#Bangkokpost

An upbeat outlook on AI in art is gaining ground worldwide, and a Miami-based Panamanian photographer recently voiced optimism in a Time interview. By collaborating with AI models such as Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and Nova, she shows AI can be a creative ally rather than a threat. Over a year, she trained an AI to reflect her artistic sensibilities and organized an interactive exhibition where visitors co-create new works using prompts. A digital, AI-generated video clone of the artist guided the experience, underscoring how technology can expand human imagination. The show runs through May 2025 in Miami and mirrors a broader shift toward human–machine collaboration in the arts.

A surge of global and local research is putting the spotlight on a critical issue affecting Thai children: far too few are meeting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, sparking concerns among health experts and educators about the long-term health consequences for the nation’s youth. International health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have long maintained that children and adolescents aged 5–17 should accumulate at least one hour per day of moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise, predominantly through aerobic activities like running, cycling, and playing sports. Yet, recent figures suggest that a majority of Thai kids are falling below this crucial benchmark, with implications for their physical well-being, academic performance, and future medical costs.

As artificial intelligence reshapes work, learning, and everyday life, a notable segment in Thailand questions or limits its adoption. AI tools, from chat assistants to smart recommendations, are increasingly influential. Yet many Thai readers see value in preserving human creativity, mindful energy use, and genuine social connections. This perspective reflects broader concerns about automation’s impact on jobs and culture, and how technology fits Thailand’s unique society.

Global momentum around AI is clear. Generative AI now attracts billions of monthly interactions, signaling a rapid shift in how people access information and craft content. For Thailand, the reach of digital technology—from Bangkok’s smart-city ambitions to remote-commerce—means AI is familiar but carries distinctive implications for local livelihoods and daily life.

A wave of global and local research highlights a troubling trend among Thai children: too few are achieving 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Health experts warn that this gap could raise future risks of obesity, diabetes, and weaker academic performance. International guidelines from the World Health Organization recommend at least one hour of moderate to vigorous activity each day, with aerobic activities like running, cycling, and sports playing a central role. In Thailand, urban living, screen time, and safety concerns compound the challenge of meeting these targets.

In a world increasingly obsessed with self-optimization, a growing body of research and analysis is challenging the pervasive belief that parenthood can be engineered to perfection with the right information, gadgets, and expert systems. This theme is powerfully dissected in a new book by a prominent New York Times critic and has sparked widespread discussion about the futility of “optimizing” the unpredictable journey of raising children (The Atlantic).

The book, “Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age,” draws on both personal narrative and historical contrast to illustrate a central point: no amount of preparation or digital intervention can fully equip parents for the reality of parenthood. This argument resonates strongly at a time when Thai parents, like their American counterparts, increasingly turn to online communities, parental guidance apps, and a vast constellation of expert advice in hopes of mastering the challenges of child-rearing.

A growing body of research questions the idea that parenthood can be engineered to perfection with the right apps, gadgets, and expert systems. A new book by a prominent New York Times critic argues that no amount of preparation can fully prepare parents for the reality of raising children. This conversation resonates with Thai families who increasingly turn to online communities and guidance apps in search of certainty amid uncertainty.

Researchers have uncovered new insights into jamais vu, the unsettling feeling that something familiar suddenly looks unfamiliar. While deja vu is well known in Thai culture, jamais vu is rarer and oddly more disorienting. Scientists say this phenomenon can illuminate how our brain checks reality and prevents us from slipping into automatic thoughts.

In a study that earned an Ig Nobel Prize in literature, participants were asked to repeat simple words like “door” or “the.” After about a minute, roughly 70% of people reported a strong sense of unfamiliarity and stopped voluntarily, describing experiences such as a word that “doesn’t seem right” or feeling as if it’s not really a word. The findings suggest jamais vu can reveal how our cognitive system verifies meaning and prevents us from drifting through routine without awareness.

The ongoing rise of artificial intelligence in art has ignited passionate debate around the world. Yet, in a recent in-depth interview with Time magazine, a Miami-based Panamanian photographer—known for her vivid, maximalist works tying together familial heritage and indigenous Panamanian textiles—chose optimism over anxiety. By actively collaborating with AI models like Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and Nova, she demonstrated how generative algorithms could become creative allies, not threats, in the evolution of the visual arts. Not only did she train an AI to replicate her artistic sensibilities over a year, but she also built an interactive exhibition where visitors could use AI to produce new works in her style and even be guided by a digital, video-chat “clone” of herself generated by AI. This groundbreaking exhibition, open until May 2025 in Miami, reflects a growing camp of artists embracing technology to augment human imagination.

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and their rivals are reshaping the workplace, education, and even leisure activities, a notable segment of individuals are actively choosing to resist – or at least question – this digital transformation. As AI becomes an invisible hand guiding everything from web searches to music recommendations, the reluctance to embrace it reflects deeper concerns about human creativity, environmental costs, and the fabric of genuine social connection BBC News.

A growing number of nutritionists warn that persistent hunger and lingering fatigue may indicate insufficient protein intake. In Thailand, where meals often center on rice, this issue has particular relevance for anyone aiming to stay healthy and energized.

Protein is a key macronutrient essential for building and repairing body tissues, supporting immune function, and regulating metabolism. Nutrition professionals emphasize that proteins are made of amino acids, the building blocks of life. According to research cited by a leading Bangkok nutritionist, protein plays a central role in the structure and function of the body’s cells. Data from respected health organizations reinforces that proteins are vital for maintaining tissues and organs.

Nutrition experts are sounding the alarm about a potentially overlooked dietary issue: not getting enough protein, a problem that can have far-reaching effects on health and wellbeing. According to the latest research and insights from leading registered dietitians, a persistent feeling of hunger and lingering fatigue between meals may be the number one warning sign that you’re falling short on this vital nutrient. In Thailand—where carbohydrate-rich diets, especially those based on rice, are the norm—this finding holds special relevance for anyone keen to maintain optimal health.

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 growing body of research is reshaping what it means to lift effectively. While pushing through sweat has long signified success in strength training, new insights highlighted by major outlets suggest that training to complete muscular failure is not the sole—or even the best—path to building strength. For Thai readers, where gym culture and fitness trends are expanding rapidly, this shift could transform how beginners and enthusiasts approach workouts.

In Thailand, the belief that maximum effort is essential in every session persists—from park-side bootcamps to boutique gyms. Yet recent studies suggest that reaching muscular failure, the point at which you cannot complete another repetition, may carry more risk than reward, especially for newcomers. Researchers distinguish between technical failure (loss of proper form) and muscular failure (muscles cannot move the weight). The consensus among experts is to balance effort with safety, as training to failure can elevate injury risk and prolong recovery. Data from reputable research sources shows that sustainable progress is achieved through consistent effort and good technique, rather than an all-out push every session.

Fear is a natural ally that protects us from harm. For millions, though, it becomes a relentless force that dictates daily choices, strains education and work, and reshapes family life. A recent in-depth feature highlights how fear-driven conditions such as phobias, OCD, anxiety, and PTSD affect people and points to effective treatment paths. The piece also reflects on how Thai families experience similar challenges and what care looks like in Thailand today.

Fear is recognized as a vital part of the human experience, protecting us from harm and danger. Yet for millions of people around the globe, this essential emotion can morph into something far more disruptive—a relentless force that governs daily decisions, limits social, academic, and work accomplishments, and even reshapes family dynamics. A new in-depth feature by Deseret News has brought renewed attention to the real, often unseen impact of fear-driven mental health conditions such as phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), highlighting not just individual struggles but emerging, effective treatment approaches as well (Deseret News).

A comprehensive review of recent medical research sheds new light on how diet, activity, and everyday habits affect health, offering practical guidance for Thai households navigating modern wellness challenges. The synthesis, led by the Center for Science in the Public Interest and drawing on studies from the past year, covers ultra-processed foods, plant oils, yoga for knee pain, and the broader role of healthy habits in brain health. The findings arrive at a time when Thai communities face rapid urbanization, changing food environments, and rising non-communicable diseases.

A sweeping new review of recent medical research offers fresh insights into the effects of diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle choices on health — with practical lessons that are especially relevant to Thai readers navigating modern wellness challenges. Drawing from studies published in the past year and synthesised by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the investigation examines topics ranging from the “addictiveness” of ultra-processed foods to the importance of plant oils, the benefits of yoga for knee pain, and the role of healthy habits in brain health. This collective evidence serves as timely guidance for households across Thailand looking to make informed decisions amid changing food environments and health concerns.

A recent clinical trial has highlighted synbiotics—combinations of probiotics and prebiotics—as a potential breakthrough for people suffering from extreme fatigue and debilitating post-exercise malaise. The early findings, featured in a recent report by Asia Food Journal, bring new attention to the role of gut health in managing energy and recovery, resonating with athletes and chronic fatigue sufferers alike.

Fatigue, whether resulting from intense exercise or underlying health conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, is a widespread concern in Thailand and around the world. For many Thais—including university students, busy professionals, health enthusiasts, and even active seniors—persistent tiredness can disrupt work, family life, and overall well-being. The global search for better solutions has gained pace as conventional treatments often lack efficacy or have significant side effects [PubMed].

A new clinical trial suggests synbiotics—combining probiotics and prebiotics—could help people suffering from severe fatigue and post-exercise malaise. The early results, highlighted in a recent Asia Food Journal report, spotlight the gut’s role in energy and recovery, an area of growing interest for athletes and those with chronic fatigue-like symptoms.

Fatigue is a global concern, including in Thailand, where students, professionals, health enthusiasts, and seniors often struggle with persistent tiredness that disrupts daily life. Researchers note that conventional treatments frequently fall short or carry adverse effects, underscoring the search for safer, more effective options. Data from reputable health organizations emphasize the need for new approaches to fatigue management.

In his first 100 days back in office, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has set in motion a new wave of reproductive health policies that are drawing sharp reactions both domestically and abroad. The administration’s staunch anti-abortion stance, celebrated by anti-abortion groups and criticized by reproductive health advocates, sets a significant precedent that carries implications for global health, gender equality, and policy discourse, including in Thailand, where debates on women’s health and reproductive rights are becoming increasingly prominent.

Green tea remains a staple in Thai households, enjoyed hot or iced, and increasingly viewed as part of a healthy lifestyle. New research from reputable institutions highlights its potential support for heart health and cognitive function, while also noting that evidence for some claims is not yet definitive.

In Thailand, green tea fits well with local rituals and flavors. Recent reviews emphasize that polyphenols in green tea, especially catechins, may help reduce cardiovascular risk, but findings come with caveats due to study limitations. Another broad review points to possible protection against several conditions, including some cancers and liver issues, yet most conclusions come from lab studies or observational data rather than conclusive clinical trials. Data from Thai health authorities and researchers support the idea that green tea can be a healthy component of a balanced diet.

A growing number of individuals worldwide are falling prey to online “relationships” defined not by emotional support or companionship, but by a steady financial outflow—often in just one direction. Recent international reports reveal a dramatic rise in romance scams, echoing the concerns of agony columns like “Dear Abby,” where readers describe partnerships that only seem to involve sending money, not receiving genuine affection. Behind the stories are stark statistics and sophisticated scam operations that have made digital platforms a hotbed for financial exploitation under the guise of love.

A growing global phenomenon sees people drawn into online “relationships” that drain money rather than provide affection. New analyses show a sharp increase in romance scams, where scammers exploit loneliness and trust to extract funds. The pattern is now a pressing public concern that requires practical awareness and action.

For Thailand, where internet and smartphone use continues to rise and dating apps grow in popularity across generations, the risk is highly relevant. Generosity and hospitality are core Thai values, but criminals exploit these traits through manipulation, empathy, and fake emergencies. The question, “Is it still a relationship if only one person sends money?” reflects a real, evolving threat that Thai communities must confront.

Green tea, long celebrated in Asian cultures and increasingly popular in Thailand, continues to capture global attention for its wide-ranging health benefits. New research supported by nutritionists and prominent institutions underscores green tea’s potential to positively impact heart health, support cognitive function, and contribute to overall wellness—though evidence remains mixed on some health claims.

For centuries, green tea has been a staple in Thai communities, often enjoyed hot or iced, blending well with local traditions. The recent surge in scientific investigations has added weight to the beverage’s revered medicinal reputation. A review published by the US National Institutes of Health noted that polyphenolic compounds in green tea—particularly catechins—are associated with beneficial effects in prevention of cardiovascular disease, though these findings must still be interpreted with caution due to limitations in the available data (PMC4055352). Another comprehensive review pointed to possible protective effects against a range of ailments, including certain cancers, liver disorders, and heart conditions, but emphasized that most of the results stem from laboratory research or observational studies—not definitive clinical trials (PMC2855614).