Nanopore Sequencers As Random Number Generators
Highlights:
Oxford Nanopore invested some money in a Web 3.0 startup.
That startup has funded research into using Nanopore sequencers as random number generators.
This isn’t a good idea.
Many consumer motherboards, processors and microcontrollers now include what is known as a “Hardware True Random Number Generator” this is in contrast to the random numbers most software engineers are used to that is “Pseudo-Random Number Generators”.
Pseudo-Random number generators algorithmically generate sequences of numbers which appear random are hopefully well distributed and can be used for various applications (for example running simulations). Their “non-randomness” can have certain advantages. For example, you might want to run a simulation with some random factors but also be able to provide the simulator to someone else so they can verify the results. A pseudo-random number generator1 will let you include an element of “randomness” but also allow you to re-run the simulation and get the exact same result.
True random number generators on the other hand are also useful. If you’re creating a password, you probably want it to be as random as possible. For example, for it to come from the fundamental randomness that appears to be evident at a fundamental physical level.