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About Massimo
Massimo, molecular biologist, is constantly on a mission to inspire scientists and laypeople around him with his passion for science. During the time spent on the bench, he followed his natural all-around curiosity, investigating several topics from medical diseases to plant physiology. Head of TheScienceBreaker, Massimo proudly chases his naïve dream of an engaged society where scientists and citizens are facing together the upcoming challenges for human civilizations. At the University of Geneva, Switzerland, Massimo works for BiOutils – an academic and laboratory-based platform for outreach in life sciences.
Massimo is the editor of 269 Breaks:
Recording cellular memories
Using the CRISPR-Cas system, we engineer cells to create permanent molecular records of dynamic intracellular processes.
May 20, 2019 | 3.5 min readCompressed air energy storage: a technology that (porous) rocks!
When most electricity will be generated from variable renewable energy sources storing large amounts of it from summer to winter will be required. We find that the compression of air within porous rocks below ground could meet that storage need.
May 16, 2019 | 3.5 min readGaseous heavy metals in the atmosphere of an ultra-hot exoplanet
Sensitive, high-resolution spectroscopy reveals the presence of heavy metals in the gaseous atmosphere of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9 b. The spectroscopic signatures of these metals provide astronomers with tools to analyse the atmosphere and trace the evolutionary history of the planet.
May 14, 2019 | 4 min readThe gut microflora helps the effects of dieting
Reducing the number of calories eaten every day has many positive effects on health. In our research, we have shown that in mice, some of the effects of dieting are mediated by the gut microbiota, the trillions of bacteria that colonize the gut.
May 8, 2019 | 3 min readSleeping bacteria survive antibiotic treatment and hijack the host immune system
When we take antibiotics during a bacterial infection, most of the invading bacteria will be killed. This eases the pressure on our immune system, allowing it to clean up the few live bacteria that remain. Sometimes bacteria succeed in escaping this treatment. We are one step closer to understanding how.
May 6, 2019 | 3.5 min readHow did ant-plant interactions evolve?
Ants and plants rely on each other for food, defense and shelter. But how did these complex interactions evolve in the first place?
May 3, 2019 | 4 min read