"Caffè Enigma": The Human side of science. When a nanotech thriller becomes popular science and ethical reflection

Caffè Enigma: The Human side of science. 

When a nanotech thriller becomes popular science and ethical reflection

Lecce, September 26, 2025 | Gradonata Hall – Olivetani,  h 20:30

A Different Kind of Journey: Not through microscopes and graphs, but through the pages of a novel.

The Caffè Enigma trilogy, written by dr. Vito Marangelli, is a brilliant example of how science can be transformed into gripping narrative — and storytelling into a powerful tool for science communication and ethical reflection.

At the heart of the plot is a groundbreaking project: using nanotechnology to combat atherosclerosis, one of the most widespread cardiovascular diseases in the world. 

Real research conducted at the CNR – Institute of Nanotechnology in Lecce becomes the narrative engine of a story that fuses scientific reality with fiction, all told with rigor, passion, and clarity.

Caffè Enigma is not just a high-tension spy thriller — it's a story about the human side of science: its responsibilities, its risks, and the beauty hidden in every discovery.

A conversation with the author, both a physician and a scientist, invites readers to rediscover the power of storytelling as a means of understanding, awareness, and passion for research.

Curated by: Gabriella Zammillo - Communication and Outreach Manager, CNR‑Nanotec

A dialogue with the author, featuring:
Fabrizio Illuminati, Director of CNR-Nanotec
Stefano Leporatti, Senior Research Scientist at CNR-Nanotec