Mysterious Fog in the US , Canada and UK: A dense, eerie fog with a "burning chemical-like smell" has spooked a good part of North America and parts of the United Kingdom and Canada. With social media amplifying all concerns, this phenomenon has sparked attention across all social media platforms. However, at the heart of this mysterious fog are a conjunction of natural events, social psychology, and environmental conditions that culminated in all the conspiracy theories and public health fears. Here's a closer look at the mysterious fog, its potential causes, and the societal response it has triggered.

Fog that Feeds Fear

The first reports of this "mysterious fog" came in from Florida where a resident said that they experienced respiratory symptoms, feverish warmth, and stomach cramps after contact with the fog. Similar stories started flooding social media, and within a day or two, a sinister force seemed to sweep across the United States, Canada, and parts of the UK. From Texas to Minnesota, people reported weird odors and health issues that they thought were linked to this bizarre atmospheric event.

Some witnesses were said to see "white particles" swirling through the air; theories ranged from a chemical attack or experimental weapon to drone-related chemical dispersals and references to historical military experiments, such as the infamous 1950s "Operation Sea-Spray."

Fuel to the fire were added when videos and posts, hundreds of thousands in number, began circulating on social media sites like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) speculating on the origin of the fog. Hashtags like #ToxicFog went trending for days. Hysteria created a self-reinforcing loop in which every post spurred further scrutiny and fear.

Scientific Explanation of the Dense Mysterious Fog

1. What is Fog?

Fog is essentially a low-lying cloud formed when the air temperature cools to its dew point, causing water vapor to condense into tiny droplets or ice crystals. Several types of fog—advection fog, radiation fog, and valley fog—can form depending on conditions such as warm, moist air moving over cooler land or when temperatures plummet rapidly under clear skies.

2. Why the Chemical Smell?

Such chemical-like smell as reported during the occurrence of fog events is sometimes attributed to air pollution. It acts like a sponge, where it absorbs these pollutants, which include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, among others, that emit from industries. This mixture, therefore, leads to a stench that could be mistaken as unnatural or even toxic.

Also Read: Health Concerns Rise As US, Canada, and UK Come Under The Blanket Of Thick, Dense, Toxic Fog

3. What are the Health Concerns?

High moisture levels from fog can significantly exacerbate symptoms related to respiration, but especially in already predisposed asthmatics and allergy patients. The connection of these symptoms with actual fever, stomach cramps, and puffy eyes is too remote. Experts assume that the irritating effects of entrapped pollutants trapped in fog tend to affect more the eyes and throat rather than the rest of the body affected by some report.

Psychological Effects of Mass Panic Caused by Social Media

Social media amplified a natural weather event into a health epidemic. It made the personal experience of individuals become a cause for fear and speculation, a domino effect.

According to psychologists, this is a concept of selective perception, wherein once people's attention is drawn to environmental anomalies, they begin to notice them. This mirrors earlier panics, such as the Seattle windshield pitting panic of 1954. Then, atomic bomb testing caused fear in many and started to have people looking at their windshields for small marks that they had not seen before. Likewise, postings on the strangeness of the fog probably increased public awareness and suspicion, with people looking to attach unrelated symptoms to the phenomenon.

The fog hysteria shares a commonality with other instances of mass panic, such as the "drone sightings" of recent years or the Cold War-era fears of biological warfare.

Also Read: Mysterious Fog Is Making Americans Sick

These events underscore how fear can cloud judgment, especially when amplified by social media and sensationalist headlines. While historical cases, such as "Operation Sea-Spray," offer concrete evidence of the existence of unethical experiments, the jump from a natural weather condition to theories of chemical attacks exemplifies a more modern trend of connecting unrelated dots, all wonderfully seeded in distrust and anxiety.

Despite the swirling rumors, meteorologists and scientists are in agreement that the mysterious fog is not as alarming as it seems. It is well known that fog traps and amplifies pollutants, especially in urban and industrial regions. Moreover, winter months are the most conducive for fog formation, so its recent prevalence is unsurprising.

On the other hand, environmentalists advise that the fog should wake everyone up to increased levels of pollution. The reported odors and health irritations could be just symptoms of far deeper systemic issues like industrial emissions and lack of control over air quality.

The authorities must be transparent in their communication to combat misinformation and allay public fears. Governments and environmental agencies must provide timely updates on weather phenomena, air quality, and health risks. Initiatives like real-time pollutant tracking and public education campaigns can help demystify natural occurrences while addressing valid environmental concerns.

The mysterious Canada fog is a compelling case study in how environmental events intersect with psychology and societal dynamics. While rooted in natural phenomena, the fog became a vessel for collective fears, amplified by modern technology and historical anxieties.

In this information era where communication occurs at an almost lightning pace, the fog becomes a metaphor that reminds everyone about scientific literacy, environmental responsibility, and an effective balance when considering public concern. Whether perceived as a marvel of nature or as a tale that serves to teach, it left a very powerful mark in people's minds.

Wet Wipes Waring: 59 people have fallen ill, with one dead, after using non-alcoholic, non-sterile, infected wet wipes in UK. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a warning, and said that there is still "an ongoing risk of infection associated with their use". The bacteria that is causing this infection is burkholderia stabilis or B. stabilis.

Wet Wipes Warning: Which Ones Not To Use

The UKHSA also in its warning included names of four different wet wipes and asked people to avoid using them.

• ValueAid Alcohol Free Cleaning Wipes
• Stereoplast Sterowipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
• Reliwipe Alcohol Free Cleansing Wipes
• Microsafe Moist Wipe Alcohol Free

Wet Wipes Warning: What Actually Happened?

The Pharmaceutical Journal noted that the UKHSA and MHRA published a joint statement that warned people that they should not use non-sterile, non-alcoholic wipes in their homes and first-aid kits.

After an outbreak investigation conducted by MHRA in 2025, four products were identified to be contaminated with Burkholderia stabilis. “There have been 59 confirmed cases of Burkholderia stabilis associated with some non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products — identified in an outbreak in the United Kingdom from January 2018 to 3 February 2026,” the statement said.

“A small number of cases continue to be detected. These have included some serious infections which have required hospital treatment and one death has been attributed to Burkholderia stabilis infection.”

UKHSA and MHRA is telling people to look out for wipes marked 'sterile' to be used on wounds or broken skin.

Wet Wipes Warning: What Is Burkholderia Stabilis?

UKHSA on its official website notes: 'Burkholderia are a type of bacteria found naturally in the environment, including in soil and water. Burkholderia stabilis is one species within this group. While many people never encounter problems with this type of bacteria, it can cause serious infections in certain circumstances, particularly among vulnerable individuals.'

Read: Does Bigger Penis Help You Ski Better? Why Olympians Are Injecting Hyaluronic Acid - Explained

Wet Wipes Warning: Who Is At More Risk Of B. Stabilis Infection?

• Those with weakened immune systems – including people undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, or those with conditions that affect immune function
• Individuals with other risk factors such as cystic fibrosis
• Patients at home with intravenous lines

Wet Wipes Warning: How Can Someone Get Infected By B. Stabilis?

The UKHSA notes: "The risk of acquiring infection is generally very low. Infections can occur through contact with contaminated products on broken or damaged skin, or through introduction of bacteria through medical devices such as intravenous lines."

Wet Wipes Warning: What Are The Common Symptoms Of B. Stabilis Infection?

• Symptoms of a wound infection can include redness, swelling, increased pain, warmth around a wound or or break in skin, and pus or other drainage from the wound / break in skin
• Symptoms of infection involving an intravenous line can include signs such as redness, swelling, or pain around the insertion site and / or fever and chills
• In more serious cases, symptoms associated with bloodstream infection (sepsis).

Days after it emerged that over 800 people had gone missing in Delhi during the first 27 days of 2026 and officials requested people to remain calm, Delhi Police has revealed this is false and such claims are being "pushed through paid promotion".

In a statement released on X today morning: "After following a few leads, we discovered that the hype around the surge in missing girls in Delhi is being pushed through paid promotion. Creating panic for monetary gains won't be tolerated, and we'll take strict action against such individuals."

Authorities across the capital claim that dispensing false information about life-altering information such as kidnappings and death through paid promotion can cause as well as amplify fear among the general public, which can massively ruin mental health and cause long-term damage to overall wellbeing.

Dr Kunal Bahrani, Chairman and Group Director, Neurology at Yatharth Hospitals, explained to Healthandme: "Incidents like this highlight how quickly fear can spread in today’s hyperconnected world and how deeply false news can impact mental wellbeing. When people are exposed to alarming information, especially involving safety and crime, the brain’s threat system switches on almost instantly. Stress hormones such as cortisol surge, increasing anxiety, restlessness, sleep disturbances and even physical symptoms like headaches or heart palpitations.

"Repeated exposure to frightening but unverified news can also condition the brain to remain in a constant state of alert, making individuals more irritable, emotionally overwhelmed and prone to panic. For children, elderly people and those already struggling with anxiety or depression, the psychological impact can be far more intense and long-lasting."

However, while many wonder how this form of promotion came into being, Reddit users are already pointing towards Rani Mukerji's Mardaani-3, a movie based on the kidnapping of minor girls as the source for this chaos.

How Does Fear Mongering Ruin Mental Wellbeing?

Fear-mongering severely impacts mental health by triggering chronic stress, anxiety, and depression, often overloading the brain’s threat response system (amygdala) and leading to long-term damage.

Over time, constant exposure to exaggerated, alarming narratives fuels irrational fears and cognitive distortions such as catastrophizing. This constant state of fear can also lead to avoidance behaviors, hopelessness, and physical symptoms like headaches, poor sleep and a weakened immune system.

Dr Neetu Tiwari, MD Psychiatry Senior Resident, NIIMS Medical College & Hospital also told Healthandme: "When things like this happen around us, it creates a sense of panic and fear amongst parents and children. Our brain usually reacts as if the danger is real. The body then becomes alert, our heart beats faster than it should, and our mind stays at tense. Even if the news is proven to be false, this fear that has set in often takes time to settle down.

"Now this in turn causes a lot of trouble. It makes people feel unsafe, so people avoid going out, they worry more about loved ones, or may also keep checking their phones repeatedly for updates. This behavior can lead to anxiety, panic, disturbed sleep, and constant overthinking. Even when the news is fake, fear travels very quickly. And once fear enters our mind, calming down takes time.

"This is why sharing unverified information can unknowingly harm others especially children as it can lead them in feeling scared even to go to school, or sleep alone, or even step outside. In fact in some children this may even cause nightmares or these children become unusually clingy to parents or guardians which further leads to problem in social development and confidence.

Dr. Rajiv Mehta, senior consultant psychologist, Sir Gangaram Hospital added: "The society at large is very gullible and anxiety prone, as we have seen the rise in mental illnesses. The people who are already anxious will get more anxious, the people who are not anxious will get anxious and that will increase the mental instability in the persons.

"And what they and parents are going to do is take a lot of precautions towards their young kids by not allowing them to go outside, to play with the children and go out of society buildings. They will be very fearful and when children will be home bound, then they will spend more time on screens or will have altercations with their parents.

"People should not resort to such kind of things only for the sake of their own materialistic monetary benefit. That is highly condemnable if it has occurred because of these kind of reasons that movie is going to release and they are sensationalizing these things."

Are The Delhi Kidnappings False?

Data obtained from Press Trust of India suggests that a total of 807 people went missing between January 1 and 15, with an average of 54 people going missing every day. Of these, 509 were women and girls, and 298 were men. Among the total reported missing, 191 were minors and 616 were adults.

In an official statement, the police said that, while the data was recorded, January 2026 saw a "decline in the number of missing persons reports when compared with the corresponding period of previous years."

Officials had previously further clarified that no organized gang or criminal network has been found involved in cases of missing or abducted children in Delhi so far.

"Recent public discourse has raised concerns about the welfare of children in Delhi. We appeal to the citizens not to fall prey to the rumours about the spurt in the cases of missing children.

While denying such claims, we also warn rumour mongers of strict legal action for creating unnecessary panic and fear by misrepresenting data.

The safety of every child is of paramount importance to Delhi Police.

"Delhi Police is committed to serve 24x7 and making all out efforts to trace all missing persons and reunite them with distraught family members, at the earliest," they said in a statement released yesterday.

Cheaper copy of Wegovy by Hims & Hers for $49 has drawn tensions, with Novo Nordisk now approaching to take legal actions. The pill by Novo Nordisk is sold for $149. In a statement, Novo said, "The action by Hims & Hers is illegal mass compounding that poses a significant risk to patient safety. Novo Nordisk confirmed that the company will take legal and regulatory actions to protect patients.

“Novo Nordisk will take legal and regulatory action to protect patients, our intellectual property and the integrity of the US gold-standard drug approval framework. This is another example of Hims & Hers’ historic behaviour of duping the American public with knock-off GLP-1 products, and the FDA has previously warned them about their deceptive advertising of GLP-1 knock-offs,” the statement said.

Read: Wegovy Pills Now Available At Your Pharmacies, Here's What To Know About Its Usage

Cheaper Copy Of Wegovy Pill: What Unveiled Afterwards?

After the cheaper copy of the pill was launched by Hims & Hers, shares of Novo Nordisk and rival Eli Lilly fell by 7%. Whereas, stock for Hims & Hers initially spiked after the announcement, but pared gains after Novo said that it would fight the rollout.

Hims & Hers was previously offering compounded semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's popular weight loss drug Ozempic and Wegovy, in injectable format. The company has now extended to offer the oral version.

Cheaper Copy Of Wegovy Pill: How Much Does This Cost?

Hims & Hers said that the Wegovy copy pill cost $49 for the first month and $99 with a 5-month plan. While semaglutide's patent is protected in the US until 2032, however, Hims & Hers claim that the copies are 'personalized' and therefore legal.

“This compounded product uses a different formulation and delivery system than FDA-approved oral semaglutide,” Hims & Hers said. “This once-a-day pill has the same active ingredient as Wegovy and empowers providers to tailor treatment plans specifically for those who prefer to avoid needles or need smaller doses to help to balance side-effects,” it said.

Cheaper Copy of Wegovy Pill: Novo Nordisk Rejects Hims & Hers Claims

Novo Nordisk however, highlighted that it manufactures Wegovy pill by using SNAC technology. This technology helps in absorption when administered orally. Therefore, it is not clear how Hims & Hers copy formula could match that level of absorption.

Last year, Novo Nordisk and Hims & Hers partnered to offer weight loss jabs at a discounted price to telehealth company's customer. However, Novo Nordisk ended the collaboration just two months later, stating that Hims & Hers used 'deceptive' marketing that put patient safety at risk

Cheaper Copy of Wegovy Pill: Does Eli Lilly Have A Weight Loss Pill Yet?

While rival Eli Lilly does not have the weight loss pill yet, it is expected to launch orforglipron in the first half of this year. The pill is currently pending Food and Drug Administration approval.

Read: Eli Lilly Sends Weight-Loss Pill For Approval: Is Oral GLP-1 As Effective As The Injections?

“With the ... current legal backdrop, there is no reason why HIMS shouldn’t evaluate these launches for every subsequent weight loss product as the market continues to evolve,” Leerink analyst Michael Cherny said in a note to clients.