Russia Beyond

A crumbling economy followed by a financial crisis, mafia and mobster wars everywhere, coup d'etats and people working several jobs just to get by. Sounds like a failed state, right? Well, that was Russia in 90s, right after the collapse of the Soviet Union. And this is how we remember the 1990s - a time known as the era of relative peace and prosperity for the rest of the world.

For a foreigner, March 8 in Russia looks like men are anxiously trying to make up for everything they did or didn't do: they pamper their ladies, buy a TON of flowers, and, in general, make it a very special occasion. How did that happen in a country that was so proud of having feminists and working women in the XX century? Today we dive deep into Soviet history to try and explain how March 8 even became a holiday. Video courtesy of: https://vk.com/nadezhin_nikita News used in the video: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnLRFArPlw0 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThIUgPLaK9Q

#iphonefilmmaking @Apple picked one of the world’s biggest museums - the Hermitage museum, St. Petersburg, Russia - to test the new iPhone's camera and battery life for its ‘Shot on iPhone’ series. A Russian filming crew spent months planning the 5-hour long shoot of 45 halls, 588 masterpieces, and live performances - all in one shot. We interviewed the creators to find out about the challenges they faced. Watch our video about the iPhone film. Apple video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49YeFsx1rIw&t

Russia sold Alaska to the States in 1867 for $7,2 mln. This is history as we know it. But nonetheless, some Russians still question whether the deal was legit. In fact, people are so confused, they address president Putin: "Can Russians get the North American colony back?". So if this question keeps rising over and over again there must be some reason? Surely Russian Alaska can become reality once again? Let’s find out together once and for all.

You may think we're spoiled rotten, but there are actual reasons why some Russians are not fond of it. In this video, we'll discuss how central heating works, why Russia is the best place for it and why there are very few alternatives to it.

#screenlife #moviereview Andrei Sator from Tenet, Villanelle from Killing Eve, Peter the Third from The Great... If you’ve watched at least a couple of Hollywood action movies or series, you’ve probably noticed that bad Russian guys are often the core problem. How old is this bad stereotyping & what is wrong with it? Watch our video to find out!

Giving flowers as a present is a very common practice, but there are many rules you have to follow! In this video we collected most important: why even numbers are a bad omen, why you should stay away from yellow roses and how come modern bouquets became edible. Comment down below if you think we forgot something and share your gift ideas with us!

An American artist David Datuna wants to buy Vladimir Lenin's mummy for a hefty million dollars and build a copy of the Mausoleum in New York, his press office said. Because American society "is tired of aggressive capitalism ... and is moving towards social-communist changes". Vladimir Lenin’s body has been lying in his Mausoleum – or tomb – for 95 years now. But polls say that Russians want him gone from the Red Square. A centenary mummy should be rested at peace where they belong – in a cemetery. But not so fast! In this video, Anna will explain why Soviet authorities kept Lenin's body, how they did it (and how North Korea is connected) and dive into a world of confusing Russian laws preventing his relocation.

You probably wouldn’t know it, but mites may be used as a biological weapon. But it’s not about warfare, it’s about saving trees in native forests, especially pine trees in Siberia and North America. Scientists say climate change has made normally harmless bark beetles as dangerous for pine forests as wildfires. According to them, global warming made pine trees across the U.S., making them more vulnerable. The largest bark beetle outbreak in Northern America lasted for nearly 20 years before slightly slowing down - simply because there were no trees left. Russia’s Siberian forests face a similar threat from a different pine beetle species - an invasive species that originated in China and Japan. The insect-damaged trees are of no use and can only be cut and burnt, so it is essential to find a way to prevent such outbreaks in the future. Scientists from Tyumen University have come up with a solution. They want to use mites that coexist with bark beetles as a sort of biological "weapon" - to save trees and stop forest dieback.

The State Tretyakov Gallery is Russia's leading art museum and boasts a huge collection of famous paintings. Many of its artworks are known around the world, while others are more obscure, so let’s take a look at five iconic paintings that you may not be familiar with. Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin’s work called “Bathing of Red Horse” is traditionally interpreted as a prophetic image of Russia. Mikhail Vrubel’s “The Demon Seated” is symbolist masterpiece painted in 1890 and is strongly linked to the artist’s own faith. “Over the Town” painted by Marc Chagall shows a loved-up couple flying through the sky over a townscape. It’s all about love, of course. Vasily Vereshchagin’s “The Apotheosis of War” is dedicated to “all great conquerors, past, present and to come.” It is full of death and horror – we guarantee you’ll soul will be stirred after seeing this one. The Art Nouveau “Whirlwind” by Filipp Malyavin has been described as both violent and graceful. It shows a peasant woman dancing, which is a nod to the artist’s own humble beginnings. These paintings are a natural part of art history. We hope that acquaintance with them will improve your understanding of art. 0:11 - Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin 1:10 - Mikhail Vrubel 2:15 - Marc Chagall 3:21 - Vasily Vereshchagin 4:32 - Filipp Malyavin MUSIC: Ashton Manor - Stings by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300043 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Danse Macabre - Isolated Harp by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://freepd.com/Classical/Danse%20Macabre%20-%20Isolated%20Harp Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Lone Harvest by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100409 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Prelude No. 21 by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/preludes/ Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/ Ice Demon by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1200061 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Epic Unease by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100406 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Dangerous by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100414 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Anthropologists have collected evidence showing that native American people are related to Russia’s indigenous Siberians – they share many similar features related to appearance, religion, and language. Russian scientists have uncovered the most important proof after carrying out a genetic study of a 24,000-year-old human skeleton found in Siberia, which is now housed in St.Petersburg’s famous Hermitage Museum. They discovered that the DNA of the boy’s remains has genetic ties to the DNA of modern Native Americans. That means Paleoamericans had migrated through Bering Strait thousands of years ago.

Russian artist Kazimir Malevich painted avant-guard masterpiece The Black Square in 1915. Since it was first introduced on the exhibition 0,10 (zero-ten), people have been debating: "Is this even art?" and "What's price can we put on a work like this?". Anna is here to uncover why this painting is so important and answer the most frequently asked questions about Malevich.

Wondering why Russian women's feminity is so complex? Remember when Vladimir Putin AFFRONTED German Chancellor Angela Merkel with…a bouquet of flowers? This time Anna will explain why for Russian women receiving flowers isn’t a “sexist affront” and what we at Russia Beyond call a post-feminist country. We think that generally it’s incorrect to say that gender-related discrimination in Russia is a THING. And it’s not true to say that Russian women are housewives first, professionals - second. At present Russia ranks Second in the world for the number of female business owners. More than 30% of all entrepreneurs in Russia are women… And at least half of them are more qualified, boasting better education than their Western European peers. Also compare 29% of female scientific researchers worldwide with 41% in Russia. However, Russia is huge with vast parts of the country still striving for basic needs. Equality, ethics and moral are for the privileged few enjoying the top of Maslow’s pyramid. Many lack education on gender roles within each family, following in the steps of their dysfunctional parents. Psychological health is still a fresh concept in Russia. Hopefully positive changes will spread fast. The Russian woman has been enjoying the same social and political rights as the Russian man for nearly 100 years now. Along the way she had to loose and then re-claim her femininity. At the end of the day: it’s up to the woman to choose whether she wants a career, a family, both or none. Neither path will be socially condemned. That leaves Russian women with one gender-related unresolved problem: the quantity and quality of men in Russia.

Once defeated lethal diseases are coming back. Maybe it's time to get a vaccination? Europe is suffering from a measles and smallpox outbreak. Russia is among the countries struck by the fatal disease. In 1998 mandatory inoculation was abolished, so parents could choose whether to immunize their children or not. In other words: Pro vaccine vs Anti vaccine. We have seen a 13-times rise in measles cases over the past year alone. Experts warn that all of this is happening due to the ongoing anti-vaccination propaganda followed by a plunge in numbers of people getting the vaccine.

Season Two of the Russia Explained series kicks off with a quick introduction: meet Anna, our host, who will tell you everything you need to know about Russia’s hidden gems and more.

How to make your food instantly Russian? It’s easy, just add dill. The herb goes great with meat, fish, and vegan dishes (well, Russians think so anyway!). Anna will tell you the truth - are Russians really obsessed with dill or not. 00:18 - Dress herring in fur 00:47 - Garnish with buckwheat 01:11 - Roast the air bladder 02:02 - Add lots of cheese & mayo! 02:50 - Preserve EVERYTHING 03:33 - Surprise everyone with jelly 04:05 - Cook fruit and berries

In this episode Ania plays a classical Russian mother-in-law, which is called tyoscha (тёща) and tells you how to become friends with her! All true!

Always leave a teaspoon in your mug and celebrate the New Year twice... What else you should do to become a real Russian?

Some things are gone forever - one of them is the Soviet childhood. People in Russia often warmly look back on those days as the time of their lives. Ania, our host, will take you down memory lane.

Winning man’s heart without spending much time and energy is possible. Russia Beyond found out secrets of ancient Slavic love magic and shows how to stay attractive for the beloved forever.

In this episode, Ania will tell you, what you should know before dating a Russian girl Disclaimer: don't take this video too serious. Dating a Russian woman is an unforgettable experience :)

Finding the perfect gift for a foreigner is always a challenge. Each country has its own list of unwanted presents. Our holiday gift guide will help you make fewer mistakes and pick the perfect present for your Russian friend or relative and hear a sincere "spasibo" in return.

#modernscience #health Russian scientists found a potentially inexhaustible source of new antibiotics in Baikal organisms which following millions of years of evolution became resilient to the most extreme conditions. The antibiotics we know today don't work anymore. That's why superbugs (antibiotic resistant bacteria) kill some 700 thousand people each year. There is hope for mankind though: little Amphipoda crustaceans from Lake Baikal may be the answer. Turns out... there are actinobacteria living on the crustaceans that produce exactly what researchers worldwide have been looking for - new antibiotics.

The USSR is in the past. But this bygone era still evokes strong feelings for Russians. More than 50 percent of Russians claim to harbor nostalgia for the Soviet era. Sociologists say this positive attitude towards a communist past is both a reflection of today’s economic challenges and the way the USSR has been romanticized in pop culture. We take a closer look at Russians' complicated relationship with their Soviet past. 1:07 What is it, that people miss? 2:13 Soviet design 3:02 Why are people nostalgic? 3:54 Not everyone is convinced

Russia’s largest winter holiday is New Year’s Eve - not Christmas. Russia is a secular country with an atheistic Soviet past, so December 31st brings all Russians together regardless of faith. People bid farewell to the outgoing year, greeting the coming one with a variety of games, rituals and decorations... Let's dive in and explore Russia's New Year fairy tale!