News

A recent Social Hackathon in Thailand brought together young people from across the country to practice synodality in a practical, collaborative setting. This initiative, inspired by the Catholic Church’s synodal approach, gives Thai youth a hands-on venue to brainstorm, solve problems, and build community—reflecting broader trends in civic participation and digital engagement among Southeast Asian youth.

Synodality centers on dialogue, shared discernment, and collective decision-making. Adapting these principles to a secular, youth-focused context, the event encourages teams to co-create solutions for real societal challenges. For Thai youth, who often have limited direct channels into civic processes, such platforms foster inclusion, agency, and leadership. Data from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and international partners highlight the need for youth involvement in shaping education and social policy, including digital literacy and community health initiatives.

Thailand is reshaping its tax system in 2025 with new withholding tax rules that affect foreign service providers and residents earning cross-border income. The changes aim to modernize administration, boost digital compliance, and strengthen revenue collection in a shifting global economy. Thai readers engaged in international business or remittance streams will want to understand how these updates could affect finances and operations.

Withholding tax is collected at the source, deducted by the payer before payment to the recipient. This mechanism reduces evasion and streamlines revenue collection. Beginning January 1, 2025, rules for foreign entities have become clearer. A digitization push centers the reform: all WHT filings must be submitted electronically via the Revenue Department’s e-filing platform. Paper filings are allowed only in exceptional cases with documented justification to the Area Revenue Branch Office. Tax professionals describe this as a significant shift designed to cut paperwork and improve administration. SMEs will need to adapt quickly, as late or incorrect filings can incur a monthly interest penalty plus fines.

Chronic conditions are reshaping how older adults live and how health systems respond. A recent international study shows that chronic illnesses become nearly universal with age. In Thailand, rising rates of hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol issues among seniors echo regional patterns and emphasize the need for prevention, community support, and proactive living.

Thailand is transitioning to an aging society, with more than 20% of residents aged 60 and older. The experiences from other countries are directly relevant here, affecting families, healthcare access, and the economy. In Thai households, multigenerational living is common, and filial duties remain central. As chronic conditions rise, families and healthcare providers must adapt to keep seniors healthy and engaged.

Time often seems to drag during intense workouts, a phenomenon researchers explain through brain and body signals. A recent study in Brain and Behavior shows that strenuous effort distorts how we perceive time, with external clocks appearing to run slower while the body pushes to the limit.

This finding matters for Thailand’s growing fitness culture and health initiatives. Athletes, coaches, and fitness enthusiasts can use these insights to train more intelligently and monitor effort with reliability. The study sheds light on why timing can drift during endurance efforts and how that might influence training plans and competition strategies, especially for Thai runners and cyclists.

A new wave of research suggests that trauma is less about the event and more about how a person perceives and processes what happened. As mental health awareness grows in Thailand, experts urge personalized support that considers individual interpretation and coping resources.

Historically, trauma was tied to objectively severe events such as violent crime, natural disasters, major accidents, or frontline combat. The idea was that those exposed to such events would inevitably develop lasting psychological harm like PTSD. However, recent analyses emphasize that trauma depends on the brain’s ability to process emotional impact, regardless of an event’s objective intensity.

Neuroscientists have uncovered fresh insights into the brain’s remarkable ability to juggle several pieces of information at once, revealing that our minds selectively devote more resources to items deemed important. The latest research, published in Science Advances on July 8, 2025, demonstrates that two major brain regions—the visual cortex and the frontal cortex—coordinate to ensure sharper memory for high-priority contents, while de-emphasizing those considered less critical. This discovery opens intriguing avenues in understanding not only basic neuroscience but also practical strategies to boost personal and educational performance for Thais in an increasingly information-rich world (PsyPost).

The University of Washington’s (UW) Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering has become a leading example of how academic institutions are radically rethinking computer science education to meet the demands of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution—an era where, some argue, “coding is dead” and the value of conventional programming is being transformed by generative AI technologies like ChatGPT. This evolution not only reshapes the way students are taught but also raises urgent questions for Thai educators, institutions, and policymakers about how to prepare local graduates for a rapidly changing job market increasingly shaped by automation and intelligent systems.

People with biologically “young” brains can expect to outlive their peers with “old” brains, according to groundbreaking research released by Stanford Medicine. The study, published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine on July 9, offers the most comprehensive evidence to date that the biological age of individual organs—especially the brain—is a powerful predictor of health outcomes and lifespan. This discovery opens new possibilities for early intervention and preventive medicine, potentially transforming how Thais approach aging-related diseases such as dementia and heart disease.

A new tourism promotional campaign from Taliban-affiliated sources has ignited global shockwaves after circulating widely on social media, directly targeting American tourists with the message: “Welcome to Afghanistan.” The campaign, featuring a surreal video depicting armed militants and even comedic hostage scenes, has gone viral, sparking both outrage and a flurry of debate regarding tourism in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The highly unorthodox approach and its timing—just four years after the violent fall of Kabul—have raised serious questions about safety, messaging, and the country’s intent in courting Western travelers.

A new wave of targeted exercises is drawing attention as women over 40 seek to tackle the challenge of “apron belly”—the sagging layer of fat and skin that often drapes the lower abdomen with age. Recent fitness guidance highlights three essential moves—seesaw plank, marching glute bridge, and mountain climber—designed to ignite fat burning and strengthen core muscles. But do these interventions hold up under scientific scrutiny? And what do they mean for Thai readers facing similar midlife changes?

Emerging research from a renowned American liberal arts college is offering fresh insights into how computer technology both empowers and challenges today’s classrooms—a duality increasingly relevant as Thai schools and universities embrace digital learning. A recent article, “Inside the classroom: The gifts and burdens of computer technology,” details the evolving approach of the “Computers and Society” course at Lafayette College, exposing students—not just in computer science but across disciplines—to the profound social, ethical, and legal choices driven by rapid technological advancement. The findings and practices from this course offer timely lessons for Thailand, where digital literacy and critical analysis of technology’s effects are urgent educational priorities.

As divorce rates remain steady, a new trend in co-parenting, called “birdnesting,” is drawing interest from parents worldwide—including in Thailand. The latest research and high-profile features, such as a recent piece in the Washington Post, shed light on how divorced couples are choosing to share the family home for the benefit of their children, even as they formally split as partners.

In a compelling case described by the Washington Post, parents who divorced chose to prioritize the stability of their children by keeping the family home as a shared, central residence. Rather than constantly moving their children back and forth between two homes, the former couple rotated in and out of the family apartment on a set schedule. This arrangement, dubbed “birdnesting,” is designed to minimize disruption for children during an often tumultuous period and to ensure that family routines and environments can be maintained, at least during the adjustment to a new family dynamic. According to the report, the former couple maintained an informal custody agreement, with the mother and father alternating time with their three children, leaving and arriving at clearly stipulated intervals to reduce friction Washington Post.

A new co-parenting approach called birdnesting is sparking interest among families worldwide, including in Thailand. The concept involves divorced or separating couples sharing the same family home on a rotating schedule to keep children in a stable environment during transitions.

In a well publicized example, a divorced couple kept the family apartment as a single residence for the children’s sake, while adults took turns living there. The aim is to minimize disruption and preserve familiar routines for kids amid life changes. For Thai readers, the underlying goal resonates with the country’s emphasis on family stability, even as modern work and living arrangements push families toward innovative solutions for child welfare.

A growing body of international research suggests that mild brain stimulation could help people learn mathematics more effectively. The technique, when paired with math tasks, has shown improvements in learning and retention for study participants.

This finding holds particular relevance for Thailand, where math performance remains a focus of national education reform. Thai educators continue to seek evidence-based methods to strengthen numeracy, especially as students face persistent challenges highlighted by international assessments.

Recent scientific work is unpacking the psychology behind extremist beliefs, highlighting markers that may shape how people think ideologically. Research discussed by experts identifies four key traits linked to extremist thinking: cognitive rigidity, emotional volatility, variations in brain structure (notably the amygdala), and differences in the prefrontal cortex. Data from international studies suggest these factors interact with life experiences to influence belief formation.

For Thai readers, these insights are especially relevant as society navigates charged political, cultural, and generational debates. Understanding underlying factors is not just academic; it informs how educators, mental health professionals, parents, and policymakers in Thailand approach prevention and resilience-building. Thai culture places high value on social harmony and respect for diversity, which can guide practical responses.

The latest research on creativity highlights a groundbreaking insight: fostering cross-domain thinking can transform ordinary minds into highly innovative ones, reshaping how parents and educators approach children’s learning. According to a new feature in Psychology Today, experts are now urging a shift from traditional, siloed education towards cultivating abilities that span multiple fields, arguing that this approach mirrors the habits of the world’s greatest thinkers and inventors (Psychology Today). This revelation holds significant potential for Thailand, where educational reform and national innovation are pressing priorities.

As July unfolds and Thais begin their annual mid-year escapes, the latest scientific insights suggest that the way we take vacations may matter more than the time or place. While many look forward to a break as a chance to replenish after months of work or study, research highlighted in Psychology Today reveals that not all holidays actually leave us feeling revived. It turns out, how we spend our vacation—and our ability to mentally step away from work—plays a significant role in whether a holiday truly recharges us or merely delivers fleeting relief (psychologytoday.com).

Fungal infections, once considered manageable for most healthy individuals, are rapidly evolving into a major global health threat as new research reveals a startling rise in drug resistance. According to a landmark study recently published in The Lancet Microbe and reported by NBC News, infections caused by Aspergillus fumigatus—a ubiquitous fungus found in soil and decomposing plant matter—are becoming increasingly resistant to existing antifungal medications. These findings are sending ripples through the medical community, with significant implications for patient care and public health strategies in Thailand and worldwide.

A recent interview with a Google software engineer highlights how starting internships early can pave the way to full-time roles at global tech firms. The engineer, who earned a full-time offer after two summers with Google, notes that first- and second-year programs are often designed for beginners and can be more accessible in today’s competitive tech job market.

For many Thai students, opportunities at multinational tech companies may feel distant, especially as the job market tightens and AI reshapes some coding roles. Yet the engineer’s experience shows that early internship participation can significantly boost prospects. These programs often evaluate foundational knowledge and problem-solving ability rather than advanced coding talent, with references to widely used practice platforms such as LeetCode.

A recent research breakthrough suggests that stimulating the brain with weak electric currents could significantly enhance a person’s ability to learn mathematics, offering hope for new approaches to supporting students and adults struggling with numeracy. According to a report by The Hindu, the study revealed that applying gentle electrical stimulation to specific areas of the brain led to noticeable improvements in math learning for participants.

This development matters to Thai readers, especially as mathematics education remains a challenge for many students nationwide. Despite ongoing curriculum reforms and teacher training efforts, Thailand consistently scores below global averages in international math assessments such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) (World Bank). Finding innovative, evidence-based methods to improve mathematics performance is a high priority across the Thai education system, making research into brain stimulation particularly relevant.

A growing body of scientific evidence is pointing to a clear message: endurance exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, and swimming, plays a uniquely important role in slowing the aging process at the cellular level. Recent investigations have gone beyond the general health benefits of physical activity to pinpoint why this type of exercise helps keep bodies physiologically younger for longer, offering actionable insights with relevance for Thai readers seeking to maintain health and vitality throughout adulthood.

Endurance exercise is emerging as a powerful tool to slow aging at the cellular level. Brisk walking, jogging, cycling, and swimming not only improve fitness but also boost the health of the body’s energy factories—mitochondria—in skeletal muscle. For Thai readers, this research offers practical, community‑friendly paths to maintain vitality through adulthood.

Thailand faces rapid population aging. Families often care for multiple generations, making prevention of frailty a priority. Endurance activities provide a practical means to keep older adults independent and reduce the burden on families and health systems. Research conducted across Western and Asian teams highlights endurance training as a standout intervention for healthy longevity in Thai communities.

As people in Thailand and around the world grow older, maintaining balance becomes a crucial aspect of long-term health and independence. Recent insights from a certified trainer, as highlighted in a new feature on Fit&Well, emphasize practical exercises that can dramatically improve stability and reduce the risk of falls for those in their 50s and beyond. Backed by authoritative research from the British Journal of Sports Medicine, these recommendations offer both scientific grounding and easy-to-follow routines that can support healthier aging for Thai families.

A recent interview with a Google software engineer offers timely and practical advice for computer science students in Thailand and across the globe, emphasizing that securing an internship—even in a student’s first or second year—can be a crucial gateway to landing a future position at a top international tech firm. The engineer, who earned a full-time offer after interning with Google for two summers, reveals that the threshold for getting accepted into early-stage programs is considerably lower, providing an accessible pathway for aspiring students facing today’s competitive technology job market (Business Insider).