#Publicawareness

A new wave of attention is focusing on finasteride, a prescription drug widely used by men worldwide to combat male-pattern baldness, after recent reports and research have highlighted a potential but underrecognized side effect: reduced fertility. For many men, the prospect of restoring hair growth via a daily tablet brings a significant boost of self-esteem. Yet for a minority, this medical fix may temporarily complicate their efforts to start a family, notably by lowering sperm counts—sometimes drastically.

A growing body of research is shattering myths about cult recruitment, exposing the dark psychological playbook behind how ordinary people are lured and ultimately ensnared by manipulative groups. Grounded in analysis inspired by the new TV series “Sirens,” which satirically depicts a lavish cult community, recent findings underscore that the path into cults is less about gullibility and more about sophisticated psychological manipulation, an insight with urgent relevance in Thailand and around the world (The Conversation).

A recent spectacle in Los Angeles has thrust the topic of male reproductive health to center stage, as hundreds gathered—and thousands more watched online—for an unprecedented “sperm race” organized by a 17-year-old high school student. Using cutting-edge microscopy and a dose of viral showmanship, the event sought to raise awareness of male infertility, a topic receiving growing attention both in the United States and internationally.

The event, engineered by a high school entrepreneur, featured semen samples pipetted onto custom “race tracks” and projected live onto giant screens, transforming the invisible world of sperm motility into a competitive sport for a cheering audience. With 3D animation and even a mock-award ceremony, the “athletes” were not traditional students but rather the sperm cells themselves—drawing both laughter and a moment of pause regarding reproductive health.

A major new study has raised eyebrows around the world by suggesting that up to 5% of all cancers may be linked to the use of computed tomography (CT) scans—a powerful and commonly used medical imaging tool. While these results have set off alarm bells among patients and healthcare providers, leading experts caution that the numbers come with significant uncertainties. The findings, first reported by Ars Technica, have triggered fresh debate about the delicate balance between medical necessity and risk, shining a spotlight on how medical technology shapes health outcomes in Thailand and globally.

Our bodies produce various substances, each having its own purpose, even if some, like earwax, may seem bothersome. Despite the common urge to clean it out, experts suggest most people do not need to remove earwax, emphasizing its role in ear health. According to Dr. Erich P. Voigt of NYU Grossman School of Medicine, earwax acts as a natural barrier against infections and water, providing lubrication that prevents the ears from drying out and itching. This is pivotal information for Thai readers, where humid conditions often lead to concerns about ear hygiene. The evolutionary advantage of earwax as a “conveyer belt of skin,” as explained by Dr. Lawrence R. Lustig from Columbia University, highlights how the body’s natural processes typically eliminate earwax. The secretion migrates outwards, mixed with oils from the ear canal, providing a self-cleaning mechanism obviating the need for manual cleaning source.