Nature

“The point in time when the maximum rate of extraction of petroleum is reached, after which it is expected to enter terminal decline.” Source: Gabriel Weinberg's Mental Models I Find Repeatedly Useful

“The concept that small causes can have large effects.” (related: bullwhip effect — “increasing swings in inventory in response to shifts in customer demand as you move further up the supply chain.”) Source: Gabriel Weinberg's Mental Models I Find Repeatedly Useful

“The endurance of systems and processes.” Source: Gabriel Weinberg's Mental Models I Find Repeatedly Useful

“A sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place. In a chain reaction, positive feedback leads to a self-amplifying chain of events.” (related: cascading failure, domino effect) Source: Gabriel Weinberg's Mental Models I Find Repeatedly

A vacuum “is space void of matter.” Filling a vacuum refers to the fact that if a vacuum is put next to something with pressure, it will be quickly filled by the gas producing that pressure. (related: power vacuum) Source: Gabriel Weinberg's

“the relative importance of an individual’s innate qualities as compared to an individual’s personal experiences in causing individual differences, especially in behavioral traits.” Source: Gabriel Weinberg's Mental Models I Find Repeatedly Useful