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About Massimo
Harnessing his dual expertise in molecular biology and digital communications, Massimo is a steadfast advocate for science, striving to weave it into the fabric of everyday life. As the founder and editor-in-chief of TheScienceBreaker, he is not just chasing a dream, but actively building a reality where society and science walk hand-in-hand. His aspiration is not one of distant admiration, but of close collaboration: empowering every individual with scientific understanding and fostering a collective enthusiasm for discovery. His vision is one of unity, where society acknowledges the integral role of science and technology in shaping our shared future.
Massimo is the editor of 352 Breaks:
Exploding bits of Bennu: adventures in asteroid exploration
The NASA OSIRIS-REx spacecraft encountered many surprises while exploring asteroid Bennu. This asteroid is ejecting particles into space, leading to unexpected science results. With no risk to the satellite, the team is on track to collect and return a sample from this intriguing asteroid.
Sep 4, 2020 | 4 min readA soil bacterium unmasks a human enzyme
We now know the human genome and, with it, most of the proteins we make, but we don't know what a good number of these proteins do. Thanks to a social soil bacterium and studying how it responds to light, we have now identified the human protein needed to make a special class of abundant, yet enigmatic, lipids that are important in human biology and health.
Sep 3, 2020 | 3.5 min readEnabling a hydrogen-fueled future
Hydrogen embrittlement is an obstacle for using metals in hydrogen fuel technologies. We found the origin of this effect by using a customized state-of-the-art microscope to directly observe hydrogen at both defects and an incoherent interface between internal carbides and the surrounding steel.
Sep 1, 2020 | 4.5 min readThe "reasonable irrationality" principle
Throughout history, humans have searched for ways to improve their decisions. The idea of sound judgment attracted philosophers, economists, lawyers and counselling psychologists. Understanding sound decision-making is fundamental to our lives, as our financial decisions, the legal system, general well-being and even sports depend on it.
Aug 26, 2020 | 3.5 min readDe-liver-ing blood and immune cells to the developing human
Little is known about how the human immune system develops before birth. However, with advances in sampling methods and gene mapping technologies, we have completed an atlas of the developing blood and immune systems. This will enable us to use this knowledge for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and to better understand diseases.
Aug 25, 2020 | 3 min readAquatic plants are influenced by the surrounding landscape
Have you ever had an aquarium with plants and failed to make it flourish? In this recent study published in Science, we show that the mineral composition of the soils in the surrounding landscape controls the aquatic vegetation in adjacent lakes, but not in streams, and there are lessons to be also learned for the hobbyist.
Aug 18, 2020 | 3 min read