Prof. Michael J Puma

Tweeting about food security, migration, quantum, and freedom

[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

[Deepak Ray @RayDeepakk]

In this study published today in Science Polasky et al. show that there are ways where we can be more efficient and address climate and biodiversity without bankrupting people https://t.co/mwp2x9tJYQ

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

https://t.co/KM3oJDbOnM

[OpenAI @OpenAI]

Today, we share a breakthrough on the planar unit distance problem, a famous open question first posed by Paul Erdős in 1946.

For nearly 80 years, mathematicians believed the best possible solutions looked roughly like square grids.

An OpenAI model has now disproved that belief, discovering an entirely new family of constructions that performs better.

This marks the first time AI has autonomously solved a prominent open problem central to a field of mathematics.

[The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification @theIPCinfo]

One week. Two countries identified at risk of Famine.

In Sudan, 14 areas across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan are at risk of Famine during the June–September 2026 lean season, in a plausible worst-case scenario where conflict intensifies, humanitarian access narrows further, and displacement continues to disrupt livelihoods. This risk continues through January 2026 for 13 of these areas.

In Somalia, Burhakaba District is at risk of Famine through June 2026, in a plausible worst-case scenario in which the Gu season rains fail, food prices continue to rise, and humanitarian food assistance falls below expected levels.

In line with IPC protocols, a risk of Famine indicates that Famine is likely to occur if conditions deteriorate beyond what is currently expected. Risk of Famine is, therefore, a way of highlighting the potential for a situation to deteriorate into Famine, even if it is not the central forecast.

Read more:

🔗 Sudan: https://t.co/M2HfoZeidY

🔗 Somalia: https://t.co/YS5cH0ezx8

🔗 Famine Fact Sheet: https://t.co/JUtSWlFGZ0

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

"Proximity to nuclear power plants was associated with elevated mortality from breast, colon, and lung cancers." https://t.co/oRXrXuoUvD

[Columbia Climate School @columbiaclimate]

🎓 Congrats to Columbia Climate School Class of 2026! 💙 #Columbia2026 #ColumbiaClimate2026

"The work ahead is demanding, but you know what? So are we." —Annika Bellot, Class Day Student Speaker, MA Climate & Society

🎥 Watch our Class Day celebration: https://t.co/bfCOH912RO

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

A data center drained 30M gallons of water unnoticed — until residents complained about low water pressure https://t.co/aEldl5bBFS via @politico

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

The Story of the Te-Amo Cigar Sign, a New York Icon

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

https://t.co/yu08UmmN0c

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

https://t.co/yu08UmmN0c

[The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification @theIPCinfo]

Recent IPC analyses show concerning trends across several regions, from the risk of famine in South Sudan, renewed conflict in Lebanon, mass displacement and severe hunger in Haiti, and drought in Kenya.

Read the full reports below:

South Sudan: https://t.co/jKDvkCLjyw
Haiti: https://t.co/eF83DmLTtt
Kenya: https://t.co/QBCfwAtm5I
Lebanon: https://t.co/jvwbhDEdPi
Tanzania: https://t.co/0cUWOK4k7j
SADC: https://t.co/JqDJYSkQAK

@theIPCinfo

[Columbia Climate School @columbiaclimate]

🎓 We're thrilled to announce that @Microsoft Chief Sustainability Officer Melanie Nakagawa will deliver the keynote at our Class Day ceremony to celebrate Columbia Climate School 2026 grads! 💙 #Columbia2026 #ColumbiaClimate2026 Via State of the Planet: https://t.co/OkzmBczMcK

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

California farmers to destroy 420,000 peach trees following Del Monte bankruptcy https://t.co/jfb1Fsn545 via @SFGate

[The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification @theIPCinfo]

#SouthSudan

Worsening food insecurity and malnutrition in South Sudan demand urgent action to protect lives and livelihoods.

More on the latest IPC findings⬇️

@theIPCinfo

[Purdue Agriculture @PurdueAg]

Deep space missions mean growing our own food — but what if a pathogen puts it at risk? @PurdueBPP professor Anjali Iyer-Pascuzzi and PhD candidate Denise Caldwell study plant immunity in space to help @NASA grow food sustainably beyond Earth. 🚀🍅 #NationalSpaceDay

[The Sci-Tech Guy @theSciTechGuy]

🤯

[NASA @NASA]

Welcome home Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy! 🫶

The Artemis II astronauts have splashed down at 8:07pm ET (0007 UTC April 11), bringing their historic 10-day mission around the Moon to an end.

[Jaynit @jaynitx]

In 2019, MIT professor Patrick Winston gave a legendary 1-hour lecture called “How to Speak.”

It has 18M+ views for a reason.

His frameworks:
• Your ideas are like your children
• The 5-minute rule for job talks
• Why jokes fail at the start

15 lessons on communication:

[Brandon Luu, MD @BrandonLuuMD]

Students who took notes by hand scored ~28% higher on conceptual questions than laptop note-takers.

Writing forces your brain to process and compress ideas instead of copying them.

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

"How Light Travels Without Moving: The Feynman Reality Check” https://t.co/v628wypJyF via @YouTube

[Prof. Michael J Puma @FragileFood]

https://t.co/JVBh5BLmCI Important insights from @CSISFoodWater