Diffie, Hellman, and Merkle Win a Prize...

The Hamming Medal was awarded to cryptographic pioneers Whitfield Diffie, Martin Hellman, and Ralph Merkle.  Their basic technique for what is today called “public key” or “asymmetric” cryptography was the first available to anyone outside three-letter agencies (NSA, CIA, etc.).  It's also the only real cipher I've actually implemented, several times over the years and most recently just a year ago.  Though it's over thirty years old, it's still perfectly viable...