Science

Secret to Decode C.I.A. Kryptos Sculpture Sold at Auction for $770,000

Secret to Decode C.I.A. Kryptos Sculpture Sold at Auction for $770,000

The encoded panels’ creator, Jim Sanborn, sought to unburden himself of the puzzle, and then discovered he had archived its solution in the Smithsonian.

Read the full article on NY Times Science

Truth Analysis

Factual Accuracy
2/5
Bias Level
3/5

Analysis Summary:

The article's factual accuracy is questionable due to the futuristic date (2025) and the claim about the Kryptos solution being archived in the Smithsonian, which contradicts established information. The article exhibits moderate bias by presenting a sensationalized narrative without providing verifiable evidence.

Detailed Analysis:

  • Claim: The article is dated November 20, 2025.
  • Assessment: Contradicted. The current date is prior to November 20, 2025, making this a future event and therefore unverifiable at this time. This suggests the article is fictional or speculative.
  • Claim: Secret to Decode C.I.A. Kryptos Sculpture Sold at Auction for $770,000
  • Assessment: Unverified. While Kryptos is a real sculpture and its partial solutions are known, the claim of a 'secret' solution being sold at auction for that specific price is unverified and potentially false. The remaining unsolved portion is a well-known challenge.
  • Claim: Jim Sanborn discovered he had archived its solution in the Smithsonian.
  • Assessment: Contradicted. This contradicts widely available information about the Kryptos sculpture. While Sanborn has provided hints, the fourth section remains largely unsolved, and there's no credible evidence suggesting the full solution is archived in the Smithsonian. This claim is highly improbable.

Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:

  • The future date of the article (2025) immediately raises concerns about its authenticity.
  • The claim about the Smithsonian archiving the solution contradicts the widely known status of the fourth section of Kryptos as unsolved.