A 1542 papal cipher cracked with simulated annealing
Researchers applied simulated annealing, an optimization algorithm, to decode a 1542 papal cipher that had resisted previous attempts. By modeling the cipher as a combinatorial problem, the method identified the correct key and revealed the original text, demonstrating how modern computational techniques can solve centuries‑old cryptographic puzzles. The breakthrough highlights the potential of heuristic algorithms in historical cryptanalysis.