Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo / halfpoint
A recent class-action lawsuit is being advertised on television and radio. The lawsuit claims the quality of earplugs used by soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2015 were of inferior quality, resulting in hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim is the plugs were too short for proper insertion into the ear and could gradually loosen, effectively rendering them useless. The manufacturer, 3M, agreed to pay $9.1 million to resolve the allegations, but has admitted no wrongdoing.
On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing seven crew members and terrifying a nation. The cause of the disaster was traced to an “O-ring,” which is a circular gasket that seals the right rocket booster. The gasket failed due to the low temperature at launch time (31 degrees F). Several engineers noted the risk before the launch, but management dismissed the chance of failure. In short, poor statistical reasoning was the main reason the launch was given the fatal go-ahead.
In An Instant
Have you ever found yourself in a moment when you knew something was about to go wrong, yet didn’t take the right steps to prevent it? Sometimes it happens out of simple neglect or forgetfulness. You should have made sure everyone was wearing sunblock; or your Little Leaguer was wearing a batting helmet (even though the pitch was coming in underhanded); or you didn’t accidentally “cc” your mom about the wild night you and your friends had over the weekend.