Back to The Team
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:
Groundwater pumping poses worldwide threat to riverine ecosystems
We pump too much water out of the ground, impacting our rivers worldwide. Our study estimates that almost 20% of the catchments where groundwater is pumped for drinking water or to grow food suffer from low flows - too low to sustain healthy freshwater ecosystems. This number is expected to increase to 50% by 2050.
Jun 25, 2020 | 3 min readTreating Alzheimer's disease with a known anticoagulant: insights from lab mice
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with vascular alterations such as reduced brain blood flow. Treatment with a direct oral anticoagulant available in the market delays the onset of AD in mice: animals did not show memory loss or decreased cerebral circulation, and they presented reduced brain inflammation, vascular damage, and decreased amyloid deposits, typical signs of AD.
Jun 23, 2020 | 3.5 min readAre students learning as much as they think they are? The dangers of fluent lectures
We have all experienced amazing teachers who lecture clearly and smoothly. Even if we are just listening and taking notes, it feels like we learn a lot from these superstar lecturers. But a Harvard study finds that this “feeling of learning” can be deceptive. Students will learn more if they are actively engaged in the classroom, even though they might feel like they are learning less.
Jun 22, 2020 | 3.5 min readOf pig-tails and palm oil: How rat-eating macaques increase oil palm sustainability
Conversion of tropical forests into agriculture reduces wildlife habitats and leads to biodiversity losses and human-wildlife conflicts. Here, we present an example of how it is possible to enhance sustainable plantation management and create a win-win situation for oil palm planters and biodiversity.
Jun 19, 2020 | 3.5 min readPliocene sea level snapshots
Geological evidence from a Mallorcan coastal cave in the western Mediterranean Sea shed new light on past sea level. The results indicate that sea level was up to 16 m higher than present during a time when the Earth was 2-3 degrees warmer than the pre-industrial era. These findings have significant implications for predicting the pace of current-day sea level rise.
Jun 18, 2020 | 2.5 min readSecrets of legless leapers revealed
Jumping insects are a familiar sight: Jumping by legless, wormlike larvae is altogether unexpected. We used high-speed imaging and scanning electron microscopy to reveal the physical mechanisms that enable the larvae of a secretive gall midge to propel themselves into the air and travel many body lengths in less than a second.
Jun 17, 2020 | 3.5 min read