Secret Codes by Cusack, Bradly J.

The Art of Secret Codes

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:23:46 UTC

This article shows how we use “secret codes” all the time—like emojis, slang, and symbols. It also introduces different types of codes and how messages can be hidden or changed.

Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:24:47 UTC

This reading shows how Ancient Egyptians used pictures to write messages instead of letters. It also explains how to read the symbols and understand their meaning.

Conlangs

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:25:47 UTC

This reading introduces constructed languages, which are made-up languages created for real or fictional use. It shows how people build new languages with their own rules, words, and meanings.

Esperanto

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:26:19 UTC

This video explains Esperanto, a made-up language created to help people from different countries communicate more easily. It shows how simple rules can make a language easier to learn.

Navajo Code Talkers

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:27:46 UTC

This reading tells how Navajo soldiers used their language as a secret code in World War II. Their messages were so complex that enemy forces could not break them.

Caesar Cipher

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:29:30 UTC

A Caesar cipher hides a message by shifting each letter forward in the alphabet by the same number. It’s one of the simplest ways to turn plain text into a secret code.

Cryptography Playlist

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:29:56 UTC

This playlist explains how secret codes and encryption work, from basic ideas to more complex systems. It’s a great way to see how cryptography is used beyond simple ciphers.

Ancient Egyptian

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:30:49 UTC

This page shows how Ancient Egyptians used pictures, called hieroglyphs, to write messages. It’s an example of how symbols can act as a kind of code.

Native Words, Native Warriors

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:32:06 UTC

This interactive site shows how Native American soldiers used their languages as secret codes during wartime. It also shares their stories and explains why their work was so important.

Navajo Code Talkers

t3po — 2026-04-07 18:32:30 UTC

This guide from the Library of Congress shares real stories and documents from Navajo Code Talkers. It helps you learn about their experiences during World War II.

Music Sheet Cipher

t3po — 2026-04-08 20:16:43 UTC

This tool shows how music notes can be used to hide a message. Each note stands for a letter, turning sheet music into a secret code.

Substitution Cipher

t3po — 2026-04-10 14:02:16 UTC

A substitution cipher replaces letters, words, or symbols with something else. For instance, the letter "A" could be encoded as 1 for the first letter of the alphabet, "B" as 2, "C" as 3, and so on. Encoding the phrase "LOL" in this manner would be transcribed as 12-15-12.

Transposition Cipher

t3po — 2026-04-10 15:01:17 UTC

A transposition cipher keeps the same letters, but changes the order in which they appear. A simple example could be the message "SECRET", in which the letters are scrambled to SRETEC. A more complicated example includes the use of patterns, such as a zig-zag or a rail.

Elvish, Klingon, Dothraki, and Na'vi

t3po — 2026-04-10 15:28:34 UTC

This video shows how languages from movies and books are created, like Elvish and Klingon. It explains how these made-up languages follow real rules, just like spoken languages.

Marie Antoinette's Secret Correspondence

t3po — 2026-04-10 16:27:48 UTC

Marie Antoinette used complicated ciphers to communicate escape plans during the bloody French Revolution.