Science word of the day: Cryptology
What does 'cryptology' mean?
Science word of the day: Cryptology
Pronunciation: Krip-TAH'-leh-jee
What it means: Cryptology is the study of secret codes — both making them (cryptography) and breaking them (cryptanalysis). Once associated with spy networks' secret codes and ciphers, cryptology now often refers to the computer algorithms used to encrypt data to protect passwords and personal information from prying eyes.
How to use it in a sentence: Native American soldiers known as "code talkers" harnessed cryptology in World War II by developing codes and ciphers based on their Indigenous languages.
Can you crack our science word of the day puzzle, Chain Word?
Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science, covering topics ranging from geoscience to archaeology to the human brain and behavior. She was previously a senior writer for Live Science but is now a freelancer based in Denver, Colorado, and regularly contributes to Scientific American and The Monitor, the monthly magazine of the American Psychological Association. Stephanie received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
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