Technology

A novel intravesical drug‑releasing system called TAR‑200 eliminated visible bladder cancer in about 82% of patients with high‑risk non‑muscle‑invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who had failed standard Bacillus Calmette‑Guérin (BCG) therapy, according to data from the phase 2b SunRISe‑1 study that could fast‑track regulatory review in the United States. The device slowly releases the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine inside the bladder over three weeks, offering a bladder‑sparing alternative to radical cystectomy for patients at high risk of progression (Keck Medicine report) (Johnson & Johnson press release).

Breakthrough medical technology offers new hope for thousands of Thai patients who might otherwise lose their bladders to cancer, with promising results from international trials suggesting a paradigm shift in urological care.

In a development that could transform bladder cancer treatment across Thailand, researchers have unveiled remarkable results from the TAR-200 device, a groundbreaking intravesical drug-delivery system that eliminated visible cancer in approximately 82% of patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. These patients had previously failed standard BCG immunotherapy, leaving them with few alternatives beyond radical bladder removal surgery.

Revolutionary research involving nearly 800 university students over three months has delivered compelling evidence that consumer smartwatch stress-monitoring technology shows virtually no correlation with users’ actual emotional experiences. This comprehensive longitudinal investigation, designed to develop early-warning systems for depression and mental health crises, presents scientific findings that challenge the reliability of physiological monitoring data that millions of Thai consumers trust for psychological wellbeing assessment. The study’s implications prove particularly significant for Thailand’s rapidly expanding wearable device market, where consumers have invested heavily in smartwatch technology specifically for stress-tracking capabilities that research now reveals may provide misleading health information.

A large new study tracking nearly 800 students over three months finds that consumer smartwatches—using heart rate and heart rate variability to infer “stress”—have almost no relationship with how people say they actually feel, though the devices do better at measuring sleep. The research, part of a programme aiming to build an early-warning system for depression, raises urgent questions about how Thais who use wearables should interpret stress scores, how employers and clinicians might rely on such data, and what researchers must do next to make physiological monitoring clinically useful Gizmodo The Guardian Leiden University.

A major new study tracking 20,000 adults has sparked fresh debate over bedtime habits, revealing that going to bed earlier may have profound health benefits. The findings, highlighted in a recent report drawing international attention, suggest that shifting to an earlier sleep routine is associated with improved mood, better physical wellbeing, and a lower risk of chronic illness. This expansive research is sending ripples through Thailand’s health community, where late-night working and screen-time culture are on the rise.

In a digital age dominated by artificial intelligence, the way we speak and write is subtly, but steadily, shifting—thanks in large part to tools like ChatGPT. According to a new study by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, English speakers have begun to incorporate certain AI-style phrasings, termed “GPT words,” into everyday communication at a remarkable pace over the past 18 months. The findings suggest that the boundary between human expression and machine-generated language is becoming less distinct, raising important questions for language, culture, and education in Thailand and around the world (Gizmodo).

A new artificial intelligence platform, OhChat, is making global headlines by merging celebrity culture, technology, and intimacy into an unprecedented online experience. Marketed as a futuristic “OnlyFans for the AI era,” OhChat hosts AI-powered digital twins of real-world celebrities, allowing fans to interact with hyperreal simulations that never sleep, never eat, and never log off. The platform’s rapid rise reflects profound shifts in both how digital consumers seek connection and the boundaries of personal branding and technology.

A sweeping wave of digital fatigue and internet burnout has set the tone for summer 2025, as online life feels more overwhelming and less enjoyable than ever before, pushing millions worldwide—and in Thailand—to seek solace offline. Recent essays and fresh research highlight not only a cultural turning point but a crucial mental health inflection: the internet as we knew it is over, and going outside is the new imperative for personal and collective well-being (Slate).

A growing body of scientific research and business insight, recently brought to international attention by a discussion of Steve Jobs’s educational philosophy, is challenging the longstanding belief that specialization is the key to success and happiness in education, career, and life. Instead, studies and expert perspectives suggest that those who embrace a wide range of interests and disciplines—so-called generalists—are often happier, more innovative, and better equipped to thrive in today’s fast-changing world Greater Good, Accessory To Success, Medium.