SoManyThingz

Russia aim to make Star Trek-style teleportation a reality within 20 years

If you have been a avid Star Trek follower you may have seen Captain Kirk and Spock beam themselves upto to some different planet as a click of a button. The legendary dialogue by Captain Kirk, ‘Beam Me Up Scotty‘ looks to be reality soon. Russia is embarking on a ambitious Star Trek style teleporatation program and its research program has received financial backing from the Russian government. The program seems to be part of a new Kremlin drive to encourage Russia’s IT sector and high-tech economy.
A proposed multi-trillion pound strategic development program drawn up for Vladimir Putin would seek to develop teleportation by 2035. According to Kommersant, the $2.1 trillion (£1.4 trillion) “road map” for development of the cybernetics market to 2035 also includes developing a Russian computer programming language, secure cybernetic communications, quantum computing, and neural interfaces (direct connections between computers and human brains).
“It sounds fantastical today, but there have been successful experiments at Stanford at the molecular level,” Alexander Galitsky, a prominent investor in the country’s technology sector, told Russia’s Kommersant daily on Wednesday. “Much of the tech we have today was drawn from science fiction films 20 years ago.”
While the concept of people teleporting from one place to another remains in the realm of fantasy, the Star-Trek style target is listed in the National Technological Initiative, a state-sponsored strategic development plan created to fund research and development sector in a number of key sectors.
However, the goal is not as far-fetched as it may sound.
Ilya Massukh, head of the Informational Democracy Fund NGO, told Kommersant that because of science’s rapid development it is necessary to make plans 15 to 20 years in advance.
“It is important to have intermediate goals to have an opportunity to correct the road map and its realization in order not to get involved in knowingly utopian spheres,” he said.
For the first time in 2014, scientists at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands presented that it was possible to teleport information programmed into sub-atomic particles between two points three metres apart with 100% dependability.
Even though teleportation remains a remote prospect, experts believe that the next few decades will likely see significant progress in quantum computing and neural interfaces.
Looking to create its own version of Elon Musk’s hyperloop, The network would link Western Russia to the Far East and the northern reaches of the enormous country, with the first section of the network linking St. Petersburg to Moscow in order to transport cargo the 400 miles (640 km) from Baltic Sea terminals.
Earlier this week, Mr Putin showered praise on Russia’s IT sector when he met a team of programmers from St. Petersburg State University who won the 2016 international “Programming Olympiad.”
Russia not only has a talented programming community but also a small and lively software sector that has created many successful IT companies, including Kaspersky Labs and Yandex.
Western governments are also of the opinion that Russia has leveraged its computing talent to make one of the most impressive state-sponsored hacking and cyber-warfare programs in the world.

This guy refused a whoppping $80,000 offer to sell kanyeforpresident.com to Kanye West

You may already know Kanye West who has been making more news off the stage than on it. West who is also married to one the top celebrities of Hollywood, Kim Kardashian managed to deliver one hit album, The Life of Pablo.
However West has other dreams also. He wants to be the President of the United States of America

However to make a successful bid for presidency, he needs to own the domain called www.kanyeforpresident.com. Sadly, he can own it because its owner refused a whopping $80,000 offer to sell it.
When you visit kanyeforpresident website, you will be taken to the Instagram page of Tramall Ferguson.
Tramall Ferguson is a graduate from Australia and turned a paltry $10 into whopping $80,000, all in a nights surfing. Tramall told ABC that he was purchased the domain for $10 a year ago while surfing aimlessly.
“I was just trying to do something out of the box,” Tramall told ABC’s Control Z podcast.
He then made two impulse purchases: kanyeforpresident.com and petergriffinforpresident.com.
“I thought it was clever and no one had it yet, so I went ahead and did it,” Tramall says, “And then I literally forgot that I had it.”
Tramall’s $10 investment grew tremendously in five months, when Kanye West announced his Presidential bid at the MTV awards. Suddenly, kanyeforpresident.com was HOT internet real estate. Everyone wanted a slice, and the bids started rolling in.
“I got a call from some guy, he was offering me like, $30,000 at first. And I didn’t even know that he was offering me money for it, so I was just like, ‘50 grand!’ And he was like, ‘35’, and I was like, ‘50!’ and he was like, I’ll call you back.
“Then I got a call from Greg at TMZ, and then that’s when I kind of raised my eyebrows.
“Then I started getting crazy phone calls that day with people throwing out offers. The highest one on the first day was about 80 grand.
“[It was] like getting a lottery ticket and just winning. That’s basically what happened,” Tramall says.
Domain names can be a good business if you know how to deal in websites. Otherwise you have to plain lucky like Tramall above or Sanmay Ved who purchased Google.com for $10 during a night surfing expedition. Like Tramall, Sanmay too would have made millions from his buy but he chose to give back the domain to Google for something like $10,000 to be donated to charity.

We can use bacteria as living hard drives to store vast amounts of information state scientists

Instead of those bulky hard drives, soon we would be storing vast amounts of information on a bacteria. Yes, the humble bacteria can store information just like hard drives say scientists.
Harvard scientists led by Jeff Nivala and Seth Shipman have discovered a remarkable way to store lines of code in living bacteria, which can then be passed down to the next generation as genetic information. Based on a new study, bacteria colonies when fed by a series of human-written data can transform tiny cells into living hard drives.
According to Shipman, genotyping the bacteria could easily read the data from these living memory sticks. This type of experiment allows the transfer of 100 bytes of data, almost ten times more than possible with artificial DNA. Previously, the scientists had attempted this experiment but with synthetic DNA. The technique used by the scientists practically tricked the bacteria into copying actual computer code into their DNA without compromising their own cellular activities.
“Rather than synthesizing DNA and cutting it into a living cell, we wanted to know if we could use nature’s own methods to write directly onto the genome of a bacterial cell, so it gets copied and pasted into every subsequent generation,” says Shipman. “But working within a living cell is an entirely different story and challenge.”
“We write the information directly into the genome. While the overall amount of DNA data we have currently stored within a genome is relatively small compared to the completely synthetic DNA data storage systems, we think genome-based information storage has many potential advantages,” Nivala told Gizmodo. He says that these advantages could include higher fidelity and the capability to directly interface with biology. For example, a bacterium could be taught to identify, provide information, and even kill other microorganisms in its midst, or provide a record of genetic expression.
“Depending on how you calculate it, we stored between about 30 to 100 bytes of information,” said Nivala. “Which is quite high compared to the previous record set within a living cell, which was ~11 bits.”
Going forward, the kind of bacteria one uses is important. The researchers used E. coli for this particular experiment that clocks in a fairly respectable storage of 100 bytes. However, certain bacteria, such as Sulfolobus tokodaii may be capable of storing thousands of bytes.
To protect certain bacteria from viral infection, the scientists used the bacteria’s built-in immune system called CRISPR or Cas system. When the bacteria are attacked by viruses, they physically cut out a segment of the invaders’ DNA and paste it into a specific region of their own genome. This way, if that same virus attacks again, the bacteria can identify it and respond accordingly. Thus, the cell passes this information over to its progeny of the bacteria, transferring the viral immunity to next generations.
The bacteria research team discovered that by introducing a segment of genetic data that looks like viral DNA into a colony of bacteria that have the CRISPR/Cas system, the bacteria would devour it and include it in their genetic code. Therefore, the scientists spread the loose segments of DNA into the E.coli bacterial colony that had the CRISPR. They gulped it all up essentially becoming tiny, living hard drives.
The segments used were arbitrary strings of A, T, C, G nucleotides with pieces of viral DNA at the end. Shipman introduced one segment of information at a time and allowed the bacteria do the rest, storing away information like fastidious librarians.
Conveniently enough, the bacteria store new immune system entries in sequence, with earlier viral DNA recorded before that of more recent infections.
“That’s quite important,” Shipman says. “If the new information was just stored randomly, that wouldn’t be nearly as informative. You’d have to have tags on each piece of information to know when it was introduced into the cell. Here it’s ordered sequentially, like the way you write down the words in a sentence.”

"Bleed It Out"

Latent inhibition
In order to even attempt to explain what low latent inhibition is, I feel it is vital that an understanding of the term “latent inhibition” is reached. Latent inhibition is a term used to explain how our observation of a familiar stimulus (e.g. something we see, hear, smell, feel or taste that we’ve had before) takes longer to acquire meaning than a new stimulus. It’s essentially a mental tool you develop in order to experience the world in a manageable way. You use latent inhibition in your day-to-day interactions with the environment.
For example, consider how you experience a doorknob. You are familiar with door handles and how they work, what the purpose of them is and in most cases a door handle wouldn’t interest you enough for you to pay it any notice. Why should you? You know how they work already and have seen them before. Your brain applies the same rule to different types of door handles on all sorts of doors, “It is there so that I can open this door”. You do not question the choice of door handles or look into the finer details in terms of why that door handle in particular was chosen, because if your brain had to do this every time a new stimulus presented itself it wouldn’t be able to cope and would overload. This is why we have Latent Inhibition. It allows us to distinguish familiar doorknobs from unfamiliar doorknobs so we can simplify how we experience the world.
Low latent inhibition
With low latent inhibition, an individual almost treats familiar stimuli in the same manner as they would new stimuli. Think of the details you notice when you see something new for the first time and how it grabs your attention. From those details all kinds of questions may arise in your mind. “What is that, what does it do, why is it there, what does it mean, how can it be utilized” and so on. The more of those questions you are able to figure out or answer, the better your understanding of that stimulus. The better your understanding of that stimulus, the more logical connections you are able to make between that stimulus and others around it. With the use of human memory you are then able to remember which questions you’ve already answered in relation to a particular stimulus, and those answers may then result in more questions. Low latent inhibition will usually result in extremely accurate instincts due to the sheer level of thought, processing and logical connection that has been made previously when faced with a stimulus or multiple stimuli.
So in terms of what we might see, somebody you know who’s generally always worn glasses might approach you having bought a new pair of glasses that look almost exactly the same but for a slightly different logo on the side. You usually wouldn’t notice the change of logo because your brain has almost dismissed the minor details that go with the pair of glasses they wear as ‘unimportant’. It’s your brains way of ensuring that it doesn’t need to constantly process new stimuli that probably won’t have any significance or importance to it. Yes they might wear glasses, but so what? In this example we simply see the glasses then move on.
An example of how somebody with low latent inhibition may see the same scenario could be that they almost instantly notice the smallest changes that seeing the new pair of glasses presents to them via the observation of stimuli, which may then lead to connections being made that people with normal latent inhibition might not make. For example from seeing the new logo, somebody with a low latent inhibition might deduce that their friend had been shopping since the last time they saw them, if they had been shopping they might have also recently received their monthly salary which meant they were able to buy the glasses. Did the friend have some insecurity with the last pair of glasses? If the person with low latent inhibition also knows the surrounding area well (and knows where the stores are that sell new glasses), and they know when the last time they saw their friend wearing his old glasses was (2 days ago), they might be able to work out the exact locations their friend will have been to, and depending upon which food their friend likes, where their friend might have eaten, and depending upon what their friends interests are, which other stores they might have been to after having been paid and what kind of things they might have bought…all from a small change of logo on a pair of glasses.
That same process can be true when any form of stimulus is observed by someone with low latent inhibition, and can be particularly effective in everyday use with regards to problem solving, data analysis, creativity, artistic expression and an infinite number of other possibilities. How do you think somebody with low latent inhibition and a high IQ (so that their brain can handle the constant influx of stimuli), might fare if stranded in a forest for example, miles away from anybody else and with no tools or no help readily available? The low latent inhibition would allow them to not only process and understand all stimuli in their surrounding environment, but to utilize that stimuli to further their goal and to help them adapt.
A great example of how a lot of people work with LLI is their brains naturally work on a “why, why, why, why” basis until they get to the root cause or origins of anything, rules, thoughts, someones intentions, someones actions, machinery etc. An example could be that most people when asked “why do you clean your teeth”, would answer “because i want them to be clean”, “Why”, “because I’m hygienic and i want them to look nice”, “why”, “because if they look nice other people will notice and i want that”, “why”, “because i want to look attractive to other people”, “why”, “so that i can find a partner i guess”. THERE is the root cause, they want to find a partner. People with LLI (at least like my own LLI) are always automatically asking and answering those why questions based on our intuition and perception, and because the intuition and perception of a few with LLI are based on far more stimuli (and therefore details noticed) they are extremely accurate. So in the above example if someone with LLI was asked why they think someone cleans their teeth – their intuition and perception going by the person in front of them would usually instantly result in an answer of “because they want to seem physically more appealing to a potential mate” (we would not starve to death if we lost all our teeth in this day and age). Their brain will have already asked and answered many WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY questions. That same automatic process applies to almost everything someone with LLI comes into contact with.
Further Details
Almost all those who have low latent inhibition are unaware that they are experiencing the world in a totally unique and different way compared to other people. It is generally only through interaction with people who don’t have low latent inhibition and the reactions of those people that brings about the feeling of being ‘unexplainably different’. People may for example laugh at your ideas or the connections that you are able to make or ridicule them (due to lack of understanding on their part), or may look at you as being extremely arrogant or a ‘know it all’. This is because extremely advanced logical connections made by someone with low latent inhibition will often feel like common sense, when in reality those without low latent inhibition wouldn’t even have considered those connections as a possibility. It can also mean that you come across as very intolerant at times (because perfectly reasonable suggestions by people without LLI might just seem stupid to you). There are many different characteristics than can be attributed to the condition; you will find some on the “advantages and disadvantages page” and many, many more on the Facebook awareness group and our forum.
Although low latent inhibition can be an incredible gift it does require a high enough IQ in order for your brain to handle the constant processing of stimuli. Without a sufficient IQ level, having low latent inhibition may lead to various forms of autism. It should also be noted that most autistic people have a lower than normal level of latent inhibition, which is one of the many reasons it is so difficult to confirm an LLI diagnosis. We believe that a lot of cases of LLI are actually missed or misdiagnosed as OCD, ADHD or Asperger’s syndrome but to name a few.
Do I have low latent inhibition?
It is incredibly hard to self-diagnose and we are finding that it is much easier for people to reach a successful diagnosis by meeting others with LLI. There is an exceptionally unique sense of relief when you meet other people who are ‘exactly like you’, your whole perspective on life and living with low latent inhibition will change and hopefully become more comfortable. For those out there with LLI, chances are that most of the difficulties you have faced or have yet to face have been experienced by others with the condition too. A lot of the relief we have witnessed by people who come to the Facebook group stems from knowing why they have felt different, that they are not alone and that there are others like them who are there to help.
We also believe that it is important to acknowledge that there are probably thousands of people if not more who have a lower than usual latent inhibition and that it’s not as rare as people may think. The very rare side to LLI is possessing true creative genius, or not suffering from autism as well as having LLI. Almost all autistic people may indeed have LLI, but that doesn’t mean their brains can handle having it, or that they can utilise it to its full effect. It’s extremely rare to have LLI and be able to use it in the incredibly unique ways in which its benefits can be used throughout life. It’s even more unlikely to have high IQ (over 130), and LLI, no autism and have manageable anxiety levels.
We would also like to stress that LLI is not one specific trait or characteristic and that it’s different in every case. Many might have a lower than usual latent inhibition but in such a way that they don’t feel many benefits and aren’t creating any masterpieces or aren’t extremely gifted in several areas. It is important to not panic or feel down if you think you have LLI but that it’s not making you a genius or that it only seems to give you trouble, as that is far more usual than having LLI and being classed as a genius. To use an example easier to follow, if LLI is chicken in terms of food recipes, ADHD might be salsa, OCD might be barbecue sauce, Asperger’s syndrome might be salad, and your IQ level might be the seasoning. There are obviously many other combinations or other ‘recipes’ you could make, but only a rare few would achieve the ultimate true taste that you’d want.
There are currently no official diagnostic tests for low latent inhibition, and no scale in terms of just how low ones latent inhibition might be. Both of those are things that we are currently working to address and we will be publishing our finds as we continue to delve into the area. We are also researching the work of Carl Jung, Katharine C Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers with regards to personality types, as we wish look into just how different personality types can characterise low latent inhibition.
There are many different interpretations of low latent inhibition out there; some written by those who don’t have it themselves, some copied from an original source and pasted throughout the internet and some that we and I myself cannot relate to. I decided to write the above in an effort to reach as wide an audience as possible and to try and clarify exactly what LLI is. Here on the resource and discovery centre you will come across several different descriptions of low latent inhibition, all given by people who live with it and have spent years trying to understand and manage it.

If your underwear drawer only consists of your one favorite style (or you've just never put too much thought into what styles and fabrics fill up your panty collection), try checking out all the different underwear pieces you should own, according to the experts. That's right — I've sourced four specific categories of underwear (divvied up by the different activities you do while wearing them), and come up with 12 awesome styles to fit anyone's preference.
If you're a loungewear lover, it's time to update your drawers with pieces that specifically focus on breathability and comfort while you're sleeping. But if you're often found breaking a sweat, switch it up to styles specifically created for sporting beneath activewear. (If you're looking for underwear that stands up to your sprints, check out the pair of high cut runner-specific undies, which give your legs plenty of running room, sans chafing). Even if your particular undies concern is more a question of "Is my panty line showing?" you better believe there's a style for that, too. They'll keep your outfit looking on point, and you'll no longer have panty lines poking through your tights- and leggings-heavy outfits. So without further ado, ahead are the four undies categories that could benefit from a little style update — and why.

For Sleeping: Comfortable Undies in Breathable Fabrics

The experts at PopSugar suggest that "wearing tight underwear or a pair of polyester panties can lock in moisture and lead to yeast infections," so it's best to stick to cotton undies overnight while you sleep. Cotton allows for air circulation, which is important when you're sporting your undies for longer periods of time.

Non-Binding Cotton Boyshorts

Hanes Invisible Premium Cotton-Blend Boyshorts (Sizes S-2X), $17-$29, Amazon

These cotton-blend boyshorts have a flexible elastic waist that won't dig in, as well as comfortable leg bands that make sure they won't ride up, causing you discomfort during the night. Bonus: These come in a pack of six with a variety of cute colors and prints — but you can pick your preference from six different pattern and style options.

Ultra-Soft, Breathable Cheeksters With Cooling Technology

Adidas Women's Climacool Cheekster Underwear (Sizes XS-L), $10-$12, Amazon

When you sleep, you want a comfortable panty that has a full shape and an ultra-soft material that won't ride up while you snooze. The breathability in this lightweight Climacool underwear also helps you feel fresh when waking up, which might not happen if you're sporting constricting panties that retain heat. Bonus: This pair is tagless for added comfort. Plus, one user said that these cheeksters are so comfortable, you won't even notice you're wearing them.

Waster-Resistant, Leak-Proof Undies

Leak Proof Control Briefs 3 Pack, $16, Amazon

Waking up to small leaks and stains on your clothes or sheets is the worst, so wearing leak-proof underwear to bed can help you sleep a lot sounder — knowing you've got everything in check. The lining in these comfort stretch panties is water resistant, keeping moisture from leaking into unwanted places, and they're breathable and hypoallergenic to keep your downstairs clean and irritation-free while you sleep. Plus, Joelle Barron, a contributor for Romper, tried leak-proof underwear for a week and "freaking loved them." Bonus: This set come in a pack of three cute colors and prints.

For Working Out: Moisture-Wicking Fabrics That Don't Chafe

According to a study done on the subject, synthetic, sweat-wicking fabrics are better for keeping you comfortable while working out than their traditional cotton counterparts. The study said women were particularly receptive when it came to thermoregulatory benefits, so it's time to get serious about your undies set for sweating.

Antimicrobial Sport Thong Fights Bacteria

ExOfficio Give-n-Go Sport Mesh Thong (Sizes XS-XL), $10-$22, Amazon
It's no secret that undies can become not-so-pleasant after an active day of mowing the lawn or taking nieces and nephews to the park in the warm weather. This active thong has an antimicrobial treatment in the fabric that reduces odor and keeps you feeling great. Plus, the mesh fabric is breathable and quick drying to keep you cool. One user gives this panty five stars for being "the most comfortable thong she's ever worn."

Breathable, Quick-Drying Brief

Champion Women's Absolute Brief (Sizes S-L), $7-$10, Amazon

Dr. Nicole E. Williams of the Gynecology Institute of Chicago told Elle.com to steer clear of sheer, lace, or silky underwear at the gym. She said, "when you exercise in non-breathable underwear like that, your vagina suffocates," which easily causes yeast infections. This machine-washable workout brief features Champion's unique vapor technology that evaporates moisture asap. With stay-put edges, they'll remain in place until the end of your workout class — and they're totally breathable with targeted ventilation (you can even snag the style in purple or pink, too!).

Moisture-Wicking, Seamless Panty

Balanced Tech Seamless Bikini Panties 3 Pack (Sizes S-XL), $14, Amazon

Before you head to your next spinning class, make sure to have a selection of seamless underwear on deck. Sandra Lee, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, told Womens Health, "if your underwear is old, the elastic becomes exposed and can potentially give you a rash." These three pairs of active underwear are anti-odor, breathable, and feature vital moisture control to keep you dry when working up a sweat. Bonus: These panties are machine washable, and you can choose your favorite three-pack from seven different color ways.

High-Cut Running Underwear

ASICS Stride Brief (Sizes XXS-S), $24-$36, Amazon

For runners who are looking for underwear that gives them the most comfortable and simple leg movements, this workout panty with a high cut is made specifically for your strides. This pair also offers a soft fit and aerodynamic flat seam stitching. One user loves them so much, that she buys them for everyday wear.

For Underneath Tight Clothes: No-Line Fabrics

When it comes to fighting a recurring VPL (visible panty line), there are plenty of nifty clothing hacks to employ. Cosmpolitan, for one, suggests sporting thicker fabrics on top, to minimize lines underneath. If you're not looking for a complete clothing overhaul though, it's worth it to check out the laser-cut fabrics and lacy alternatives to defined underwear lines.

Silky, Invisible Laser Cut Panty

Calvin Klein Printed Invisibles Thong Panty (Sizes S-L), $9-$12, Amazon

This printed pair of silky panties are laser cut and barely there, so they're completely no-show under your tightest outfits. They're also tagless and lightweight, so you'll be both confident and comfortable in your hot new party dress. Bonus: These undies are machine washable, and you can pick your favorite pattern and color from four different options.

No-VPL Lace Thong

Hanky Panky Original Thong (One Size, One Size Plus, One Size Fits Most), $20-$22, Amazon

A comfortable lace thong that promises no VPLs sounds too good to be true — but with this pair, you'll be wanting to wear a thong under everything. One size 18 reviewer said they love this pair, as it doesn't dig in at the wrong places or ride up after wearing them all day. Think wearing thongs is bad for your downstairs area? Dr. Jill M. Rabin, an Associate Professor of Women's Health told Huffington Post that unless you have a "predisposition to getting infections," there aren't "really any dangers" to wearing thongs.

For Everyday Wear: Versatile, Multifunctional Styles & Fabrics

When it comes to finding the right undies for your everyday wear, think of the clothing styles and silhouettes you wear most often first. According to Alicia Vardo, an intimate apparel examiner, one of the most important areas to focus on is the crotch. She told Examiner.com, "The crotch of the panty should fit just right against your body. It shouldn't bunch up in the back or the front and should be snug." Think of the underwear styles that often get you this result, and go from there!

Full Coverage, Mid-Rise Boyshorts

Victoria's Secret Everyday Boyshort Panty (Sizes M-L), $18, Amazon

These boyshort undies by Victoria's Secret were created with everyday wear in mind. They have a full coverage, mid-rise fit, and they're crafted from an ultra-smooth stretchy material. They'll look and feel good underneath your denim, dresses, or short shorts, and the back even features a cute ruche detail.

Classic, Machine Washable Cotton Brief

Calvin Klein 3 Pack Radiant Cotton Bikini Panty (Sizes S-L), $25-$30, Amazon

A lingerie expert told Refinery29, “Briefs can be absolutely gorgeous and, unless you're trying to hide panty lines, are great for every day.” This three-pack of machine washable cotton briefs by Calvin Klein features the classic logo comfort waistband in a different variety of colors, plus a smooth fabric that's ready for all-day wear. One user gives this pair top ratings for being a high quality cotton panty that never causes wedgies (#important).

Comfortable & Classic High-Waisted Panties

Bali Women's Cool Cotton Skamp (Sizes M-3XL), $4-$25, Amazon

If you prefer high-waisted fits to lower or mid-rise pants and denim (same here!), then it's time for you to snag yourself a pair of comfortable panties with a high waist. They'll make a world of difference and feel way more balanced underneath your favorite high-waisted shorts or skinnies. These ones have a tag-free design for added comfort, and the cool cotton fabric is breathable and moisture-wicking. One user bought this pair after her doctor recommended wearing cotton undies (because they're better for your v-region) and loves the fit, even under tightly fitting jeans.
Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.

If you've had a baby or have friends who've recently popped out a bundle of screaming, pooping joy, you may be familiar with "mommy brain" — a phenomenon wherein pregnant women and new mothers experience drastic losses of memory and overall brain fog in the months leading up to and following childbirth. The folk wisdom is that motherhood turns the brain into a pile of mashed banana for a few months, before it bounces back to its old self. The realities of pregnancy's and motherhood's affects on the brain, however, are far more complicated than that — and recent research indicates that pregnancy reshapes our brains in ways more far-reaching and permanent than we'd ever thought before. The good news? A lot of these alterations are, frankly, kind of awesome.
Why does having a baby change our brains? We're still figuring that out — but many of the changes appear to be due to the massive hormonal changes that occur in our bodies when we carry a child. Some of the brain changes have also clearly developed in order to help mothers cope and bond with their new children.
The idea that a mother's brain endures a few months of bizarre fogginess (which, in reality, is probably due to sleep deprivation rather than hormones) and then "snaps back" to its previous pre-baby incarnation is as unrealistic as all those celebrity mothers claiming they lost 50 pounds of pregnancy weight by just chanting and lifting baby bottles out of the fridge. But rather than bemoaning the way motherhood changes our brains, we should be celebrating.
So new moms, welcome to your new post-pregnancy brain. It's actually seriously cool.

1. Your Brain Literally Becomes Bigger

People who believe that old line about motherhood making women become flaky can go get bent. It turns out that, in reality, the amount of gray matter in a woman's brain increases a small amount after she gives birth. She'll see particular growth in areas that will be of use during motherhood (which we'll get to later), but the general result is a definite increase in size.

2. You're More Prone To Obsessive Behavior

The parts of the brain that regulate patterns and decision-making are a few of the areas that get a gray-matter boost after birth. Why? Most likely because it helps women regularly monitor and care for their kid. This boost also results in an increased likelihood of obsessive behaviors: 11 percent of postpartum women surveyed in a 2013 study reported feeling obsessive about certain things, like cleaning surfaces, checking their baby's breathing, and worrying about hurting them.

3. You Can Better Cope With Stress

The amygdala is the part of the brain linked to both pleasure and fear — and it not only grows significantly in size after a woman gives birth; it stays enlarged for the rest of her life. A big amygdala doesn't make you paranoid, though — rather, the amygdala plays a key role in how the body emotionally responds to huge stresses, like trauma (or, say, suddenly being responsible for a tiny human being). Having a bigger amygdala helps women cope with the huge pressures of raising a child, as well as bond with them emotionally.
It's not universal, though: A study found that the biggest change in amygdala size happened in women who seriously bonded with their babies and couldn't stop gushing about them.

4. You're High On Love

There's a very real scientific reason why mothers don't just abandon their babies on the side of a mountain every time they manage to somehow poo on the ceiling. Childbirth intensely sensitizes the dopamine network of the brain, which is the system that produces feelings of love and happiness. It's formally called the "maternal dopaminergic reward system" (if you want to get catchy). A 2015 discussion in The Atlantic revealed that an MRI scan of the brain of a mother bonding with her infant looks a lot like the MRI scan of someone who is falling in love: Both events trigger your brain to release the same shower of feel-good chemicals that basically tint everything rosy.

5. You Have A Sharper Sense Of Smell

This is just weird. Part of the "neurogenesis," or stimulation of new cells, that occurs in the brains of women who've just given birth is focused exclusively on one thing: developing a truly superior sense of smell. The process seems to be kick-started by the arrival of prolactin, a hormone related to a woman's ability to express milk. Scientists think this might be because women have always needed to be able to distinguish and delight in their own baby's particular smell — especially in the past, when babies were more likely to be raised in communal groups.

6. You Have Better Memory And Spatial Awareness

If you've had kids, you can officially tackle that complex 3-D modeling project with confidence — because having a child improves the brain's plasticity, increasing memory and spatial awareness. It's because the postpartum brain's hippocampus — which creates our memory — gets a boost in gray matter. So, far from inducing brain fog, having a baby actually strengthens women's cognitive capacity and ability to retain information in their brain.

7. You're At Increased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

The brain changes that happen to mothers aren't all good news, though. The increased flow of hormones, particularly estrogen, that occurs during pregnancy might make mothers more vulnerable to degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's later in life. Motherhood might help fight some brain-related degeneration, however. We aren't exactly sure about why, what warning signals it sets off, or how we can prevent it — but scientists are on the case.
But overall, the ways motherhood rewires your brain are awesome. So don't worry about the baby fog believers — instead, stay busy enjoying your new superpowers (okay, maybe having a keen sense of smell isn't always a superpower...like when there's a dirty diaper around)