Prof. Michael J Puma

Tweeting about complex systems.

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

Our food systems face new #risks from #ai not just through traditional pathways (energy, cyber, transport, markets) but through rapidly expanding #smartagricuture and AI controlled conflict ⁦@JahnResearch⁩ https://t.co/j1Pbl7Un90

[NASA Solar System @NASASolarSystem]

No other traveler has ever journeyed so far from home.

Voyager 1 is about to become the first human-made object to reach a distance of one light-day from Earth, or about 16 billion miles. ½

[Columbia Climate School @columbiaclimate]

At our Postdoc Research Symposium—moderated by program directors @SCamargo & @FragileFood—we caught up with Linqiang He to learn how his research on past drying patterns in the Mediterranean may help better predict how rainfall could change in a warming world. ℹ️ https://t.co/A8NiYQPXsI

[Columbia Climate School @columbiaclimate]

At our Postdoc Research Symposium—moderated by program directors @SCamargo & @FragileFood—we caught up with Lovees Ahfembombi Lueong about his research on indigenous knowledge + early action to help African farming communities adapt to climate risks. ℹ️ https://t.co/efuHM2TV34

[Columbia Climate School @columbiaclimate]

At our Postdoc Research Symposium—moderated by program directors @SCamargo & @FragileFood—we caught up with Pavithra Priyadarshini Selvakumar about her research on including women’s voices & experiences in AI for climate & environmental decision making. ℹ️ https://t.co/efuHM2TV34

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

US agencies issue warning after spate of cyberattacks on refrigerators https://t.co/YcJUcCTqxo via @politico

[Nature Food @NatureFoodJnl]

Article: A global analysis and mapping exercise reveals that armed conflicts disproportionately affect cropland, causing agricultural land loss and diminishing potential food production, with implications for food security and Zero Hunger targets.
https://t.co/iw5TC4vxtS

[Columbia Climate School @columbiaclimate]

At our Postdoc Research Symposium—moderated by program directors @SCamargo & @FragileFood—we caught up with Rebecca Gustine to learn about her research on how changing mountain water availability impacts local livelihoods and drives climate migration. ℹ️ https://t.co/efuHM2TV34

[The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification @theIPCinfo]

Hunger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is being driven by more than one crisis.

Persistent conflict and displacement, the expansion of Ebola, El Niño-related flooding, and rising food and fuel prices are pushing millions deeper into food insecurity, with conditions expected to worsen between January and June 2027.

Urgent action is needed to restore peace and protect civilians, fund life-saving aid and ensure humanitarian access, support livelihoods and social protection, and strengthen preparedness for climate shocks and disease outbreaks.

Read more: https://t.co/6I89mPU0CK

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[Columbia Climate School @columbiaclimate]

On Nov 5 5-6pm ET, join us for Super El Niño & Food Systems: Preparing for Impacts Ahead of #COP31. Jeffrey Shaman shares latest El Niño outlook followed by an expert panel with @FragileFood, Weston Anderson, Angélica Jácome, and Zane Swanson. Register: https://t.co/drUBmn3v00

[The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification @theIPCinfo]

#DRCongo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to face a severe food crisis amid persistent conflict, displacement, and the expansion of Ebola.

Between September and December 2026, 28.8 million people are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), including 3.6 million people in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). Conditions worsened markedly in the east and northeast areas of the country.

Read more: https://t.co/6I89mPU0CK

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[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

US, dozens of countries warn of Sudan famine risk, urge aid https://t.co/X0HJQ6Wn35

[Columbia Climate School @columbiaclimate]

🎙️🍠 On Food Pod for Humanity S3:E1, Jochebed Louis-Jean and Dannie Dinh of our Food for Humanity Initiative talk with our experts @FragileFood and @jeffschlegel about how food gets to our plates! 🎧 https://t.co/FxHnJx2lZG

[Arif Husain @WFPChiefEcon]

If affordability is a crisis in the world's richest economy, imagine the world's poorest economies.

Hunger and malnutrition undermine human capital, productivity and economic stability.

Preventing hunger is not just charity. It is sound economics.
#FoodSecurity #Hunger

[The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification @theIPCinfo]

#Afghanistan

Acute food insecurity is deteriorating. One in three people (15.9 million) are experiencing Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above) through October 2026. This is projected to reach 19.2 million people in the winter lean season from November 2026–April 2027.

Read more: https://t.co/Jqcz9z7mr9

[The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification @theIPCinfo]

🔴 #Sudan 🇸🇩

In Greater Darfur, 13 of the 17 SMART surveys conducted since January 2026 recorded a Critical level of global acute malnutrition (GAM).

In South Darfur, nutrition screenings and surveys revealed worsening conditions, and two IDP camps in Eastern Jebel Marra surpassed Famine thresholds for acute malnutrition.

Read more: https://t.co/4f3fKN8CYO

@theIPCinfo

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

https://t.co/DuEvvGjyM5

[The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification @theIPCinfo]

🔴 #Sudan 🇸🇩

Conflict, displacement and drought are driving an increased risk of Famine in parts of Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan.

An immediate, significant scale-up of assistance is urgently needed. Without this, catastrophic food insecurity, acute malnutrition, and excess mortality will likely intensify, placing countless lives at risk.

Read more: https://t.co/4f3fKN8CYO

@TheIPCinfo

[Columbia Climate School @columbiaclimate]

"If solar is going to scale nationally at the pace our grid requires, the industry needs to make it easy to say yes with consistent messaging around savings, jobs, and grid reliability," writes @columbiaclimate Dean Alexis Abramson. Via @WSJ. https://t.co/tLF3jYZxgr

[DaVinci @BiancoDavinci]

Roman concrete could repair its own cracks.

Some Roman buildings have stood for 2,000 years, while modern concrete can start to crumble within decades. For a long time, scientists did not fully understand why.

The Romans made their concrete from lime, water and volcanic ash from the area around Pozzuoli, near Naples. The ash reacted with the lime and created a material that grew stronger over time instead of weaker.

In 2023, a team from MIT led by Admir Masic found another piece of the puzzle, small white lumps of lime scattered through the concrete.

Scientists had always thought these lumps were a sign of careless mixing. In fact, they were the repair kit. When a crack forms and rainwater gets in, the lime dissolves and refills the crack with new mineral, sealing it from the inside.

The secret was “hot mixing.” Instead of using slaked lime, the Romans added quicklime directly to the mix. It heated up as it reacted with water and left these lumps behind on purpose.

To test the idea, the team cracked samples of concrete made with the Roman method and let water run through them. Within two weeks, the cracks had sealed completely. In concrete made without the lime lumps, the water kept flowing.

Roman harbour concrete went even further. Pliny the Elder wrote that once it touched the waves, it became a single block of stone that grew stronger every day. In 2017, geologist Marie Jackson showed he was right, seawater slowly grows rare crystals inside the concrete that hold it together.

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

Celentano pizza was best frozen pizza back in the day ... not to be confused with Celeste that's in the news today @RosinaFood can you bring it back?