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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 335 Breaks:
The solid which conducts heat best
A phonon is a quantum of atomic vibrations. According to quantum mechanics, these phonons are what allow heat to travel in any solid medium. The capacity of solids to conduct heat is extremely variable. We identify a stack of graphene sheets as the best-known conductor of heat at room temperature, thanks to carbon atoms' ability to vibrate fast combined to other mysterious properties of a honeycomb lattice.
Oct 15, 2020 | 3 min readTumor infiltrating immune cells predict patient outcomes
Tumor infiltration of a certain immune cell, a CD8 T-cell, is known to predict patient outcomes in many cancers, and we found that this same parameter predicts disease-free survival in kidney cancer patients. Our results suggest that these cells are maintained by stem-like cells that reside in densely populated immune outposts inside tumors.
Oct 14, 2020 | 3 min readHelp or harm? How immune cells of the brain balance the immune response
An immune response is the body’s way of limiting damage and paving the way for repair. Specialized cells kill harmful invaders, clean up damaged tissue, and contribute to healing. A particularly important immune cell type in fulfilling these responsibilities is the macrophage.
Oct 7, 2020 | 3.5 min readA prehistoric seawall to combat Mediterranean Sea-level rise
We summarize a recently published study describing and discussing a now-submerged seawall constructed some 7000 years ago by Neolithic villagers on the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel. It was built to protect the village against the rising sea. Their attempt was unsuccessful, and eventually, they were forced to abandon their home.
Oct 6, 2020 | 4 min readA natural close-up of a pierced galaxy 18 billion light-years away
Something has poked a hole in the interstellar gas in a distant galaxy. This allows us the first ever direct view of what young, massive stars look like in far-ultraviolet light – and thanks to a natural, cosmic lens, the whole thing is magnified hundredfold and shown in 12 copies.
Oct 1, 2020 | 3.5 min readOuch, that needle hurts! How some viruses inject their DNA
Some viruses infect their bacterial hosts by injecting their DNA using a nano-injection machine that resembles a hypodermic needle. They then hijack their host into reproducing new copies of the virus and to unleash those copies to infect other hosts. To understand how this injection machine works in real-time, we developed a model to simulate the injection process.
Sep 25, 2020 | 3.5 min read