Passkeys: The Next Generation of Passwords

In the ever-changing world of cybersecurity, traditional passwords just aren’t enough. You may have been asked lately to set up a passkey on sites that you’ve been accessing using a password. Passkeys are slowly replacing passwords, as passwords can be easily stolen, hacked, or even guessed. Unlike a password, passkeys can’t be shared, remembered or written down. That’s because passkeys are kept on the user’s device, including computers and smartphones. When the user tries to sign in using a passkey, the client will request a challenge from the server. The client then signs this challenge with its private key and sends it to the server. Once received, the server checks that the signature is valid using the public key it has. Provided the signature is valid, the user is then signed into the service without having to enter any information manually. Another benefit of having a passkey over a password is the inability to reuse it. With passkeys, each service automatically gets a unique key pair, preventing reuse and eliminating the work needed to recycle your passwords in the event of a breach. Passkeys also eliminate phishing attempts. Since passkeys generated on a device are specific to the domain for which they were created, the device will not offer the option to sign in if the original device is not sending the request. 

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New Sleep Apnea Drug Could Do Away With CPAP Masks

The standard treatment for sleep apnea is the use of a CPAP machine, which uses a mask to deliver pressurized air that keeps the airway open during sleep. Unfortunately, many sufferers find CPAP machines too cumbersome to use consistently, and as a result may not fully reap the benefits of treatment. Now, Apnimed, a pharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Mass., has developed a medication known as AD109, designed as an alternative for patients who can’t tolerate CPAP machines. In those living with mild, moderate and severe sleep apnea, AD109 helps to keep the airway more open during sleep by targeting the underlying dysfunction between the brain and throat muscles. The once-daily pill combines the drugs aroxybutynin, which controls muscle signals, and atomoxetine, which increases levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure. Together, they’re designed to work to help stabilize the upper airway during sleep, improving breathing and oxygenation overnight. In a clinical trial, the most frequently reported side effects were dry mouth and insomnia, but no serious adverse effects were reported. If AD109 is approved by the FDA, it could potentially help tens of millions of people worldwide to sleep better and avoid all of the negative consequences of obstructive sleep apnea. While timelines can vary, a standard review typically takes around 10 months, which means the pill could be on the market in early 2027.

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A New Study Suggests Your Dog May Be Eavesdropping On You For a Very Good Reason

There’s good news for people who like to think of their dogs as their children. A new study suggests that dogs may indeed be similar to an 18-month-old child in one fascinating way — they can pick up on words relevant to them, just like a toddler would. The research suggests that dogs have the neurological capacity to eavesdrop and learn new words when they hear humans talking about something that interests them. Apparently, dogs possess an extensive vocabulary of object labels and can learn new ones by overhearing hearing them repeatedly. The studied showed they can learn the name of a new toy, even when it was hidden in a bucket, as long as their owner is looking toward the spot where it’s hidden. One dog in the study, a 7-year-old female border collie named Basket, knew the names of over 200 dog toys. "So it’s not just fetch and good boy your dog is responding to," said Shany Dror, a cognitive scientist at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna. Dogs are highly sensitive to human cues and, because they are social, they often pay close attention to what their owners say.

 

 

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Upside-Down Chili Pie

With winter in full force, there are probably days when the last thing you want to do is spend a couple of hours in the kitchen fixing dinner. Who doesn’t like a bowl of chili and cornbread on a frosty evening? Any diehard chili fan will love this casserole. Instead of heating up chili and baking cornbread separately, this recipe has you cooking them all at once for a complete dinner. It just takes a few ingredients and a few minutes to whip up.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• • 2 cans chili (approximately 30 ounces total) or 4 cups homemade chili
• • ½ cup water
• • 1 8.5-oz box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
• • 1 large egg
• • ⅓ cup milk
• • ¼ tsp kosher salt
• • 1 tsp onion powder, optional

Directions:

• • Preheat oven to 350º F.
• • Warm up the chili and water on the stove-top over medium heat until it is lightly simmering. Alternatively, add to a large, microwave-safe dish and microwave in 30-second increments. This allows for an even, shorter baking time. Simmering it with a bit of water will loosen up the canned or leftover chili. If your chili is especially thick, add up to another ½ cup of water. 
• • Turn off the heat and transfer the chili to an 8x8-inch square dish or pan. You should have about an inch of headspace left in the pan.
• • In a medium mixing bowl, add the corn muffin mix, egg, milk, salt, and onion powder (if using).
• • Using a whisk or fork, stir everything together until well incorporated.
• • Use a spoon to drop about ¼ cup portions all over the chili. Very gently, using the back of the spoon, push the batter towards the edge of the casserole pan, spreading the cornbread batter until most of the chili is covered.  
• • Place the casserole on top of the baking sheet in case the chili bubbles over and bake for 15 minutes.
• • Rotate the pan, and bake for another 15 to 25 minutes. The cornbread batter should have risen and be a deep yellow color.
• • Let the casserole cool for about 10 minutes before serving so the chili can set.

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