Young codebreakers' zone

Fun and Interesting Links

Codes and Ciphers

Planet Science:
An extension of the Science Year web site. This section is all about how to become a spy, with information on everything from secret codes to how to make invisible ink.

Simon Singh’s Black Chamber:
Looks at different codes throughout history, from the Romans to the Victorians. There are coded messages that can be cracked and a frequency analysis tool.

GCHQ:
Britain's Government Communications Headquarters, successor to Bletchley Park's Government Codes & Ciphers School. Here you will find some puzzles and a tough challenge to tackle.

The National Cipher Challenge 2004:
This is a competition for schools. Can you and your classmates crack the secret message?

World War II, Bletchley & Enigma:

Imperial War Museum:
Great information about the Enigma Machine; how it worked, who cracked it and why it was so important.

Decoding Nazi Secrets::
Loads of information about how the Enigma ciphers were broken, and some fun links to explore.

Deciphering Ancient Languages:

Hieroglyphs at the British Museum::
Gives you the chance to decode the writings of the ancient Egyptians.

Biology & the Code of Life:

How the Code of Life was Broken::
A step by step guide to how the biological code that makes us human is decoded by scientists.

Deciphering your Family History::
How to be a family tree detective and get started on your own family research.