These nine panelists describe ways in which the Second Law of Thermodynamics can be stretched, or applied in less traditional ways.

From the archive:

"One of the most fundamental rules of physics, the second law of thermodynamics, has for the first time been shown not to hold for microscopic systems."

Essentially, the smaller a machine is, the greater the chance that it will run backwards. It could be extremely difficult to control.

Finally, and most importantly:

Marge: I'm worried about the kids, Homey. Lisa's becoming very obsessive. This morning I caught her trying to dissect her own raincoat.

Homer: [scoffs] I know. And this perpetual motion machine she made today is a joke! It just keeps going faster and faster.

Marge: And Bart isn't doing very well either. He needs boundaries and structure. There's something about flying a kite at night that's so unwholesome.

[looks out window]

Bart: [creepy voice] Hello, Mother dear.

Marge: [closing the curtains] That's it: we have to get them back to school.

Homer: I'm with you, Marge. Lisa! Get in here.

[Lisa walks in, chuckling nervously]

Homer: In this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics!

Frontiers of the Second Law