Finding π using random numbers and probability. This short demonstrates a Monte Carlo approach, showing how randomness and statistics can converge to an accurate estimate of pi through repeated trials ...

Are you convinced that the shuffle mode on your iPod is messing with your mind? Or that certain numbers are bound to come up in the next lottery? If yes, you may be holding on to some serious ...

In physics, Albert Einstein is famous for two things: developing the theory of relativity, and hating quantum mechanics. Relativity is a colossal achievement, with the special theory of 1905 putting ...

In last month’s Insights column, we explored randomness in mundane objects such as a combination bicycle lock and a hexagonal jigsaw puzzle, before debating the philosophical underpinnings of ...

It sort of popped into my head when someone I knew said there is no reason to feel happy or sad over anything as it's all just random interactions with particles and waves, and things like that. So I ...

Here’s a deceptively simple exercise: Come up with a random phone number. Seven digits in a sequence, chosen so that every digit is equally likely, and so that your choice of one digit doesn’t affect ...

Random numbers, perhaps have different analogues among the humans and machines. Tossing a coin is assumed to be truly random for humans with the uniform distribution and probability of 0.5 to get ...