Can code damage hardware?

Can random code damage your hardware when run in Real Mode? If yes, give some examples how. What happens when the ACPI tables are overwritten? Is it possible to disable the CPU fan through code, and have the CPU overheat and break, or does the BIOS have moron-proof failsafes incase someone would do that?

http://sunnyday.mit.edu/papers/therac.pdf
First thought: Why does a single-purpose machine controller even need a scheduler and multitasking?
Second thought: Why isn't "overcomplicated design" high on the list of stupid shit they did?

http://google.com/search?q=sukhoi+malfunction
Hardware problem.