News

What we think about food matters as much as what’s in it—this groundbreaking insight from British researchers is reshaping Thailand’s approach to nutrition policy and public health campaigns.

A comprehensive UK study involving over 3,000 adults has uncovered a surprising truth about overeating: our psychological relationship with food drives consumption patterns just as powerfully as the degree of processing itself. Published in The Conversation, this research challenges the widespread demonization of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and offers Thailand’s policymakers sophisticated new tools for tackling the nation’s growing obesity crisis.

Fitness and running clubs grew into social hubs after the pandemic. ( Fitness and running clubs have become a post-pandemic social oasis )

Many people left pandemic isolation seeking real-world connection. ( Fitness and running clubs have become a post-pandemic social oasis )

Groups that meet to run, walk, climb, and bike offer social contact and exercise. ( Fitness and running clubs have become a post-pandemic social oasis )

This story matters to Thai readers because loneliness rose during the pandemic. ( Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness - CDC )

The world is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in mental health care as thousands of professionals pivot to therapy careers. This global shift carries profound implications for Thai families seeking quality mental health support in an evolving healthcare landscape.

The Post-Pandemic Career Migration

Following the global pandemic, mental health careers have experienced extraordinary growth. Career counselors across major economies report a dramatic increase in professionals abandoning traditional paths to pursue therapy training. This trend reflects both rising demand for mental health services and changing attitudes toward meaningful work.

A viral personality trend sweeping through Thai social media platforms has sparked nationwide conversations about work-life balance, mental health, and authentic self-expression. The “Type B personality” movement, which gained momentum on TikTok throughout 2024, now resonates deeply within Thai communities seeking alternatives to relentless productivity culture.

Young Thai content creators proudly embrace descriptors once considered career limitations: laid-back, spontaneous, creative, and relationship-focused. These characteristics, traditionally labeled as “Type B traits,” have found new life as badges of honor among a generation questioning whether constant hustle truly leads to happiness.

Groundbreaking longitudinal research has unveiled a startling truth about romantic relationship breakdown: couples begin drifting apart years before their final separation, following a predictable two-stage decline pattern that offers unprecedented opportunities for early intervention. This discovery carries profound implications for Thailand’s families, where rising divorce rates and changing social structures create urgent needs for relationship support services.

The Science of Relationship Decline: Mapping Love’s Quiet Fadeaway

A comprehensive study analyzing more than 11,000 individuals across four Western nations reveals that relationship dissolution follows a characteristic trajectory with distinct phases. The research identified a prolonged “preterminal” phase lasting several years, characterized by gradual satisfaction decline, followed by a steep “terminal” phase lasting seven to 28 months before actual separation.

A sophisticated network of academic fraud now operates like a commercial enterprise, putting Thailand’s research credibility and public health at unprecedented risk

Scientific misconduct has evolved beyond isolated incidents of researcher dishonesty into a thriving global industry that threatens to undermine decades of progress in evidence-based medicine and education policy. Leading research integrity experts warn that Thailand’s academic institutions now face an existential challenge that could compromise everything from hospital treatment protocols to national education strategies.

The latest research shows disconnection in couples begins slowly and quietly. ((The Quiet Beginning of Disconnection in a Relationship, Psychology Today))

A major longitudinal study finds a clear transition point before breakups. ((Terminal decline of satisfaction in romantic relationships, ResearchGate summary))
The study shows slow decline years before a rapid drop near separation. ((Transition point in romantic relationships, Phys.org))

This news matters to Thai couples and families. ((The Quiet Beginning of Disconnection in a Relationship, Psychology Today))
Thailand has seen rising family stress and more registered divorces recently. ((Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2023, National Statistical Office))

Leading cardiologists worldwide are recommending a remarkably simple daily practice that could significantly reduce cardiovascular risk for millions of people. This evidence-based approach requires just ten minutes and fits seamlessly into Thai lifestyles and cultural values.

The Medical Foundation

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading health concern across Thailand, with stress serving as a major modifiable risk factor. Medical researchers have established clear connections between chronic stress and heart disease through multiple biological pathways.

The viral interest in the Type B personality matters for Thai readers. (Laid back, unreliable, free-spirited: the ‘type B’ personality is having a moment)

Short videos now label many people as Type B. (Laid back, unreliable, free-spirited: the ‘type B’ personality is having a moment)

The label comforts users who resist hustle culture. (Laid back, unreliable, free-spirited: the ‘type B’ personality is having a moment)

Researchers say personality works as traits rather than fixed types. (Laid back, unreliable, free-spirited: the ‘type B’ personality is having a moment)

The crystal waters around Maya Bay once sparkled like jewels in Thailand’s tourism crown. Today, after years of closure and careful restoration, this iconic destination offers a powerful lesson about the double-edged sword of “last-chance” tourism—the global phenomenon driving millions to witness natural wonders before climate change erases them forever.

The Paradox of Farewell Tourism

Recent research from BBC Travel and academic institutions reveals a troubling paradox: the very tourists rushing to save memories of disappearing places may be accelerating their destruction. This emerging field, termed “eco-necrotourism” by researchers, examines how grief over environmental loss drives travel decisions—often with devastating consequences.

A surge of new therapists is reshaping how people seek help for mental health. This trend affects job markets, care access, and everyday conversations in Thailand and abroad.

More people choose therapy careers after the pandemic. The shift reflects higher demand for mental-health services and new work paths. ((WSJ: When Did All of These People Become Therapists?))

U.S. official forecasts show rapid growth in mental-health jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong growth for counselors and family therapists. ((BLS: Strong growth projected in mental health-related employment))

A comprehensive American study reveals concerning trends that mirror challenges facing Thailand’s minority Christian community

A groundbreaking research initiative by the American Bible Society has uncovered a troubling pattern: Generation Z adults demonstrate the lowest levels of church engagement across all measured demographics in the United States. This revelation carries profound implications for Thailand’s small but vibrant Christian community, which comprises just 1.4 percent of the nation’s predominantly Buddhist population.

A new roundup of relationship research highlights 11 subtle, everyday behaviours through which married men often express love — actions their wives may not always notice or interpret as affection. The list draws on psychological studies that show men and women express care in overlapping but sometimes different ways, and experts say better recognition of these small acts could reduce resentment and improve marital satisfaction in Thailand as well as globally (YourTango feature summarising recent studies).

A team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has used generative artificial intelligence to design two entirely new antibiotic compounds that killed drug‑resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonorrhoea) and methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in laboratory tests and in mouse infection models. The work, reported in the journal Cell and described by MIT and international media, shows an AI system exploring more than 36 million theoretical molecules to find novel structures that act on bacterial membranes and a previously untargeted protein, producing two lead candidates labelled NG1 (for gonorrhoea) and DN1 (for MRSA). The researchers say the discovery could widen the pipeline for urgently needed antibiotics, but the compounds still require medicinal refinement and years of safety and human trials before they reach patients (MIT News).

Revolutionary artificial intelligence has just achieved what traditional drug discovery couldn’t: creating entirely new antibiotics that successfully killed drug-resistant gonorrhoea and MRSA superbugs in groundbreaking laboratory studies. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology deployed sophisticated generative AI systems to explore an unprecedented 36 million theoretical molecular structures, ultimately designing two promising antibiotic candidates—NG1 targeting gonorrhoea and DN1 combating MRSA—that demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in both laboratory testing and mouse infection models.

Revolutionary eight-week study challenges everything we thought we knew about strength training time requirements

In Thailand’s demanding work culture, where 12-hour days and family obligations leave precious little time for fitness, a groundbreaking study offers hope to millions of time-pressed Thais. New research reveals that meaningful muscle growth requires far less gym time than previously believed — just one challenging set per exercise, performed twice weekly, can deliver measurable strength gains.

A growing online trend called ChiWalking — a mindful walking method adapted from Tai Chi — is being promoted as an easy way to boost mood, improve joint mobility and get metabolic gains from short daily walks. A recent personal trial reported in Tom’s Guide describes how ChiWalking felt slower, more attentive and better for ankle and core mobility than casual post-meal strolls, while existing medical research suggests that short post-meal walks do improve blood‑sugar control and that Tai Chi–style practice strengthens balance and mental wellbeing. This convergence of lifestyle reporting and clinical evidence points to a practical public‑health message: simple, low‑intensity movement done mindfully and timed after meals can help Thai people reduce sedentary time, protect joints and blunt post‑meal glucose spikes — but claims specific to the branded “ChiWalking” method still lack direct trial evidence. ( Tom’s Guide: ‘ChiWalking’ is trending… )

Tai Chi-inspired walking method gains international attention as research confirms post-meal movement benefits for metabolism and mood

In the early morning mist surrounding Bangkok’s Lumpini Park, a quiet transformation unfolds. Groups of walkers move with unusual deliberation, their steps synchronized with deep breathing patterns, their posture erect yet relaxed. They’re practicing ChiWalking — a fusion of ancient Tai Chi principles with modern walking techniques that’s capturing global attention as both lifestyle trend and potential health intervention.

Europe is seeing a renewed wave of Chinese travellers this summer, driven by strong outbound demand from China and weakening interest in the United States, and analysts are asking whether US policy under President Donald Trump helped redirect that traffic. The European Travel Commission reports a sharp rise in Chinese intent to visit — 72 per cent of Chinese respondents say they planned to travel to Europe for the May–August period — while tourism industry publications covering flow patterns report arrivals from China to Europe rose year‑on‑year in early 2025.

Europe is seeing a renewed wave of Chinese travellers this summer, driven by strong outbound demand from China and weakening interest in the United States, and analysts are asking whether US policy under President Donald Trump helped redirect that traffic. The European Travel Commission reports a sharp rise in Chinese intent to visit — 72 per cent of Chinese respondents say they planned to travel to Europe for the May–August period — while outlets covering tourism flows say arrivals from China to Europe rose year‑on‑year in early 2025. At the same time, inbound tourism to the US has softened, prompting debate about whether political and trade tensions have discouraged Chinese and other long‑haul visitors from booking American trips and instead pushed them towards European destinations (South China Morning Post: Europe is expecting a wave of Chinese tourists). (European Travel Commission Long‑Haul Travel Barometer 2/2025). (Bloomberg analysis of Chinese travellers and Europe, June 2025).

A brief, classroom-friendly burst of high-intensity exercise — nine minutes of high-knee marching, jumping jacks, lunges and squats performed as 30-second activity/30-second rest intervals — improved children’s scores on a standardized verbal comprehension test and reduced brain signals linked to fixation on mistakes, according to a new pilot study. (Psychology of Sport & Exercise abstract) (Newsmax report). The findings suggest a low-cost, low-disruption strategy that Thai teachers could embed in classrooms to sharpen attention before high-stakes testing.

As travellers increasingly seek out landscapes and species thought to be vanishing under rising seas, warming oceans and melting ice, researchers warn that last-chance or “see-it-before-it’s-gone” tourism can both raise awareness and accelerate destruction if poorly managed. New scholarship frames the trend as a distinct policy challenge — dubbed eco-necrotourism — that forces park managers, tour operators and governments to contend with visitors’ grief, grief-driven demand, and the legal and practical limits of access. The debate matters for Thailand because coral reefs, mangroves and other coastal attractions already under stress draw millions of domestic and international visitors whose choices will shape local livelihoods and the country’s nature-based tourism future.

As travellers increasingly seek out landscapes and species thought to be vanishing under rising seas, warming oceans and melting ice, researchers warn that last-chance or “see-it-before-it’s-gone” tourism can both raise awareness and accelerate destruction if poorly managed. New scholarship frames the trend as a distinct policy challenge — dubbed eco-necrotourism — that forces park managers, tour operators and governments to contend with visitors’ grief, grief-driven demand, and the legal and practical limits of access. The debate matters for Thailand because coral reefs, mangroves and other coastal attractions already under stress draw millions of domestic and international visitors whose choices will shape local livelihoods and the country’s nature-based tourism future (An ethical guide to last-chance tourism).

A fresh set of experiments suggests the urge to finish sub‑tasks immediately — known as precrastination — is real but fragile: people will grab and complete a near task even when it means extra effort, but only while that extra cost stays small. The new paper replicated the original “bucket” finding and then showed that increasing physical effort and travel distance progressively eliminates the effect, while a standard measure of impulsivity did not predict who precrastinates. The work sharpens our understanding of why people sometimes hurry to “tick off” small chores, with implications for decision making, workplace design and mental health in Thailand and beyond (BPS Research Digest summary).