STEM Chronicles July 2026: The Science of Randomness
From the Founder’s Desk
As I write this 12th editorial for the magazine, I feel both delighted and proud of what this student editorial team has achieved. What started off as just a bunch of students in Grade 9 to 11 wanting to share the joy of science with others has evolved into a pathway for them to learn and grow, as they stand at the threshold of higher education.
It was never about a college portfolio, or the fear of being left out but about building professionalism, commitment and skills that would serve them well beyond school. They have put in late nights during exam season, researched through journal papers well above their grade level trying to make sense of advanced topics, and subscribed to publications like Physical Review Letters simply to stay on top of the latest in STEM.
And this July 2026 edition celebrates the essence of STEM education: understanding how the world around us works through science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The idea of the featured blog, The Science of Randomness, began during a casual conversation about why some passwords are rejected as “weak” even if they are randomly generated, and discussing what “random” even means. It grew into a piece that travels from the shuffle button on a playlist to encryption, simulations, and even quantum mechanics. Not to mention the incredible artwork depicting such an abstract idea.
The theme continues in this month’s Dialogues of Discovery with Prof. Trushant S. Majumdar, Mathematics Professor at New York University, who patiently explains the philosophy and mathematics of randomness. He also shares insights on what and how students should learn in the age of AI to build skills that stay relevant.
The book review of Helen Czerski’s Storm in a Teacup showcases the immense amount of learning that can come from just observing the world around us, and how scientific discoveries across the ages have come from observation and curiosity.
The students also bring you The Monthly Buzz, and the ever-popular Fun Zone. I hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as they enjoyed creating it.
Get your print copy if you have not already. Check the last page for details. Happy reading.
Dr. Sonali Dasgupta
Founder, STEMonsters Education
In This Issue
- Featured Blog: The Science of Randomness
Written by Srishti Biswas, Grade 10 section editor - Dialogues of Discovery: Prof. Trushant S. Majumdar
Clinical Associate Professor of Mathematics at New York University. Interview by Srujana Bhat and Pranati Sree G - News Flash: The Monthly Buzz
A brain circuit linked to anxiety, and an Oxford advance on Schrodinger’s cat - Book Review: Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life
Helen Czerski’s book, reviewed by Srujana Bhat, Grade 10 section editor - Student Showcase: Summer STEM Explorations
Hands-on workshops on the World of Electromagnetism and the Wonders of Space Tech - Fun Zone: Trivia, Riddles and More
This month in science history, science riddles, and Can You Believe It?
Watch the Conversation
Prof. Trushant S. Majumdar, Clinical Associate Professor of Mathematics at New York University, researches bio-fluid dynamics, locomotion, and soft condensed matter physics. He speaks with our student editors about the philosophy and mathematics of randomness, and what students should learn in the age of AI to build skills that stay relevant. In his words, “Eventually, all jobs can be tedious. But it all depends on what your attitude is.”
From the Featured Article
We all listen to music these days, don’t we? We pick and choose, make a long queue, curate what we’re listening to very specifically, to our tastes, our mood, the time, and a whole bunch of other things. There’s also a lazier alternative: starting a playlist, and simply listening to the songs that begin playing.
I myself have a very funny habit: I like to play the same playlist all the time. This isn’t ordinarily too bad. It has a variety of different songs, it lasts me hours, and since I’m the one who added songs to it, I enjoy every one that plays. However, here arises a very simple problem: monotony.
The full article traces randomness from the shuffle button on a playlist through pseudo-random and true random number generators, entropy, cryptographically secure generators, quantum randomness, and how Spotify actually builds a shuffled queue.
Continue Reading in the Magazine Above
Behind the Magazine
STEM Chronicles is produced by STEMonsters students, where high schoolers work on research, writing, and portfolio projects guided by a PhD scientist. Explore our after-school STEM programs for grades 3 to 12 or our programs for schools.
Read Past Editions
Every month, a new edition written and edited by high schoolers.
