Think of a random number. Now, think of a second one.
You already failed, because the numbers you chose weren’t really random, mathematically speaking. Compared to a truly random sequence generator, research has shown that humans are less likely to pick the same number twice in a row and more likely to create patterns in the sequences they choose. But don’t feel too bad for yourself—your computer can’t generate truly random numbers, either. This has proven to be an issue for slot machines, which are controlled by automated pseudorandom number generators and susceptible to hacking.
Random number generation is vital in mathematical modeling and cryptography, where it’s used to encrypt information, log on to websites, and secure web traffic. Even so, truly random numbers are hard to come by. Scientists and codemakers rely on natural phenomena like radioactive decay and atmospheric noise to drive randomness.
Now, chemists have, for the first time, harnessed another natural source of randomness: chemistry. These scientists built a robotic system that uses the process of crystallization to create random strings of numbers and encrypt information. They published a study with their find ..
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