Start With the Black Box

A message is hidden in plain sight. Decode it, then see why lucky breaks only matter when you use them.

Step 1: Decode the message

Start with the black box. Look closely at the binary digits.

Encoded binary message for the Black Box scavenger hunt
Click the image to enlarge it. Click the enlarged image again to zoom in farther.

Step 2: Set up the tool

The black box gives you the message. CodeHS gives you the tool to decode it. Do this in order so the program has somewhere to run.

  1. Open CodeHS.
  2. Go to Sandbox.
  3. Create a new Python 3 Sandbox.
  4. Use the picture if you are not sure what to click.

Make a Python 3 Sandbox in CodeHS.

CodeHS screen showing where to make a Python 3 Sandbox
Click the image to enlarge it.

Step 3: Type the program

Now type the program shown below into your Python 3 Sandbox. Run it, enter the binary from the black box, and let Python translate the message.

  1. Type the program exactly as shown.
  2. Press Run.
  3. Enter the binary message from the black box.
  4. Copy the decoded message and paste it into the box below.

Type this program into your Python 3 Sandbox.

Python program students can use to decode the binary message
Click the image to enlarge it.

Open the first door

When you have decoded the full message, paste it below. If it is correct, the first door opens.

waiting for the decoded message.
Capitalization, spaces, and punctuation do not have to be perfect. The full idea has to be there.
The light bulb comes after staying with the hard part.