In today’s lightning-fast digital landscape, misinformation travels at a pace that facts and scientific consensus struggle to match. A single misleading video or an out-of-context claim can reach millions of screens in an instant, often fueled by sensationalism that prioritizes clicks over accuracy. The latest victim of this trend is India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme. Despite being a cornerstone of India’s economic, environmental, and strategic energy policy, EBP has recently been subjected to a surge of baseless rumors on social media, ranging from claims that ethanol ruins vehicle engines to bizarre videos suggesting it attracts ants. It is crucial…

The recent string of tragic fires in Lucknow—most notably the devastating blaze in Aliganj that claimed 15 lives and the alarmingly frequent incidents in zones like Aashiana—has cast a harsh spotlight on a systemic failure in how our buildings are designed, maintained, and operated. Architects and fire safety specialists are sounding a desperate alarm, pointing out that what often begins as a small, manageable electrical spark is rapidly escalating into a mass-casualty disaster. The core of the problem isn’t necessarily the fire itself, but a lethal combination of outdated electrical infrastructure, suffocating architectural designs, and a reckless disregard for basic…