#Research

Researchers at a leading U.S. university have uncovered how dopamine, the brain’s reward signal, helps unlearn fear. The discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could transform treatments for anxiety and PTSD. For Thai readers, this points to new avenues for culturally sensitive therapies that emphasize safety and positive learning.

Across decades, scientists have known the amygdala drives both fear and its extinction. For Thais affected by traumatic events—natural disasters, traffic accidents, or the lingering impact of Covid-19—persistent anxiety and nightmares are common. The new insight into how the brain learns to feel safe offers hope for more effective, locally relevant therapies that reduce stigma around mental health.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a crucial mechanism in the brain, revealing how dopamine—commonly known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter—not only signals danger, but actively helps the brain unlearn fear. The findings, reported this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could revolutionize potential treatments for anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), providing hope for millions worldwide—including those struggling in Thailand with trauma-related conditions (SciTechDaily).

A new study suggests that restricting carbohydrates on two days each week, rather than undertaking strict calorie restriction, may deliver similar metabolic benefits to intermittent fasting. The finding points to a potentially more sustainable approach for Thais and others seeking the health advantages of fasting without demanding dietary changes. Researchers published the study on May 11, 2025, highlighting how simple carb reductions can influence heart and metabolic function.

Intermittent fasting has grown in popularity in Thailand, appealing to urban professionals and health-minded individuals aiming to manage weight and reduce disease risk. Yet many regimens, including the 5:2 plan, can be hard to sustain and may impact nutritional balance. In Thailand, where traditional meals often feature rice and noodles, a two-day-per-week carb-cut strategy could be more realistic while still supporting metabolic health.

A recent study suggests that restricting carbohydrates on just two days per week can yield metabolic benefits similar to those of intermittent fasting. The findings point to a more approachable option for improving heart and metabolic health without severe hunger or major dietary upheaval. For Thai readers, this could translate into practical changes that fit busy urban lives and traditional dining patterns.

Intermittent fasting, especially the 5:2 approach, has gained popularity worldwide, including in Thailand, as a tool for weight management and metabolic wellness. Yet many people struggle with hunger, disrupted meals, or concerns about nutrient adequacy. The new research, led by a nutrition expert from the University of Surrey and published in The Conversation, investigates whether carbohydrate restriction on two days a week can produce similar benefits. The study summary is reported by ScienceAlert.

A groundbreaking new study suggests that restricting carbohydrates just two days a week may provide the same metabolic health benefits as the more challenging intermittent fasting diets, offering hope for simpler approaches to improving heart and metabolic health. These findings could open new doors for Thai readers eager to enhance their health but daunted by the demanding routines of traditional fasting regimens.

Intermittent fasting — especially the popular “5:2” version, where people drastically reduce calorie intake on two days each week — has won devotees around the world, including in Thailand, for its reputation as a weight loss tool with additional metabolic perks. However, many Thais and others have struggled to stick with fasting due to hunger pangs, meal disruption, or concerns about nutritional adequacy. The latest research, led by an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Surrey and published on May 11, 2025, in The Conversation, offers a gentler alternative: twice-a-week carbohydrate (not calorie) restriction may deliver similar health benefits without forcing people to go extremely hungry or disrupt their regular eating habits, according to their study outlined on ScienceAlert.

Thai health-conscious snackers and fitness enthusiasts have fresh reason to reach for nuts after a wave of new research highlights both their protein power and broader nutritional value. The latest findings, including a May 2025 overview in Women’s Health Magazine and new updates from nutrition experts and scientific studies, confirm that some nuts—while small in size—pack an outsized nutritional punch that extends beyond just protein to include a wealth of vital micronutrients (Women’s Health Magazine). But for those specifically looking for the highest plant-based protein content, the rankings may surprise you and offer practical benefits for both everyday wellness and longevity.

Nuts are more than a quick snack. New research highlights their protein power and rich micronutrient profile, offering practical benefits for daily wellness and heart health. A recent overview in health-focused media and ongoing studies show that certain nuts deliver notable plant-based protein while also supplying magnesium, zinc, vitamin E, healthy fats, and fiber. For readers seeking the highest protein content, almonds, pistachios, and peanuts (though peanuts are legumes) consistently rank among the top options, providing roughly 4–7 grams of protein per ounce.

A surge of new research is challenging long-held beliefs about how parenting shapes us as adults. In his book, Rethinking Psychology: Finding Meaning in Misconceptions, renowned psychologist Michael W. Eysenck highlights that genetics may play a larger role in adult personality than parenting styles. The Times of India outlines these findings, signaling important conversations for Thai families and educators accustomed to linking nurture with lifelong temperament and mental health.

In Thai culture, parenting often centers on discipline, moral guidance, and constant presence, values reinforced in homes, schools, and Buddhist temples. Eysenck’s synthesis draws on international studies to suggest that genetic inheritance accounts for a greater share of adult personality differences than previously recognized. While parental love and guidance remain essential for security and social skills, core traits such as extraversion, emotional stability, and openness may be rooted more in DNA than in parenting methods.

A wave of new research is overturning long-held beliefs about the power of parenting in shaping who we become as adults, with renowned psychologist Michael W. Eysenck’s latest book, “Rethinking Psychology: Finding Meaning in Misconceptions,” spotlighting the ways genetics, more than parenting styles, influence adult personalities. The findings, detailed in a recent report by the Times of India, are likely to spark important conversations in Thai families and among educators who have long assumed nurturing—rather than nature—was the primary driver of children’s lifelong temperaments and mental health Times of India.

A groundbreaking study from the University of Chicago has revealed that a Western-style diet—heavy in processed foods, red meat, dairy, and sugar but low in plant-based fiber—seriously impairs the gut’s ability to recover after antibiotic treatment. This discovery, which appeared in the prestigious journal Nature, carries important implications for public health in Thailand, as local dietary habits grow increasingly influenced by Western food trends (Earth.com).

The significance of the research lies in its clear demonstration that the foods we eat not only shape the diversity and resilience of our gut microbiome but also determine how quickly we can bounce back after health interventions such as antibiotic use. For Thais, whose traditional cuisine is rich in vegetables, herbs, and fermented foods, this study serves as a timely reminder of the power of local food culture in safeguarding health.

A new study links girls’ dietary quality to the age at which puberty begins, with broad implications for health, education, and families in Thailand and beyond. While genetics and body size have long been considered key predictors of menarche, researchers now emphasize that nutrition quality may play a decisive role, potentially affecting long-term risk for chronic diseases. For Thai communities, this signals the importance of early nutrition not only for immediate well-being but for lifelong health trajectories.

A new study has brought to light a critical link between girls’ dietary habits and the age at which they reach puberty, with profound implications for health, education, and family life in Thailand and worldwide. Traditionally, genetics and body size have been considered the main predictors of when a girl will experience menarche—her first menstrual period. However, this latest research, published in the journal Human Reproduction, suggests that what girls eat may be an even more significant driver, potentially influencing long-term risk for several chronic diseases. The findings underscore the importance of early nutrition, not only for immediate wellbeing but also for shaping health trajectories long into adulthood (Earth.com).

A new study has uncovered a surprising trend: employees who openly acknowledge using artificial intelligence (AI) at work are often trusted less by colleagues and clients than those who keep silent. This finding, featured in a recent report on The Conversation, challenges widely held assumptions that transparency around technology use breeds confidence and goodwill in professional settings.

This insight is particularly significant for Thai professionals and organizations as businesses across the kingdom increasingly embrace AI-powered solutions—from customer service chatbots and automated translation tools to advanced data analytics. In many workplaces, staff are encouraged to adopt AI as part of digital transformation agendas and the nation’s push toward Thailand 4.0, where technology and innovation drive economic growth. Yet, according to the latest findings, revealing reliance on such tools could undermine interpersonal trust, an essential element in many Thai office cultures that value harmony, respect, and personal relationships.

A new wave of astrophysical research suggests magnetars—highly magnetised neutron stars—may be more than dramatic space rocks. They could be important in seeding the galaxy with heavy elements like gold, reshaping our understanding of where precious metals originate. The study, drawing on more than two decades of NASA and ESA data, proposes that giant flares from magnetars eject heavy nuclei into space, contributing a meaningful share of elements heavier than iron. This finding adds a dramatic thread to the story of gold, linking Bangkok’s vibrant jewelry markets to events that happened billions of years ago in the cosmos.

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).

A new study finds that employees who openly acknowledge using artificial intelligence at work are often trusted less by colleagues and clients than those who do not mention it. The research challenges the assumption that transparency about technology use automatically builds confidence.

This insight is timely for Thai professionals as businesses across the country increasingly deploy AI-powered solutions—from customer service chatbots to automated translation and data analytics. As Thai organizations pursue digital transformation and national initiatives like Thailand 4.0, the findings raise questions about how transparency around AI affects workplace relationships and teamwork.

The enduring mystery of how gold – a metal of immense cultural and economic value in Thailand and around the world – originated in the universe may be a step closer to resolution, as new astrophysical research points to an unexpected cosmic source. According to a recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, highly magnetised neutron stars known as magnetars may play a critical role in producing not only gold but a slew of other heavy elements vital to the fabric of the cosmos. This finding reshapes long-held views on the cosmic manufacture of these elements, presenting a breakthrough that ripples from the farthest reaches of space into the heart of Bangkok’s bustling gold markets and beyond (Al Jazeera).

A new study shows a clear link between stronger emotional intelligence (EI) and higher sexual satisfaction. The research suggests that people who understand and manage emotions well tend to have more fulfilling intimate relationships. This finding resonates in Thailand, where emotional well-being and harmony in family life are highly valued.

Understanding EI’s role is important for Thai couples who navigate modern pressures alongside traditional expectations. Sexual satisfaction contributes to overall relationship happiness, which supports family stability—an important aspect of Thai culture. Data from the study indicate that individuals who score higher on EI measures are better at perceiving, expressing, and regulating emotions, and they empathize more with their partners. These abilities foster open communication and trust, leading to more satisfying intimate lives.

A recent study has revealed a significant connection between higher emotional intelligence and increased sexual satisfaction, providing new insights into how emotional competencies can shape intimate relationships. The findings, published this week and widely reported in recent media coverage, suggest that individuals with stronger abilities to understand and manage emotions tend to experience more fulfilling sexual relationships. This discovery is particularly relevant for Thai readers, as it highlights the often-overlooked role of emotional skills in personal wellbeing and marital harmony—a topic deeply valued within Thai society.

A wave of new studies reopens the debate over brown versus white rice, a topic resonating with health-conscious Thais who rely on rice daily. Research summarized for Thai audiences indicates brown rice may offer metabolic benefits, while traditional white rice remains deeply embedded in local meals. The findings suggest daily rice choices could influence aging and chronic disease risk.

Rice anchors Thai cuisine, from street food to ceremonial feasts. Jasmine white rice remains the most popular choice for its aroma and texture, yet health advocates have long touted brown rice for its higher fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Data from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health shows that milling removes bran and germ from white rice, stripping away nutrients such as B vitamins, magnesium, and antioxidants. This nutritional gap may influence long-term health outcomes for consumers.

A new wave of scientific research has reinvigorated the debate over brown versus white rice, sparking interest among health enthusiasts and nutrition experts in Thailand, where rice is deeply woven into daily life. Recent findings reported by The Washington Post explore the distinct health profiles of brown and white rice, a topic of high relevance for Thai consumers who rely on rice as a dietary staple. The research not only highlights the nutritional advantages of brown rice but also examines how daily rice choices may influence aging and chronic disease risk.

A groundbreaking study published in April 2025 reveals that even a bare minimum of weight training—just two 30-minute sessions per week—can lead to noticeable improvements in muscle strength and mass. This news offers a promising solution for time-strapped individuals in Thailand and globally, dismantling the widespread belief that substantial time and complex equipment are needed for effective resistance training.

For many Thais, finding time and resources for regular exercise can be a challenge amid bustling work schedules and family commitments. Previous surveys in Thailand, consistent with global trends, indicate that fewer than 20% of adults consistently engage in muscle-strengthening activities. This is despite well-established links between strong muscles and a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and premature aging Washington Post.

A new study from April 2025 shows that just two 30-minute weight-training sessions per week can boost muscle strength and size. The finding challenges the idea that substantial time and complex equipment are required for resistance training. It offers a realistic option for busy Thais balancing work and family.

Thai adults often struggle to fit regular exercise into busy schedules. National surveys reflect global trends, with fewer than 20% of adults regularly engaging in muscle-strengthening activities. Yet stronger muscles help prevent chronic diseases like diabetes and arthritis and support healthy aging. Evidence from recent research adds urgency to making strength training more accessible in Thailand.