Back from @cospar.bsky.social #COSPAR2026 in Florence! 🚀 A great experience presenting my work on Mt Etna and its relation to #Mars followed with lots of interesting discussions around #Astrobiology and #PlanetaryScience. Leaving Florence with plenty to think about! 🌋🦠

One of yesterday's highlights at #COSPAR2026 was the agency leaders' roundtable. It was fascinating to hear representatives from #ASI, #CSA, #ESA, #JAXA, #ISRO, #KASA, #NASA, #NSSC and #UAESA discuss the challenges and future of space exploration. 🚀🌍

Excited to be presenting today at #COSPAR2026 I'll be talking about trace gas oxidising-based microbial communities in #Etna volcanic soils and what they can tell us about early #planetary biospheres and #Mars analogues. Looking forward to some great discussions! #Astrobiology #Geomicrobiology

After looking at the chemistry, elemental composition, and microscopic structure of these #volcanic soils, today I'm looking at their crystalline mineral phases. A bunch of data is coming up all together. #PXRD #XRD #Mineralogy #Geomicrobiology #Volcanology #Astrobiology

FTIR day! 🌋🧪 Looking at the infrared fingerprints of volcanic soil to identify the minerals and chemical groups present. This would better characterise the soils giving hint on possible #biosignature. #FTIR #Geomicrobiology #Astrobiology

This time we go under scanning electron microscopy🔬🌋 A closer look at volcanic soils reveals the world, trying to get some biological activity in it. #SEM #Geomicrobiology #Astrobiology

Today's job: microwave digestion of volcanic soil samples in nitric acid before ICP-MS analysis. Looking forward to see what the elemental chemistry could tell us. #ICPMS #Geochemistry #Geomicrobiology #Volcanology #Astrobiology #Research

Not every day in research is about conferences. Today it's Raman spectroscopy on my volcanic samples. Every spectrum is another small piece of the puzzle. #RamanSpectroscopy #Geomicrobiology #Astrobiology #Volcanology #ResearchLife

Last week I had the pleasure to present @manmetuni.bsky.social for the LAMECS. This time as a speaker talking about microbial communities in early planetary biospheres analogue. Many thanks to @amiposts.bsky.social for organising the symposium. #Geomicrobiology #Astrobiology #EarlyCareerResearch

Spending the afternoon at @ucl.ac.uk 's Your Universe festival as part of the UCL200 celebrations. Looking forward to hearing about everything from Mars exploration and dark matter to atmospheric spectroscopy. #YourUniverse #UCL200 #Astronomy #PlanetaryScience #Space #ScienceCommunication

Just arrived in London and heading to Westminster for Parliamentary Links Day at the House of Commons, representing @amiposts.bsky.social to meet the members of the parliament. #ParliamentaryLinksDay #science

Just wrapped up a very busy week where I gave a talk at the @pintofscience.uk titled: The Hitchhiker's Guide to Life in the Universe. Thanks to everyone who came along and to the organisers for putting up the event. #PintOfScience #pint26 #Astrobiology #ScienceCommunication #Geomicrobiology

Last day at @egu.eu 2026 in Vienna. This gets me to know more about planetary atmospheres but also listening to topics very close to mine like geochemistry and geomicrobiology and the exchange of energy and elements between microbial communitie and rocks. #EGU26 #Geoscience #Astrobiology

Really nice discussions at the @norwichmicro.bsky.social last week where I presented a poster on extremophiles in volcanic soils as analogues for early planetary biospheres and I had the chance to co-chair a session. Poster below for anyone interested 👇 #Astrobiology #Geomicrobiology #CMINorwich26

Last Friday I attended the UK Planetary Forum at @ucl-bbk-cps.bsky.social. I presented my recently revised paper on CODH-utilising microbes in volcanic analogues. Thanks to the organisers and speakers for a rewarding experience. The paper is now under review. Stay tuned! 🪐🔬 #Astrobiology

It was nice to present my PhD work, at my department seminar on the "Characterisation of trace gas oxidisers at Mount Etna volcano". Next up, I'm taking the findings from my first publication to the UK Planetary Forum. #PhDresearch #ScienceCommunication #Geomicrobiology #Astrobiology

Had a great day at the BIO Research Colloquium at the @biouea.bsky.social I had the chance to present my poster again but I especially had the chance to listen to inspiring speakers and meet more people in the research. Big thanks to the organizers for the excellent event. #UEABioResearch

Fantastic week back at ASB10! Huge thanks to @StAndrews for hosting, and for brilliant organization. My first talk on volcanic biogeochemistry was a privilege. Met great people, heard amazing research. Thanks @ukspaceagency.bsky.social for sponsoring. #Astrobiology #StAndrews #UKSpaceAgency #Science

Excited to announce I'll be speaking at the @AstroBioSoc_UK conference at the University of St Andrews! 🎤 I'll be diving into biogeochemical cycles in extreme environments. See you in Scotland! #Astrobiology #Exoplanets #ExtremeLife #StAndrews #Extrememicrobiology @standrewsphil.bsky.social

Great event yesterday at the @pintofscience.uk in Norwich. We looked at electrifying microbes in an anaerobic environment but also at the definitions of infinite and its implications in cosmology. What's better than drinking beer and listening to science?

About a week ago I got back from my fieldwork exploring the microbial life that thrives in extreme environments. A sincere thank you to my supervisor at the @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social, the team at the University of Palermo, and @ingvvulcani.bsky.social for their guidance.

Just waited for this moment before start posting here. What is the best occasion then my fieldwork kicks off? And it already feels like walking on another world. #ExtremeMicrobes #Volcanology #Astrobiology #FieldNotesFromTheEdg