They are moving past many atoms very frequently, even when there is no net current but only random thermal motion.
The idea that electrons have something like thermal motion, even in the absence of an applied voltage is not new, nor startling.
The concept of thermal motion came two centuries later.
At high temperatures, random thermal motion makes it more difficult for the electrons to maintain alignment.
These thermal motions are used for example in gliding.
Although the two beams are at the same frequency, they address different atoms due to natural thermal motion.
However, these "decay" processes are quickly dissipated into thermal motions.
The primary cause of this resistance is the thermal motion of ions.
In a liquid or gas, thermal motions constantly disrupt long-range order.
The secondary bonds of a polymer constantly break and reform due to thermal motion.