Hackers have their ear to the sound, the guests saying 'I don't' to wedding invites, and more top insights

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The sound of your keystrokes can give your password away, says a new study. Cybersecurity experts at a Texas university found that hackers can use a smartphone’s microphone to decode the acoustic signals generated from a computer’s keyboard. The technique, which works with decent accuracy even in noisy spaces, can be used not only to crack one’s passwords but also decipher private emails. Experts advise that users get a password manager or opt for the auto-fill option from a secure browser plugin. ? Here’s what people are saying.

A recent study shows rates of depression rose by more than 60% among those ages 14 to 17, and 47% among 12 to 13-year-olds, from 2009 to 2017. A columnist for The New York Times attributes these alarming statistics to a "fundamental shift" in how we view children and how we parent. Physical safety and adult supervision have taken the place of emotional and social development, the writer claims, contributing to what's called a social deficit. Work and school days are longer, and after-school activities abound, while free play and childhood independence have gone the way of the dodo. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Increasing numbers of millennials are saying ‘I don’t’ to wedding invites, according to a study. Flatsharing site Spare Room reports that 44% of millennial renters have turned down invitations to their friends’ wedding due to cost. 31% of people surveyed were in debt as a result of attending weddings. American Express reports the average cost of attending a UK wedding in 2019 is ￡391, almost a third more than last year. As a result, Brits are expected to attend just one ceremony this year, down from an average of three in 2018. ? Here’s what people are saying.

The world is tilting toward windmills: Global investment in renewable energy sources is set to surge over the next 30 years, with $11tn (￡9tn) going toward technologies like wind and batteries, according to Bloomberg. Europe is moving fastest and could be nearly fossil-free by 2050. Asia will see coal continue to rise for the next decade or so before peaking. In the US, fossil fuel companies’ share of the economy has rapidly declined in recent years, marking long-term challenges for the oil industry in an age of growing climate concerns. ? Here’s what people are saying. 

Some workers are going back to the bottom of the job ladder to fulfill their career ambitions. A BBC Worklife report shines a light on so-called minternships (middle-career internships), wherein employees leave their jobs to take internships, often in other industries, in order to reskill. The report notes that many workers in the millennial generation (some now in their mid-to-late 30s) are unsatisfied (see here and here) with their jobs and are looking for a change, and these internships may provide an opportunity to relaunch their careers in a new field. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Mentors and role models make such a difference in young lives, says Sylvia Acevedo, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. 

"Regardless of your industry — tech, finance, marketing, medicine, fashion, theatre, sports, astrophysics, the sky is the limit — you have knowledge and experience that you can pass along to the younger generation to get them excited about their own futures."

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.

—   Natalie MacDonald