What does a spy agency give for Christmas? How about a riddle wrapped in an enigma inside a mystery? GCHQ, Britain's electronic and cyberintelligence agency, on Wednesday published its annual "Christmas Challenge"—a seasonal greeting card that doubles as a set of fiendishly difficult puzzles designed to excite young minds about solving ciphers and unearthing clues, per the AP. The challenge is aimed at young people ages 11 to 18, who are encouraged to work in teams and use "lateral thinking, ingenuity, and perseverance" to crack the seven brainteasers set by GCHQ's "in-house puzzlers." The card is sent by the head of GCHQ—short for Government Communications Headquarters—to other national security chiefs around the world.
Puzzles were first included in 2015 and have become an annual tradition. The card can be downloaded from the GCHQ website and has become popular with teachers—the agency says a third of British secondary schools have downloaded it. The agency, meanwhile, admits the festive fun has an ulterior motive. GCHQ Director Anne Keast-Butler said she hoped the card would inspire young people to explore STEM subjects—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—"and to consider what a career in cybersecurity and intelligence might have to offer." "The Challenge has been designed for a mix of minds to solve, so [it's] best tackled in groups of classmates, families, or friends," she said. "Whether you have an analytical mind, a creative brain, or prefer engineering, there's something for everyone."
The card features a map of the UK, linked to the locations where GCHQ has bases, including its high-tech headquarters in Cheltenham, nicknamed "the Doughnut" because of its shape. Many British people are keen puzzle-solvers, and the link between puzzlers and spycraft is often celebrated—notably in the many books, films, and TV shows about Bletchley Park. The complex of buildings and wooden huts northwest of London is where, during World War II, hundreds of mathematicians, cryptologists, crossword puzzle experts, and computer pioneers worked to crack Nazi Germany's secret codes. Historians say their work shortened World War II by as much as two years.
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