New ARTE Documentary

Peter Schwabe and Eike Kiltz explain the future of cryptography

February 17, 2025

The upcoming episode of ARTE's science series "42 - The Answer to Almost Everything" is all about cryptography, offering fascinating insights into this crucial area of research. A film crew followed Peter Schwabe (Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy Director) and Eike Kiltz (Max Planck Fellow) as they worked on the campus of Ruhr University Bochum.

Text: Christina Scholten

In the documentary, the researchers explain why our digital world would be unimaginable without cryptography and how new quantum-secure algorithms are being developed in Bochum. These algorithms, selected by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), are seen as a key technology for the future because they can withstand the computing power of future quantum computers. Platforms such as Signal, Zoom, and Apple have already implemented these algorithms. Bochum’s cybersecurity research plays a crucial role in developing forward-looking solutions for digital security.

Broadcast Information
The ARTE-42 documentary on cryptography will be available on the ARTE Mediathek from February 17: https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/115511-008-A/finden-wir-den-perfekten-geheimcode/

Arte is a European cultural channel specializing in documentaries and reports on a wide range of cultural, scientific, and social topics. The film is part of the "42" series, which breaks down complex scientific and technical issues into accessible explanations.

The documentary will also air on ARTE on March 9 at 09:10 AM.