He teaches geometry, mathematical physics and history of mathematics at the University of Genoa. He is the author of numerous scientific articles in international journals and two specialized monographs. He edited the anthology Mathematical Tales (Einaudi, 2006) and directed with Piergiorgio Odifreddi the four-volume work Mathematics (Einaudi, 2007-2011). His most recent books are. Proving the impossible (Raffaello Cortina, 2014), Numbers (with Luigi Civalleri, Code Editions, 2104) and Zerology (with Piero Martin and Andrea Tagliapietra, il Mulino, 2016).