Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at the plenary session of the Future Technologies Forum on Feb. 21. The emphasis this year is on the revitalization of chemistry, in which Russia has always been a leader, even during the Soviet era, but a tradition that Putin felt had been squandered since then. He remarked, in particular, in the area of materials science, the importance that it has played in the creation of their hypersonic rockets, including the Oreshnik, with their ability to withstand the tremendous heat they encounter at those speeds.