This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

Edge computing solutions are key tools that help companies grapple with rising data volumes across industries. These types of solutions are critical in allowing companies to gain more control over the data their IoT devices create and in reducing their reliance on (and the costs of) cloud computing.

These systems are becoming more sought-after — 40% of companies that provide IoT solutions reported that edge computing came up more in discussion with customers in 2017 than the year before, according to Business Insider Intelligence’s 2017 Global IoT Executive Survey. But companies need to know whether they should look into edge computing solutions, and what in particular they can hope to gain from shifting data processing and analysis from the cloud to the edge.

There are three particular types of problems that edge computing solutions are helping to combat across industries:

• Security issues. Edge computing can limit the exposure of critical data by minimizing how often it’s transmitted. Further, they pre-process data, so there’s less data to secure overall.
• Access issues. These systems help to provide live insights regardless of whether there’s a network connection available, greatly expanding where companies and organizations can use connected devices and the data they generate.
• Transmission efficiency. Edge computing solutions process data where it’s created so less needs to be sent to the cloud, leading to lower cloud storage requirements and reduced transmission cost.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence examines how edge computing is reducing companies' reliance on cloud computing in three key industries: healthcare, telecommunications, and the automotive space. We explore how these systems mitigate issues in each sector by helping to efficiently process growing troves of data, expanding the potential realms of IoT solutions a company can offer, and bringing enhanced computing capability to remote and mobile platforms.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• In healthcare, companies and organizations are using edge computing to improve telemedicine and remote monitoring capabilities.
• For telecommunications companies, edge computing is helping to reduce network congestion and enabling a shift toward the IoT platform market.
• And in the automotive space, edge computing systems are enabling companies to increase the capabilities of connected cars and trucks and approach autonomy.

In full, the report:

• Explores the key advantages edge computing solutions can provide.
• Highlights the circumstances when companies should look into edge systems.
• Identifies key vendors and partners in specific industries while showcasing case studies of successful edge computing programs.

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• Getting new exotic gear is the best part of "Destiny 2," Bungie's sci-fi first-person shooter for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
• Exotic weapons are the best in the game. They're also extremely rare.
• Each exotic weapon has its own unique set of perks, but since they’re so powerful, you can only equip one exotic weapon at a time.
• We've compiled the complete list of exotic weapons you can obtain in "Destiny 2," and ranked them based on utility for various "Destiny 2" activities.

SEE ALSO: The biggest expansion to 'Destiny 2' is now available — here's a look at all of the changes in 'Forsaken'

DON'T MISS: 30 PlayStation 4 games every owner should have in their collection

Too early to rank since no one has it yet: Izanagi's Burden

Type: Sniper rifle

How to obtain: Unknown - Reward from Black Armory (part of "Destiny 2 Forsaken: Annual Pass")

Exotic perk:“Honed Edge - Holding reload consumes the magazine and loads a round with additional range and damage."

Too early to rank since no one has it yet: Le Monarque

Type: Combat bow

How to obtain: Unknown - Reward from Black Armory (part of "Destiny 2 Forsaken: Annual Pass")

Exotic perk:“Pestilence Arrows - On a perfect draw, a hit target receives damage over time. On a perfect draw with a precision hit, all enemies in the Void cloud receive damage over time."

Too early to rank since no one has it yet: Anarchy

Type: Grenade launcher

How to obtain: Unknown - Reward from Black Armory (part of "Destiny 2 Forsaken: Annual Pass")

Exotic perk:“Arc Traps - Grenades stick to surfaces and chain Arc bolts to other mines."

There's a growing list of top Senate Republicans who've come forward and said they believe Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. 

Khashoggi, a Saudi national who was often critical of the royal family in his writing, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

The CIA has reportedly concluded the Saudi crown prince, the de facto ruler of the kingdom, ordered the killing.

But President Donald Trump has forcefully defended the Saudi royal family over Khashoggi's killing and signaled he does not wish to punish the crown prince over the incident. As a result, the president has been accused of siding with the Saudis over the US intelligence community. 

Read more: Trump slammed by Turkey's top diplomat for turning a 'blind eye' to Khashoggi after president says CIA only has 'feelings' on killing

Last week, senators expressed outrage over the fact CIA Director Gina Haspel was absent from a briefing on Khashoggi's killing. Haspel was reportedly barred from attending by the Trump administration. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis attended the briefing. Both have largely embraced the president's stance on the killing and have avoided pointing any fingers at Crown Prince Mohammed. Pompeo said there was no "direct reporting" that Crown Prince Mohammed ordered the hit on Khashoggi, echoing Trump's statement that "maybe he did and maybe he didn't."

Haspel ultimately briefed the Senate leadership on Khashoggi's killing on Tuesday, but a number of senators were angry about the exclusive nature of the briefing. 

After Tuesday's briefing, key Republican senators said they were confident the crown prince ordered the killing and signaled they intend to push for major changes to the US-Saudi partnership. In short, Trump's position on Khashoggi has increasingly put him at odds with the GOP foreign-policy establishment. 

Republican Sen. Bob Corker emerged from Tuesday's briefing with Haspel and said there's "zero question" the crown prince ordered Khashoggi's killing.

"The royal family inside the country looks to what the president says and so do people in the region," Corker told reporters on Tuesday. "And therefore I think it would appear to them and to people in the region that just based on what has been said, that someone like MBS can murder people and have immunity."

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who attended Tuesday's briefing, said he could no longer support US arms sales to the kingdom with Crown Prince Mohammed as the de facto ruler.

Silicon Valley may be home to huge tech companies like Google and Facebook, but the San Francisco metro area isn't the most innovative city in the world, according to annual rankings compiled by data firm 2thinknow.

Instead, the top spot belongs to Tokyo, Japan, according to the 2018 Innovation Cities Index. This is the first time that an Asian city has claimed the title as world's most innovative city since 2thinknow first started compiling the annual rankings in 2007.

Of the top 50, the city with the biggest jump in the rankings was Austin, Texas, which moved up 18 spots from 2017 to claim No. 29. Meanwhile, Barcelona dropped to No. 30 in the index, a 17-spot decrease from last year.

Cities are assessed based on 31 segments of their industries and economy, and 162 indicators of innovation. However, the firm's data analysts compile each city's index score, out of 60, from three key factors: cultural assets, human infrastructure, and networked markets.

Here is the 2018 ranking of the 50 most innovative cities in the world:

50. Orlando, Florida

Change from 2017 ranking: +11

Companies that call this city home: AAA, FreeCast, Immune Therapeutics, Solodev

49. Dublin, Ireland

Change from 2017 ranking: no change

Companies that call this city home: Accenture, Storyful, Zalando, Udemy

48. Moscow, Russia

Change from 2017 ranking: -5

Companies that call this city home: Yandex, Gazprom, Sistema, Mobile TeleSystems

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

No matter the holiday, everyone loves to know that they're appreciated. As our days become full of the realities of work, family, and all other aspects of our lives, it can be easy to forget to show our appreciation for the ones we love.

Of course, the best ways to show your appreciation for your loved ones can't be bought. Nothing can top showing your gratitude with patience, support, and love. When it comes to the tangible, though, gifts can enhance the gratitude we show through our actions.

So, if you feel that your wife needs to be shown some extra appreciation — on her birthday or your anniversary, or during the holidays this season — here are some thoughtful gifts you can give to show her you care.

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides, in one place

DON'T MISS: 55 creative and unexpected gifts for her that are all under $50

An exciting new read

Book of the Month Membership, $44.99 for 3 months, $79.99 for 6 months, $149.99 for 12 months, available at Book of the Month

For the wife that loves to read, give her the joy of getting lost in a book. Book of the Month curates some of the best new reads and has your pick delivered to your door as a hardcover each month. It's a great way to discover great new books and authors, plus if you sign up now you can get a free book.

A super soft cashmere sweater

Everlane Cashmere Waffle Square Turtleneck, available at Everlane, $155

Showing your appreciation for your wife will make her feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and with this cashmere sweater, she'll feel the same way on the outside too. It's a cozy, luxurious upgrade from a regular turtleneck that anyone is bound to love.

Something small but sweet

Bees Knees Spicy Honey, $14, available at Uncommon Goods

This sweet and spicy honey will be a welcome addition to your kitchen. It's a thoughtful gift for an adventurous foodie who'll appreciate this hand-infused, locally made update to the classic sweetener.

• Willow Smith said she had to "forgive" her parents for how they behaved during her early fame. 
• Will Smith recently spoke out about a "mutiny" in his family around 2012. 
• He said Willow "tested" him.

Being a celebrity child comes with its undeniable perks, but the downsides are also inevitable, especially when you gain notoriety yourself.

When Willow Smith's single"Whip My Hair" topped the charts, she gained some serious fame.

But years after his daughter shot to the charts following the release of her catchy single “Whip My Hair,” actor Will Smith is opening up about how Willow “really tested him” at an early age.

Smith, 50, revealed to Haute Living about experiencing a “mutiny” within his family in 2012, following comments that Willow made that she had to forgive her famous dad for how he reacted to her early fame.

"I secretly call the year of the mutiny. And 2012 was really the year that my family rejected the direction of my leadership,” he said.

He said that Wilow also really "tested" him during her "Whip My Hair" days. 

“Willow was really the first person during 'Whip My Hair' that decided she didn’t want to do what I said,” Smith said. “Because she was the baby girl, she really had the most power over me. As a man – if your daughter says no, there’s really nothing you can do.”

“She really tested me,” he said. “She was like, no she didn’t want to. She was done with 'Whip My Hair.' She was done with performing, and as a protest, she shaved her head bald. That was really the first time that I realized that my family wasn’t happy with the direction that I was taking them.”

He likened his parenting style to that of his own father, an Air Force veteran.

"My father was in the military, and he ran the house like a military unit. We had to put hospital corners on our bed, my shoes lined up in the closet. He was in the Air Force, so he dealt with the family like a soldier.”

But he said that he eventually "lightened up" on them and learned to change up his parenting style. 

Speaking on the most recent episode of mother Jada Pinkett Smith's talk show "Red Table Talk,” Willow disclosed that her father was "so harsh” at the beginning of her career.

When prompted by her mom whether there was anyone in her life she'd had to forgive, Willow said: "I definitely had to forgive you and daddy for that whole 'Whip My Hair' thing. It was mostly daddy because he was so harsh at certain times.” She continued, "It was like, a couple of years trying to regain trust for not feeling like I was listened to, or no one cared what I felt during that time.”

Will and Jada are parents to Willow and older son Jaden, 20. Will has another son Trey, 26, that he shares with first wife Sheree Zampino.

This isn't the first time Willow revealed the pitfalls of her early fandom. On a previous episode of "Red Table Talk,” she divulged that she "totally lost my sanity for a moment” during and after the song's popularity in 2010.

"After the tour and the promotion and all of that, they wanted me to finish my album,' she confessed. "And I was like, I'm not gonna do that. And after all of that kinda settled down and it was like a kind of lull.”

“It was a couple of years, honestly. Trying to regain trust for not feeling like I was being listened to or like no one cared how I felt,” she continued.

You can watch the entirety of "Red Table Talk" below. 

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

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NOW WATCH: The legendary economist who predicted the housing crisis says the US will win the trade war

• Facebook's board has come out in support of COO Sheryl Sandberg.
• Sandberg has been under heavy criticism over her involvement in efforts to investigate George Soros and critics of Facebook.
• "When a well-known and outspoken investor attacks your company publicly, it is fair and appropriate to do this level of diligence," the board said.

Facebook's board has chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg's back.

In a letter, the Silicon Valley tech giant's board supported Sandberg's controversial request to investigate George Soros and whether the billionaire investor philanthropist had shorted the company's stock after calling the social network a "menace to society."

"To be clear, Sandberg's question was entirely appropriate given her role as COO," it said in a letter on Wednesday. "When a well-known and outspoken investor attacks your company publicly, it is fair and appropriate to do this level of diligence."

You can read the full letter on CNET here. 

The letter was sent by Facebook's general counsel Colin Stretch to Patrick Gaspard, president of Soros's Open Society Foundations. It comes as Sandberg weathers unprecedented scrutiny and criticism over her support of the Soros attacks, and her broader role in deflecting criticism and crises amid Facebook's mounting scandals — as detailed in a bombshell investigation from The New York Times.

The letter said Sandberg was being truthful when she said she did not know that the social network hired that public-relations firm, Definers, to explore Soros's criticisms of the company. Facebook has been criticized for playing into anti-Semitic tropes, after a public relation firm hired by the company attempted to smear critics by linking them to liberal billionaire George Soros.

We've reached out to Facebook for comment and will update when we hear back.

Do you work at Facebook? Got a tip? Contact this reporter via Signal or WhatsApp at +1 (650) 636-6268 using a non-work phone, email at rprice@businessinsider.com, Telegram or WeChat at robaeprice, or Twitter DM at @robaeprice. (PR pitches by email only, please.) You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop.

Here's the full text of the letter:

December 5, 2018

Patrick Gaspard
President
Open Society Foundations 224 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

Dear Mr. Gaspard:

Thank you for your December 4, 2018, letter to Facebook, Inc.’s Board of Directors. The board has asked me to respond on its behalf.

We take issue with several points you raise.

As you know, in January of this year, George Soros gave a highly publicized speech to business and political leaders in which he called our company a “menace to society.” As is to be expected following an attack from such a well-known and widely respected figure, Facebook staff immediately initiated research to attempt to understand the motivations driving the criticism, financial or otherwise. That research was underway when Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, sent an email asking if Mr. Soros had shorted Facebook stock. To be clear, Ms. Sandberg’s question was entirely appropriate given her role as COO. When a well-known and outspoken investor attacks your company publicly, it is fair and appropriate to do this level of diligence. When Ms. Sandberg contacted you on November 15, she told you, truthfully, that she had not known about the work done by the Definers public relations firm related to Mr. Soros. Ms. Sandberg has also made clear that she takes full responsibility for any work done on her watch, and she and Mr. Zuckerberg have ordered a full review of the company’s work with communications consultants.

Your letter raises additional concerns that have been the focus of recent public scrutiny. With respect to efforts by Russia and others to use Facebook to spread disinformation, we have repeatedly and publicly taken responsibility for our failure to identify and respond to this threat sooner. Since the 2016 election, we have made massive investments in technology and in people, and we are proud of the progress we have made in protecting election integrity, as well as in limiting the distribution of fake news and sharply curtailing hate speech on the platform. We have also created an independent election commission to examine the relationship between social networks and democracy, and we are undertaking a civil rights audit of our platform. Much additional work remains, but to be clear these are not the actions of a company that has, in your words, “failed to take responsibility.”

Organizations around the world, including the Open Society Foundations and many of the organizations they support, use Facebook and our other free services to draw attention to important issues, to fundraise, and to build support for the causes they believe in – to, in the words of your mission statement, “build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people.” We believe our services help give people and organizations such as yours the power to do exactly that.

Sincerely,

[Signature]

Colin Stretch General Counsel Facebook, Inc.

Cc: Board of Directors, Facebook, Inc.

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NOW WATCH: Why it's so difficult to land a spacecraft on Mars

• China started a shanty town renovation program in 2015 in an effort to drive home sales in lower-tier cities, helping lift the country's property values over the past few years.
• To calm the red-hot housing market, the central government applied a series of measures to punish speculators, such as setting higher down-payment ratios and mortgage restrictions.
• The Chinese government has continued to tighten property controls amid a slowdown in the economy, and 2019 could be a year of softening housing data, an analyst said.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The true story behind the name 'Black Friday' is much darker than you may have thought

Warning: Spoilers ahead for season three, episode seven of "Riverdale," titled "The Man in Black."

Hiram Lodge is behind much of the terror during Wednesday's episode of "Riverdale."

When Jughead and Archie end up at the Lake farm, they discover that Hiram is employing all of the men and boys in a town for his prison and drug empire. Meanwhile, Betty learns that Hiram's Fizzle Rocks are being given to the youths at the Sisters of Quiet Mercy, prompting hallucinatory experiences. Somehow, this is also all related to the Gargoyle King.

As always, the CW show included some pop culture and comic references. We worked with Archie Comics to find five details you may have missed.

Laurie Lake is a character from Wilbur Comics.

Jughead and Archie find themselves at the Lake family farm where they meet Gracie and Laurie Lake. Laurie Lake is a character from Wilbur Comics, which was a series published by Archie Comics. The comics followed Wilbur Wilkins and his girlfriend Laurie, who were often compared to Archie and Betty. 

Jughead references "American Gothic."

"It's a little too 'American Gothic,' even for me," Jughead says about the Lake farm. "American Gothic" is a 1930 painting by Grant Wood of a farmer and his daughter in front of a farm house. 

Reggie says the speakeasy La Bonne Nuit isn't Copacabana just yet.

The Copacabana is a New York City nightclub. It's been used in a number of films, including "Goodfellas." Barry Manilow's song and musical "Copacabana" is named for the club. 

Warning: Spoilers ahead for season three of "Riverdale."

"Gryphons and Gargoyles" (G&G) is a dangerous game on "Riverdale." 

The role-playing game, similar to "Dungeons and Dragons," is behind five deaths so far — RIP Dilton, Ben, Principal Featherhead, Warden Norton, and Joaquin — and it's sure to affect more residents as the third season of the hit CW show progresses.

Betty and Jughead are working to uncover the mystery surrounding the game, and viewers are trying to do the same. 

Here's what we know so far.

How is the game affecting Riverdale?

The first introduction to the game comes when Jughead tries to ask Ben and Dilton what they are playing at Pop's Diner during the premiere. Dilton tries to answer, but all he gets out is "Gryphons and..." before Ben tells him to shut up.

Later, when Jughead is preparing to go to Archie's trial, Dilton knocks on Jug's door in a panic.

When Jughead asks who, Dilton eventually responds with, "The Gargoyle King."

Jughead finds a paper covered in weird symbols and what looks to be a stick creature in his home. The symbols lead him to the woods where he finds Ben and Dilton unresponsive and kneeling in front of an altar with symbols carved into their backs. Dilton dies in the park due to cyanide consumption after mixing the poison with Fresh-Aid. After recovering in the hospital, Ben then leaps to his death out of the hospital window mentioning that he isn't afraid to "ascend" like Dilton was.  

Betty and Jughead learn that Ethel is also playing the game. When they confront her, she reveals that Dilton had a secret bunker in the woods. Betty and Jughead later find the bunker and discover that the poisoned chalice Ben and Dilton drank from was part of "G&G." 

Betty and Jughead go to Ethel to ask more questions, and Jughead asks what the "kingdom" means. He also inquires about the rulebook, which Ethel refers to as the "scripture."

She tells him that he "isn't worthy of the king's scripture," so he asks if she can show him. When Jughead goes to the bunker and meets Ethel, she is dressed in her Princess Etheline gown. She has him choose a character, and he picks the Hellcaster.

"Good choice," she says. "That was Ben's avatar. I was supposed to ascend with him but then he betrayed me and finished the game with Dilton instead." 

After getting through part of the game, Ethel presents Jughead with two chalices. When he incredulously asks if one of them is poisoned, she says it's "gargoyle blood." He drinks it to get the manual and is fine. But before she hands it over to him, she makes him kiss her because it's all part of the "scripture." 

Ethel then drinks from the other chalice and starts to get ill. He saves her life by getting her to the hospital. She denies being suicidal and then threatens Jughead if he spills the secrets. 

"I told him you were worthy enough to spread his gospel," she tells him. 

How do they play the game? 

In the bunker, Betty and Jug find coins with the Gargoyle King on them, drawings of the king, and various knick-knacks from the game. 

The game consists of a die and quests that the players must complete. Sometimes, they dress up in costumes to match their characters. Along with the game master's book, there's a small game board, characters to choose from, and quest cards used to control the game. 

On the flashback episode, it's made clear that the game master designs the quests and incorporates them into the real world. 

Read more: 'Riverdale' fans finally know what the parents' big secret is and there's a murder involved

The Gargoyle King himself is a terrifying creature who seems to be behind the rules of the game. 

Jughead has a theory.  

Someone, possibly Ethel, distributed a manual to every student's locker at Riverdale High.

"By next weekend, almost every student at Riverdale High would be playing "Gryphons and Gargoyles," and the real game was just beginning," Jughead says.  

Jughead starts to play and becomes a level three-game master and leads his players on quests. When Betty goes to tell him about their parent’s secret, he tells her that he is working to ascend and meet the Gargoyle King.

He says that their parents playing the game means that his theory is correct: "We have been playing this game for a lot longer than we know and off board."

He says the gang fights and struggles they have had to deal with are all just part of the game. He also points out an interesting fact about the game's location. 

"Eldervair, the realm of 'Gryphons and Gargoyles' is an anagram for Riverdale," he said. "The whole game is an analog for Riverdale. The game only exists in Riverdale, that's why we couldn't find it on the web. It's all connected. It's all one big narrative that's still being written and played." 

When Jughead and Archie find themselves in the town of Athens, Jughead finds a group of kids playing "G&G." That means the game is expanding more than they could have anticipated. 

The series is implying that Hiram Lodge may be involved, but it could be another red herring. All we really know is that "G&G" isn't going away any time soon. 

Read all of our "Riverdale" coverage here.

"Riverdale" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how easy it is for the US president to launch a nuclear weapon

• Senators from across party lines on Wednesday announced with a "high level of confidence" that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was "complicit" in the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.
• Bipartisan senators introduced a measure calling for the crown prince to be "held accountable" for a number of human rights abuses, and put him at the helm of the "abhorrent" plot to execute Khashoggi. 
• Though the resolution is non-binding, the senators are hoping to spur the government and the international community to punish the crown prince. 
• The move pins lawmakers against Trump, who has doubled down on his defense of the Saudi crown prince this month, and said the US-Saudi relationship is "paramount" in his decision making.

Senators from across party lines on Wednesday announced with a "high level of confidence" that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was "complicit" in the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October.

Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced a measure calling for the crown prince to be "held accountable" for a lengthy list of human rights abuses, including the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the jailing of Saudi activists without charge, the ruthless detention and extortion of his critics. 

The resolution also concluded that the crown prince was "in control of the security forces at the time of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder," which would have put him at the helm of the "abhorrent" execution plot.

The non-binding resolution calls on the government and the international community to hold Mohammed bin Salman accountable for Khashoggi's death. If approved, it would put the Senate on record shifting the blame directly onto the crown prince.

"There is no doubt that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, condoned it, and at worst was actually involved in directing it," Rubio said in a statement Wednesday. 

"I believe it’s vitally important to US national security interests to make a definitive statement about the brutal murder of an American resident – Mr. Khashoggi – who has three American citizen children,” Graham said in a parallel statement.

The measure follows CIA briefings on the investigation into the high-profile murder to President Trump and, later, to a small group of senators. The CIA had previously concluded that Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's killing based on several pieces of intelligence, including audio recordings and security footage. 

But as the Khashoggi investigation closes in on Saudi leadership, the White House has been slow to act.

Many have condemned Trump's response to Khashoggi's execution, and have accused the president of helping the Saudi leadership "cover up" its wrongdoings.

Trump has doubled down on his defense of the Saudi crown prince this month, and said the US-Saudi relationship is "paramount" in his decision making.

Still, even if the crown prince is implicated in the crime, experts say US business ties to Saudi Arabia run deep, making it difficult to punish the rogue heir to the throne. 

SEE ALSO: US senators furious with Saudi Arabia after classified briefing with CIA Director Gina Haspel

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's how easy it is for the US president to launch a nuclear weapon

• In North Carolina's 9th district, month-long voter fraud accusations have forced the state's GOP to agree to a public hearing and, potentially, a new election. 
• Though Republican Mark Harris declared victory in November, the state's election board is declining to certify the result as it investigates mail-in ballots from two rural counties that have been called into question.
• House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi got involved Thursday, saying Congress can refuse to seat Harris

The congressional race in North Carolina's 9th district might head to a new election following reports of voter fraud that could have given Republican candidate Mark Harris the lead over Democrat Dan McCready during the midterm elections. 

Harris' victory has not been certified by the North Carolina's Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement due to what the board's vice chair, Joshua Malcome, called "unfortunate activities" in the eastern part of the district. These, he said, include "claims of numerous irregularities and concerted fraudulent activities related to absentee mail ballots."

Read more: Democratic lawmaker cites 'real election fraud' in North Carolina House race and demands hearing

Though Republicans at first called foul, the party has now relented. In a statement to INSIDER, Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of North Carolina's Republican Party, said the state's GOP believes the Board of Elections should hold a public hearing and "fully lay out the facts" regarding the fraud accusations.  

"If they can show with certainty that the outcome could NOT have been changed, they need to certify Dr. Harris and continue to support all state and federal criminal investigations," he said. "If they can show a substantial likelihood it could have changed the race, then we fully would support a new election. If they hold a public hearing and simply can’t determine one way or the other then, we would not oppose a short delay on the question of certification until they have more answers."

Just last week, Woodhouse accused the state's bipartisan election board of  abusing "their discretion" after declining to certify Harris' win. However, proof of potential fraudulent operations might have softened his stance.

On Monday, the Observer reported that Leslie McCrae Dowless, an "independent contractor" for Harris' campaign, was accused of committing absentee ballot fraud by directing his workers to directly collect mail-in ballots, which is against the law. Dowless, court records show, is a convicted fellon who has faced jail time for fraud and perjury. He denied any wrongdoing in this election cycle.

However, at least two people have come forward saying Dowless paid them to pick up absentee ballots. Speaking to local news station WSOC, Cheryl Kinlaw, a woman who said she was paid $100 to pick up the ballots, said she didn't think this was illegal because Dowless "has been doing it for years." 

"I feel bad now that I know that it wasn't legal, but I didn't know at the time," she said.

An analysis by the Observer found that across the 9th district, 24% of the requested mail-in ballots were unreturned, the majority of them associated with minority voters. More than 40% of the ballots requested by African-American voters and more than 60% requested by Native American voters were not sent back to election officials. For white voters, the Observer found, that number was 17%. 

On Thursday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Congress can refuse to seat Harris.

"Any member-elect can object to the seating and swearing-in of another member-elect. We'll see how that goes," she said. 

The 9th district's alleged fraud scandal comes as the state's Republican legislature passed a voter ID law during a lame duck session on Thursday. The law would prevent in-person fraud and is similar to a law passed in 2013 that was struck down by courts for its intent to discriminate against minority voters. 

SEE ALSO: A hotly contested congressional race in North Carolina remains in limbo amid an investigation over possible election fraud–here's what we know so far

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NOW WATCH: The science of why human breasts are so big

• Some hallmarks of borderline personality disorder (BPD) involve wide mood swings, varying self-image, and resulting behavioral problems that especially affect relationships.
• According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, scientists aren't sure what causes BPD, but a combination of family history, brain factors, and environmental factors may all play a role.
• BPD can only be diagnosed by a professional, and ongoing psychotherapy is currently regarded as the most effective approach to BPD management and improved quality of life.
• Family and friends of someone suffering from BPD are an important support system. In this case,  knowledge is very much power to deal with this difficult and often frustrating condition.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness describes borderline personality disorder as "a condition characterized by difficulties regulating emotion."

That may sound incredibly simple, but ask anyone who either has BPD or knows someone who has BPD and you'll find that it's anything but "simple."

With BPD and other mental health issues, it's important to seek qualified professional help and guidance if at all possible — although unfortunately, sometimes available resources don't permit this.

If you notice that someone you care about is struggling, it is on all of us to offer our support and understanding to break down the social stigmas that seem to swirl around even discussing this stuff.

Here's the current best estimate of the number of BPD sufferers in the US

Approximately 1.6% of adults in the US may have BPD, although NAMI says it's possible the actual number may be as high as 5.9%.

Additionally, NAMI says that 75% of sufferers of BPD are women, but as Mayo Clinic psychiatry professor Dr. Brian Palmer pointed out, that number comes from clinical samples. He stated in this presentation that, in community samples, the gender breakdown tends to be more evenly split.

Misdiagnoses are common with BPD, but there are some symptoms that can be indicative of this disorder.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), people with BPD may experience mood swings, fluctuating interests and values, and a tendency to see things in extremes — either entirely good or all bad.  They might also experience shifting feelings which can lead to unstable relationships.

The NIMH also lists the following signs and symptoms as indicators of BPD: 

• Efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment, such as rapidly initiating intimate (physical or emotional) relationships or cutting off communication with someone in anticipation of being abandoned
• A pattern of intense and unstable relationships with family, friends, and loved ones, often swinging from extreme closeness and love (idealization) to extreme dislike or anger (devaluation)
• Distorted and unstable self-image or sense of self
• Impulsive and often dangerous behaviors, such as spending sprees, unsafe sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, and binge eating. Please note: If these behaviors occur primarily during a period of elevated mood or energy, they may be signs of a mood disorder—not borderline personality disorder
• Self-harming behavior, such as cutting
• Recurring thoughts of suicidal behaviors or threats
• Intense and highly changeable moods, with each episode lasting from a few hours to a few days
• Chronic feelings of emptiness
• Inappropriate, intense anger or problems controlling anger
• Difficulty trusting, which is sometimes accompanied by irrational fear of other people’s intentions
• Feelings of dissociation, such as feeling cut off from oneself, seeing oneself from outside one’s body, or feelings of unreality

Note that you or a loved one need not show every symptom on this list and that only a professional can give you an accurate diagnosis.

A person can battle BPD while also battling additional conditions that require treatments of their own.

According to NAMI, a person with BPD may also simultaneously be dealing with a range of other conditions, from bipolar disorder to depression to eating disorders to substance abuse.

Because it can be so complicated and tricky to manage, it's extremely important to try to get professional help if you or someone you care about is trying to carry this exhausting mental health burden alone.

Psychotherapy is currently the most effective treatment for BPD.

In fact, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy— also known as DBT — was specifically developed to help patients diagnosed with BPD to learn effective coping mechanisms and improve their quality of life.

Patients undergoing DBT typically see their therapist for a normal one-on-one session, and then also participate in a group session during the week. The two sessions work together to teach and reinforce effective coping skills for individuals who are battling BPD.

In this video, licensed therapist Kati Morton offers a brief outline of the four pillars of DBT: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

It's important to note that self-harm and attempted suicide rates are higher among BPD sufferers than in the general population.

Dr. John M. Oldham, an expert in personality disorders and professor of psychiatry in the Menninger department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Baylor College of Medicine wrote in the American Journal of Psychiatry that an estimated 60 to 70% of individuals diagnosed with BPD make suicide attempts.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, no complete record of suicide attempts among the general population in the US is currently kept. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does, HOWEVER, collect data from hospitals on non-fatal injuries that resulted from self-harm. Specific information varies by demographic, but collective rates of attempts were under 20% as of 2016, which was the most recent data available.

It's tough for family and friends of someone struggling with BPD, too — here's how you can help your loved one and yourself.

Understanding and supporting someone going through something as volatile and difficult as BPD isn't always easy — but it can be done.

NAMI has some helpful tips for anyone who is supporting someone with BPD. Since this adds additional stress to your life, you may also want to consider seeking therapy for yourself if you aren't already regularly seeing a therapist.

If you are struggling with mental illness and need help finding treatment, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or call their free 24/7 helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

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NOW WATCH: A Harvard psychologist reveals the secret to curbing your appetite

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

It's an exciting time to be in retail — as a brand, as a consumer, and for us as product writers. The Insider Picks team tested countless new products, learned the stories of many new startups, and followed the growth of dozens of our now-favorite companies. 

A select few retail companies really impressed us in 2018, and for a variety of reasons — from superior product launches to admirable social initiatives with quantifiable impact.

They're a standout representation of what it takes to succeed in retail today: the puzzle pieces of mission, product, branding, customer service, and other key business components fitting together to create a cohesive solution to the needs and wants of consumers. 

Learn more about the all-stars of 2018 retail below. 

Everlane

Shop Everlane here

Everlane has much to celebrate this year, including the opening of its first brick-and-mortar stores, which were welcomed with open arms in San Francisco and New York; stellar product drops like basic but comfortable underwear, the soft leather flats we can't stop talking about, and an outerwear collection made from recycled plastic water bottles; and another successful anti-Black Friday initiative that sent $260,000 to help fund beach cleanups across the country.

The brand impressed us throughout the year for its continued commitment to ethical, transparent manufacturing practices and almost-eerie grasp of the styles customers crave — and how to fill the gaps with its own minimalist, carefully curated take. 

Dagne Dover

Shop Dagne Dover here

It's not just you — we've been seeing a lot more Dagne Dover bags in the streets of urban jungles, too. This might be because of its increased but carefully managed offline presence in select Nordstrom stores, Equinox boutiques, and BANDIER shops, or confident push into styles and textures you wouldn't expect from a women's work bag company.

Whether it's a work tote, gym and travel bag, or laptop bag, the women of Insider Picks have agreed that Dagne Dover hits it out of the park every single time with a consistent track record that's not always easy for experimental startups to achieve. 

Patagonia

Shop Patagonia here

More so it seems than other clothing industries, outdoor brands share a special connection with the environments they design for. With the push into recycled materials like down and cashmere, and the no-hesitation decision to send its $10 million 2018 tax cut to grassroots environmental activist groups, Patagonia ramped up its efforts to protect the outdoors. 

The ubiquity of its vests and sweaters might inspire joke Instagram accounts, but at least they're the products of a highly-rated B Corp with a conscience. In February, it launched Patagonia Action Works to connect individuals to events, petitions, and organizations they might be interested in, and on Election Day, stores across the country closed as a reminder for citizens to vote.

• It's not uncommon for food trends to be all the hype one year and die out the next. 
• "Bowl food" and glitter-covered food are two trends that likely will disappear in 2019. 
• Many people say gold-covered food is a waste of money. 

As inyears past, a lot of the food trends of the year were based on creating perfectly photogenic dishes. An aesthetically pleasing dish, however, doesn't mean it will stand the test of time. In fact, it's not uncommon for food trends to be all the hype one year and die out the next. 

From broccoli coffee to "bowl food," here are 10 food trends that you likely won't see in 2019. 

Tide Pod-themed foods probably aren't a good idea.

The"Tide Pod challenge" hit the internet at the beginning of 2018 and had teens posting videos of themselves eating pods of toxic laundry detergent. While the detergent company (and pretty much everyone else)condemned the viral trend, restaurants decided to create Tide Pod-themed foods such asTide Pod donuts,Tide Pod pizza, andTide Pod shots.

Just as the "Tide Pod challenge" thankfully ended, this trend likely will, too. 

Glitter might not even be safe to eat.

In the spirit of unicorn and mermaid food trends of years past, a glitter food trend was the next logical step.

This year,bagels,pizza,coffee, and evenproseccogot a shimmery makeover. Unfortunately, that trend also led people toput glitter into their own food, which could actually be quite hazardous, since craft glitter is made with plastics that shouldn't be consumed. Even if the glitter is "nontoxic"that doesn't make it safe to eat.

Pickle-flavored food will most likely die out soon.

Take them or leave them, dill pickle potato chips have been around for a while.

But this year, a number of other pickle-flavored foods hit the market, including soda, popsicles, candy, and popcorn.

Pickles are tasty and all, but do they need to be in everything? Can't we just enjoy pickles on their own instead of on pizza?

• Meghan Markle is pregnant and due in spring 2019.
• People are analyzing the size of her baby bump, even speculating that she might be having twins.
• Pregnancy is not an invitation to scrutinize or comment on women's bodies.

Even before Meghan Markle announced her pregnancy, fans and interviewers alike were asking intrusive questions about when she and Prince Harry were going to have kids. Now that she's pregnant, people can't stop talking about the size of her baby bump.

It seems that the Duchess of Sussex's baby bump has "officially popped" and grown larger, igniting speculation that she might be having twins, or that her due date is earlier than expected. 

It's one thing to pay attention to Markle's style — the outfits she chooses sell out instantly and even create new jobs at small companies due to increased demand. But it's another to scrutinize her body or "bump shame" her for getting bigger.

She's pregnant. Pregnant people's bumps often increase in size. This should be news to no one.

Pregnancy is not an invitation to scrutinize or comment on women's bodies, even if they're in the public eye.

Author and feminist Chimamanda Nogozi Adichie kept her pregnancy to herself to avoid such unsolicited attention, only revealing that she was breastfeeding in a 2016 interview with The Financial Times.

"I have some friends who probably don't know I was pregnant or that I had a baby," she said. "I just feel like we live in an age when women are supposed to perform pregnancy. We don't expect fathers to perform fatherhood."

As public figures, members of royal family are expected to perform pregnancy and motherhood. Why else would Kate Middleton greet photographers outside the hospital mere hours after all of her children were born with blown-out hair and heels?

Just because pregnancy is visible doesn't mean it's fair game.

Every body experiences carrying a baby (or babies) differently, so there's no way to deduce anything about someone's pregnancy just by looking at them. Some baby bumps remain small throughout the process, and some are the size of watermelons by the first trimester. Some people have retroverted uteri, causing their pregnancies to grow backwards and barely show at all.

Markle probably won't have to deal with strangers in the supermarket touching her bump without permission given her royal security detail. Still, "bump shaming" her by fixating on her body during pregnancy needs to stop.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

• Read more:
• Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's cutest moments of the year
• George Clooney's cousin says he'd make a 'wonderful godfather' to Harry and Meghan's royal baby, and insiders say he's 'a shoe-in'
• Meghan Markle's best outfits during her pregnancy so far
• Amy Schumer said it's 'not fun' being pregnant at the same time as Meghan Markle, who is 'walking around in heels' while Schumer is 'barely wearing underwear'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We tried Meghan Markle's favorite facial that massages the inside of your mouth

The attack on Pearl Harbor, which catapulted the US into World War II, happened 77 years ago on Friday. 

The Japanese attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii killed more than 2,400 American sailors and civilians and wounded 1,000 more. 

Japanese fighter planes also destroyed or damaged almost 20 naval ships during the attack. 

But the US sailors and civilians didn't standby without putting up a fight. 

Here are 7 Pearl Harbor heroes you’ve never heard about. 

SEE ALSO: Intense photos show the USS Enterprise, the decorated WWII aircraft carrier that the Japanese just couldn't sink

SEE ALSO: 9 photos of the USS Wolverine, a strange WWII aircraft carrier that was originally a luxury paddlewheel steamer

1. Phil Rasmussen, who raced into his plane to attack Japanese Zero fighters.

Lt. Phil Rasmussen was one of four American pilots able to get in the air and engage Japanese fighters during the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

When the attack was launched, Rasmussen was still in his pajamas when he ran out to the flight line and jumped in an then-old Curtiss P-36A Hawk fighter plane — the only US planes the Japanese hadn't yet taken out. 

Once in the air, Rasmussen shot down one Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter planes, and damaged another before he was targeted by two more.

The two Japanese fighters shot up his plane, and took out his radio, hydraulic lines and rudder cables, but he was able to fly away and hide in the clouds before landing without brakes, a rudder or tailwheel. 

Rasmussen received the Silver Star for his actions, and retired from the Air Force in 1965. 

Sources: US Air Force, We Are The Mighty

2. Doris Miller, who fired a machine gun at attacking fighters.

Cook Third Class Doris Miller was stationed on the USS West Virginia battleship when the Japanese attacked. 

Awake at 6 a.m., Miller was collecting laundry when the attack was launched. He went to his battle station, which was an anti-aircraft battery magazine in the middle of the ship, only to find it had been taken out by a torpedo. 

Miller then went to the deck, where he was assigned to carry away wounded sailors before he was ordered to the bridge to help the mortally wounded Mervyn Sharp Bennion (who later received the Medal of Honor). 

After helping deliver ammunition to two .50 caliber Browning anti-aircraft machine gun crews, and without any weapons training, he manned one of the guns himself and fired until the ammunition was spent. 

"It wasn't hard," Miller later said.

"I just pulled the trigger and she worked fine. I had watched the others with these guns. I guess I fired her for about fifteen minutes. I think I got one of those Jap planes. They were diving pretty close to us."

He received the Navy Cross for his actions, the first ever given to an African American. 

Miller was killed in 1943 while serving on the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay, which was sunk by a Japanese torpedo.

Source: US Navy

3. Annie G. Fox, who worked ceaselessly to care for the wounded.

First Lieutenant Annie G. Fox was the head nurse at the hospital at Hickham field, which was Hawaii's main army airfield and bomber base, when the attack on Pearl Harbor was launched.

Fox "administered anesthesia to patients during the heaviest part of the bombardment, assisted in dressing the wounded, taught civilian volunteer nurses to make dressings, and worked ceaselessly with coolness and efficiency, and her fine example of calmness, courage and leadership was of great benefit to the morale of all with whom she came in contact,"according to her Purple Heart medal citation. 

Fox was the first US service woman to receive the Purple Heart, which she received for her actions during the attack. 

At the time, the US military awarded Purple Hearts for "singularly meritorious act of extraordinary fidelity or essential service." When the requirement of being wounded was added, her Purple Heart was replaced with the Bronze Star, since she had not been wounded. 

Fox was promoted to the rank of major before retiring from the service in 1945. 

• Carrie Underwood and husband Mike Fisher have been together for a long time now, but some fans may not be aware of how they met and fell in love in the first place.
• From their first meeting to living in different countries, their son, and their new baby on the way, a lot has happened for Underwood & Fisher over the last decade or so.
• Here's a look at how their lives have changed.

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher have been country music royalty for a while. Whether you're a hockey fan or not, chances are good that you know that Mike Fisher is married to one of country music's biggest superstars (and one of "American Idol's" biggest success stories).

The couple has a son and another baby on the way. But even some big fans may not know all of the ins and outs of their relationship timeline. Here's what you need to know.

2008: They were set up.

Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher met after being set up. According to Refinery29, Underwood's bassist, Mark Childers, tried to set the two up on a blind date, but that Underwood wasn't so sure initially since he lived so far away. Instead, Fisher and Underwood met backstage after one of her shows.

She then texted Childers, "hot, hot, hot," according to Refinery29. 

After that, the two had dinner together, according to E! Online, and Fisher determined that things were "kinda going OK" when Underwood helped herself to some of his dessert.

2008: It was three months between the first time they saw each other and the next time they saw each other.

After they first met, it took three months before they saw one another again because Underwood was living in Tennessee and Fisher was playing hockey for the Ottawa Senators, meaning she was living in the United States and he was living in Canada.

"I mean, can I make dating more difficult?"Underwood later said on VH1's "Behind the Music.""Let's get a hockey guy who lives in another country, awesome."

According to Taste of Country, Underwood and Fisher's first truly official date was on New Year's Eve in 2008.

2008-2009: Their first kiss was on New Year's Eve.

That night, the couple also shared their first kiss as the ball dropped, ringing in 2009. Underwood shared the details of the kiss with Glamour, as Taste of Country noted. "We talked on the phone for almost three months before we actually got together," Taste of Country reported she told Glamour. "That was good for us. Then our first real date was on New Year's Eve, and our first kiss was when the ball dropped."

"We were in front of people, and he's not a big PDA guy," Underwood reportedly continued. "I figured, I'll go in for it because he can't leave me hanging, right? So I made him kiss me in public."

• A housekeeper who says she has worked illegally for President Donald Trump for years told The New York Times that she's tired of Trump's "insults" toward immigrants.
• Victorina Morales said she's not the only unauthorized immigrant employed at one of the president's properties, adding that she knows coming forward could mean she loses her job or gets deported.
• Morales said she suspects Trump knows about her immigration status, and asked, "Why wouldn't he figure it out?"

A woman who has worked for President Donald Trump for years as a housekeeper at his New Jersey golf resort told The New York Times that she's not the only unauthorized immigrant who works for the president, and that she feels hurt by his rhetoric on immigration.

"We are tired of the abuse, the insults, the way he talks about us when he knows that we are here helping him make money," Victorina Morales told The Times. "We sweat it out to attend to his every need and have to put up with his humiliation."

Morales reportedly immigrated to the US illegally from Guatemala in 1999 and in 2013 began working at the Trump National Golf Club, where she is still on the payroll. Morales said her job is to tidy Trump's residence, making his bed and cleaning his toilet when he stays at the resort.

She told The Times she expects she'll lose her job for going public with her story, and she knows being deported is a possibility. But she added that she suspects Trump is aware of her immigration status.

"I ask myself, is it possible that this señor thinks we have papers? He knows we don't speak English," Morales said. "Why wouldn't he figure it out?"

Read more:Step inside Trump's private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where the president spent his summer vacation

Morales also recalled one incident where she told him she was from Guatemala. She said he complimented Guatemalans as "hard-working people," tipped her $50, and helped her wipe a glass window she was too short to reach.

"I told myself, 'God bless him.' I thought, he's a good person," Morales said.

She also said managers at the golf resort tried to implement new "immigration compliance" rules after Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015, but that she was just told to obtain new forged documents.

Read more: 81 migrant children have been forcibly separated from their parents since June, despite Trump's executive order

The White House declined to comment to Business Insider on Morales' interview, but the Trump Organization told The Times in a statement that the company uses "very strict hiring practices."

"If an employee submitted false documentation in an attempt to circumvent the law, they will be terminated immediately," said Amanda Miller, the Trump Organization's senior vice president for marketing and corporate communications.

Trump has previously come under fire for employing unauthorized immigrants, despite denying the allegations and frequently raging against illegal immigration.

According to legal documents and former employees, Trump used to employ unauthorized immigrants at Trump Tower in New York City and at his modeling agency.

• Read more of INSIDER's immigration coverage:
• This stunning visualization of US immigration over 226 years will make you rethink how America's population has evolved
• Denmark wants to isolate its 'unwanted' migrants on a remote island that once housed contagious animals
• Conditions are so dire at the US-Mexico border that migrants are getting sick and contracting lice and chicken pox
• Nancy Pelosi says funding for Trump's 'immoral, ineffective, expensive' border wall is off the table

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Lindsey Graham once warned there would be 'holy hell to pay' if Trump fired Jeff Sessions

• INSIDER spoke to an expert to see whether or not you should pee after sex.
• If you have a vagina, urinating after sex can reduce your risk of getting a urinary tract infection.
• You don't have to pee immediately after you're done having sex.
• If you get recurrent UTIs and are in an established relationship you should make sure you and your partner aren't passing the infection back and forth.  

If you have a vagina you've probably heard many times that you should always pee after sex. But given that running to the bathroom isn't necessarily what you want to do after a hookup, you've probably wondered why you should even bother.

We spoke to a Dr. Frederick Naftolin, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and co-director of interdisciplinary grogram in menopause medicine at New York University to get to the bottom of what happens if you don't pee after sex.

People with a vagina should urinate after sex to reduce the risk of getting an infection.

People with a vagina have a higher risk of getting an infection because of its proximity to the urethra and the anus. In this case, the urethra is shorter compared to that of someone with a penis, making it a lot easier for bacteria to get from the anus to the urethra and then to the bladder.

According to Dr. Naftolin, sex increases the likelihood of this happening because "when people have intercourse or even foreplay, the rubbing around the urethra inflamed it and it begins to secrete lubricants and fluids as a response-and those fluids then are good conduits for the bacteria to get up there."

Because of the ease with which people with a vagina can get infections, it's especially important that they pee after sex so any bacteria can get flushed out before it can get into the bladder.

Not peeing after sex can lead to a UTI.

The most commonly known infection that can be avoided by peeing after sex is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

UTIs are caused when E.-coli are moved from the rectum to the bladder via the urethra. The urine in the bladder is sterile so the "bladder doesn't have very much defenses against [bacteria]," explained Dr. Naftolin.

As a result, you may experience frequent and painful urination. The best way to try to avoid this discomfort is to flush everything out post-sex before it can reach the bladder and wreak havoc.

It's a good idea to urinate after sex that isn't between a penis and vagina too.

Because of the anatomy of a person with a vagina, in other words, their short urethra, it's important for them to pee after sex even when they haven't had penis in vagina sex.

"The same rules apply if two women are having either vaginal sex or oral sex, then those areas are exposed in the same way," said Dr.Naftolin.  

People who have a penis are also not completely immune from infection.

As Dr. Naftolin explained to INSIDER, it is possible for those people to get a prostate infection that feels similar to a UTI through penis to rectum sex, during which the penis is in constant close contact with the anus. In this case, he would advise to evacuate the rectum before sex and wear a condom during to avoid infection.