This is a nice read, until you get to this part.
The researchers explained, "This is an instructive example of the 'good enough' principle in nature. Evolution saw no need to invest extra energy and resources in an organ with a specific purpose that performs its function adequately. We, humans, who often invest excessive resources in engineered systems.
Ha, that's what's wrong with today's engineering. Giant tunnel machine fails due to expected soil conditions? Blah. Nature is happy with 95% success, and doesn't care if there are a few early failures. We humans used to be quite concerned about a 5% chance of death, or a billion dollars wasted.
That's why I always put in a large 'safety factor'. Now, the margins are like this guy, thin as the skin on your teeth. You look and there is not a condo alive that could survive an earthquake. Most likely, I won't be around to see the consequences of all this.
ps. at the old company, we used to find lots of 'Handyman Specials' where the margins were 'good enough'. Yuck.
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