Split (3)

train · 273k rows

title stringlengths 0 299	text list
the appeal to Atheism	[ "Imagine that you have substitute teacher in school. A little before lunch time, you get a math worksheet. 19 of the questions are very easy, simple adding and subtraction questions that you can easily do. The last question, however, doesn't look like anything you've done before:\n Let f be the function given by...
Why do websites allow annoying ads that will make people want to avoid them (using adblockers) instead of politely asking users to at least have a look ?	[ "I do a lot of web dev / product work, the simple answer? The annoying ones work. A beautiful, simple, unobtrusive ad does not get nearly the same clicks. Having something annoying and in your face yields a much higher percentage. \n\nFor the record I hate them and try to keep our ads tasteful. But there are times ...
How can we tell someone is smiling even when talking over the phone?	[ "Two hypotheses:\n\n1. You know the person well enough to know the kinds of things they would smile at. \n\n2. People pronounce things slightly differently when they're smiling, whether it be by their mouth shape or from inflection, that humans can naturally pick up on.\n\nIt's probably the first though." ]
why is it that people do not get high the first time they experience marijuana	[ "The only reason someone wouldn't get high is if they don't actually inhale. Which probably happens more often for first timers since your body isn't used to breathing in smoke.", "they do, they just either are expecting the high to be very different than it actually is (like say maybe they saw a tv show or movi...
Why do we get sores in our mouths after eating more sugar than normal?	[ "Hi!\n\nYou don't. Consult with a doctor or dentist about this. \n\n_URL_0_\n\n_URL_1_" ]
Can we magnetize a demagnetized magnet to its original power, or even stronger?	[ "The individual atoms of a ferromagnetic substance are themselves magnetic. Generally, they point in random directions and the magnetism is largely cancelled out. In a magnet, most of the atoms point in the same direction, instead of every-which way.\n\nTo remagnetize a material, you just need to expose it to a l...
Why do we have to close our eyes to sleep ?	[ "Closing our eyes protects them and stops them from drying out and also we don't need to be able to see when we are asleep. There are however, some people who don't close their eyes when they are asleep (and they are definitely asleep) so it is possible to sleep with your eyes open.", "I occasionally sleep with ...
Why does physical pain make us cry when we're younger but not as much when we're older?	[ "experience. when you were a kid it was new and scary, now its old hat.", "I got much better at swearing when I got older. That's much more effective than crying.", "Its a learned social function. Human beings are social creatures. They best way to ensure your health and wellbeing mentally and physically is b...
Google offering $1M prize for a much smaller power inverter	[ "A power inverter converts battery power (which is DC) into the higher voltage AC used by devices you plug into a wall outlet.\n\nIt is useful in a car, for example, when you need to provide power to an AC device. You plug the inverter into a cigarette lighter socket, and now you've got 120 volt AC for whatever de...
when should I use olive oil vs other oil	[ "There's two reasons to choose an oil - smoke point and flavor.\n\nSome oils are good at cooking at high temperature while others can't handle it. Some oils have a strong flavor and others are fairly neutral.\n\nOlive oil comes comes in both high heat/low flavor and low heat/high flavor varieties. Extra virgin oi...
Kafka - The Metamorphosis.	[ "Have you read the book but not \"gotten it,\" or do you want just want a summary?" ]
Why aren't laptops functionally designed to be on laps?	[ "Laps were not specifically designed to support laptops very well so I guess that settles the score.\nOn a serious note: Although you can put any laptop on your lap, heat production will make it uncomfortable fast. Newer machines do not produce as much heat as older ones so we're getting there.\nIn the meantime we'...
When you lose weight, where does the fat go/how does it actually exit our bodies?	[ "You exhale it in the form of carbon dioxide, and piss it out in the form of water. But mostly you exhale it.", "By normal means, when you lose weight, you have to 'burn' your fat into calories. You break the fat molecule down and get energy, water and carbondioxide in the end. Since fat is difficult to break dow...
More people learn French as a 2nd language than Chinese, Spanish and German combined; why is French so popular?	[ "The thing with Spanish and Chinese (I'm assuming Mandarin, mostly) is that they're very common as native languages, so they'll be the first language learned. China has a billion native Chinese speakers, Spanish has half a billion native Spanish speakers, with most of South America using Spanish as the primary l...
How do supermarkets produce so many store brand products to keep up with the brand names?	[ "The food industry, like most industries is a lot more complex and less-straight forward than most people would think. \n\nMany companies produce store brand (otherwise known as private label) products in the exact same facility as the branded products. This is especially true for commodity type products (think but...
What are check cashing places and who uses them?	[ "They are places that cash checks for a fee, usually a percentage.\n\n > If you need a check cashed wouldn't you go to a bank?\n\nSome people don't have bank accounts. Some poor neighborhood don't have banks or ATMs within walking distances. Other people have debts, are fugitives, or are otherwise living off the...
Why has Best Buy's stock price gone up the last 5 years when it appears to be a failing company?	[ "What made you conclude Best Buy is a failing company?" ]
Besides UI, how is Linux different from Windows?	[ "Okay, the biggest difference is the way in which Linux is built. The principle of open source is a very important one determines the way in which development is carried out, via communities/groups, opposed to a big corp dishing out a product you're stuck with. If you know how to code, you can modify it as you pl...
What is happening when you forget a word, but you know the meaning?	[ "This is called Tip of the Tongue in Psychology.\n\nThere are multiple steps required to process language and recall words. TotT is a breakdown in one or more of those steps > \n\nThe best way to cure TotT is to think of words that rhyme with the word you can't remember, rather than trying to describe the word or s...
why do certain foods taste good hot	[ "Temperature doesn't have a taste, but it does affect taste. It is easier to taste individual flavors at a warm temperature. Extremely hot or frozen food will hide some flavor because your taste buds are being chilled or burned at the same time." ]
How can people like Ajit Pai, who is trying to reverse the regulations that the FCC exists to create, come into power as the chairman of such an organization?	[ "The President nominates someone. The Senate confirms them (or doesn't). That's pretty much the extent of it, although I suppose that if the FBI background check failed, that would also end the process.\n\nTrump nominated a radio talk show host to be chief scientist of the Dept of Agriculture. And someone to be ...
Why isn't George Gershwin's music in the public domain yet?	[ "Simple - because he wrote it after (or right around the time of) Steamboat Willie.\n\nThat shit's never gonna end up in the public domain.", "Former paralegal here from a music office. Short answer is that between the Copyright act of 1976, the extension in the 90s and the DMCA from 1999/2000, the term now is 95...
Why do we focus more on speeding drivers than we do distracted drivers?	[ "An officer can easily prove a person was speeding, they've got it all logged into a computer that tracks nearby vehicles. They can't prove you looked down at your cellphone for two seconds.", "Because it's a lot easier to spot a speeding driver than a distracted driver. You have to be pretty close to someone an...
Is it actually possible to "detoxify" your body, or are all of the supposed cleanses & diets that help flush "toxins" complete bs?	[ "Complete BS. I wish I had a more in-depth explanation as to the why or how, but the problem is most of these detox things are incredibly vague on what they are doing in the first place. Toxins is not a term widely used by physicians because it can describe a wide variety of things - most of which can be in your ...
Why does a car battery only require the positive red terminal to work, but other batteries like those in a flashlight require both positive and negative?	[ "[This diagram here](_URL_0_) exactly shows your flashlight example. One terminal of a battery is connected with wire to one terminal of a light bulb (let's say this wire is black in color). The other terminal of the battery is connected to a one terminal of a switch, and the other terminal of the switch is connec...
Why do some colleges accept CLEP/DANTES/Excelsior test credits and some do not?	[ "It has to do with both. Some of prestigious, private colleges refuse to accept these because their courses are 'special'. I went to NYU and after officially becoming a student you cannot transfer any credits into the school aside from whatever you came in with before you were a student (basically, you can't take c...
Why did Robert Mugabe receive a bigger cheer than Jacob Zuma at Mandela's memorial?	[ "Zuma is currently not very popular in South Africa, he has had quite a number of scandals recently. Such as his friends, the Guptas, being allowed to land their wedding guests on a military base, and the spending of R250 million ($25 million) on his home ranch. Also several previous scandals and corruption case th...
How does the device in this picture measure how long the cable is?	[ "i would guess it probably sends a pulse to the tx/rx pair and times the response back.", "If I had to guess, I'd say it measures the resistance of the cable and computes the length from that. A conductor has more resistance the longer it is.\n\nThe dudes in /r/cableporn would probably know for sure." ]
How does a tire stay on the rim in pretty heavy conditions? (burnout, high cornering speed etc.) What exactly is holding it steady on the rim?	[ "Here's the short version. The inside diameter of the tire is smaller than you think. It tales a huge amount of force to stretch the tire over the rim. It's an amazingly tight fit, not glue. \n\nP.s. In some ultra-high-torque applications \"rim screws\" are employed to secure the tire to the rim.", "Each edge of...
Why can my boyfriend eat much spicier food than me?	[ "Tolerance for spicy food is acquired through practice. The reason he can tolerate hot stuff more than you is that he regularly eats spicy stuff. The brain gradually learns that spicy stuff isn't actual fire, so it stops reacting as strong to those kinds of pain signals, and can even release endorphins - the chem...
How does physical money gets settled around the world	[ "We use a \"fiat currency\". It has no value, it's not real, we simply accept that a certain bill or coin has a certain value.\n\nWith that in mind, there's no need to transfer physical notes or coins, as long as everyone involved has accepted that the value has been transferred from A to B. \n\nThe only exception ...
Why does it seem like there are different "classes" of last names?	[ "As much as we like to talk about opportunity, people and entire families tend to stay within the social and economic class that they were born into. Children of wealthy families tend to get better education, better opportunities, better social connections, better jobs, etc. and stay wealthy. They then have other w...
Why did bundling IE with Windows cause anti-trust violations but Safari/ Itunes in IOS and MSE in Win8 isn't?	[ "The issue wasn't JUST that it was bundled with the OS. There are are a couple other factors:\n\nWhen this ruling was made, Microsoft was far more dominant in the PC market than it is now and was effectively a monopoly. Through that monopoly, Microsoft began to push out its competitors in other markets (Internet br...
Why is it so common to dream you are flying?	[ "I want to know why I have never had such a dream, but it seems everyone else has.", "these explanations trying to tie in physiological causation aren't doing it for me. when i dream about flying there's always a positive emotion along with it, usually being astounded and then elation. and they are always really ...
Why does using electronics with a lit up screen before bed make it harder to fall asleep?	[ "One of the reasons we get tired and fall asleep is because of [Melatonin](_URL_0_). Melatonin is a hormone found in almost all biological life. Now let's make this easy to understand. :)\n\nA long time ago when artificial light was not a thing human sleep was governed by night/day. When it became dark we went to s...
What is 'the dialectic'/dialectical thinking? And how can it be applied to the world today?	[ "Looking at different perspectives with the goal of reasoned understanding, basically. Working around personal bias and assumptions and emotion. For example, we are having a disagreement because I like dogs and you like cats. We could sit down and talk logically about the attributes of each, and decide that they ar...
The group 'Anonymous' and some of the major things they have done.	[ "Here you go OP:\n\nAnonymous is a broad term used to refer to members of the 4chan community. (Used in the singular usually as Anon). \n\nThe reason for this came from the posting style of 4chan. 4chan has no registration, so each post is individual. When making a post you had the option of inserting a name if you...
If we have so many medical advancements, why don't pills and medicines taste delicious?	[ "If pills tasted like strawberry, unknowing children may eat them like candy, which is extremely dangerous.", "Well the only people that would benefit is kids who are use their good ole naturally selected sense of taste to determine that something is icky (and therefore, maybe poison!) and they don't want to take...
What causes some people to gag when they see a graphic injury like Gordon Haywards?	[ "For me it's that I have had injuries similar and can still remember the pain.Something in my brain just goes... Remember when we did that" ]
Why do I feel like chewing my own tongue when I'm hungry?	[ "TIL there are people who chew on thier tongue in anticipation of a meal.", "It's partially from oral fixation and partially from neural conditioning. You eat food, which involves moving your mouth and tongue moving and churning, eating positively influences serotonin levels. \n\nNo eating happening= mouth craves...
What is a vig	[ "Let's say you're betting $100 on a coin flip & you find a bookie that will take the bet. The odds should be even so a $100 bet will get you $100.\n\nThe bookie, however, is running a business. He needs to make sure he gets a cut of the action, even if you win. Once you figure in the vig, you might only get $9...
Why is "Abstract Art" often revered?	[ "After the industrial revolution (when steam engines were invented), graphic design rapidly began pushing outwards to find what was good design. Different schools of thought arose, but the most innovative was the idea of abstraction. \n\nAt a time when people couldn't read and symbolism was rather locality based (p...
By what authority does Arizona county Sheriff have to investigate a Hawaiian birth certificate?	[ "He doesn´t have any legal authority do investigate this matter.\n\nAs others have said, he pursues this as a \"private person\" (like others did) and the reason he became notable is because he is, incidentally, also an elected official.\n\nHowever he may not use any resources of his Sheriff´s office for this inves...
What would happen if you were to drink the water on Mars?	[ "Well, it's being reported as briny water, which means very salt-rich. A glass of water saltier than the sea would not go down smooth, you'd puke your guts out.", "Most likely it is a briny mix of sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate...but possibly also cyanide. The pH is probably very acidic or very b...
If it labor usually takes hours and hours how are twins born a few minutes apart?	[ "The labor process may take hours, as in the time until the [cervix is fully dilated.](_URL_0_), which is where the cervix expands to become large enough to accommodate a human baby head.\n\nUntil the dilation is complete, it the woman may experience contractions for several hours, which is commonly called \"in lab...
Why has no one (in the US) been imprisoned in connection with the financial collapse of 2008?	[ "Bankruptcy is not a crime. Can you be more specific?", "Because it was the government's fault and the bankers didn't really break any laws.\n\nIt's the government's fault because they thought everyone should own a home. So they told the bankers, \"Lend money to people to buy homes, and if they can't pay you bac...
Why I'm groggy waking up at 6am instead of 12 noon, despite still getting 8 hours of sleep in both cases.	[ "The ELI5 answer: Your body has a natural clock inside of it that's set to a special thing called 'circadian rhythm.' It's a biological cycle that lasts about 24 hours, the same amount of time as one day. \n\nSome parts of your body, like your brain, act differently or make different chemicals when you're asleep. C...
Why are you prompted to close all other programs when installing something?	[ "The installer may need access to files for a program due to some connectivity or upgrade related things and it's easier to tell you to close everything than to try and find every possible program ever made or that will ever be made that will cause instillation errors to your program. It's sort of a lazy way out of...
A quick summary of the recent r/atheism drama?	[ "/u/skeen created the /r/atheism sub about 5 years ago, and has \"been in charge\" so to speak since then, but he has moderated with a \"hands off\" approach, and in fact does as little moderation as humanly possible.\n\nSo, one of the other mods, /u/jij took advantage of a reddit rule that says if a moderator has ...
Why anesthesia in US makes people high and act funny when they wake up, while in Europe we are completely fine?	[ "1) Not all anesthesia makes people act funny, and not everyone will act funny when exposed to the kinds that do. \n\n2) I have seen many accounts from Europe nearly identical to US accounts. So you are letting your personal experience blind you to the facts." ]
What's with these desperate teenage girls trying to join ISIS?	[ "Teenagers can feel quite disillusioned and easily get caught up in ideals that take them away from the difficulties of puberty.\nIn the case of young women, they are often radicalised online through influence and the promise of a better life. Through using social media they can promise idealised notions of Islamic...
What was Prussia?	[ "Prussia was a Germanic Kingdom in north-central Europe from 1701 to 1918. It played a key role in the unification of Germany in the 19th century.\n\nThere's no real link between the words \"Prussia\" and \"Russia\"; they just happen to sound very similar in English.\n\nIn 1815, in the aftermath of the Napoleonic W...
Do dogs "miss" their mothers and siblings when they separated from them by humans? Do they still recognize them if they come back into contact with them later? Can they detect they are related through their scent?	[ "We adopted our dog from a shelter after she was shipped up from puerto rico. She had a sister. We found out the person who adopted her sister lived nearby and set up a puppy play date at the dog park 3 or 4 months later. And.... They were totally disinterested in each other.", "As a veterinarian, from observat...
How do we know that the quark stars are not actually the mechanism behind black holes?	[ "The un-fun answer is that quark stars are as-of-yet hypothetical and haven't been confirmed or denied.\n\nThe longer answer is that something that appears to be a black hole from the outside is a black hole. We don't know what happens past the event horizon by definition, and if we understand physics correctl...
Why does the US distribute it's milk under refrigeration?	[ "mainly because of consumer acceptance. milk in usa has always come refrigerated. \n\nIn June 1993, Parmalat introduced its UHT milk to the United States.[12] In the American market, consumers are uneasy about consuming milk that is not delivered under refrigeration, and reluctant to buy it. To combat this, Parma...
How do computers have better graphics then consoles?	[ "Good for you for asking this question rather than just blathering that consoles are superior.\n\nFirst, lets get our terms straight. \"Computer\" is a broad term that could mean really anything. Some computers aren't as powerful as the current consoles, while others make them look like Gameboy Colors. It will usua...
When I eat a lot of carbs, why am I fatigued through the entire next day?	[ "You're body quickly converts [simple carbs](_URL_1_) into blood sugar called Glucose. Your pancreas then produces insulin to remove that blood sugar and that rapid drop in blood sugar leaves you tired. Lacking blood sugar is known as [Hypoglycemia](_URL_2_). \n\nYour body can also become [insulin resistant](_URL_0...
What's wrong with microwave meals?	[ "They aren't as bad as many people may think. Frozen microwaved meals often have less salt/preservatives due to the fact that they are flash frozen for preservation. Now, they certainly aren't chock full of nutrients or vitamins by any stretch of the imagination, and can certainly have plenty of bad qualities, but ...
In a crew boat, why do they all row at the same time, instead of each one rowing just after the person in front of them rows? Wouldn't it be more efficient for the boat to always be propelled instead of in sudden bursts?	[ "One: Your oars would hit everyone else's oars, the oars are quite long, the oars don't collide because they are all moving as one.\n\nTwo: In terms of Physics the amount of energy expended is the same, but in terms of body mechanics rowers are more able to help move a fraction of the boat more often than the entir...
Why do certain cultures consistently own in certain chains and establishments?	[ "The reasoning behind it is mostly that people's families and friends help them get established when they move to a new country. Say you have an uncle with a couple convenience stores, maybe he'll give you a job in one. After a while maybe you save some money and buy a store of your own because you have lots of exp...
What is 'Y2K'?	[ "It was the year 2000 (k is a short form for 1000), but the cultural significance is deep. By 1999, we were pretty computerized in the West--nothing like now, the internet wasn't very sophisticated, but governments and big businesses had taken to storing all of their information on computers.\n\nIt turns out that...
How in the hell a brawl like this is legal? [NHL Fight]	[ "Laws are not automatic things. When you commit a crime, you are not instantly sent to jail. The police and the prosecuting lawyers need to charge people with crimes, and they can simply choose not to. For Hockey, and other contact sports, it has been decided to let them get away with assault. They do so becaus...
How placing a newly sharpend wood spear hardens it?	[ "The biggest factor is that you're driving out moisture from the wood, which causes it to become \"tighter\", and harder. The trade off is that you lose some flexibility, but that's why you only fire harden the tip. If you really take your time laying it in coals and rubbing it on a rock, you build a layer of carbo...
What exactly happened in the Olympic boycotts in 1980/84?	[ "There were 4 significant Olympic boycotts, two in 1976 and one each in 1980/84. I mention the 1976 boycotts because they inform the subsequent ones:\n\nChinese-led boycott: Taiwan (officially the Republic of China) and China (officially the People's Republic of China) both boycotted over the recognition of t...
Why has industry and manufacturing declined so much in countries like the US and UK but not in Germany?	[ "Your question is based on a faulty premise. I don't know about the UK, but manufacturing hasn't significantly declined in the US. By most measures, manufacturing output is now slightly lower than it was in 2007, but higher than it was at almost any point before that. See the following graphs:\n\n_URL_0_\n\n_URL_2_...
How is the soundtrack for a movie made to fit the scenes in the film?	[ "First, the director and the composer choose moments they want to be scored in what's called a \"spotting session\", identifying where they want music to enter, what they want it to evoke, and what moments they want to highlight or \"hit\". (\"Hit points\")\n\nThe composer now has a general sense of duration. They ...
When watching sports on television, why is falling rain only visible from some camera angles?	[ "Because the cameras aren't close to the players, they are far away. This means that all the rain close to the camera is blurred and the rain by the players is so small that it can't be seen (compression may have a factor in this), however, when they do close-ups of faces, you can then see the rain in front of them...
What is the link between prime numbers and cryptography?	[ "Cryptography comes in two big varieties: symmetrical and asymmetrical. \n\nSymmetrical cryptography uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt data — this is what you might use to keep files in your computer safe, but it's kind of bad for communicating between two people.\n\nAsymmetrical cryptography uses two differ...
is there a chemical reason we don’t make banana jam or jelly? Or is it just some weird flavour preference that the whole world seems to share?	[ "Home canner here. Yes, there is a chemical reason we don't make all that much banana jam/jelly. Not by itself, anyway. Without getting into too much detail, there are two basic canning methods: water baths and pressure canning. Water baths basically just immerse jars in boiling water for a while, long enough so th...
When was the Second Amendment limited to firearms (as opposed to explosives)?	[ "Explosives were explicitly restricted in the 1934 National Firearms Act, where most explosives and any non-shotgun with a bore larger than 0.5\" became regulated as [destructive devices](_URL_0_). There are strict regulations on the manufacture and transfer (sale) of anything classified as a destructive device." ...
What are good running techniques for a complete beginner?	[ "I also suggest posting to /r/running but I think I can give you some general tips. My tips are from the standpoint of cross country training.\n\nThe first thing to determine is your natural stride. When you start running (not jogging) you will naturally have a comfortable speed which is easier to maintain.You can ...
Why is there not the same Soccer hooliganism surrounding North American Sports?	[ "For all the reputation the U.S. has as a bunch of crazy gun-toting rednecks, we have a very strong tradition of a certain level of civility. My students (who are studying abroad here from their home countries around the world) frequently comment on how sane and relatively civil our political behaviors (as opposed ...
Why does water on the ground and outside evaporate even if the temperature never reaches 100 degrees Celsius?	[ "Because water begins to evaporate before it reaches boiling point, some the water molecules speed up enough and break from their bonds with the body of liquid. Water can evaporate at room temperature, just much slower due to less energy.", "The speed that water evaporates increases with the temperature. When wat...
Why does being worried about laughing make it hard not to laugh?	[ "Seems like the reasoning could be rooted in the \"White Bear\" problem or something called [ironic process theory](_URL_0_). Trying not to think of something causes you to think of it more. Basically, part of your brain avoids thinking about whatever it is (laughing, white bears, whatever) by thinking of things th...
How did Germany recover their economy and become an economic powerhouse, after losing 2 world wars, paying millions of Euros of reparations and being annexed by 4 nations?	[ "1. Most of the reparations for WWI were forgiven after WWII.\n2. A lot of money was pumped into Germany after WWII to rebuild it because the US didn't want them to fall to communism.\n3. Germany has always been one of the major economies in Europe, so it is really a reversion to the mean.\n4. Annexed by 4 nations?...
How do people like George Zimmerman and Casey Anthony stay safe?	[ "Jack Ruby asked for protection from the Warren Commission after he shot Lee Harvey Oswald as he believed his life was in danger, but he was declined (partly due to the public interest in the case, and because the Warren Commission had no police powers to protect him).\n\nI imagine if they're wealthy enough they'd ...
How do cities with high annual rainfall deal with construction?	[ "Concrete doesn't 'dry', it 'cures'. When it hardens, it's because of a chemical reaction that works just as well underwater. So rain is no problem.", "They are always under construction. Always. Near Seattle here and if they didn't work in the rain, nothing would get done.", "The construction crew constantly...
How can movies like 'The Possesion' about a moth demon growing inside a child claim to be 'based on a true story'?	[ "a) It could be VERY loosely based, but still be 'based on'. This is a marketing gimmick.\n\nb) It's based on one specific version of the story. See \"The Exorcism of Emily Rose\". She has a condition where her body locks up in very odd, somewhat terrifying poses. The doctors say it's one thing, the priest says it'...
what is the biological purpose of the female orgasm?	[ "Well, with evolution, there was never an \"intended result\". At least, unless you subscribe to creationism, you assume that nobody \"built in\" the feature with a purpose in mind. \n\nThe basic evolutionary logic on biological phenomena is that they helped us reproduce more / survive long enough to reproduce mor...
Why are most of the pictures coming back from space now a days in black & white?	[ "The majority of pictures from outer space have always been in black an white. Most color photos of space have been edited to add the color." ]
Why to spacecraft reach outer space by launching straight up instead of taking off like an airplane and increasing altitude until out of the atmosphere	[ "Airplanes need air underneath the wings to work properly. The higher you go, the less air there is, so it's physically impossibly to leave the atmosphere this way.", "Because to get to orbit, you must go very, very fast to the side. Actually an orbit is the same as falling, but you are going so fast you miss ev...
What are the most concrete pieces of evidence for man made climate change?	[ "The simplest explanation is that there is an observable relationship between current climate change and anthropomorphic emissions.\n\nIf you'd like more information, I really don't think an ELI5 would be appropriate. Check out these links:\n\n- _URL_3_\n\n- _URL_0_\n\n- _URL_4_\n\n- _URL_2_\n\n- _URL_7_\n\n- _UR...
; Why can't I describe the 'voice' of my inner monologue?	[ "might be different depending on the person, my inner monologue can be any voice i want it to be. even in spanish. but any other time when im reading or thinking to myself its generally my own voice i hear in my head", "Because your true inner monologue isn't speaking an established language.", "Your inner mono...
What exactly is autism?	[ "So i may not be able to explain throughly but something that helped with my understanding was this video.\n\n_URL_0_\n\nIt gives me chills everytime", "[This link](_URL_1_) contains loads of useful information written by one of the foremost autism researchers in the field (and Borat's brother!) Simon Baron-Cohen...
Why do aerial pictures of cities show flat top buildings from different angles?	[ "If you wanted a picture of every building from exactly overhead you would need to fly exactly over every one. That is a ton of flying, it is much easier just to fly where you can see them." ]
Why do I have to wear bowling shoes at a bowling alley?	[ "The approach is sanded and lacquered smooth. Any sort of small rocks and such can scratch the surface.\n\nAdditionally, if you look at bowling shoes, they have a smooth surface. This helps them glide over the sanded wood. \n\nYou can purchase bowling shoes for about $100, and they last a long time.", "Part of th...
Why dont public bathroom stalls have full sized door?	[ "Its so staff and others can determine if a stall is occupied or not without barging the door open which is something they would be prone to do. It also makes cleaning the floor easier." ]
How come you never see baby crows?	[ "You undoubtedly see very young crows, but don't realize it. The tiny ones are still in their nests, and by the time they are able to fly/explore, they are about the size of an adult. They are a bit duller and their beaks are a bit stubbier, but they are easy to recognise if you know what to look for.\n\nBaby for a...
The difference between shame and guilt	[ "Shame is external, guilt is internal. Shame is focussing on other people/society/norms and the rule you have broken, whereas guilt has its focus on your own experience and what you feel about your action.", "In the context you're using, I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm not. \nGuilt is when you feel bad. ...
Why do my hands/feet itch after being in a cold place, and then dipping them in water/ being near a heater?	[ "Your capillaries shrink in the cold, and expand in the heat. Sometimes the expanding or shrinking makes you itchy." ]
If these cases seem so obvious to most rational people (OJ, Casey Anthony, kid with "afluenza") how do they not get convicted?	[ "Because the burden of proof for people sitting in their living rooms, drinking beer and yelling \"fuck yeah\" every time Nancy Grace slams someone on live TV actually has very little resemblance to the burden of proof required in a court of law.", "When it comes to high profile cases, we must remember that we ha...
Is the universe a fractal?	[ "I'd say no. It appears there is some limit to how much things can be divided. Our current understanding of physics is that quarks (which make up protons and neutrons) and electrons are generally the bottom of the system, and they can't be divided further." ]
Why is it that defecation occasionally results in a "no wipe" scenario, but other times results in an "infinity wipe" scenario?	[ "Fiber. \n\nThe density and, er, stability of feces is a measure of water and fiber, at its most basic. \n\nConsume a proper water and fiber for the 'best' feces. Other things like indigestible sugars also contribute (sugar alcohols like xylitol) by passing through largely intact. \n\nLong version:\n\nFecal make-u...
TVs & cellphones both use radio waves. TVs to display HD channels and Phone for data. So how can TVs show HD channels instantaneously and for free (OTA), yet mobile data is expensive and capped?	[ "TV is a one-way signal (your TV doesn't have to reply), so the transmission antennas only have to send, and not receive. Plus, TV transmission is not free. It's free to you, because advertisers pay the TV station to show advertisements to viewers. Further, each station only has to broadcast from one, high-pow...
How can I get fruit flies on an old banana I have laying out, if there haven't been fruit flies for weeks, and they only have a lifespan of a day?	[ "I read an article a few years ago that answered that: Most fruit that we buy in the grocery store already has fruit fly eggs on it. After a day or so, they hatch- in our kitchen. You can prevent this by always washing fruit-even bananas- when you bring it home." ]
Why are the medical and dental communities kept so separate? Shouldn't dental be part of general well-being?	[ "There was a decent thread on this a few months back, it might have some answers you're looking for:\n\n_URL_0_", "I asked once why dental stuff costs so much and I got the \"We have to pay back school loans and we're so specialized and people NEED us, so you have to pay us big time.\"\n\nTell that to my foot doc...
Who/what are 'Wall Street Fatcats/Insiders'? What do they do?	[ "I'm a science guy, but two of my closer friends have ascended to the upper echelons of wall street. \n\nInsider trading is rampant. \n\nThis is how stocks work (skip if you already know) Stocks increase in value when people want to buy them. If we're to give an example, imagine if a drug company had a drug t...
If the metric system is designed to make for easy calculations and conversions, why wasn't the 60 minute hour changed to a base 10 unit?	[ "time is always expressed in seconds in the metric system.\nor multiples, like milliseconds, kiloseconds, etc.\n\"Other units of time, the minute, hour, and day, are accepted for use with the modern metric system, but are not part of it.\"\n_URL_0_", "The French tried, but couldn't get it to stick. When dealing w...
How exactly burning calories during exercise are estimated?	[ "They actually are measured. Volunteers will exercise while wearing breathing gear. Think treadmill and respiratory gear. Carbon dioxide level are measured as are oxygen levels in inspiration and expiration. Volume of air breathed is also measured.\n\nThis is done on enough volunteers to become very precise. This i...
Why is the body of a 400-lb person able to carry around 200 lbs extra day after day, but a healthy 200-lb person who weight trains extensively would be exhausted carrying 200 lbs for an hour?	[ "A 400lb man's weight is centralized to his frame, spread throughout his entire body. There would probably be excess around his mid frame, which causes a lot of overweight men to have back problems.\nbecause of this increase in mass, the overweight person has more blood with which to oxygenate his muscles, making i...

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.