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cover of episode Cryptology (SECRET CODES) with Simon Singh

Cryptology (SECRET CODES) with Simon Singh

2025/6/4
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Ologies with Alie Ward
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Allie Ward: 我一直对密码学很感兴趣，但苦于找不到合适的专家来访谈。国家密码学博物馆可能不会透露太多信息，所以我找到了密码破译专家西蒙·辛格，他写了一本关于密码破译的书，我对密码知之甚少，希望他能分享更多。 Simon Singh: 我写了一本关于费马最后定理的书，其中提到了二战期间的密码学，特别是艾伦·图灵破解恩尼格玛密码的故事，我想进一步探索。密码学不仅与数学有关，还与语言学和其他各种事物有关，作为一个作家，拥有一个范围如此广泛的主题是很棒的。密码学在今天比以往任何时候都重要，保护信息的方式不是把它锁在保险箱里，而是用密码锁起来。

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Simon Singh's interest in cryptology stemmed from his previous work on Fermat's Last Theorem, where he encountered the story of Alan Turing and the Enigma code. His experience as a science journalist covering codes for a television show further solidified his interest in the topic, highlighting its growing importance in the information age.
  • Simon Singh's initial interest in cryptology stemmed from his work on Fermat's Last Theorem.
  • His television work further fueled his interest due to the importance of cryptography in the emerging information age.
  • He faced challenges in choosing which historical periods and regions to focus on for his book, 'The Code Book'.

Shownotes Transcript

Secret ciphers. Hidden treasure. Enigma breakers. Mysterious manuscripts. And … hog Latin. Cryptology expert and author of “The Code Book,” Simon Singh finally lets me ask him about the small mistakes that lost huge battles, the prison plots of Mary Queen of Scots, a cryptology reality show that I wish existed, the legacy of Alan Turing, Indigenous code-talking war heroes, hiding messages in your skin and guts, the role of A.I. in future deciphering and the possibility of a quantum computing apocalypse. Also: one whole ball of wax that you do not want to get into. 

Visit Dr. Singh’s website) and follow him on Bluesky) and X)

Browse Dr. Singh’s books) including The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography, available on Bookshop.org) and Amazon)

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More episode sources and links)

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes)

Other episodes you may enjoy: Egyptology (ANCIENT EGYPT)), Momiology (MUMMIFICATION)), Curiology (EMOJI)), Graphology (HANDWRITING/FORGERY)), Anagnosology (READING)), Oneirology (DREAMS)), Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES)), Architectural Technology (COMPUTER PROGRAMMING)), Neurotechnology (AI + BRAIN TECH)), Artificial Intelligence Ethicology (WILL A.I. CRASH OUT?)), Abstract Mathematology (UH, IS MATH REAL?))

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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions) and Jake Chaffee)

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer)

Theme song by Nick Thorburn