#Biochemistry

A new wave of scientific scrutiny is challenging the long-standing “10,000 steps a day” mantra widely followed by fitness enthusiasts in Thailand and worldwide. In a recent appearance on the School of Greatness Podcast, renowned biochemist Dr. Rhonda Patrick ignited a controversy by labeling the 10,000-step benchmark as an inefficient use of time, recommending instead just 10 minutes of vigorous exercise per day as more impactful for health and longevity (yahoo.com).

A wave of scientific discussion is challenging the long-standing “10,000 steps a day” target that many Thais and fitness enthusiasts follow. On the School of Greatness Podcast, biochemist Dr. Rhonda Patrick questioned the efficiency of the 10,000-step benchmark, suggesting that just 10 minutes of vigorous exercise daily may yield greater health and longevity benefits.

Among urban Thais navigating Bangkok’s traffic or retirees enjoying parks, the 10,000-step goal has been a simple, attainable health target. Dr. Patrick’s view, grounded in recent research, shifts the focus from quantity to quality and intensity. She argues that long hours spent just reaching a high step count may be less beneficial than shorter bursts of intense activity, citing studies that show stronger cardiovascular and metabolic improvements from brief, high-intensity exercise.

A long-standing scientific debate has finally been resolved. Researchers have confirmed a “crazy” theory from 1958 about vitamin B1, or thiamine. By stabilizing an extremely reactive carbene intermediate in water, they observed a stable form long thought impossible. The breakthrough, published in Science Advances, signals new possibilities for sustainable chemical manufacturing worldwide, including in Thailand.

The idea dates back to Ronald Breslow at Columbia University, who proposed that vitamin B1 forms a fleeting carbene-like species during essential cellular reactions. Carbenes are notoriously unstable in water, the solvent of life, which kept the theory unproven for decades. Breslow’s concept seemed almost magical to many scientists.

In a scientific breakthrough decades in the making, researchers have finally confirmed a “crazy” theory dating back to 1958 involving vitamin B1, or thiamine. By successfully stabilizing an extremely reactive molecule known as a carbene in water—something scientists long believed to be impossible—this team has not only resolved a long-standing biochemical debate but also unlocked new possibilities for sustainable chemical manufacturing around the world, including Thailand. Their results, published in Science Advances on April 11, 2025, have sparked fresh excitement in both academic and industrial laboratories worldwide (SciTechDaily).