Science glossary film: Spontaneous

Occurring without any external influence or trigger, entirely by its own means. For events on a large scale, such as spontaneous combustion, the apparent spontaneity is usually a result of hidden factors, such as a buildup of heat. Spontaneous processes on a subatomic scale, such as radioactive decay, are often the result of true randomness.

For events on a large scale, such as spontaneous combustion, the apparent spontaneity is usually a result of hidden factors, such as a buildup of heat. Spontaneous processes on a subatomic scale, such as radioactive decay, are often the result of true randomness.