At first, the top of your microwave just looks like extra space begging to be used. It’s right there, easy to get to, and when your counters are already packed with kitchen stuff and random junk mail, tossing a cookbook or a basket on top feels like no big deal. Honestly, it seems pretty smart.But this habit packs some hidden risks. A microwave isn’t just another silent, box-shaped gadget. Every time you use it, it heats up, needs room to breathe, and even shakes a little. If you block the vents or stack heavy things on top, you mess with how it works. That can hurt the microwave’s performance, and in some cases, it’s actually a safety issue; something most people don’t even think about.

Why microwaves need proper ventilation to prevent overheating

As Southern Living notes, covering the vents of a microwave is a bad idea. They generate heat internally, which needs somewhere to go. That’s why they’re designed with ventilation openings, and they are sometimes on the back, sometimes on the sides, and occasionally on the top. Blocking those vents, even partially, can trap heat inside the unit.Think of it like wearing a winter jacket indoors while cooking. You’d probably overheat fast. A microwave works the same way. When vents are covered, heat builds up, components wear out faster, and in rare cases, things can get dangerous. What’s tricky is that items placed on top can shift slightly over time, especially from vibration, accidentally covering vents you didn’t even notice were there.

How heat buildup affects objects placed on microwaves

Even when vents aren’t blocked, the top of a microwave can get warm. That heat can slowly affect whatever you’ve placed there. Paper items might dry out. Plastic containers can warp. Wooden cutting boards may crack over time.During extended use, some microwaves can reach internal temperatures hot enough to weaken adhesives inside. Adding extra heat by trapping warmth around the unit only makes things worse. And if something flammable is sitting on top, the risk becomes unnecessary. It’s one of those “seems fine until it isn’t” situations.

Is it safe to put items on top of a microwave

A microwave might appear sturdy, but it isn’t designed to hold weight. Placing heavy objects like blenders, air fryers, or stacks of dishes on top adds pressure the appliance wasn’t built to handle. Over time, this can affect internal components or loosen parts. There’s also the very real possibility of something sliding off. Countertops vibrate more than we realise, especially when appliances are running. One accidental bump and suddenly your coffee maker is on the floor.

What is the safest way to use the space above a microwave

The irony is that the space above your microwave can still be useful. A small shelf mounted above, a nearby cabinet, or even a rolling cart can give you storage without the risk. These options keep items accessible while letting your microwave do its job properly.Microwaves last longer when they’re allowed to ventilate freely. They run more efficiently. And you don’t have to worry about knocking something off every time you heat leftovers. It’s one of those simple changes that quietly improve your kitchen without much effort.

Sonam Kapoor showcased a serene yet striking maternity style at a Lancôme event, where she was unveiled as the brand’s first Indian ambassador. She wore a deep navy velvet off-shoulder gown that elegantly complemented her pregnancy glow. The look was understated, with subtle sapphire jewelry and natural makeup, highlighting her confidence and personal style.

Sonam Kapoor has always treated fashion like a personal diary. Every look feels like a page she’s carefully written, and pregnancy hasn’t changed that one bit. If anything, it’s added a softer, warmer note to her style story. The actor, who’s getting ready to welcome her second child, recently stepped out for a Lancôme event where she was introduced as the brand’s first Indian ambassador. Big moment, big glow.And the outfit? Quietly stunning. Sonam showed up in a deep navy velvet gown that felt rich without trying too hard. The off-shoulder neckline gave it that old-school elegance, the kind that never really goes out of fashion. The fit hugged her bump in a way that felt tender, not showy. The skirt flowed all the way to the floor, moving beautifully every time she took a step. It was simple. It was dramatic. It worked.

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor during Lancome event, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo) (PTI01_31_2026_000018A)

But what really made the look land was how she kept everything else calm. Sapphire drop earrings and a matching ring added just enough sparkle. Nothing loud. Nothing fighting for attention. Just the right amount of shine against that deep blue velvet.

Her makeup stayed in the same soft lane. Fresh skin, natural glow, brows done but not overdone. A little colour on the cheeks, a gentle pink on the lips. You could actually see her face, not layers of product. It felt like her.

सोनम कपूर का बेबी बंप

So did the hair. Centre-parted, slicked back at the top, loose through the lengths. Clean, easy, unfussy. Even the nails were low-key, with a pearly shimmer that caught the light when she moved her hands.There’s something really nice about seeing maternity fashion that doesn’t try too hard to be “maternity fashion.” Sonam’s look didn’t scream for attention. It just existed, confidently. And that’s kind of the point. Stylish, calm, glowing in her own lane.

Elon Musk, one of the richest people in the world and the man behind Tesla, SpaceX, and a flurry of world-changing ideas, seems unstoppable— a self-made billionaire thriving on 80-90 hour workweeks and big dreams. Yet beneath the surface of being a famous personality, lies a deeply human truth he shared in a raw 2017 Rolling Stone interview: “If I’m not in love, if I’m not with a long-term companion, I cannot be happy.” Amid a painful breakup with Amber Heard back then, Musk admitted the Tesla Model 3 launch (during the same time) nearly broke him. “It took every ounce of will… I was morbid,” he had confessed in the interview, chugging Red Bulls and psyching up for the cameras. It’s a reminder: Even visionaries need love to fuel their fire. Why does love and connection matter so much— and what can we learn from Musk’s honesty? Read on to know more:

The heartache behind the headlines

Picture July 2017: Tesla’s Model 3 event looms, but Elon Musk is dealing with the pain of his split with Amber Heard after roughly a year of dating. “I was really in love, and it hurt bad,” he told reporter Neil Strauss in the interview back in 2017. Weeks of “severe emotional pain” led to his first meditation session just to center himself. Back then, Musk was publicly stoic, but privately shattered. He split his time across companies, kids, and chaos, sleeping six hours amid it all. Earlier marriages to Justine Musk (mother of his five kids, whom he was married to between 2000-2008) and Talulah Riley (with whom he had an on-off relationship between 2010-2016) showed his quest for balance. Talking about love, Musk had also opened up to Bloomberg in 2012, and said, “I need to find a girlfriend. How much time does a woman want a week? Maybe 10 hours?” Long-distance woes with Heard? “Intense work obligations make it difficult,” he had said. Musk’s never liked solitude— since childhood, he’s craved companionship.

Science says he’s right: Love powers one’s happiness and success

Musk’s vulnerability and need for love echo timeless wisdom. Harvard’s 80+ year Grant Study— the world’s longest on adult life— found that good relationships keep us healthier and happier longer than fame or fortune. Loneliness kills quicker than cigarettes In 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Connection released its global report in which it revealed that 1 in 6 people worldwide is affected by loneliness, and it significantly impacted their health and well-being. Loneliness is linked to approximately 100 deaths every hour— which sums up to over 8,71,000 deaths every year. On the contrary, having strong social connections can improve one’s health and prolong one’s life, the report highlighted. And, legendary investor and billionaire Warren Buffett also agrees as he once said: “It’s much more fun achieving things with a partner.” Carnegie Mellon 2017 research backs it: Supportive spouses boost career risks, leading to promotions and growth. And, Elon Musk embodies this universal truth— love steadies his chaos. Without it, even the biggest success in his career feels hollow to him. His emotional intelligence shines here: He mentors employees, charms Tesla owners, and cherishes family. But admitting “I cannot be happy” alone? That’s raw power—vulnerability fueling drive.

Why love matters for high-achievers (And all of us)

For billionaires or baristas, love combats burnout, sparks creativity. Musk’s 2017 pain of his breakup with Heard was a pivot point— he rebounded, building empires while yearning for love. Today, single or coupled, his words make one think to prioritise their connection— it’s the ultimate productivity hack.What’s your take— Can love conquer all? Tell us in the comments below.

Do you notice having generous perks that are masked as stagnation? No promotions, skill gaps ignored. Paid Time Off (PTO) is a bait; real investment builds ladders. And if feedback loops are absent, then you’re parked. Ask about your career path forward to your manager and if the question is evaded often, then exit the ramp. Thriving cultures nurture talent, while stagnation disguised as flexibility drains one’s ambition.

Spot these in your job? Well, then it might be time to update your LinkedIn and look for a new job. After all, your peace matters above everything else.

Have a red flag workplace story? Share in the comments section below.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani impressed during the city’s first major snowstorm, not just with his crisis management but with his sartorial choices. He appeared in department-specific jackets for briefings and a custom Carhartt for a public address, showcasing a blend of preparedness and personal style that resonated with New Yorkers.

New York mayors come with a lot of expectations. Big speeches, bigger crises, and apparently, a seriously strong jacket game. Zohran Mamdani learned that fast over the weekend when the Northeast got slammed by its first major snowstorm of the year. It was his first real weather emergency since taking office on New Year’s Day, and the man showed up ready. Not just with updates and advisories, but with outerwear that low-key stole the spotlight.In the days leading up to the storm, Mamdani popped up at press briefings in different jackets tied to city departments. One moment he was in a green, utilitarian jacket linked to the Sanitation Department while talking about snow prep at the Spring Street Salt Shed. Next, he switched into an Emergency Management jacket to explain that public schools would go virtual instead of getting a snow day. He even joked that kids could throw a snowball at him if they spotted him outside. Fair deal.

Zohran Mamdani

Then came the main character jacket. On Sunday, with snow falling hard, Mamdani addressed New Yorkers and asked them to stay in, stay warm, and maybe borrow a book from the library. He did it all in a black Carhartt that looked straight out of a fashion editorial. The jacket had “The City of New York” stitched on the chest in a vintage-style logo, with “Mayor” boldly embroidered on the sleeve. Subtle it was not. Effective? Very.

The custom work came from Arena Embroidery, a Bushwick-based studio known for one-off pieces. The founder, Rocco Arena, was given just a week to pull it off. The mayor’s team handled the design details, even adding a line inside the collar that read, “No problem too big. No task too small.” It’s a phrase Mamdani has used before, and now it lives inside his jacket. Branding, but make it cozy.There’s a reason New York watches how its mayors handle snow. Storms have ended careers here. This one, though, seemed to boost Mamdani’s standing. People praised how he handled the chaos. He even popped up on late-night TV to joke about the cold.The jacket itself? A rugged Carhartt workwear piece, water-resistant and built for real weather. Perfect for shovelling snow across neighbourhoods. The only thing missing, as many New Yorkers were quick to point out, was a hat. Because great jacket or not, winter in this city still plays rough.

And the worst part? It works. People are watching every second.

Image credit : AI generated via Freepik | The surprising part isn’t that adults don’t know these things, it’s that learning them from animated fruit has become a huge trend.

Are we taking advice from a yelling onion?

It sounds absurd. Yet media psychologist Dr Pamela Rutledge has suggested that the appeal is rooted in something very human. Non-human characters, especially cartoons, remove the threat of embarrassment. When advice comes from a vegetable with eyebrows, it does not feel like criticism. It feels like theatre.She explained that animated characters can deliver blunt guidance without bruising anyone’s ego. There is no judgement in a digital carrot. Just facts.

Image credit : AI generated via Freepik | A yelling veggie doesn’t judge you, it just tells you where it belongs and moves on.

She also noted that people gravitate towards information that feels easy. Search engines require effort. You have to know what you are asking and sift through sources. A dramatic pasta character simply tells you what not to do, wraps it in humour, and moves on. Your brain happily accepts the shortcut.

In other words, our minds prefer entertaining clarity over effortful research. Lazy? Perhaps. Efficient? Absolutely.

The anti-shame education era

There is something oddly comforting about being scolded by a cartoon tomato instead of a real person. Real-life advice can trigger insecurity. Should you already know this? Is everyone else secretly better at adulthood?

A digital onion does not care about your pride. It just announces where it belongs and continues screaming.

By exaggerating expressions and leaning into absurdity, these AI characters soften the blow of correction. They turn instruction into performance. You laugh, but you also listen. And suddenly, you are reorganising your kitchen because an animated vegetable told you to.

Image credit : AI generated via Freepik | By using exaggerated expressions, humour and a bit of attitude, these AI characters reduce the “ego threat” of being told what to do.

Are we okay?

Perhaps the bigger question is not why AI vegetables are yelling at us, but why we prefer them to humans.

Part of it is the performance factor. Social media rewards boldness and humour. A calm instructional video does not travel as far as a chaotic aubergine with opinions. But part of it is emotional safety. Learning from a cartoon feels low stakes. There is no fear of sounding foolish.

The irony is delicious. Adults, fully capable of critical thought, are now learning basic culinary etiquette from animated produce. And they are grateful for it.

Image credit : AI generated via Freepik | Our brains are lazy, so we are happy to pay attention to something that reduces information to ‘good enough’.

The future of adulting, apparently

The trend shows no sign of slowing down. If anything, it is expanding. Some users have joked that they would happily watch animated vegetables explain taxes, pensions, and other terrifying grown-up responsibilities.

And honestly? That might be the next frontier.

For now, though, the kitchen is the battleground. Tomatoes are reclaiming their rightful place outside the fridge. Pasta is fighting back against oily water. Onions are asserting cupboard dominance.

Image credit : AI generated via Freepik | A cartoon vegetable can give advice (and even call you names) without threatening your ego, so it’s easier to comply.

If your social media feed feels like it has turned into a chaotic farmer’s market with Wi-Fi, do not panic.

You are not alone, you are just being parented by produce.

Barack credits Michelle for his triumphs – she’s his confidante, cheerleader, rock. Their story inspires: From Chicago dates to White House dances, the Obamas embodied these traits. Pfeiffer saw it firsthand too – Obama’s staff spawned tons of romances (four weddings in 2016 alone!).

Legendary investor and billionaire Warren Buffett agrees too, as he once famously said, “Marry the right person… I’m serious about that. It will make more difference in your life. It will change your aspirations, all kinds of things.”

So, ask yourself today: Does your person spark curiosity, crack you up, and share your future vision for life? These aren’t checklists; they’re lifelines to enduring love.

What qualities do you seek in a partner before deciding to marry them? Tell us in the comments below.

Imagine a world where your grocery bill shrinks, software gets dirt-cheap, and that side hustle suddenly pays like a full-time gig. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sees this as AI’s inevitable gift— a deflationary wave crashing through the economy, making life more affordable. In recent company town halls and private chats, he’s doubled down: AI turbocharges productivity, letting one person do a team’s work, slashing costs across the board. Money would stretch further without needing fatter paychecks. It’s a sunny vision from the man steering ChatGPT’s rise, even as OpenAI burns billions quarterly while plotting $1 trillion data center empires. Exciting? Sure. Realistic? Let’s unpack.

Altman’s core pitch: Productivity unlocks abundance

Altman’s logic feels straightforward, almost hopeful. Picture software development: Today, a project needs coders, testers, managers— weeks of back-and-forth. With AI? One person ideates, iterates, and deploys in days for pennies. Multiply that by robotics, manufacturing— goods get cheaper to make, prices tumble. “Modest AI spending yields massive efficiency,” he argues, echoing past talks like a Morgan Stanley conference. Services follow: Tutors, lawyers, designers— AI handles grunt work, humans shine in creativity. Suddenly, $100 buys what once cost $200. It’s not just theory; Elon Musk and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei preach similar “post-scarcity” dreams, where basics like food and shelter cost next to nothing.OpenAI’s walking the talk, plowing cash into infrastructure despite slowing hires and ballooning ops costs. Altman shrugs off short-term pain: AI’s long game will flood markets with cheap abundance, boosting real wealth. For families pinching pennies amid inflation, it’s a tantalizing “what if”—your dollar regains power, dreams feel reachable.

The flip side: Today’s reality bites back

Here’s the reality: Dreams clash with data. US Fed rates stay put, wrestling with sticky inflation. Urban rents soar, long-term joblessness hits four-year peaks. Futurism notes studies showing AI’s productivity punch… well, missing so far. In offices, tool usage dips—workers say it doesn’t speed them up much. Hype outpaces helpings.Critics ask: If AI automates everything, then what about jobs? Altman agrees to empowerment—one-person empires thrive—but transition hurts. And history is proof of this: Tech shifts (ATMs, internet) birthed jobs, but unevenly.

What it means for the common man

Altman’s optimism stirs hope amid grocery-line gripes. Deflation sounds dreamy, but timelines matter too. While OpenAI’s trillion-dollar bet seems promising, yet quarterly fires remind us that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Leaders like Altman push a future where AI democratizes power and solo creators outpace firms. However, sceptics urge people to be cautious.Altman’s vision spotlights possibility: Tech as equalizer, not elitist toy. Will prices plummet? Jobs evolve? History says yes, but with hiccups. So stay curious— AI is rewriting rules, one prompt at a time. What’s your take— is this utopia or just hype? Tell us in the comments below.

Deepika Padukone effortlessly elevated a simple white tee and blue jeans by opting for a Zara lace-detailed top with an uneven hem. This subtle twist, paired with classic denims and soft waves, created a casually cool and stylish look. The outfit demonstrates how thoughtful details can transform basic pieces into a statement, proving that understated elegance is key.

Deepika Padukone has a real talent for making everyday clothes look quietly cool. No fuss, no drama – and yet you can’t help but notice her. That was exactly the mood when she stepped out in Mumbai recently, dressed in what looked like the most basic combo ever: a white tee and blue jeans. Simple, right? Not quite. Look a little closer and you’ll see why this outfit worked. Her T-shirt wasn’t your regular plain white number. It was a lace-detailed piece from Zara, with soft appliqué work and an uneven hem that gave it just enough edge. The round neckline and short sleeves kept things easy and wearable, but the lace brought in that extra something. It’s the kind of detail you don’t notice at first glance, and then suddenly it’s all you can see. She paired the tee with classic blue denims, rolled up at the ankles for that relaxed, off-duty feel. No overthinking here. Just a clean, easy silhouette that works for pretty much anyone. The white-and-blue combo is a forever favourite, but the lace twist makes it feel fresh for 2026. Lace is creeping back into everyday wardrobes, not just for party dresses anymore. We’ve been seeing it on runways and celebs alike, styled in a way that feels more cool-girl than costume-y. The vibe of this look was casual dinner plans, maybe a quick stop to meet friends, nothing too dressed up. And yet, it still felt styled. That’s Deepika’s sweet spot. She keeps going back to soft, neutral shades and simple shapes, and somehow always makes them feel current. There’s a quiet confidence to the way she does monochrome and muted tones, and it’s clearly sticking with her this year. Her hair did a lot of the heavy lifting too. Worn in loose, soft waves, with warm brown tones and subtle highlights, it added warmth to the crisp white tee. The contrast worked. Clean clothes, easy hair, no loud accessories. Just balanced, lived-in glamour. It’s proof that you don’t need a dramatic outfit to make a style statement. Sometimes, it’s a white T-shirt with the right little detail that does all the talking.