How To Keep Everything, Forever: The Incredible Storage Potential Of DNA

The idea of using DNA for data storage has long fascinated scientists, and progress in this arena has been advancing over the years. Harvard scientists recently, however, smashed previous DNA data storage capacities exponentially. They’ve managed to create a system for encoding digital information into DNA that can store 5.5 petabits -that’s 700 terabytes- in one gram of DNA.
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Why DNA?

DNA has held scientists captive in terms of a storage mechanism for various reasons, and they all play off of each other:

• DNA is extremely durable: it’s a very stable medium
• DNA is extremely dense: that is, it’s incredibly enticing as a storage medium
• DNA can outlast everything else we currently use to store data; it doesn’t require special mediums for storage to keep it functional

Why Now?

As we continue to progress in the digital age, storing mechanisms we use become outdated almost as quickly as they come onto the market. From floppy disks to flash drives to the cloud concept, people want more, easier, and faster ways to store information: whether it’s security footage from a major city’s transportation hubs or family photos. What’s more, as we evolve into a society with a heightened understanding of climate change and environmental pollution, we want digital storage to be eco-friendly. (As it turns out, going paperless isn’t quite as “green” as you might think.)

How Does It Work?

Basically, strands of DNA that store 96 bits are synthesized, with each of the bases (TGAC) representing a binary value (T and G = 1, A and C = 0). To read it, one simply sequences it, as though sequencing the human genome, and converts the sequencing back to binary. Additionally, an “address” -a key to interpreting the sequencing- is given at the beginning of the block of DNA, which allows the DNA to be sequenced out of order, then later sorted into usable data.
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None of this would be possible, however, without advances in sequencing and analytics including microfluids and labs-on-a-chip. These advances have allowed for better and faster sequencing and utilization of DNA in terms of its data storage capability.

So what did researchers George Church and Sri Kosuri, the lead scientists on this project, store on their single gram of DNA? A digital copy of Church’s book “Regenesis”…70 billion times. At this rate the number of copies of this book far surpasses every other publication in human history.

And this is only the start of the work: the researchers have already set their sights on trying to encode living DNA: that is, the material that makes us up, the stuff of life. So far, storing data in living DNA only works for a very short time, but even this has incredible implications for things like secure data transfers. We live in a pretty remarkable world these days.

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How Parents Build Narcissistic Children

We have many fears when it comes to the well-being of our children. Will they be safe? Will they be healthy? Will they fit in? All too often, we are focused on outside threats. We forget that the greatest danger to most human beings is internal. The most insidious threats to your child have little to do with a speeding car or a bully on the playground.
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Detecting narcissism, and other personality disorders, is difficult to do in children. Their brains and personalities are still developing. They are still learning traits like empathy, good judgement, and a concern for others. Most toddlers would be classified as raging narcissists when held to an adult scale. Most teenagers would, as well.

So – how do we determine whether a child is at risk for developing a narcissistic personality?

Children’s Psychiatrist Efrain Bleiberg lists the following behavioral problems that could be an indication of budding narcissism:

* Interpersonal relationship problems

* Coldness

* Meanness

* Attempts to control or manipulate

* School problems

* Impulsiveness

* Poorly handles frustration

* Mood swings

* Lying, stealing, or breaking rules

* Exhibitionism

* Self-doubts and intense envy of others

* Constant need for attention

Of course, when looking at these traits, it is important to view them in the context of the child’s age and environment. A five year old who excitedly screams “look at me!” when learning to ride a bicycle is not a concern. A fifth grader who tries to hurt a new baby for fear of losing the spotlight is.
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In addition to the symptoms listed above, an overblown sense of entitlement is a strong indicator of a budding narcissist. A child who demands better treatment than their peers may be at risk. Narcissistic children are also known to be more aggressive than their classmates. They do not function well in a social setting and have trouble making friends. They may seek excessive praise and attention. Even when they receive it, however, they will remain insecure. It is a void that can seemingly never be filled. According to Dr. Bleiberg, narcissistic children are often lonely, angry, empty, and envious.

So – how do we protect our children against this disease?

Researchers were able to identify one thing we can do, as parents, to fight the development of narcissism. A narcissistic child’s need for attention and low self-esteem often prompts parents to lavish them with excessive praise. This, however, is one of the most harmful things we can do. The researchers found that an inflated level of praise, while well intended, may actually lower a child’s confidence and sense of autonomy. Children with low self-esteem reacted to excessive praise with an increased level of anxiety. They felt pressure to wow their parents again on their next pursuit. They became more afraid of failure, and less likely to challenge themselves. They grew increasingly reliant on validation from others.
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Thankfully, a child’s behavior is easy to change. Children are more resilient than adults, and they learn much more quickly. Their brains and character are primed for growth. If you worry that your child is on the road to narcissism, there are many steps you can take. Praise carefully. Teach empathy and boundaries. Allow them to fail, and teach them that life goes on when they do. Help your child to develop a sense of personal identity. Show them the difference between pride and ego. Teach them the tricky balance between independence and looking to others for support. These lessons are all a part of growing up.

Most importantly, lead by example. Your child is watching you.

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13 Signs You’ve Found a Gentleman

Unfortunately, chivalry seems to be going out of style. Truly, so are good manners and common courtesy. The gentleman is a dying breed. It is tragically difficult to find a man who is patient, considerate, and kind. They are so rare, in fact, that many women will mistake a man’s good manners for a sexual advance.
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So – how do you identify a real gentleman?

Here are thirteen signs:

1. He tells the truth.

A gentleman is honest. You can trust him to be straight with you. Even when the truth does not put him in a flattering light, his sense of integrity is greater than his ego.

2. He does not eat until everyone has been served.

He will not act selfishly or impulsively. He is considerate. He is willing to wait patiently to ensure others are comfortable.

3. He stands up for others.

A true gentleman is not only kind, but brave. When he sees someone being abused – physically or verbally – he will confront the offender. He acts as a guardian to the welfare of others.

4. He keeps his sexual adventures between himself and his lady.

He would never humiliate her by sharing their private moments with his friends. He doesn’t need to. He respects himself, and he respects the woman he chooses to be intimate with.

5. He keeps his word.

He does not have to tell you that he is a man of his word. He shows you every day. If a gentleman promises to do something, you can confidently plan your day around it.
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6. He pays attention.

When you are speaking to him, he is listening. He isn’t spacing out or checking his phone. He isn’t texting. He is certainly not tweeting.

7. He is kind to everyone.

Even if someone treats him rudely, he does not retaliate. A true gentleman will always choose the high road. He has nothing to gain by lowering his own behavioral standards.

8. He walks by the street when he is walking with you.

He feels more comfortable if his body is between yours and the road. This is a small gesture that often goes unnoticed. He is protective without being overbearing.

9. He is on time.

He respects your time. He is mature enough to stick to a schedule. He gets no pleasure out of making you wait around for him.

10. He offers up his jacket, his seat, his arm…

He is quick to identify the needs of others, and he strives to meet them immediately. He puts your comfort before his own.

11. He reaches for the check.

He offers to pay. If you insist on splitting it, he listens and respects your wishes. He does not make a big show of insisting to foot the bill.

12. He holds the door.

He is patient and attentive. He has good manners that he puts into practice daily.

13. He says “please” and “thank you”.

He excuses himself when he’s made a mistake. His politeness knows no bounds.

“Chivalry: It’s the little boy that kisses my hand, the young man who holds the door open for me, and the old man who tips his hat to me. None of it is a reflection of me, but a reflection of them,” wrote Donna Lynn Hope. Do not buy into the myth that chivalry and feminism can not coexist. Being a gentleman is about living up to one’s own high standards. If you find a true gentleman in your life, strive to keep him. He is a rarity.

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The Biggest and Most Surprising Threat To Your Marriage

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope,” wrote Maya Angelou. Love is, indeed, a powerful thing. It seems able to overcome any obstacle.
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Why, then, do marriages so often fall apart?

What is the most common cause of divorce? Money problems? Infidelity? Incompatibility? These are all big ones, but there is a problem more common and insidious than the three of these combined. It occurs, to some degree, in nearly every marriage.

It’s marital neglect.

Most of us consider ourselves too busy to make our marriage a priority. We feel secure, and put our energy into other areas of our lives. We don’t feel a need to intentionally invest in our marriage. It’s not in danger.

Until it is.

When we do not invest in our marriage in an intentional way, we allow it to weaken. We tend not to worry about the hard times. They seem so far off. We invest in our career, our children, and our home. Marriage remains on the back burner, ignored.

Then disaster strikes.

This could be in the form of a job loss, an illness, or a heated disagreement. Whatever the reason, your marriage doesn’t feel so safe anymore. What you left happily simmering on the back burner starts to boil over, or stews down to nothing at all. You weren’t paying attention – and things changed.
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If you want to keep your marriage strong and resilient, you can not wait until trouble comes to invest your time and energy into saving it. You need to start when things are good.

Here are five things you can do each day to keep your marriage strong:

1. Hug for thirty seconds.

Hugging is good for your health, as well as your connection. Thirty seconds is a long enough hug to feel intimate, but short enough not to impose on your day.

2. Share an inside joke.

Laughter connects you to your spouse and relieves stress. Laugh together during the good times, and the bad times will pass more easily. As Joanne Woodward said,“Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that’s a real treat.”

3. Share your day.

Before you go to bed, take turns telling your partner the details of your workday. You’ll be surprised at how much you learn.
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4. Check in at lunch.

Have a quick face-time chat, send a sweet text, or forward a funny email. Show your partner they are on your mind.

5. Kiss often.

Kissing is magical in its ability to bond two people. Kiss hello. Kiss goodbye. Kiss please and thank you. Just kiss!

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person,” explained Mignon McLaughlin. Strive to fall in love with your spouse every day. Soon, your relationship will be bulletproof.

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Is a Terrible Job Really Better Than No Job at All?

Conventional wisdom dictates that a job – any job – is better for our mental health than unemployment. This line of thinking makes sense. After all, our wallets need income – any income – and financial stress can contribute greatly to mental health issues. Having a job also gives us a sense of purpose and routine. These things are critical in fighting many mental health problems.
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However, new research suggests that this thinking simply does not hold up in the real world. While having a job is important, the quality of the job is far more so. Having a poor quality job is often unavoidable. We need a source of income to maintain basic life requirements like food and shelter. However, an unfulfilling work life may have a seriously adverse affect on our mental health. Surprisingly, the toll taken by a bad job can be even greater than the one taken by complete unemployment.

Psychosocial job quality refers to a job’s capacity to challenge the employee and promote a sense of autonomy and control. Work with a high degree of psychosocial job quality will allow the employee to choose from a variety of tasks, and will offer the option of doing them in a creative way. Fields like teaching, management consulting, and politics have this in spades. However, jobs such as data entry and telemarketing sales, as well as automated tasks such as assembly line work, do not offer it. Unfortunately, jobs in the former group are far more scarce than those in the latter.

It is not surprising that engaging jobs promote better mental health than boring ones. Who wouldn’t rather be a graphic designer than a cashier? The shock, however, comes in the finding that a disengaging job is even worse for our mental well-being than total unemployment.

Unemployment is extremely taxing on mental health. Besides the obvious financial repercussions, it takes a serious toll on our self-esteem and sense of dignity. It can damage our relationships and our physical health. There is ample evidence to suggest that while drug addiction can lead to unemployment, unemployment can fuel addiction, as well. Being unemployed makes us feel bored, useless, and terrified.
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What could be worse than that?

The Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) found the answer. Their study was published by Peter Butterworth and colleagues at the Australian National University. It determined that, although unemployment is terrible for mental health, a job that fails to engage the employee can be far more so. Butterworth examined people moving from unemployment into employment and found a massive difference between them based on job type.

The respondents who moved from unemployment to work with a high level of psychosocial job quality showed a marked improvement in their mental health. Those who moved from unemployment to poor quality jobs, however, experienced a significant worsening of their mental state. The financial and social benefits of employment were not enough to offset the monotony of their work.

Unfortunately, we do not always have the option of a stimulating and fulfilling work life. However, when given the choice between unemployment and a terrible job, those with the opportunity to do so may want to think twice. Managers can also use this information to make low-level work as engaging as possible. By injecting otherwise monotonous jobs with a dose of variety and autonomy, we can keep employees healthier and more engaged at work.

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7 Common Manipulative Phrases and How To Shut Them Down

People do not choose to manipulate because they care. Manipulation is only control masquerading as love. Its ability to look like affection can make this one of the most insidious forms of abuse. “Just because something isn’t a lie does not mean that it isn’t deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction,” wrote Criss Jami.

Don’t allow your life to be hijacked by a manipulator’s sweet words. Hold tight to your sense of control and make your own choices. If this manipulation becomes a pattern, consider leaving the relationship behind. Manipulation is not only controlling, but deeply selfish.
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There are some common lines of thinking that manipulators like to exploit to get their way.

Thankfully, all of them are easily shut down with common sense.

Here are seven common manipulative phrases, each followed by a logical and self-valuing response:

1. “Look what you made me do!”

I do not have the power to make you do anything. You chose to respond the way you did. You need to carry the responsibility for your own actions. I can only own mine.

2. “How can you still be mad at me after I bought you that beautiful necklace?”

My forgiveness can not be bought with money. You were very kind to do that. However, if this necklace is contingent on my forgiveness, it is not a gift. It is a bribe. You can have it back.

3. “Don’t wear that out. Let me check your phone. Who’ve you been texting? It’s not you I don’t trust – it’s other people.”

You don’t have to trust other people. You just have to trust me to be faithful and honest. When you behave this way, you assume that I am either a cheater or a very weak person. I am neither.
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4. “I want you to stay home because that is what’s best for our kids. I just want to take care of you.”

The best thing for my children is to have a mother who is happy and whole. The choice to work or to stay home is mine. By doing what makes me happy, I am teaching our children to have autonomy over their own lives. Is forcing me into a lifestyle I don’t want taking care of me? Or is it tightening your control over my life? (Note: This can also work the other way, with a controlling partner forcing their significant other into undesired work.)

5. “I know you feel strongly about this, but I need you to do it my way. It’s what’s best for us.”

What’s best for us is to make decisions as a couple. What’s best for me is to have my input heard and respected. Is your way truly what’s best for us, or is it what’s best for you?

6. “If you leave, I will hurt myself.”

If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you need to call 911. You can also call the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. I have already made my choice. I’ve explained my reasons for doing so. I am not coming back.

7. “I know you don’t want kids right now, but let’s try anyways. I just want us to be a family.”

Family can take many different forms. The common thread between them is a feeling of mutual respect. I have the right to choose how many children we have, and when we have them. I will tell you when I am ready.
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As C.J. Roberts wrote in Seduced in the Dark, “I’ve been doing this a long time- manipulating people to get my way. That’s why you think you love me. Because I’ve broken you down and built you back up to believe it. It wasn’t an accident. Once you leave this behind, you’ll see that.” Sometimes it takes removing yourself from manipulation to see it for what it is. Sometimes it only takes one well placed rebuttal to shut it down. Be wary of manipulation, and don’t be afraid to leave. Only you have the right to control your own life.

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What Would You Do? An Act of Kindness.

“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learned how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future,” wrote  Nelson Mandela.
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This act of kindness was truly a simple one. A fast food meal costs so little. A note is free. Its impact on this woman, however, was immense. What’s startling in this story is not only the display of compassion. It’s the idea that a small show of empathy like this one is such a rare and remarkable thing in our world.

Life is so hard.

When did we stop helping one another?

Sometimes we are touched by somebody’s pain, and we want to help. However, we refuse to acknowledge it. We are conditioned by society to turn away. We say we are too busy. We say we are too broke. We assume somebody else will help. We may even blame the needy party themselves for being in their position. The true reasons for our inaction run much deeper, however. Skepticism, cynicism, and narcissism often stop us from acting on a compassionate nature.

It’s not always the gift itself that makes the biggest impact, but the heart from which it was given. This woman needed a burger, yes, but more than that she needed encouragement. She needed kindness. She needed to know that someone, even a stranger, was in her corner. By sending the meal and note, this man validated her. He saw her trying. He saw her struggling. He saw her knocked down by cruelty. He could have turned the other way, but instead he helped her up.

Suppose you saw this scene unfold. What would you have done? Most of us would sympathize, shaking our heads. We would avert our eyes, embarrassed to have seen this emotional moment. Most of us would see the problem, but choose not to act. We do this every day.

How lucky for her that this stranger was no ordinary person. He chose to lift her up.

How many opportunities do you have to do the same?

If you open your eyes, they are everywhere. They are standing on the side of the road with a cardboard sign. They are eating in a soup kitchen. They are working extra shifts to buy diapers.

You can help.

Even if you do not have a cent to your name, there is something powerful you can do. The meal he bought this woman will come and go, but his note will leave an imprint on her life. A smile and a kind word cost you nothing, and can make all the difference.

Most people avert their eyes when they see struggle. This causes undue shame and belittlement. People start to feel invisible, just when they need to be seen the most. You can help to fight this dynamic.
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Smile at someone who is struggling. Lend a tired mother some encouraging words. If you have a dollar to spare, buy a burger for someone who is hungry.

You may be the only one who does.

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