Codebreaker: Alan Turing - Persecution of a Genius
In 1952, the greatest mathematician of his time, the man who gave birth to the computing age, was in torment. Years before, Alan Turing helped crack the impossible German Enigma machine and changed the course of World War II. During his lifetime, his achievements went unrecognized. Instead, he was disgraced for being a gay man in a time when homosexual acts were illegal.
In 1952, the greatest mathematician of his time, the man who gave birth to the computing age, was in torment. Years before, Alan Turing helped crack the impossible German Enigma machine and changed the course of World War II. During his lifetime, his achievements went unrecognized. Instead, he was disgraced for being a gay man in a time when homosexual acts were illegal.
Related Titles
Related Articles
View All
How a Nazi U-Boat and Its Enigma Machine Ended Up in a Chicago Museum
The U-505 was taken on the high seas by a U.S. Navy task force through planning, valorous action, and a lot of luck. Slated for demolition after the war, it was saved again by a…
The Enigma Machine Declassified: Beyond Bletchley Park
The Imitation Game portrays Alan Turing as the sole genius behind the breaking of the German Enigma code. The truth is that Enigma was cracked earlier by Polish mathematicians…
Does Our Pursuit of AI Create Bad Advice, Fake Intelligence, and Unintentional Bias?
Machines that think have long been the goal of artificial intelligence (AI) researchers. While today’s AI and machine-learning software has made impressive progress, it’s far from…
'A War of Currents': The Real Story of Thomas Edison and the Invention of the Electric Chair
A battle of titans named Edison and Westinghouse sparked the invention of the supposedly humane electric chair. But how did Nikola Tesla’s promising discovery – alternating…
Questioning the Mysteries of the Universe? Jim al-Khalili Might Have Your Answers
In documentaries exploring disorder in the universe, nothingness, and gravity, scientist Jim al-Khalili explains arcane and complex science topics to non-specialists. The joy and…
World Wide Brain: H.G. Wells and Google’s Most Ambitious Failure
Inspired by H. G. Wells’ World Brain concept, Google once tried to consolidate all the books in the world into one database. It failed—but what can it teach about the Internet and…
Can Quantum Physics Teach Us About God and Ourselves?
Quantum physics is complex and fascinating. It also bears many similarities to certain religious philosophies. Could it help bridge the gap between science and faith?
The Flexible Brain: Neuroplasticity’s Revolutionary Potential for Training and Healing
The human brain is extraordinary, and the skills we learn as humans seem limitless. But what happens when a brain injury interrupts our everyday functions? Astonishingly enough,…