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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:
A timeline for the Denisovans, an enigmatic group of archaic humans
The Denisovans are a mysterious group of archaic humans named after the type locality of Denisova Cave in southern Siberia. The site was also occupied at times by Neanderthals and modern humans. Thanks to optical dating and environmental reconstructions we defined a robust chronology for these archaic humans.
Jul 10, 2019 | 3.5 min readOverturning the hypothesis for how humans evolved language
Few traits are as uniquely human as complex spoken language. Language, therefore, has interested evolutionary biologists and neuroscientists seeking to understand what makes us, and in particular our brains, distinct from other animals.
Jul 8, 2019 | 4 min readHigh extinction risk for wild coffee species and implications for coffee sector sustainability
Coffee is a globally significant commodity and the source of livliehoods for millions of farmers worldwide. Our coffee crop plants, represent very recent domestication events. We found that at least 60% of all coffee species are threatened with extinction, 45% are not held in any germplasm collection, and 28% are not known to occur in any protected area.
Jul 5, 2019 | 4 min readWhat can science tell us about mortality and survival in Game of Thrones?
Fatal injuries caused by assault and operations of war are commonplace in the lands of Westeros and Essos. Switching allegiances is a key factor in increasing the chances of survival.
Jul 1, 2019 | 3.5 min readLighting a candle in the dark
Cyanobacteria have always lived on solar power… yet we found them living in the Earth’s crust, 600 meters below the surface. Our results suggest that they have repurposed their metabolic machinery to burn hydrogen for energy.
Jun 24, 2019 | 4 min readImproving the dietary value of tomatoes with purple plant pigments
Obtaining the right daily amount of fresh food is a challenge in many countries. This study improved the dietary value of tomato, by enhancing the content of a beneficial plant pigment, called anthocyanin. Tomatoes enriched in anthocyanins had purple-coloured fruit, and improved the lifespan of mice. Increasing the nutritional value of tomato is promising for improved public health.
Jun 17, 2019 | 3 min read