#Pnas

A major new analysis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concludes that “sophisticated global networks” are systematically undermining academic publishing by pushing fraudulent papers into journals at industrial scale — and doing so faster than science can contain them. The researchers find that suspected “paper mill” submissions are doubling every 18 months, far outpacing the overall growth of legitimate research, which doubles roughly every 15 years. The authors warn that without urgent reforms, parts of the scientific literature risk becoming “completely poisoned,” a scenario with direct implications for Thai universities and national research priorities. The study’s key findings and expert warnings were first reported by Times Higher Education, which underscores that existing systems to combat misconduct are struggling to keep up with an increasingly organized underground industry of fake science built on collusion, image manipulation and “journal hopping” to evade detection (Times Higher Education).

Sophisticated global criminal networks are systematically corrupting academic publishing at unprecedented scales, producing fraudulent research papers faster than legitimate science can be published, according to groundbreaking analysis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that reveals Thailand already experiencing direct consequences from this academic contamination. The Northwestern University-led research team documented that suspected “paper mill” submissions are doubling every 18 months while genuine research output doubles only every 15 years, creating what researchers warn could “completely poison” entire scientific fields unless urgent systemic reforms are implemented immediately. This industrial-scale academic fraud directly threatens Thailand’s national research priorities and university advancement systems, with recent domestic investigations uncovering extensive paper-purchasing networks spanning dozens of Thai institutions and resulting in faculty dismissals across multiple universities. The study’s findings, extensively reported by Times Higher Education, demonstrate that existing misconduct detection systems are fundamentally inadequate against increasingly organized underground industries built on sophisticated collusion, image manipulation, and “journal hopping” strategies designed to evade traditional enforcement mechanisms.

A surge in sophisticated paper-mill activity is reshaping academic publishing worldwide, with Thailand already facing direct consequences. New analysis suggests fraudulent submissions are rising faster than genuine research output, signaling urgent reforms to protect national research priorities and university advancement. Authorities report domestic networks selling manuscripts have led to dismissals across multiple universities, underscoring the need for stronger detection and governance in Thai higher education.

Researchers mapped extensive patterns of fraud across journals, editor clusters, and image manipulation to show how counterfeit studies move through the system. They describe editorial hubs that process large shares of problematic papers and note that mills migrate to new venues when journals tighten controls. A senior researcher from a leading university warned that the scientific enterprise must police itself more effectively to prevent long-term damage to knowledge, as highlighted by independent reporting.

A comprehensive investigation published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed growing concerns about systematic fraud infiltrating global scientific literature, revealing sophisticated networks of counterfeit research that pose unprecedented threats to medical advancement, technological innovation, and evidence-based policymaking worldwide. The landmark study, conducted by Northwestern University data scientists and highlighted through major international media coverage, exposes coordinated manipulation schemes operating at industrial scale, with implications that extend directly to Thailand’s rapidly developing research infrastructure and academic credibility. As Thai universities and healthcare institutions increasingly rely on international scientific literature to guide critical decisions affecting public health, education policy, and technological development, the integrity of global research becomes essential for protecting Thailand’s citizens and advancing national progress.

A landmark study has confirmed growing fears that fraudulent scientific papers, fueled by shadowy “paper mills,” are increasing at an alarming rate and threatening the very foundations of science. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and highlighted by The New York Times, the analysis reveals sophisticated fraud networks and a rapidly proliferating output of fake or low-quality research papers that could contaminate medical, technological, and social advancements worldwide (nytimes.com).

A novel study has uncovered an innovative “time travel” technique capable of reviving fading memories, potentially revolutionizing how students, professionals, and aging populations in Thailand and worldwide approach memory retention. Published on Monday, July 28, 2025, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the research demonstrates that deliberately recalling the emotions and thoughts from the original moment of memory creation can substantially restore memories that would otherwise deteriorate over time. This method, described by the study’s scientists as “mental time travel,” has already garnered attention for its applicability far beyond laboratory settings, holding promise for everyone from Thai university students facing high-stakes exams to elderly Thais seeking to sustain cognitive health in their later years (livescience.com).

A groundbreaking study by a Japanese research team has revealed that optimists’ brains display strikingly similar patterns of neural activity when imagining the future, while pessimists’ neural signatures are much more unique and individualistic. Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the findings illuminate how our outlook on life is physically manifested in the mind—and may help explain why optimists excel at building social relationships (medicalxpress.com).

A Japanese study reveals that optimistic people exhibit remarkably similar brain activity when imagining the future, while pessimists display more individualized patterns. The findings, published in a premier scientific journal, suggest our outlook is rooted in brain function and may illuminate why optimists often build stronger social ties.

In Thai life, the idea of “being on the same wavelength” resonates through family chats, classrooms, and workplace teamwork. This Kobe University project provides scientific backing for that everyday sense, linking social psychology with neuroscience. It offers clear evidence that how we picture the future shapes our ability to relate to others.

A landmark international study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is turning conventional wisdom about obesity on its head, revealing that a sedentary lifestyle in wealthy nations may not be the main culprit behind soaring obesity rates. Instead, the research finds that diets high in ultra-processed foods are the leading driver of the modern obesity epidemic, with important lessons for the Thai population and global public health campaigns alike (Washington Post).

A major international study rethinks obesity by showing that excess calorie intake, not a lack of physical activity, primarily drives obesity in developed nations, including the United States. Published insights from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences challenge decades of public health messaging that blamed sedentary lifestyles. The research points to the modern food environment as the real culprit behind the obesity epidemic.

Obesity remains a global health priority, including in Thailand, where the World Health Organization highlights risks such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The study’s message shifts focus from inactivity to diet quality, suggesting what people eat matters more than how much they move.

A groundbreaking international study has toppled one of the most persistent beliefs about obesity: the idea that sedentary lifestyles in wealthy countries are chiefly to blame for the global epidemic of excess weight. Instead, new research published this week in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) points squarely at what we eat—particularly the prevalence of ultra-processed foods—as the dominant cause of rising obesity rates around the world (Washington Post).

A major international study is upending deeply held beliefs about obesity, concluding that excess calorie consumption—not a lack of physical activity—is the primary cause of the obesity epidemic in the United States and other developed nations. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) this week, suggest that decades of public health campaigns blaming sedentary behavior for rising obesity rates may be missing the real culprit: modern diets.

New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that ordinary search habits can quietly trap people in their own information bubbles. Across 21 experiments with nearly 10,000 participants, the study shows that the way we type queries and the responses we see from search engines shape our views, even when we don’t intend to seek confirmation. This has important implications for how Thais access health, education, culture, and travel information in a digital era.

Groundbreaking research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has uncovered compelling evidence that ordinary people unconsciously contribute to the growth of their own information bubbles, simply through the way they type search queries online. This large-scale study, encompassing 21 experiments and nearly 10,000 participants, demonstrates that even without any intent to seek confirmation, our habitual online search patterns—and the algorithms designed to respond to them—subtly guide us towards ever-narrower realities. These findings have huge implications for how Thais access information, understand national debates, and engage with global topics in a time when digital literacy is crucial for an informed society (PsyPost).

A groundbreaking new study from scientists at Mass General Brigham, published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, confirms what many Thais intuitively believe: childhood experiences—both good and bad—can lead to enduring changes in the very structure of a child’s brain, with effects that last well into adolescence and likely adulthood. Researchers have revealed that challenges in early life, such as economic hardship or family adversity, are linked to weaker “white matter” connections throughout the brain, reducing cognitive abilities like language and mathematics years later. Yet, in a hopeful twist, children who experience resilience—especially through strong relationships and supportive communities—show stronger brain development and improved academic outcomes, despite adversity. These findings carry deep implications for Thai policymakers, families, and schools, underscoring the importance of investing in nurturing environments from the earliest years of life (source, source, source).

A major international study confirms a long-held belief among Thai families: early life experiences—good and bad—leave lasting marks on a child’s brain. Researchers analyzed brain scans and life histories from thousands of children and found that adversity in early years can alter white matter connectivity, potentially affecting learning abilities like language and math into adolescence and beyond. Yet the study also offers a hopeful message: strong relationships and supportive communities can bolster brain development and academic outcomes, even amid hardship. The findings have clear implications for Thai policymakers, schools, and families seeking to create nurturing environments for all children.