Giuseppe Zanotti
Author of novels, essays, and university textbooks
Essays ans short stories from the mind of a chemist
Giuseppe Zanotti
Author of novels, essays, and university textbooks
Essays and short stories from the mind of a chemist
My books
This website was originally called “Sofia and the apple”, after the title of one of my texts devoted to epistemology.
The initial idea was to create a space for discussion on the philosophy of science, a small forum for those who, like me, Giuseppe Zanotti, enjoy questioning how knowledge works, its rules, and its limits.
Over time, the site has evolved: today it brings together my writings—essays and novels—and hosts a blog that continues to deal not only with philosophy, but also .
SOFIA AND THE APPLE
An introduction for those who want to understand how scientific knowledge really works: not a faith, not a dogma, but a fallible and improvable tool, grounded on observations and data.
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CHEMISTRY INSIGHTS
To explore, in an elementary way, some topics in chemistry that are covered only superficially in high school chemistry curricula.
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… AND THERE WAS LIGHT
A locked-room murder, a strange theft possibly connected to the researcher’s death, and the apparent lack of a motive—these are the elements puzzling the young lieutenant of the French police in charge of the investigation.
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MÃRA'S FLOWERY ARROWS
A mysterious manuscript, discovered by chance in the library of an ancient Burmese monastery, represents perhaps the oldest example of a detective novel from the Far East?
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Research Areas
What is living matter made of?
From this question arose a long research activity spanning crystallography, biochemistry, and structural biology. I have studied the structure of living matter at the molecular level, using techniques such as X-ray diffraction and, more recently, cryo-EM.
Latest posts
2026-02-21
Scientific Progress and the Role of the Researcher
Scientific progress does not proceed in a linear fashion. In Kuhn’s view, for example, after a major revolutionary discovery—one that radically reshapes the previous framework by establishing “a new paradigm”—there usually follows a “normal” period, during which advances proceed in a substantially progressive way; that is, innovations arise that fit...Leggi di più - Scientific Progress and the Role of the Researcher
2025-07-10
The Transition from Republic to Empire in Ancient Rome – Historical Recurrences
The second half of the first century B.C. is one of the turning points in history, as well as one of the most well-documented periods of the ancient world. With Gaius Julius Caesar and especially with Octavian Augustus, the Republic was replaced by a new political system: the Empire. Although...Leggi di più - The Transition from Republic to Empire in Ancient Rome – Historical Recurrences
2025-04-25
Environmentalism and a Return to the Past
It is impossible to draw up a shared ranking of what the main problems of our time are, but global warming and pollution certainly occupy the top positions. Fortunately, awareness of pollution has grown along with the problem itself, and environmental ideals are now widespread, especially among younger generations. In...Leggi di più - Environmentalism and a Return to the Past
2025-03-22
Acquittal Due to Insufficient Evidence
This is a completely personal reflection on justice. Today in Italy (I don’t know what happens in most Western countries and in other parts of the world—perhaps the same), at the end of a criminal trial there are only two possible outcomes: the defendant is declared either “guilty” or “innocent.”...Leggi di più - Acquittal Due to Insufficient Evidence
2025-03-08
Global Warming and Population
It is now widely accepted that the abnormal global warming we are experiencing is caused not only by a natural climate cycle, but mostly by human activity. However, not everyone links this issue to the increase in the world’s population and its corresponding consumption. Let us remember that in the...Leggi di più - Global Warming and Population
2025-02-04
The Battle of Lyptsi
Towards the end of December 2024, a minor clash between Ukrainians and Russians took place in the countryside near Kharkiv, largely unnoticed. However, it may one day be remembered alongside battles such as Adrianople or Pavia—battles that marked a turning point in military strategy. Adrianople is famously regarded as the...Leggi di più - The Battle of Lyptsi
2025-01-08
Still About Vaccines
The COVID epidemic is now forgotten, or almost so, and consequently the debate about vaccines as well. However, it is unpleasant to note that certain preconceived notions have remained deeply ingrained, as if etched in stone, in the minds of a significant part of the population. I take as an...Leggi di più - Still About Vaccines
2024-05-31
Artificial intelligence, part III. Artificial intelligence and “natural” intelligence
In the previous articles on generative artificial intelligence (AI), I briefly discussed the meaning of AI. In this one, I will focus on the implications of its operating mechanism: the fact that AI, a machine, is capable of generating new content previously thought to be exclusive to our species provides...Leggi di più - Artificial intelligence, part III. Artificial intelligence and “natural” intelligence