Antibiotic overkill
There was a little noticed but most astonishing facet of the groundbreaking story about the discovery of the first antibiotic in almost 30 years: the deep initial disappointment of the research team who first thought they had discovered yet another detergent or bleach - so powerful an antiobiotic that it would kill any living cell and hence serve no use as a medicine. Later tests showed to their jubilation that they were wrong and the new compound, teixobactin, only affects germs. So a little less of the killer sauce seems to be a good thing.
Torpedoes that overshoot the target
From germs to warfare: in the 60s the US developed the Mark 45 nuclear torpedo: so powerful a weapon that it would destroy not only the targeted submarine but also the very submarine that launched it. The only way the weapon could be used was to explode the torpedo way after it had passed by the targeted submarine, so that the blast effect on the launch vessel would be reduced to tolerable. Yet, these overshooting torpedoes were just as effective at destroying the enemy target.
Lesson learned: take one less hair of the dog that bites you and you'll be just fine.
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