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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:
Are 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 readHow scientists communicate
Generic language emphasizes broad, timeless conclusions and glosses over variability. We found that generic language was widely used in a large sample of psychology journal articles and was interpreted as more important by readers than more specific language.
Jun 16, 2020 | 3.5 min readEarly chewing and swallowing
A 165 million-year-old mammalian skeleton from China with preserved tongue bones demonstrates that active muscle-powered swallowing originated much earlier in mammalian evolutionary history than anticipated. This was obviously linked to complex cheek teeth capable of efficient chewing.
Jun 11, 2020 | 3.5 min read