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

just because A is used for B by species C does not necessarily mean that species C evolved A for the purpose of doing B. It may very well be the case that B is something that this species learned to do after the adaptation of A.
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Life is an iterative and compounding game. In the words of Peter Kaufman, it pays to “go positive and go first.” Also, remember that people make mistakes. Assuming there is no maliciousness, it pays to forgive.
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
The competitive exclusion principle explains why we see such a diverse range of organisms within ecosystems. Even though they inhabit in the same area, each occupies its own niche and has traits that distinguish it from its neighbors. Natural selection only allows the fittest organisms to survive. Fitness refers not only to how well suited a
... See moreShane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Life is an iterative and compounding game. In the words of Peter Kaufman, it pays to “go positive and go first.” Also, remember that people make mistakes. Assuming there is no maliciousness, it pays to forgive.
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Humans can also be heavily motivated by uncertainty.
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred or changed from one form to another, such as from light to heat. The first law is known as the law of conservation of energy and it deals with the transfer of energy. There are two forms of energy exchange—heat and work. Heat is energy
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These are known as keystone species: organisms that would cause an ecosystem to completely change or collapse altogether if they were not present.
Shane Parrish • The Great Mental Models Volume 2: Physics, Chemistry and Biology
In Into The Woods, John Yorke suggests that the way we tell stories is indicative of our desire to find order in the world. Stories are an attempt to tame the terrifying randomness that surrounds us. As we go through life, we are constantly absorbing chaotic information that we make sense of through narratives. Yorke writes that “every act of
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But she explains that “Sandinismo was a fundamental element of my identity,”13 which propelled her to take whatever action necessary to support the group.