Randomness in physical science
In the 19th century, scientists used the idea of random motions of molecules in the development of statistical mechanics to explain phenomena in thermodynamics and the properties of gases.
The lack of pattern in events.
A random sequence has no order and does not follow an intelligible pattern. Individual random events are by definition unpredictable, but often the frequency of different outcomes over many events is predictable.
Randomness in biology
The modern evolutionary synthesis ascribes the observed diversity of life to random genetic mutations followed by natural selection. The latter retains some random mutations in the gene pool due to the systematically improved chance for survival and reproduction that those mutated genes confer on individuals who possess them.
Randomness in mathematics
The mathematical theory of probability arose from attempts to formulate mathematical descriptions of chance events, originally in the context of gambling, but later in connection with physics. Statistics is used to infer the underlying probability distribution of a collection of empirical observations. For the purposes of simulation, it is necessary to have a large supply of random numbers or means to generate them on demand.
Randomness in statistics
In statistics, randomness is used to create simple random samples. This lets surveys of completely random groups of people provide realistic data. Common methods of doing this include drawing names out of a hat or using a random digit chart. A random digit chart is a large table of random digits.
Randomness in information science
In information science, irrelevant or meaningless data is considered noise. Noise consists of numerous transient disturbances with a statistically randomised time distribution.
