If you’ve ever tried to “fix” some broken electronics with a set of tweezers, you are probably well aware that even our ever dexterous hands have their limits. As humans have learned more about material science and developed better machines over time, we’ve actually been able to offset our own physical limitations.

This is particularly important for fields like medicine. After all, if one is going to be putting something inside another person during surgery, it should be as fine as modern science allows. A nice side effect is that they are also more portable and, overall, use fewer resources to manufacture.

Of course, a tiny cucumber or carrot has nothing to do with miniaturization, unless it was intentional, and a lot more to do with an issue that has plagued humans ever since we decided that chasing animals was not a great lifestyle - soil quality. In short, putting some seeds in the ground is almost never enough.

Contrary to what some folks believe, growing large fruits and vegetables isn’t a sort of “fire and forget” job, the plants, trees and bushes need to be constantly maintained. This includes constant checkups, keeping the soul moist, protecting them from the elements and fertilizing them regularly. In short, some dirt and seeds are not going to be sufficient.