New technique produces real randomness

‘Extractor’ removes predictability from computer-generated numbers

dice

NO DICE For computers, generating random numbers is more complex than a simple roll of the dice. Computer scientists have devised an easier way for computers to harvest randomness from their environment.

James Bowe/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Ask a computer to pick a random number and you’ll probably get a response that isn’t completely unpredictable.