2019 participants
Alfie Baines
Kryptos, a sculpture commissioned by the CIA, contains 1736 characters of a seemingly incoherent nature. Since the installation of the sculpture in 1990, there have been many attempts by professional and amateur code-breakers, alongside enthusiasts, to decipher the hidden information within the sculpture. It has been confirmed by Jim Sanborn, the artist behind the sculpture, that only the final 97 characters remain unsolved, with 867 of the 1736 characters acting as a key. Advancements in technology since 2000, namely computing power, has meant that computers could be vital to making a breakthrough with the currently unsolved characters of the sculpture. This project aims to use modern computing and mathematics to automate aspects of already accepted paper solutions to parts of the sculpture. Furthermore, there will be unique attempts to solve the final 97 characters with careful consideration being given to clues Sanborn has released over time.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Project supervisor: Dr Stuart Hall