmyla Vaniuha and colleagues. Challenging the view of silent cinema as a primitive precursor to sound film, the authors demonstrate that this period established the foundational technological and institutional structures of modern cinema. Projection systems, permanent theaters, studio infrastructures, special effects, and genre formation collectively transformed film into a global medium of mass communication. This study highlights cinema as a paradigmatic example of how technology, industry, and culture co-evolve.
Together, the articles in this issue of History of Science and Technology illustrate the richness and diversity of contemporary scholarship in the field. They reaffirm that the history of science and technology is best understood through interdisciplinary approaches that connect technical detail with social context, institutional frameworks, and cultural meaning. By bringing ancient myths into dialogue with artificial intelligence, colonial infrastructures with postcolonial modernity, and nineteenth-century scientific schools with global knowledge networks, this issue invites readers to reflect on the enduring and evolving relationship between humanity and its technologies.
We hope that this collection will stimulate further research, foster international dialogue, and contribute to a deeper understanding of science and technology as historical processes that continue to shape our present and future.
The Editorial Board expresses its sincere gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and members of the editorial team for their dedicated work and for supporting interdisciplinary scholarly dialogue
Гібридне лазерно-дугове зварювання низьколегованих сталей: Від наукової концепції до промислової технології (1970-ті – 2020-ті роки)
No full textThe article examines the historical development of hybrid laser-arc welding of low-alloy steels from the formulation of the hybrid concept in the late 1970s to its emergence as an industrial technology in the early 21st century. Two interrelated but historically non-synchronous trajectories are identified: the evolution of fundamental and applied scientific research on laser-arc interaction and the subsequent formation of sustainable industrial applications in shipbuilding, pipeline welding, wind turbine tower manufacturing, and energy structures. Based on scientific publications, institutional reports, and documented industrial implementations in Germany, Denmark, Finland, USA and China, the path of hybrid welding transition from laboratory experiments to serial production in sectors with complex design requirements is reconstructed. Particular attention is paid to the role of leading research centers, as well as technology transfer processes. It is shown that the significant time lag between scientific justification and industrial implementation was due not only to the level of development of laser equipment, but also to institutional conservatism, certification barriers and high capital intensity of laser-oriented production systems. The sectoral nature of the technology’s spread is separately analyzed, which explains why hybrid laser-arc welding first became established in European shipbuilding, later in selected pipeline projects in North America, then in the production of wind energy towers in Germany, and to the greatest extent in offshore and energy structures in China. The fundamentally important rethinking of this technology in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is also considered, with an emphasis on reducing heat input, reducing welding consumables, reducing deformations and extending the service life of large steel structures. It is proven that hybrid laser-arc welding did not emerge as a universal alternative to traditional arc or submerged arc processes, but as a highly productive targeted solution determined by the interaction of scientific knowledge, industrial demand, institutional networks, and long-term structural changes in steel-intensive industries.У статті досліджено історичний розвиток гібридного лазерно-дугового зварювання низьколегованих сталей від формулювання гібридної концепції наприкінці 1970-х рокіів до її становлення як промислової технології на початку ХХІ ст. Виділено дві взаємопов’язані, але історично не синхронні траєкторії: еволюцію фундаментальних і прикладних наукових досліджень лазерно-дугової взаємодії та подальше формування сталих промислових застосувань у суднобудуванні, трубопровідному зварюванні, виготовленні вітроенергетичних веж, а також енергетичних конструкцій. На основі наукових публікацій, інституційних звітів і задокументованих промислових впроваджень у Німеччині, Данії, Фінляндії, США та Китаї реконструйовано шлях переходу гібридного зварювання від лабораторних експериментів до серійного виробництва у секторах зі складними конструктивними вимогами. Особливу увагу приділено ролі провідних наукових центрів, а також процесам трансферу технологій. Показано, що істотна часовa затримка між науковим обґрунтуванням і промисловим впровадженням зумовлювалася не лише рівнем розвитку лазерного обладнання, а й інституційним консерватизмом, бар’єрами сертифікації та високою капіталомісткістю лазерно-орієнтованих виробничих систем. Окремо проаналізовано секторальний характер поширення технології, що пояснює, чому гібридне лазерно-дугове зварювання спочатку закріпилося у європейському суднобудуванні, згодом - у вибраних трубопровідних проєктах Північної Америки, далі - у виробництві вітроенергетичних веж у Німеччині, а найбільшою мірою - в офшорних та енергетичних конструкціях у Китаї. Також розглянуто принципово важливе переосмислення цієї технології в контексті Цілей сталого розвитку Організація Обʼєднаних Націй, із акцентом на зниження тепловкладення, скорочення витрат зварювальних матеріалів, зменшення деформацій та подовження ресурсу експлуатації великих сталевих конструкцій. Доведено, що гібридне лазерно-дугове зварювання не сформувалося як універсальна альтернатива традиційним дуговим або підфлюсовим процесам, а як високопродуктивне цільове рішення, детерміноване взаємодією наукових знань, промислового попиту, інституційних мереж і довготривалих структурних змін у сталемістких галузях виробництва
Німе кіно як технологічна система: Інфраструктура, інновації та інституціоналізація (1890–1930)
No full textThis article examines the period from the 1890s to the late 1920s as the stage in which cinema became a stable technological and social institution through the interaction of five key developments: the system introduced by the Lumière brothers, the emergence of permanent movie theaters, the formation of the first film studios, the introduction of early special effects, and the appearance of recognizable film genres. The study applies a historical-technological approach combining the analysis of primary technical documentation, architectural evidence, studio infrastructure records and recent international scholarship to identify how concrete innovations in mechanics, optics, illumination, chemical processing and exhibition design reshaped moving-image production and spectatorship. The results show that the Lumière system established reproducible projection standards and enabled the international circulation of moving images; that permanent movie theaters created controlled visual environments, standardized viewing schedules and supported longer narrative formats; and that early studios introduced regulated lighting, set construction and division of labor, transforming filmmaking into an industrial process. The analysis also demonstrates that special effects expanded representational capacity through multi-exposure, miniature models, masking techniques and color processes, and that genres emerged in relation to technological conditions, with comedy tied to variable cranking, melodrama to controlled lighting, epic and adventure films to large-scale staging and horror to manipulated architectural space and shadow. These developments collectively contributed to the global diffusion of cinema, the formation of shared cultural reference systems and new modes of social interaction grounded in collective spectatorship. The conclusion suggests that further research should investigate how these foundations supported the later adoption of synchronized sound and influenced the long-term evolution of audiovisual media.У цій статті розглядається період з 1890-х до кінця 1920-х років як етап, на якому кінематограф став стабільним технологічним та соціальним інститутом завдяки взаємодії п'яти ключових подій: системи, створеної братами Люм'єром; появи стаціонарних кінотеатрів; утворення перших кіностудій; впровадження ранніх спецефектів; появи кіножанрів. У дослідженні застосовується історичний підхід, що поєднує аналіз первинної технічної документації, архітектурних свідчень, документації про студійну інфраструктуру та сучасні міжнародні дослідження, щоб виявити, як конкретні інновації в механіці, оптиці, освітленні, хімічній обробці та дизайні кінопоказу перетворили виробництво та глядацьку аудиторію. Результати показують, що система Люм'єр встановила відтворювані стандарти проекції і сприяла міжнародному поширенню зображень, що рухаються. Стаціонарні кінотеатри створювали контрольоване візуальне середовище, стандартизували розклад переглядів та підтримували більш довгі оповідальні формати. Перші студії впровадили регульоване освітлення, конструкцію декорацій та поділ праці, перетворивши кіновиробництво на промисловий процес. Аналіз також показує, що спецефекти розширили можливості репрезентації завдяки мультиекспозиції, мініатюрним моделям, технікам маскування та колірним процесам, а жанри виникали залежно від технологічних умов: комедія була пов'язана зі змінним звучанням, мелодрама – з керованим освітленням, епічні та пригодницькі фільми маніпуляцією архітектурним простором та тінями. Ці досягнення в сукупності сприяли глобальному поширенню кінематографу, формуванню загальних культурних систем відліку та нових способів соціальної взаємодії, що ґрунтуються на колективному глядацькому сприйнятті. На закінчення слід зазначити, що подальші дослідження повинні вивчити, як ці основи сприяли подальшому впровадженню синхронізованого звуку та вплинули на довгострокову еволюцію аудіовізуальних медіа
Стратегічний та технологічний вплив радару під час Другої світової війни
No full textRadar technology played a pivotal role in shaping the military strategies and operational dynamics of World War II (WWII), revolutionizing both defensive and offensive capabilities. This study provides an in-depth exploration of the evolution of radar, tracing its theoretical underpinnings in electromagnetic science and its subsequent development into critical wartime technology. The paper examines the major advancements that transformed radar from an experimental concept into an indispensable military asset, including the British Chain Home system, the German Freya and Würzburg radars, and the American SCR-270 and H2S systems. These innovations redefined air defense, naval warfare, and ground-based operations, granting unprecedented advantages in surveillance, interception, and target acquisition. The study highlights the strategic significance of radar in key WWII battles, such as the Battle of Britain, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the Pacific Theater, where early detection of enemy movements proved decisive. Additionally, the research delves into the technological race between the Axis and Allied powers, emphasizing the role of scientific ingenuity, intelligence-sharing, and industrial production in accelerating radar development. The integration of radar into aircraft, naval fleets, and ground-based anti-aircraft defenses exemplifies how nations leveraged this technology to gain a tactical edge. Beyond WWII, the study explores how radar innovations extended into the post-war era, influencing the development of modern air traffic control, missile defense systems, weather forecasting, and autonomous navigation technologies. The paper underscores the enduring legacy of radar, demonstrating its dual impact as both a wartime breakthrough and a foundation for contemporary applications. By offering a comprehensive historical and technical analysis, this research underscores radar’s crucial role in the evolution of military tactics, technological progress, and global security frameworks.Радарна технологія відіграла вирішальну роль у формуванні військових стратегій та операційної динаміки під час Другої світової війни, революціонізуючи як оборонні, так і наступальні можливості. Ця стаття надає глибоке дослідження еволюції радару, прослідковуючи його теоретичні основи в електромагнітній науці та його подальший розвиток у критичну технологію для військових потреб. У статті розглядаються основні досягнення, що трансформували радар з експериментальної концепції в незамінний військовий ресурс, зокрема британська система Chain Home, німецькі радари Freya та Würzburg, а також американські системи SCR-270 та H2S. Ці інновації переосмислили повітряну оборону, морську війну та наземні операції, надавши безпрецедентні переваги в спостереженні, перехопленні та захопленні цілей. Дослідження підкреслює стратегічне значення радару в ключових битвах Другої світової війни, таких як Битва за Британію, Битва в Атлантиці та Тихоокеанський театр, де своєчасне виявлення рухів ворога виявилося вирішальним. Крім того, дослідження занурюється в технологічну гонку між воючими сторонами, підкреслюючи роль наукової винахідливості, обміну розвідданими та промислового виробництва у прискоренні розвитку радарів. Інтеграція радару в авіацію, військово-морські флотилії та наземну протиповітряну оборону є прикладом того, як нації використовували цю технологію для здобуття тактичної переваги. Поза Другою світовою війною дослідження також розглядає, як інновації в радарних технологіях перейшли в післявоєнну еру, впливаючи на розвиток сучасних систем управління повітряним рухом, протиракетних систем, прогнозування погоди та автономних навігаційних технологій. У статті підкреслюється незмінна спадщина радара, демонструючи його подвійний вплив як прориву воєнного часу та основи для сучасних застосувань. Завдяки комплексному історичному та технічному аналізу це дослідження підкреслює важливу роль радару в еволюції військової тактики, технологічного прогресу та глобальних систем безпеки