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Biometrics has long been put forth as the next big thing in authentication, replacing or supplementing the concept of “things that you know”—passwords, PINs, and so on—with “things that you are.” But despite lots of advances in the realm of biometric authentication, it’s clear that there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
Hackers have found ways to trick and circumvent biometric authentication that relies on factors like fingerprints and facial recognition, and it’s not hard to imagine that they’ll also find ways around more advanced authentication methods, too. Some experts even worry that biometrics are inherently fallible because they rely on some factors that could change throughout a person’s life.
In the end, what may prove most effective is a mix of methods, all of which add up to prove that you are, in fact, you. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of qualities that are unique to each person on the planet, and which could be potentially combined to create a comprehensive picture of you that’d also be really hard to fake. While you may be familiar with security that employs fingerprints, voice, and retinas, we’re guessing at least a few of these biometric authentication methods under development will surprise you.
![Ear biometrics](https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/18/XDNQ7RVWKDRH2VIMA3OXMJI7YY.jpg?strip=all&quality=85)
![Heartbeat biometrics](https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/18/PXFJ2STWFJ6PS5GSAEPSTSAZIM.jpg?strip=all&quality=85)
![](https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/18/Q4JUKEPTNDHZDW4TOAROZZRGVA.jpg?strip=all&quality=85)
![](https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/18/5W6HF2DO4WA6O7ZG6MYFQL5YUI.jpg?strip=all&quality=85)
![Fingerprint scanner](https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/18/BYPT2S66GJDXP2E525C5EJIDHM.jpg?strip=all&quality=85)
![Odor biometrics](https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/18/G2WMPOKF47TSDNVGDBC4PCX5KU.jpg?strip=all&quality=85)