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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 344 Breaks:
Sea otters make a splash
California sea otters have been pounding mussels on shoreline boulders for more than 10 years, and this behavior leaves long-term traces. Using methods from ecology and archaeology, we showed that it is possible to recognize the damaged rocks and broken mussel shells created by sea otters
Oct 10, 2019 | 3.5 min readThe turbulent brain
Brain activity emerges from the coordinated dynamics of a huge network of neurons. Here, we explored what sorts of wave patterns can arise at the whole-brain scale, how these patterns change over time, and what mechanisms might underpin their generation.
Oct 9, 2019 | 4 min readAutonoMouse: A platform for automating mouse behavioral studies
Behavioral assessments in animal models are crucial to neuroscience research, but manual implementation of these methods can limit throughput. We developed AutonoMouse: a platform for performing continuous, automated behavioral experiments across multiple subjects simultaneously.
Sep 30, 2019 | 4 min readHow to survive a viral apocalypse: a rabbit’s tale
In 1950, a novel virus was used as a biological weapon to control the invasive rabbit populations in Australia, killing millions of animals on the first impact. But then, evolution kicked in and rabbits evolved genetic resistance to the disease. This is the story of how it all happened.
Sep 27, 2019 | 4 min readReinventing a bacterial biopesticide: an old microbe with a fresh new look
Growing concerns over the use of synthetic pesticides in agriculture have sparked a renewed interest in natural alternatives. Our work revisits a formerly successful bacterial biological pesticide (biopesticide) that fell out of fashion over concerns of human pathogenicity.
Sep 24, 2019 | 3.5 min readCascading effects of a marine heatwave impact dolphin survival and reproduction
Extreme climatic events associated with climate change pose a serious threat to ecosystems around the world. A marine heatwave in 2011 causes drastic losses of seagrass and fish stocks in Shark Bay, Western Australia, with cascading effects on long-term survival and reproduction of the resident bottlenose dolphin population.
Sep 20, 2019 | 4 min read