|
|
NOVA scienceNOW: Kryptos
|
|
|
|
Program Overview
|
|
|
Scientists introduce Kryptos, a giant sculpture with an encrypted message that
many people are working to decipher.
This NOVA scienceNOW segment:
introduces Kryptos, a copper sculpture located outside the CIA
headquarters in Virginia, and Jim Sanborn, the sculptor who created Kryptos. describes three kinds of codes: substitution, transposition, and
concealment. explains that the people
sending and receiving encoded messages must agree on the rules of the code
system so that messages can be understood. states that when Sanborn
created Kryptos, he cut four encrypted
messages from a copper plate and that he is the only person who knows the
complete solution to Kryptos. reports that at least 1,000 people are trying to solve the Kryptos codes. reveals that Parts 1 to 3
of Kryptos were solved largely by
cryptographer Jim Gillogly, but Part 4 remains unsolved. explains that letters of
the alphabet occur with predictable frequency, and that even when transposed,
these letter frequencies remain the same. Knowing this helped Jim Gillogly
solve parts of Kryptos.
Taping Rights: Can be used up to one year after the program is taped off the air.
|
|
