India, April 17 -- In The Sixth Extinction, Elizabeth Kolbert describes what some scientists have called a "madness gene", a human tendency to pursue short-term gains despite long-term ruin. It is an unsettling idea - that a species capable of understanding planetary collapse might continue to accelerate it. Today, that same perverse logic is visible in global politics. As conflicts escalate and geopolitical tensions harden, climate commitments quietly recede.

This contradiction is especially stark in the context of World Health Day 2026 (April 7), which was observed with the theme "Together for health. Stand with science". This year's observance launched a year-long campaign celebrating the power of scientific collaboration to protect t...