In the paper, the author analyses the recent publications in journals Sociological Research, Sociological Journal, Sociology of Science and Technology (2015-2018), dealing with the institutional and social peculiarities of the functioning of science. These include methods for measuring the effectiveness of scientific activities, the problem of human capacities, scientific migration and management of science. The review shows the concern of experts on the spiritual, social and material status of the scientific community, the low level of protection of young scientists. The peculiarities of the functioning of science in modern Russia are determined by poor relations with business, lack of applied research. In this context, Russian science is still not adequately focused on civilian innovations, their search and promotion. For a long time, nobody has studied Russian science as a social institution, and this essentially affected its management, design and development. Yet given the context, facts and findings in the analysed articles, the capacities of science in Russia remain high. The gradually developing sociological discourse deals with the problems of science in modern society, the perception of foreign experience and effective application, which allows to hope for overcoming the obstacles that were previously created by incompetent management.