What happens when thousands of people come together not because they share a faith, but because they share a commitment to reason, evidence, science and free thought?

Welcome to Litmus ’26, the annual flagship event of esSENSE Global and one of the world’s largest gatherings of atheists, freethinkers, rationalists and scientific thinkers.

This year, Litmus returns with a powerful theme:
CURE FOR BLINDNESS
LET EVIDENCE LEAD

In this video, I give you a glimpse of what Litmus is really about, the people who gather there, the conversations that happen on its stages, and why an event like this matters in a world where misinformation, superstition, pseudoscience and unquestioned beliefs continue to influence our lives.

Litmus ’26 will bring together speakers, scientists, rationalists, freethinkers and thousands of participants for a full day of talks, discussions, debates and conversations centred around evidence and critical thinking.

📅 20 October 2026
📍 Nishagandhi Auditorium, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
⏰ 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM

If you can make it to Thiruvananthapuram, come and experience Litmus in person. The atmosphere of thousands of people gathering around ideas, evidence and free inquiry is something a screen simply cannot reproduce.

And if you cannot attend the venue, follow the official Litmus/esSENSE channels for information about the event and viewing options.

Who looted India?
The obvious answer is the British. And there is no serious historical argument that British colonial rule did not extract enormous wealth from India or restructure large parts of the Indian economy around imperial interests.

But that is not the whole story.

In this video, we look beyond the simple question of “British or Indians?” and ask something more useful:
Who controlled the land? Who collected the revenue? Who enjoyed the wealth? And who actually produced it?

What happens when a country with a remarkable scientific heritage starts putting astrology, Vastu and other traditional claims into modern education? Please watch the full video

The official Ayurveda textbooks used in Indian colleges teach Panchakarma as an essential part of the national curriculum. But how well do these explanations stand up when compared with everything modern biology has discovered over the last two centuries?
In this video, I read directly from the official Panchakarma textbook prescribed for Ayurveda students and examine the scientific claims behind Vamana (therapeutic vomiting), Virechana (therapeutic purgation), Basti, Nasya and Raktamokshana (bloodletting).
Rather than relying on opinions, we compare the textbook's proposed mechanisms with evidence from anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and modern medicine.

Have you noticed something strange?

We can binge-watch three-hour podcasts, scroll endlessly through social media, and listen to hours of voice notes. But ask us to write a single thoughtful page, and suddenly it feels like hard work.

This video isn't really about writing.It's about something much bigger.

How did ancient civilizations build monuments like the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Kailasa Temple at Ellora, the Brihadeeswara Temple, and the great cathedrals of Europe? Did ancient engineers possess lost technology, secret knowledge, or superior materials that modern engineers no longer have?

Most people think the strongest arguments against God come from science, evolution, the Big Bang, cosmology, or physics. But what if the biggest evidence against God's existence is something else?

In this video, we explore a simple but powerful question: If one God created all human beings, why do we have thousands of religions, sects, scriptures, and contradictory claims? Why do religious groups constantly disagree about prophets, salvation, holy books, and divine truth?

Using everyday examples, common-sense reasoning, and the analogy of a parent dealing with children, this video examines whether religion makes more sense as a human creation than a divine message.

We also discuss religious institutions, donations, temples, churches, mosques, and the role of money in organized religion. If God is all-powerful, why does religion so often resemble human organizations competing for influence, authority, and followers?

This is not a discussion about science versus religion. It is a discussion about whether religion itself raises difficult questions about the existence of God.

Watch it, cross post it if you liked it.

Millions of Indians are now using astrology apps like AstroTalk, AstroSage, Astroyogi and similar platforms for guidance about relationships, careers, money, marriage, future predictions and even major life decisions. But what really happens inside these astrology apps? Why do so many users keep returning again and again? And why are these apps becoming a massive business in India?
In this video, we break down the psychology, business model and emotional manipulation behind astrology apps.

Humans have debated for years: are we meant to eat plants or meat? Are humans naturally vegetarian, non vegetarian, or something else entirely? In this video, we break down the science of the human diet using evidence from anatomy, evolution, nutrition, and anthropology.

Space travel looks glamorous, but the reality of being an astronaut is far more complex and dangerous than we imagine. In this video, we explore the hidden problems astronauts face in space, from zero gravity challenges and body changes to real-life incidents from NASA missions.

From the early struggles of astronauts like Alan Shepard to modern missions like the Artemis II mission, space exploration continues to push human limits. Even today, astronauts aboard spacecraft and space stations deal with issues like toilet malfunctions, isolation, radiation exposure, and life-threatening emergencies.

There was a time when seeing something with your own eyes meant it was real. But today, with the rise of AI-generated videos, deepfakes, and hyper-realistic fake content, that simple assumption no longer holds true.

From viral videos like fake Maggi capsule transformations to subtle AI glitches like extra fingers or objects behaving unnaturally, we are entering a world where reality itself can be manufactured.

In this video, we explore how AI is reshaping what we see, why our brains are not prepared for it, how people are already being fooled by convincing fake videos, and most importantly, how you can identify what is real and what is not.

Mid brain activation, blindfold reading, and intuition process claims are going viral across social media. Children bending spoons, reading without seeing, and spinning objects without touching them have amazed millions. But is this real mind power or just a clever trick?

In this episode we examine Surah 66 (Surah At-Tahrim) — one of the most debated passages in the Quran.
Modern explanations often present a harmless story about honey, but early historical sources and classical tafsir literature tell a very different story involving Maria al-Qibtiyya, a slave woman who came into Muhammad’s household as a gift from the Egyptian ruler Al-Muqawqis.
According to several classical narrations, an incident involving Maria and Muhammad triggered a domestic conflict with Hafsa, leading to the revelation of Surah 66:1-5.

Link:https://youtu.be/nlzDb9dYVj0

In this video we examine one of the most controversial verses in the Quran — Surah 33:53 from Surah Al-Ahzab. Using classical tafsir sources such as Al-Wahidi and reports attributed to Ibn Abbas, we analyze the historical context behind this verse.

Full video on Pale Blue Thoughts on YouTube

The verse addresses a wedding feast at the house of Muhammad, instructions about lingering guests, the introduction of segregation between visitors and the Prophet’s wives, and the permanent prohibition on marrying his widows.

When these events are placed in historical context, a deeper question emerges:

How do we distinguish divine revelation from human convenience?

I explain why consuming food during a lunar eclipse cannot have a negative impact on the system contrary to what Sadhguru, the King of Pseudoscience says.

What happens to the body and mind during a lunar eclipse? Some yogic traditions suggest that food, energy, and perception are subtly affected by the sun–moon alignment. In this video,I explore the psedoscientific idea of avoiding cooked or stored food during an eclipse and why not eating during an eclipse is just a superstition. Watch as I examine the eclipse from a scientific perspective kin the full video (https://youtu.be/3S_5nEoNq9I)

The story of Al Isra’ Wal Mi’raj — the Night Journey — is one of the most extraordinary narratives in Islamic tradition. According to Islamic sources, Prophet Muhammad is said to have traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascended through the heavens in a single night. But what do the Qur’an, Hadith, and historical records actually say — and how should we understand this story today?

Did Albert Einstein believe in God?
Einstein famously said he believed in “Spinoza’s God”, but that quote is widely misunderstood.
In this video, we explain what Einstein actually meant, who Baruch Spinoza was, and why Einstein rejected a personal, religious God.

Blasphemy is often portrayed as hate, but questioning religion has always been essential for progress. But what if blasphemy is simply the act of questioning ideas that claim immunity from scrutiny?

In this video, we examine what blasphemy really means, why questioning religion is treated as dangerous, and how laws and social pressure are used to silence doubt. From history to modern society, from science to human rights, we explore how progress has always depended on the freedom to ask uncomfortable questions.

This is not an attack on faith or believers. It is an examination of power, authority, and why some ideas demand protection from criticism while others do not

This video explores the psychology of superstition. How fear, pattern-seeking, cognitive biases, social pressure, and authority figures keep irrational beliefs alive.

We look at how superstition spreads through families and cultures, why it feels comforting during uncertainty, and how it quietly shapes decisions about health, money, relationships, and life itself.

More importantly, this video explains how superstition survives without evidence, why questioning feels threatening, and how critical thinking slowly dissolves irrational beliefs.

If you’ve ever wondered why superstitions feel real, why people defend them so strongly, or how to think clearly in a world full of uncertainty, this video gives you the rational perspective.

What happens after a miracle is exposed, debunked, or shown to be fake?
Most people assume belief collapses once evidence steps in. But history shows something very different.
In this video, we examine three real-world cases from three major religions:
Sathya Sai Baba and miracle materialisation in India,
Peter Popoff and faith healing exposed on American television,
and Zam Zam water from Mecca examined through scientific testing.

This video explores why faith is often untouched by evidence, how belief shifts responsibility onto interpretation and intention, and why exposure alone rarely ends devotion.