News

Across the globe and increasingly in Thailand, a rising number of individuals—especially women—are choosing to become single parents by choice, signaling a paradigm shift in both family structures and societal attitudes. While single parenthood once commonly stemmed from unplanned circumstances, new research shows that a growing share of single parents are consciously opting for this path, empowered by advancing reproductive technologies and changing social norms. As Thai society experiences its own demographic and cultural transitions, understanding this phenomenon is crucial for policymakers, educators, and families.

In an era where maintaining physical activity is widely recognized as a cornerstone of healthy aging, a new research initiative has found an unexpected ally in the quest to help older adults achieve greater fitness: music. Groundbreaking studies from the Physical Activity and Cognition (PAC) Research Lab at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNC Greensboro) are unlocking the power of rhythm and movement to bolster the health, strength, and cognitive function of seniors—findings with growing relevance as Thailand faces rapid population aging and related health challenges [UNC Greensboro News].

The latest results from the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 have confirmed that the National University of Singapore (NUS) holds the highest position among Asian universities for computer science, coming in at 8th globally. This reaffirms Singapore’s commitment to world-class technological education and highlights the continued ascent of Asia’s leading institutions in the fiercely competitive field of computer science and information systems (Tempo.co).

For Thai readers, this news points not only to the international success of universities in the region but also offers insights into the shifting competitive landscape for STEM education that matters both locally and globally. Computer science is among the most sought-after academic programs worldwide due to its direct link to economic growth, digital transformation, and advanced job prospects—a reality that Thailand’s education policymakers and students should closely watch.

Pushing through sweat and exhaustion has long been celebrated as the hallmark of an effective strength training routine, but new research highlighted by The New York Times suggests that lifting weights until complete muscle failure may not be the only—or even the best—path to building strength and muscle. For Thai readers, where gym culture and fitness trends are becoming more popular, these findings could transform how both fitness enthusiasts and beginners approach their workout routines.

A surge of new research is shedding light on whether creatine supplementation can benefit older adults looking to maintain muscle strength and physical function—a subject of growing interest in aging societies like Thailand. While creatine is best known as a staple among young athletes, recent studies suggest its effects extend modestly into older age, provided it’s combined with resistance training.

As Thai society faces the realities of an aging population, many individuals and families are searching for effective, safe interventions to help preserve muscle mass and independence into later life. Age-related muscle loss, or sarcopenia, underpins higher risks of frailty, falls, and reduced quality of life among seniors. Strategies to slow or reverse this decline are urgently needed, making the question of accessible supplements like creatine highly relevant. But what does the latest science say?

A new meta-analysis by the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences offers the most detailed understanding to date of how our brains process written language—a development with profound implications for education, mental health, and addressing literacy challenges in Thailand and worldwide. Published in the journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, the study summarizes decades of neuroscience research, analyzing data from 163 brain imaging studies to construct a highly detailed map of the brain regions activated during different types of reading tasks, from letters and words to sentences and passages.

A groundbreaking new study has found that adults who report avoidant attachment to their parents are significantly more likely to choose a childfree lifestyle, a trend that is increasingly visible in both Western societies and emerging in Thai urban areas. The research, which analyzes psychological factors influencing reproductive decisions, adds valuable context to ongoing discussions about declining birth rates and shifting family expectations worldwide.

As Thailand faces an alarming drop in national birth rates — the lowest in decades according to the National Economic and Social Development Council (Bangkok Post) — the findings are particularly relevant. While economic uncertainties and shifting societal roles have been widely acknowledged as drivers, the new study highlights the impact of family attachments and early-life emotional bonds on adult choices to remain childfree.

A recent study has uncovered that older adults tend to engage in less self-reflection about their personality traits than their younger counterparts—a finding that could have important implications for personal development, mental health, and aging in Thailand and beyond. The research, published in the journal Motivation and Emotion, explored age differences in how individuals think about and evaluate their own personalities, concluding that as people age, they become less likely to question or analyze aspects of who they are.

A sweeping international study has shattered the myth of a universal formula for happiness, revealing that the sources of well-being are as diverse as humanity itself. Published in the prestigious journal Nature Human Behaviour, this latest research demonstrates that people’s happiness can come from external circumstances, internal attitudes, or a complex interplay of both—with each person following a unique path to life satisfaction (Neuroscience News).

The significance of these findings reverberates far beyond the academic world. In Thailand, where happiness is often seen as both a public good and a personal achievement, the study challenges policymakers, educators, and mental health professionals to rethink how happiness and well-being are cultivated in society. The research calls into question one-size-fits-all approaches and highlights the need for more individualized strategies that respect the differences in what drives happiness for each person.

Running before breakfast—once whispered about only in elite sporting circles—has stepped into the spotlight as growing numbers of athletes embrace “fasted cardio” for improved fat burning and performance. This trend, recently highlighted in a widely circulated Men’s Journal report, is now backed by a mounting body of scientific research, offering both promise and caution for Thai runners seeking to supercharge their fitness routines.

For years, the conventional advice handed down to Thai runners and fitness enthusiasts was to fuel up before workouts. However, scientific studies are revealing that skipping that pre-run meal may offer distinct metabolic advantages, especially for activities like morning jogging or moderate endurance training. The heart of the matter: When you exercise on an empty stomach, your body faces depleted glycogen reserves and must turn rapidly to stored body fat for energy. A 2015 study frequently cited in fitness media found that individuals who exercised in a fasted state increased fat oxidation rates over 24 hours, compared to those who worked out after eating (Yahoo Lifestyle). Similar findings were presented in a review published in the British Journal of Nutrition, noting the metabolic shift and greater reliance on fat as fuel during fasted exercise (PubMed).

For many women, a bit of cramping or an abnormal discharge is often dismissed as nothing more than “just another bad period” or a routine infection. However, recent medical research warns that these subtle symptoms could, in fact, be the body’s urgent distress call about a condition far more severe than it appears: pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Frequently ignored and frequently misunderstood, PID represents a significant, silent threat to fertility—a risk that is often only discovered when women try to conceive, sometimes years after the initial, nearly invisible damage has been done. In the United States alone, more than one million women are estimated to be affected by PID each year, making it one of the leading causes of preventable infertility (Rolling Out).

A recent wave of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among global corporate giants including Klarna, UPS, Duolingo, Intuit, and Cisco is fueling a surge in layoffs, sparking growing concerns over employment security as automation reshapes entire industries. The trend has significant implications for Thai businesses and workers as the pressure to integrate AI and streamline operations intensifies across Southeast Asia’s largest economies.

An in-depth article by Forbes highlights the accelerating pace at which leading companies are deploying AI to cut costs, raise productivity, and remain competitive in an environment marked by economic uncertainty, inflation, and fluctuating stock prices (Forbes). The dramatic shift, once described as “employee friendly,” now presents a stark reality: human positions are increasingly vulnerable as AI-powered systems become capable of efficiently handling tasks that previously required large teams of staff.

A growing body of global and local research is highlighting a worrying trend: the vast majority of children in Thailand, much like their peers in Hong Kong and around the world, are failing to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. This shortfall—revealed by the latest studies and echoed by Thai education and health officials—raises concerns about the lasting impacts on academic performance, physical health, and mental wellbeing among the nation’s youth.

A recent study, highlighted in a feature by Men’s Journal, has found that distance runners can substantially extend their time to exhaustion—by as much as 32 percent—by implementing a specific post-workout recovery technique. This discovery, though focused on runners, carries significant implications for athletes and fitness enthusiasts across Thailand, where running continues to gain popularity as both a competitive sport and a healthy lifestyle pursuit.

In Thailand, where urban marathons and charity runs have become a staple in cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, optimizing performance and recovery is a common goal among athletes and recreational runners alike. The new study, referenced in Men’s Journal’s report, provides compelling evidence supporting a post-exercise recovery “hack” that may help runners outpace their previous limits and enhance overall stamina.

A new wave of scientific interest is circling around watermelon, with recent studies claiming that eating this fruit might not only reverse erectile dysfunction (ED) but could also enhance sexual desire in men. The research, which has captured global media attention, revealed that watermelon’s unique combination of antioxidants and amino acids may offer natural support for men facing sexual health challenges, prompting fresh questions about its potential as a “natural Viagra” for Thai households and beyond.

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes economies and societies worldwide, leading educators are warning that Thai students must urgently gain broader access to computer science education to thrive in the digital future. The international debate, exemplified by a recent analysis published in The Desert Sun, argues that understanding computer science is now as fundamental as reading, with AI’s pervasive influence touching nearly every industry and aspect of daily life (desertsun.com).

A groundbreaking new study is challenging longstanding demographic wisdom by asserting that humanity’s current fertility rate is now too low to guarantee survival—even if average births per woman meet the historical “replacement” level. The research, led by a Japanese scientist and published in the journal PLOS One, argues that the global average of 2.1 children per woman simply isn’t enough. Instead, it suggests that a fertility rate of 2.7 is the true mark required to ensure humanity’s long-term prospects, a conclusion that carries serious implications for countries like Thailand, where the fertility rate is well below these thresholds.

In a sobering assessment this week, a leading US infectious disease expert declared that the world may have moved into a “post-herd immunity” era for measles, as vaccination gaps spark resurgent outbreaks across multiple countries. The statement comes as the United States faces its worst measles outbreak in decades, with more than 930 cases reported this year alone—a harbinger that the protective barrier of community immunity is crumbling (The Guardian, MSN).

A groundbreaking study led by researchers at the University of Leicester has revealed that some of the largest creatures ever to soar the prehistoric skies, the pterosaurs, spent far more time on the ground than previously thought. Through extensive examination of fossilised tracks attributed to the giant Quetzalcoatlus, with wingspans reaching up to 10 metres (32 feet), scientists have now painted a richer picture of the behaviour and lifestyle of these flying reptiles that coexisted with dinosaurs hundreds of millions of years ago (BBC News).

In a surprising shift, the Antarctic ice sheet has reportedly expanded for the first time in decades, according to a recent article by The Daily Galaxy (dailygalaxy.com). This development marks a significant reversal from the enduring narrative of relentless polar ice loss and has triggered widespread discussion in the scientific community about the complexities of climate change, ocean currents, and global weather patterns.

For years, research and satellite observations have documented a steady decline in both the Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets, with implications for rising sea levels and extreme weather events worldwide. Thailand, a country consistently ranked among the world’s most vulnerable to climate change-driven flooding, has closely monitored these polar trends. News of an expanding Antarctic ice sheet, therefore, raises critical questions: Is this a fleeting anomaly or a sign of deeper shifts in Earth’s climate system? And what might this mean for global strategies to address rising seas and environmental crises?

A groundbreaking study by researchers at Japan’s Fujita Health University has uncovered an unexpected role for brain-derived estrogen in directly regulating appetite and body weight, upending traditional beliefs about how hormones shape our eating habits. Their findings, recently published in The FEBS Journal, not only broaden our scientific understanding but could also open new avenues for treating obesity and overeating—issues of increasing significance in Thailand and around the world (PsyPost).

A groundbreaking new study has found that experiencing adversity during childhood can result in measurable damage to the brain’s white matter, a discovery that could transform how parents, educators, and policy-makers in Thailand approach the challenges facing vulnerable children. The research, highlighted by ScienceAlert, reveals that the effects of hardships such as abuse, neglect, or chronic stress do not just shape a child’s psychological wellbeing—they may also leave lasting marks on the physical structure of the developing brain.

A sweeping new international study published in Nature Human Behaviour has overturned one-size-fits-all notions of happiness, revealing that what brings joy is profoundly personal and shaped by a unique mix of external circumstances and inner mindsets for each individual. The research, based on life satisfaction surveys from more than 40,000 people across five countries and spanning up to 30 years, offers crucial insights for public health policy and individual wellbeing, including in Thailand, where social, cultural, and economic factors deeply intertwine with personal happiness.

Monitoring heart rate has overtaken traditional running metrics such as pace, cadence, and distance as the most critical factor for runners striving to improve their performance and safeguard their health, according to a recently published feature in Fit&Well (fitandwell.com). The article, which highlights insights from a certified running coach known in fitness circles as “London Fitness Guy,” stresses that whether a beginner or a seasoned marathoner, tracking heart rate offers runners unrivaled feedback about training intensity, recovery, and overall wellbeing.