
The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology

“A general ‘law of least effort’ applies to cognitive as well as physical exertion. The law asserts that if there are several ways of achieving the same goal, people will eventually gravitate to the least demanding course of action. In the economy of action, effort is a cost, and the acquisition of skill is driven by the balance of benefits and cos
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There is a lot of opportunity that already exists in your world. You don’t have to start from scratch with adaptation. In evolutionary biology, making use of things you already have is sometimes referred to as an exaptation.
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
All living beings require energy to perform their daily functions, including sleeping. Over time, species have developed different mechanisms to increase their energy efficiency. The tendency in organisms to conserve their energy is what ensures they will have extra to draw on in times of increased need. For humans, we have to be careful though, to
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The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy (a measure of disorder simply understood as energy unable to be used to do work) of an isolated system always increases.
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
There are particular situations in which we find it more compelling to go after a possible payoff instead of a sure thing.
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
In reality, the concept means that the more favorable a trait is for a particular environment, the higher the chance of that organism living long enough to procreate. Biologist Geerat J. Vermeij describes it as “nonrandom elimination.” Charles Darwin spent decades
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy (a measure of disorder simply understood as energy unable to be used to do work) of an isolated system always increases. Isolated systems are those that spontaneously progress toward the state of maximum entropy of the system, also described as thermal equilibrium—no net heat flow between objects
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Alloying can be a powerful process because it combines components in specific combinations to produce a substance that can achieve what the individual elements cannot.
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Leigh Van Valen, observed that longevity does not protect species from extinction. No matter how long a species has survived, a failure to adapt can result in extinction. There is no plateau a species can reach when it gets to say, “Okay, the hard work is done. I can coast now, getting by on what I have.” Because all species are continually adaptin
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