Numbers station

Okay kiddo, so you know how sometimes you play secret code games with your friends where you make up a secret code that only you and your friends can understand? Well, some grown-ups play a similar game with secret messages called "number stations."

A number station is a radio station that broadcasts a series of numbers or code words over and over again. These messages are being sent to spies or secret agents who are working in different parts of the world. The spies are able to decode the messages using a special code book or special equipment.

The messages are sometimes hidden in music or other sounds, so it's hard for anyone who isn't supposed to understand it to figure out what's being said. The people sending the messages might use different stations and different codes to make sure no one else can understand the messages.

Number stations have been used since the early days of espionage and were especially popular during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. They're still used today by some countries, even though there are now more sophisticated ways of sending secret messages.

But don't worry, kiddo, number stations are just a way for grown-ups to have fun with secret codes. There's nothing to be afraid of!