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Scientists Discover That the Brain Responds to Others’ Actions as if They Were Its Own
When we watch someone move their finger, our brain doesn’t remain passive. Research conducted by scientists from HSE University and Lausanne University Hospital shows that observing movement activates the motor cortex as if we were performing the action ourselves—while simultaneously ‘silencing’ unnecessary muscles. The findings were published in Scientific Reports.

Cinema as Cultural Brand: HSE Art and Design School, École Intuit.lab, and CAFA Competition
The HSE Art and Design School, together with the French design school École intuit.lab and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, has launched the international competition Culture Mirror—a project in which students from Russia, France, China, India, and Brazil explore iconic films from other countries and create contemporary visual and communication brands inspired by them. Submissions are open until January 15, 2026.

Russian Scientists Investigate Age-Related Differences in Brain Damage Volume Following Childhood Stroke
A team of Russian scientists and clinicians, including Sofya Kulikova from HSE University in Perm, compared the extent and characteristics of brain damage in children who experienced a stroke either within the first four weeks of life or before the age of two. The researchers found that the younger the child, the more extensive the brain damage—particularly in the frontal and parietal lobes, which are responsible for movement, language, and thinking. The study, published in Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology, provides insights into how age can influence the nature and extent of brain lesions and lays the groundwork for developing personalised rehabilitation programmes for children who experience a stroke early in life.

International Conference on Corporate Sustainable Development to Be Held at HSE University
On December 12–13, 2025, the School of Finance of the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences will host the Third International Annual Conference ‘ESG Corporate Dynamics: the Challenges for Emerging Capital Markets.’ Representatives of leading Russian and international universities will discuss the issues involved in companies’ transition to sustainable development principles and in managing new types of risk.

'At the Intersection of Mathematics, Biology, and Machine Learning, I Found My Place'
Aleksei Shmelev conducts research in genomics and uses machine learning to explore the history of human populations. In this interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, he discusses the adaptive introgression of Tibetans and Denisovans and the use of IBD graphs to predict human population membership.

HSE Students to Complete Management Internship at EFKO
EFKO, a Russian food manufacturer and one of the country’s largest agro-industrial holdings, has launched the Assistants programme in partnership with HSE University. This practice-oriented module gives selected HSE students the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of management directly from EFKO’s Chairman of the Board and Innovation Director.

Scientists Test Asymmetry Between Matter and Antimatter
An international team, including scientists from HSE University, has collected and analysed data from dozens of experiments on charm mixing—the process in which an unstable charm meson oscillates between its particle and antiparticle states. These oscillations were observed only four times per thousand decays, fully consistent with the predictions of the Standard Model. This indicates that no signs of new physics have yet been detected in these processes, and if unknown particles do exist, they are likely too heavy to be observed with current equipment. The paper has been published in Physical Review D.

HSE Scientists Reveal What Drives Public Trust in Science
Researchers at HSE ISSEK have analysed the level of trust in scientific knowledge in Russian society and the factors shaping attitudes and perceptions. It was found that trust in science depends more on everyday experience, social expectations, and the perceived promises of science than on objective knowledge. The article has been published in Universe of Russia.

HSE and UTM Present Results of Mirror Laboratory's Work at Russian–Malaysian Commission
HSE University–St Petersburg and the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) presented the results of two years of work and a development roadmap for the mirror laboratory on social entrepreneurship. The document outlines the strategy for global transformation in the business and digital innovation sphere.

Institute for Robotics Systems Established at HSE University
As decided by the HSE University Academic Council, a new Institute for Robotics Systems will be established at HSE, and with a strong fundamental base. It will cooperate with relevant departments across the university and engage students and doctoral candidates in research and development (R&D). First Vice Rector of HSE University and Director of the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, Leonid Gokhberg, discussed the expected practical results and the framework for cooperation with an industrial partner.

