q_id
stringlengths
5
6
title
stringlengths
3
301
selftext
stringlengths
0
39.2k
document
stringclasses
1 value
subreddit
stringclasses
3 values
url
stringlengths
4
132
answers
dict
title_urls
list
selftext_urls
list
answers_urls
list
6dnv9e
how do materials in an alloy create a substance that has different properties to the base materials, even though no chemical reaction takes place between the materials?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6dnv9e/eli5how_do_materials_in_an_alloy_create_a/
{ "a_id": [ "di40wqx", "di42nvw" ], "score": [ 16, 7 ], "text": [ "Steel is a good example. It's made of iron and carbon. Iron atoms are relatively large compared to carbon atoms. If all you have are iron atoms, they pack together, but there are small spaces between the atoms. If you add c...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
370pf1
why do cheap cars look cheap and expensive cars look expensive?
Is there some agreement between car manufacturers that no one's allowed to make a cheap car with a design that looks like a high-end Lamborghini or a Ferrari (for example)? Or does it genuinely cost a lot more to produce an 'expensive-looking' car?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/370pf1/eli5_why_do_cheap_cars_look_cheap_and_expensive/
{ "a_id": [ "criowym" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "No, there's no agreement between the carmakers, and it's not a cost-based thing. If Honda wanted, they *could* make an accord look crazy and sell it for the same price, but here's the reason: it wouldn't sell. \n\n\nYou have to look at the market...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
5txayr
how come the north pole is considered the "top of the world" and the south pole, the bottom?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5txayr/eli5_how_come_the_north_pole_is_considered_the/
{ "a_id": [ "ddpqvh0", "ddprprj" ], "score": [ 5, 4 ], "text": [ "The first map makers and globe artists lived in the northern hemisphere. They opted to depict their land on top.", "It was an arbitrary choice. China, who invented the compass, considered it to point south (they even ca...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dymaxion_map#/media/File:Fuller_projection_rotated.svg", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_and_O_map" ] ]
1mg628
What does it mean for worker bees to be "female"?
Worker bees are "designed" in a way it is absolutely not possible for them to bear children. In fact they lack necessary organs, for example their egg laying apparatus was modified in a way that it now functions as a stinger. They don't produce eggs and are not able to do so. This seems to me to be in odds with...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1mg628/what_does_it_mean_for_worker_bees_to_be_female/
{ "a_id": [ "cc8x7ay" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "They are female, because even the workers can lay eggs, but just male eggs, because the sperm is missing.\nEvery female bee is the same (So every worker is a queen), the workers are just \"castrated\" throught the queens pheromones and the diet i...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
417vjb
new yorks hate for encrypted smartphones
And why is banning them bad?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/417vjb/eli5_new_yorks_hate_for_encrypted_smartphones/
{ "a_id": [ "cz0acor", "cz0baa3" ], "score": [ 8, 4 ], "text": [ "The state government wants to ban them to make it easier for the NSA (and similar agencies) to intercept texts. Any claims of terrorism prevention are excuses to distract from the real reason.", "People tend not to trust...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
18d5la
the process by which co2 turns into tree
Also, is it possible, theoretically, for us to artificially make something like wood or coal from Co2 in the air?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/18d5la/eli5_the_process_by_which_co2_turns_into_tree/
{ "a_id": [ "c8dr3u4" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "CO2 is made from carbon and oxygen.\n\nAlthough there are many, many steps in between, the basic chemistry of what's happening is that the tree uses energy from sunlight to split CO2 into carbon and oxygen. Oxygen is released into the air. Carbon...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
38nlkp
1 Besides the theory, What are the practicalities in the processes of shotgun sequencing?
Hi, I believe I understand the theory behind shotgun sequencing but I am struggling to grasps a few practicalities of the process and looking for any answers. In WGS, the cloned sequence is segmented. When it comes to sequencing all the segments, to find the crossovers, the primers used to initiate the sequencing, are ...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/38nlkp/1_besides_the_theory_what_are_the_practicalities/
{ "a_id": [ "crwltn6" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ " > When it comes to sequencing all the segments, to find the crossovers, the primers used to initiate the sequencing, are they universal primers?\n\nYes. You can see the basic process in [this picture](_URL_1_). After you break up the DNA into...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.scq.ubc.ca/wp-content/plasmidtext.gif", "http://nextgen.mgh.harvard.edu/images/LibStructure.png" ] ]
691kk2
why do you always see things about break throughs in medical science (aids, cancer, etc.) but hear almost nothing about it being practically applied?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/691kk2/eli5_why_do_you_always_see_things_about_break/
{ "a_id": [ "dh2ywgw", "dh2z2fw" ], "score": [ 4, 3 ], "text": [ "Because people like to talk about things too early. Then the thing that could potentially be a magic breakthrough gets tested further and it turns out that it's either unsafe, impractical, doesn't work, or some mix of those....
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/cells.png" ] ]
48g70l
why do we have to buy domain names from companies instead of just claiming it ourselves for free?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/48g70l/eli5_why_do_we_have_to_buy_domain_names_from/
{ "a_id": [ "d0ja1rp", "d0jecuc", "d0jhn5g" ], "score": [ 22, 71, 7 ], "text": [ "How are you going to convince other people that that domain name should point to your computers? Or even tell them, for that matter? And how are you going to convince them that they should listen to...
[]
[]
[ [ "gemspark.com" ], [], [ "https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/bylaws-1998-11-06-en#VI" ] ]
40ovfb
whatever happened to the baby boomers bust we were told was going to destroy our economy?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/40ovfb/eli5_whatever_happened_to_the_baby_boomers_bust/
{ "a_id": [ "cyvwee3", "cyvwur2" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "They've only just begun to reach retirement age (those born in 1945-1948). When the majority are retired and pulling social security, this will be a more noticeable issue.", "It's happening right now. Read about the fina...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2yccek
Do eukaryotic genes without introns exist?
Our professor told us that eukaryotic genes without introns exist, but she didn't say which genes that would be.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2yccek/do_eukaryotic_genes_without_introns_exist/
{ "a_id": [ "cp9byf7" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "This is more tangential than eukaryotic genes that have evolved for millions of years without introns, but I don't have any scholarly resources for that situation.\n\nHowever, a class of microscopic animals called bdelloid rotifers has been disco...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.sciencemag.org/content/320/5880/1210" ] ]
1ih5gx
Can a metal detector detect a higher amount of iron in our blood?
For example if I eat mussels, which contain high amounts of iron, am I more likely to set of a metal detector?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1ih5gx/can_a_metal_detector_detect_a_higher_amount_of/
{ "a_id": [ "cb4erg0", "cb4ev9k", "cb4i6un", "cb4mo1w" ], "score": [ 39, 5, 7, 2 ], "text": [ "The answer to your question is yes, but not from food intake. There is a disorder called Hemochromatosis which results in a higher than normal iron content in the body. A normal...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.hulu.com/watch/12387" ], [], [ "http://www.tristantech.com/prod_biomagnet_liver_fe.html" ] ]
4o8ckt
What is the history of gun ownership in America? How did things change over the 20th century?
With the recent shooting in Orlando, the perennial debate over gun ownership has begun again, revolving primarily around the perception of an epidemic of mass-shootings. I know most of these events are on the wrong side of this sub's 20-year rule, but I'm interested in learning more about how gun ownership in America h...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4o8ckt/what_is_the_history_of_gun_ownership_in_america/
{ "a_id": [ "d4ak1qd", "d4b6uhh" ], "score": [ 34, 4 ], "text": [ "This is a pretty controversial subject, and studies on it aren't helped [by a lack of hard data before the 1970s and 1980s.](_URL_0_?)\n\nIn general, however, **the number of guns has gone up, while the number of gun owners...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4lmzw8/with_the_rise_of_the_ussr_and_the_cold_war_did/", "http://www.gallup.com/poll/1645/guns.aspx", "https://gssdataexplorer.norc.org/variables/682/vshow", "http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/NationalSurvey/National_Survey.htm", "https://www...
7owgtj
what is cloud mining?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7owgtj/eli5_what_is_cloud_mining/
{ "a_id": [ "dscsvvp", "dsctqq4" ], "score": [ 10, 2 ], "text": [ "Cryptocurrency 'mining' is using computer power to perform work that helps run the cryptocurrency. To reward people for doing this work, a small percentage of the time work will result in a worker being given some of that c...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
4nl1pg
why do they tell us to save water when we actually use the same water over and over, just purified?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4nl1pg/eli5_why_do_they_tell_us_to_save_water_when_we/
{ "a_id": [ "d44s6tr", "d44uxhz" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Actually, in very few locations you use the same water over and over again.\n\nIn most places, water is gathered from rivers, or underground, and after being used is purified sufficiently to be dumped back in those rivers.\n...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
z4o44
why reddit auto-downvotes?
**Answered**: > It is to stop people from using bots to up vote their own posts. What it does specifically is stops them from knowing if their vote has been ignored or not. If they had a bot, and up-voted a post, and the post number stayed the same. Then it would be obvious that the bot was ignored and then they co...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/z4o44/eli5_why_reddit_autodownvotes/
{ "a_id": [ "c61qkiv", "c61egzs", "c61eoyh", "c61epdu", "c61ihju", "c61j6eu", "c61jbh0", "c61jja7", "c61jvs2", "c61kqii", "c61mi83", "c61n02t" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 14, 250, 3, 2, 10, 6, 2, 2, 2, 7 ], "text": [ "...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
4gnz5p
How did ideas of masculinity evolve in Victorian Britain?
Manliness and masculinity were important to the Victorians, but the concept went through several changes. Edit: Or rather, the emphasis on various elements of it.
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4gnz5p/how_did_ideas_of_masculinity_evolve_in_victorian/
{ "a_id": [ "d2jtdmt" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "I don't believe I can answer this question fully, but I can certainly address one aspect of it.\n\nThere was a growing fear of degeneration during the Victorian Era, and this fear went hand in hand with the idea that men were becoming weaker, or ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
30vjx3
Did the Vikings refer to themselves as Vikings or did that name come later?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/30vjx3/did_the_vikings_refer_to_themselves_as_vikings_or/
{ "a_id": [ "cpwixq8", "cpwjvpr" ], "score": [ 13, 13 ], "text": [ "That depends on who your reffering to as vikings. the people who lived in scandinavia called people who was out raiding and pirating for vikings or that they where out doing viking. Meaning that viking was more of a verb t...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=6617" ] ]
cvho45
Which time period did drinking tavern/inns become a thing in Europe as depicted in fantasy stories such as LOTR?
I have this long-standing image (and I'm sure others have the same as well) that drinking taverns/pubs/inns where townsfolk would retire after a long day's work to drink and be merry, like what we usually see and read about in knights-and-wizards fantasy stories e.g. Lord of the Rings (LOTR), existed in "medieval" time...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/cvho45/which_time_period_did_drinking_taverninns_become/
{ "a_id": [ "ey4n6tq" ], "score": [ 103 ], "text": [ "* [Medieval Pubs: Ireland](_URL_2_) by /u/gothwalk\n\n* [I'm a peasant visiting a 14th century alehouse. How would I be charged for my drinks and how easily could I skip the bill?](_URL_0_) by /u/sunagainstgold\n\n* [What wrong ideas about medi...
[]
[ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/rjq1f/what_were_medieval_taverns_like/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share" ]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3mmb52/im_a_peasant_visiting_a_14th_century_alehouse_how/cvguvkl/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ecbg1/what_wrong_ideas_about_medieval_europe_might_one/c9z3z05/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/908i06/medieval_pubs...
6vq4qi
Since when do pies exist?
I come to ask this myself when my grandma gathered some apples and we get to eat apple pie for two weeks straight. Additionally, how did the recipes change over the course of time?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6vq4qi/since_when_do_pies_exist/
{ "a_id": [ "dm2hzva" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "you may want to xpost this over at /r/askfoodhistorians" ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1a1ez3
why did languages that developed independantly like japanese, romance languages, and hindi all base the names of the days of the week off the planets, and in the exact same order?
Example, for Monday the words are lundi (French), getsuyoube (Japanese) and somavara (Sanskritt?), all of which literally mean "day of the moon" or reference the god of the moon in that culture. Did everybody decide to set a standard at some point in history? Side note, this works for english as well, the names refer...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1a1ez3/eli5_why_did_languages_that_developed/
{ "a_id": [ "c8t7vap" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "This is a pretty complicated question, because it spans language and geography during a time where historical records are difficult to trace. However, to get the feel for it, you can see the [Japanese explanation here](_URL_0_). In short: they di...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.cjvlang.com/Dow/dowjpn.html" ] ]
bmzivx
Can fish live (or at least breathe) in liquids that are not water? For example milk
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/bmzivx/can_fish_live_or_at_least_breathe_in_liquids_that/
{ "a_id": [ "en13z7w", "en1426b", "en16jzu", "en16nhw", "en1j8oa", "en1mj4f", "en1xneq" ], "score": [ 11363, 330, 6, 10, 3, 6323, 5 ], "text": [ "No. Fish can’t even live in water that has the wrong amount of salt or dissolved oxygen in it. Putting a...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://www.anton-paar.com/corp-en/services-support/document-finder/application-reports/food-dissolved-oxygen-in-milk-and-dairy-products/" ], [], [ "https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/dissolved-oxygen-and-water", "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/...
4ljjaz
As Germany's military situation deteriotated, why was there never a popular uprising against Hitler?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4ljjaz/as_germanys_military_situation_deteriotated_why/
{ "a_id": [ "d3nzot6" ], "score": [ 19 ], "text": [ "Well, the answer to that question is rather multifaceted and also still debated in scholarship. To simplify it a bit, here are some factors scholarship of the topic agrees on that they played a role:\n\n\n* The potential political leaders for su...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
7i1xyz
why do airlines charge less for flights out of small cities (stopping over in a major hub) and more just from that major city?
I want to go to Las Vegas, so I started looking at flights. A flight from Victoria, BC to Las Vegas with a stopover in Vancouver is $250 round trip. Yet when I change my location to Vancouver, for the exact same flight (minus the flight from Victoria to Vancouver, so it should be cheaper) it's $330. Why is the airline ...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7i1xyz/eli5why_do_airlines_charge_less_for_flights_out/
{ "a_id": [ "dqvn80o", "dqvylsl" ], "score": [ 6, 2 ], "text": [ "It has to do with competition. A flight from city A to city B to city C is not competing with flights from city B to city C. It’s competing with A-D-C with different stopovers and A-C nonstop. If one airline dominates ai...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2tgiap
what is the differencies between motherboards?
I don't really know/understand the differencies of different motherboards. What is the difference between a cheap and a very expensive board? Why could I need a more expensive one, if I can have one with the right socket and I don't need extra HDMI/DVI, etc. So, can it make a PC run faster or smoother, what makes the p...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2tgiap/eli5_what_is_the_differencies_between_motherboards/
{ "a_id": [ "cnyu4bq", "cnywlbn" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Okay. So practicality aside, since of course you could just use the motherboard that fits your needs instead of being the most decked out board ever. That is a given and should always be considered when building a PC. \n\nHo...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
7vpdpg
How were the ends of trench lines terminated during WW1?
How did the warring nations end or terminate their trench lines when they ran into the ocean, an international border (like Switzerland) or into the mountains? We see many pictures of the actual trench lines but how did they end and stop the enemy from getting around them?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7vpdpg/how_were_the_ends_of_trench_lines_terminated/
{ "a_id": [ "dtvrrve" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Here are some photos and info that might be what you're looking for.\n\n - The Western Front trench system ended at \"[Kilometer Zero](_URL_0_)\" on the the Swiss border, with the trenches literally running up to a barbed wire border and a Swiss ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.switzerland1914-1918.net/blog/kilometre-zero-where-the-western-front-met-the-swiss-frontier", "https://greatwarphotos.com/2013/02/27/trenches-in-the-sand-one-end-of-the-western-front/" ] ]
2avp48
why do radios have such bad audio but phones often have perfect audio
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2avp48/eli5_why_do_radios_have_such_bad_audio_but_phones/
{ "a_id": [ "ciz91i9" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "radio uses analog transmissions which doesn't allow error correction or detection. Transmission errors will affect the signal.\n\n\nMobiles use digital transmission with high data rates. And even if a transmission error occurs you can figure out ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
4k8zxw
given the sc ruling on roe v. wade, how is it ok for ok to make abortion illegal?
As it says: Oklahoma is considering a bill that [will make abortion illegal](_URL_0_). If this has already been settled with Roe v. Wade, what's the angle here?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4k8zxw/eli5_given_the_sc_ruling_on_roe_v_wade_how_is_it/
{ "a_id": [ "d3d2qnx", "d3d3c6j", "d3d6yr5" ], "score": [ 5, 8, 3 ], "text": [ "It's not.\n\nHowever, it has to make it's way through the courts and inevitably get struck down.\n\nIt's a pretty horrible cocktail:\n\n* Abortion is effectively banned until the court eventually rules\...
[]
[ "http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/19/478743035/oklahoma-lawmakers-pass-bill-that-makes-performing-an-abortion-a-felony" ]
[ [], [], [] ]
1zx4wp
Is the TATA box transcribed?
In a typical eukaryotic cell, would a TATA box promoter be transcribed? If it is, does it eventually get snipped out as an exon?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1zx4wp/is_the_tata_box_transcribed/
{ "a_id": [ "cfxsha2" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "No, the TATA box is typically a few dozen bp upstream of the gene. Only about 25% of human genes have a TATA sequence in their promoter regions.\n\nSource: Molecular Biologist; wikipedia for that 25% statistic. Seriously though, the answer to thi...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
3gato4
multiple hairs out of the same follicle.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3gato4/eli5_multiple_hairs_out_of_the_same_follicle/
{ "a_id": [ "ctwmgtg" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "It's a weird, but not harmful, genetic disorder. Google \"Pili multigemini\" if you want more detail." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1rkpux
how is it possible that we still have a full head of hair everyday even though a handful (esp. females) can fall out while showering?
I just don't understand how it's possible!!
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1rkpux/eli5_how_is_it_possible_that_we_still_have_a_full/
{ "a_id": [ "cdo7982", "cdo7d50", "cdoaa3h" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Your hair grows fast enough to replace it. Your hair is practically always growing. The strands you can see are growing longer, and the follicles you can't see are growing new strands.", "you have a...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
bcyhes
why do videos freeze up when entering and exiting full-screen mode?
I've noticed that videos tend to freeze up for a second or two when entering or exiting full-screen mode. This has happened on every computer I've used for as long as I can remember. Why does this happen?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bcyhes/eli5_why_do_videos_freeze_up_when_entering_and/
{ "a_id": [ "ekuj0s6" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Some video players will attempt to raise or lower the resolution of the video if you enter or exit full screen mode, which can cause the video to freeze while the different resolution footage is requested from the server.\n\nOn a really slow mach...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1euqud
If I leave a mouthful of water in my mouth for a long period of time, will my mouth soak it up?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1euqud/if_i_leave_a_mouthful_of_water_in_my_mouth_for_a/
{ "a_id": [ "ca46pa7" ], "score": [ 16 ], "text": [ "Yes, it will.\n\nThe pure water will cause the ions in your cells and extracellular fluid to diffuse into your oral cavity (where the pure water is) until the two concentrations equilibrate. Simultaneously, the water will move into your cells/ex...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
moesh
Why does marijuana exist?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/moesh/why_does_marijuana_exist/
{ "a_id": [ "c32j94f", "c32j94f" ], "score": [ 3, 3 ], "text": [ "I don't know why this is getting down-voted. Perfectly legit question.", "I don't know why this is getting down-voted. Perfectly legit question." ] }
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
22nqe1
When I put two tea bags in my cup of hot water, does this lead to a significant increase in concentration of tea or does one bag already saturate the water?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/22nqe1/when_i_put_two_tea_bags_in_my_cup_of_hot_water/
{ "a_id": [ "cgot0m9", "cgow21t" ], "score": [ 5, 13 ], "text": [ "Think of the tea in terms of adding powdered coco to milk. You can add as much coco as you want, increasing the concentration, until the point where the milk can no longer wet/absorb the milk. Same is true with your tea. Un...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1o32gn/if_i_steep_two_tea_bags_in_hot_water_rather_than/" ] ]
4pgr6l
what are the black dots that a human sees swimming in vision when suddenly standing up after lying down for a while (not sleeping) ?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4pgr6l/eli5_what_are_the_black_dots_that_a_human_sees/
{ "a_id": [ "d4krzo0", "d4ksbum", "d4ksuns", "d4kt0su" ], "score": [ 2, 11, 298, 18 ], "text": [ "Or, just in general, you can always see fuzziness in your vision if you just try to notice it. I assume your brain just kind of blocks it out if you aren't trying to notice it....
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
1dj2kw
Is the United Nations more effective than the League of Nations in preventing wars? If so, what made it so?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1dj2kw/is_the_united_nations_more_effective_than_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c9qy06a", "c9qzn2g" ], "score": [ 3, 5 ], "text": [ "The League of Nations had very little power behind it. Basically, all it could do was place economic sanctions on the country in question, and even those didn't go well. Participant countries, wanting to keep their allies, w...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
r5h2p
Fascinated by stargazing/astronomy, worth investing in a telescope?
Ever since i can remember i have been fascinated by astronomy and physics in general. I am thinking of purchasing a telescope, if i were to make this purchase i would buy something on the more 'expensive' side in order to get the most out of it. My question to you is this, i live in the center of a densely populated ci...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/r5h2p/fascinated_by_stargazingastronomy_worth_investing/
{ "a_id": [ "c432n5i", "c434soy", "c435lae" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "The standard advice for beginners is to first buy a set of binoculars, before investing in a telescope. Get something like the Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars, should be well under $100.\n\n...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
29wv9c
how exactly is data electronically stored on tiny devices like micro sd cards?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/29wv9c/eli5_how_exactly_is_data_electronically_stored_on/
{ "a_id": [ "cip9vss" ], "score": [ 29 ], "text": [ "Flash memory is stored in little devices called floating gate transistors. \r\r\rTransistors are the little electrical switches that computers use to process things and amplifiers use to amplify signals. They have three terminals, a source, drai...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
60d40r
why, even though i used to be tiny and have a fast metabolism, did quitting prozac (antidepressants) cause me to gain nearly 50 pounds in two months?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/60d40r/eli5_why_even_though_i_used_to_be_tiny_and_have_a/
{ "a_id": [ "df5g2e7", "df5gql0" ], "score": [ 4, 3 ], "text": [ "It most likely affected your appetite causing you to eat more than you used to. Have you had any changes in how active you are?", "Sounds like food became the primary substitute for your meds. I know when I'm sad I start...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
lu638
What do the small temperature fluctuations in the CMB map tell us about the conditions in the early universe?
I'm doing an Open Uni course called "How The Universe Works" and this is one of the questions. From the course materials I've gathered that it has something to do with the density of matter 300,000 years after the Big Bang. I'm obviously not asking for the answer, just something that can get me started. My answer need ...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/lu638/what_do_the_small_temperature_fluctuations_in_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c2vmqcb", "c2vmqcb" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "I would start [here.](_URL_0_)\n\nAlso, if you are interested in how different cosmological parameters are affected by the power spectrum, [these movies](_URL_1_) are useful.", "I would start [here.](_URL_0_)\n\nAlso, if...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_microwave_background_radiation#Primary_anisotropy", "http://space.mit.edu/home/tegmark/movies.html" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_microwave_background_radiation#Primary_anisotropy", "http://space.mit.edu/home/tegmark/movies.html" ] ]
12nnj8
On what points did Adlai Steveson criticize such a respected and popular public figure as Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/12nnj8/on_what_points_did_adlai_steveson_criticize_such/
{ "a_id": [ "c6wvi2b" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "In 1952, Stevenson campaigned on the record of the Democratic Party since 1932. The argument was basically that it would be better to trust the legacy of the New Deal to the party that created it than to the GOP, which they called the \"Party of ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://i.imgur.com/DRKi0.jpg" ] ]
3dncja
how bose noise cancellation work
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3dncja/eli5_how_bose_noise_cancellation_work/
{ "a_id": [ "ct6t2lw", "ct6tb5v" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "It doesn't deflect the noise, it literally cancels the noise out by playing the opposite noise through the headphones.\n\nSound travels as a wave. If you play a sound 180 degrees out of phase (aka, the opposite sound), it ef...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://laurencescotford.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/PhaseCancellation.jpg" ], [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/search?q=noise+cancellation&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all" ] ]
4ulu8q
Does the 9.81 meters per second per second acceleration rate decrease the father from the earth's surface you drop an object?
From what I understand, the 9.81 m/s^2 acceleration rate is due to the strength of the Earth's gravitational pull acting on the object you drop. Since the strength of the Earth's pull would influence an object less the further away that object is, would this rate of acceleration be diminished as well? For example, if...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/4ulu8q/does_the_981_meters_per_second_per_second/
{ "a_id": [ "d5qtb02" ], "score": [ 10 ], "text": [ "The gravitational acceleration is GM/R^(2), where M = mass of earth and R = distance from center of Earth. So the acceleration is smaller the farther you are from Earth. If you are close to the surface of Earth, you can just use *g* = 9.8 m/s^(2...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
9hlw81
if grocery stores are said to have a markup of 10-15%, how do they afford to run sales of up to 50% off?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9hlw81/eli5_if_grocery_stores_are_said_to_have_a_markup/
{ "a_id": [ "e6d0d7k" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Former Buyer here. There are a couple of things that make these sales worth while. First, the average profit may be 10-15%, but it varies widely by item. Items like Seasonal, Produce, Private label and HBA can make far More than 10-15%. Comm...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2lqcjw
how are musical prodigies able to play instruments with little or no instructions?
Like playing the piano. How do they know which note is which with no prior experience?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2lqcjw/eli5_how_are_musical_prodigies_able_to_play/
{ "a_id": [ "clxc37n" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "I wouldn't quite say they sit down and play perfectly without ever being exposed before... It's more like they have an extremely high aptitude for it and learn the patterns very very quickly." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
6hjb44
what's the difference between a low end motherboard and a high end motherboard?
Other than ram capacity, size, memory slots, onboard wifi and audio, and other basic features, are there any big differences between them? Thanks for all the answers guys! If I've learned anything, you shouldn't cheap out on any part in your PC, because they are all important.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6hjb44/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_a_low_end/
{ "a_id": [ "diyrds3", "diytk60" ], "score": [ 3, 3 ], "text": [ "Better solder\n\nBetter parts in general\n\nBetter/stronger material\n\nBetter heat/conductivity \n\n", "The motherboard is a bit like a traffic system, with data being moved from the GPU, hard drives, memory, processors...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
7p59cd
if all produce is grown in an open climate, why does some produce like broccoli need to be stored in a fridge, while some produce like avocados can be stored at room temperature? how come some can be stored either way also, like strawberries or grapes?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7p59cd/eli5_if_all_produce_is_grown_in_an_open_climate/
{ "a_id": [ "dseo1no", "dsepz9d" ], "score": [ 8, 2 ], "text": [ "When fruits/vegetables are growing, they're part of a living plant. When you harvest them, they're no longer being supported by a living plant & you want to keep them in an environment that prolongs their freshness.\n\nLo...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
20gjpz
Why do clothes unwrinkle when heat is applied?
What is the mechanisim that makes clothes wrinkle and unwrinkle? Just kind of curious as it something that everyone deals with and I have no clue as to the answer.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/20gjpz/why_do_clothes_unwrinkle_when_heat_is_applied/
{ "a_id": [ "cg35l9t" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "PhD Chemist here, and: huh, I don't actually know. It's a good question though. In fairness, I'm not a polymer chemist.\n\nTo hazard a guess, when you iron or press clothes, you need the fibers in the weave to rearrange back to a layout that na...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
12qzoi
Which metal is stronger pure rather than alloyed?
My materials science textbook (Callister 7e) states that almost all metals harden by alloying. I haven't been able to find any source that states which metals don't harden with alloying. Can anyone shed light on this for me? Also, if there is a metal that does not harden by alloying, can you explain the mechanism fo...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/12qzoi/which_metal_is_stronger_pure_rather_than_alloyed/
{ "a_id": [ "c6xfxrc", "c6xh7et", "c6xhsay" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 7 ], "text": [ "This is a tough question to answer, and may better be received in /r/askengineers, as you might happen to get a metallurgist to comment there.\n\nThe hardest metals are alloys, so it stands to reason th...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
76bo7n
In WWII, what was the Allie's reaction to the Tiger II? Did they fear it more than the Tiger I? Was the knowledge of the tank as widespread as the Tiger I?
Just wondering since you hear a lot about the Tiger I and it's fear factor it had, but the Tiger II, a much more daunting tank, isn't talked about nearly as much.
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/76bo7n/in_wwii_what_was_the_allies_reaction_to_the_tiger/
{ "a_id": [ "dod76v2" ], "score": [ 10 ], "text": [ "The first battle of King Tiger tanks was against British forces in France, on July 18th, 1944. Three King Tiger tanks were lost in this fight, including one that was stuck in a bomb crater, but it doesn't seem like the British took particular no...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://tankarchives.blogspot.ca/2013/03/is-2-vs-german-big-cats.html", "http://tankarchives.blogspot.ca/2013/03/suisu-152-vs-german-big-cats.html", "http://tankarchives.blogspot.ca/2014/07/tiger-ii-trials-mobility.html", "http://tankarchives.blogspot.ca/2015/03/tiger-ii-trials-gunnery.html" ] ]
84n2yn
What happened to Roman soldiers who were non-fatally injured, but who couldn't keep up with the pace of the legion when marching?
Were individuals who had, for example, broken legs or ankles, left behind when their legion marched?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/84n2yn/what_happened_to_roman_soldiers_who_were/
{ "a_id": [ "dvr34le" ], "score": [ 189 ], "text": [ "Not to discourage any further answers but you'll probably enjoy\n\n[You are a Roman solider marching a long distance. Your leg breaks for whatever reason; what happens?](_URL_0_)\n\n[How likely would a Roman soldier be to survive injury on the ...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ov7s3/you_are_a_roman_solider_marching_a_long_distance/ccw3fiw/?st=jbyop2eu&sh=7ebd112f", "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1nstca/what_was_life_like_after_being_wounded_in_combat/cclvt2q/?st=jbyomusr&sh=c9472b80" ] ]
35hu38
what would happen if every countries interest rate were to go to 0%
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/35hu38/eli5_what_would_happen_if_every_countries/
{ "a_id": [ "cr4jgn4" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "If every country's interest rates went to 0% *because all the countries were unable to get out of local recessions at higher interest rates*, then the entire world would be in a \"liquidity trap\": that is, a nasty kind of depression that can't b...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
4nlcv2
Do animals have meal times?
Obviously wild animals are restricted by when they come up on food (and when the food is doing their easily huntable thing) and most domesticated animals are fed at interval by humans. I'm wondering if given an abundance of food do animals have a tendency to graze or do they seem to eat at the same time each day? I'd g...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/4nlcv2/do_animals_have_meal_times/
{ "a_id": [ "d456tpn", "d45cjwz", "d45ga45", "d45l6r8", "d46bv4n" ], "score": [ 15, 50, 9, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Dogs will build up bile and barf it out if they don't eat for a while, so typically for domesticated animals there is a period within which they will get ve...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
31mw06
Why weren't the Maori of New Zealand effected by Old World diseases unlike the native Americans and Australians?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/31mw06/why_werent_the_maori_of_new_zealand_effected_by/
{ "a_id": [ "cq30qmc" ], "score": [ 15 ], "text": [ "They were.\n\n\"Introduced diseases were the major reason for the Māori population decrease. In the 1890s the Māori population had fallen to about 40% of its pre-contact size. Decline accelerated after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 a...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/death-rates-and-life-expectancy/page-4" ] ]
18tzqs
Why did Baptist denominations become the most prevalent form of Christianity in the American South?
I am familiar with the basics surrounding the Great Awakenings and the rise of "evangelicalism" amongst American Protestants. However, I am having trouble learning about why certain parts of the country seemed to lean towards certain types of religious practices. I can see how unitarian and transcendentalist movements...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/18tzqs/why_did_baptist_denominations_become_the_most/
{ "a_id": [ "c8ia8ys", "c8iayy3", "c8igebb" ], "score": [ 3, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Churches acted as more than spiritual centers in early American cities up until the mid-19th Century. Simply put, different classes went to different churches to rub elbows together. Baptist and Methodi...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
39e0kd
How far can the light from a traditional keychain laser pointer reach?
How far can the light from a traditional red beam keychain laser pointer reach? Also how far away would you still be able to put a paper and see a red dot on it?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/39e0kd/how_far_can_the_light_from_a_traditional_keychain/
{ "a_id": [ "cs2tgs4" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "The light keeps going forever unless absorbed or scattered by something. However, the intensity of the beam will decrease as it widens over distance. All lasers have beam divergence, so a simple keychain laser will become as wide as house a few m...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
22zmlu
throughout history, what led people to use different writing systems and alphabets? what influenced their choice of script and language?
I'm wondering why there are so many different alphabets/logographic writing systems and how did people come to invent one or the other. Why do the Chinese, Japanese and Arabs use a graphic style of writing, while Europeans and Americans use (mostly, some use cyrillic) a latin alphabet. I'm not asking how the latin alph...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/22zmlu/eli5_throughout_history_what_led_people_to_use/
{ "a_id": [ "cgry7rn", "cgryf0o" ], "score": [ 3, 3 ], "text": [ "they were invented independently. there is no real answer to \"why it looks like this\". ", "\"Arabs\" don't use a \"graphic style\" of writing, if by that you mean a pictorial language where characters (called \"ideogra...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
47uiom
Does the dark side of the Moon overall receive more light than the light side?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/47uiom/does_the_dark_side_of_the_moon_overall_receive/
{ "a_id": [ "d0fr79p", "d0fxfsy" ], "score": [ 3, 6 ], "text": [ "No, with the small exception of lunar eclipses.", "By a very very small amount (about 0.5%), because when there is a new moon and the far side is illuminated, it is closer to the sun than when there is a full moon and th...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
36xkwm
Is it possible to burn ice?
Is it possible burn something that is a frozen liquid? For example, ice, ice cream, etc
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/36xkwm/is_it_possible_to_burn_ice/
{ "a_id": [ "cribkj1" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Well, ice and ice cream aren't flammable, even at room temperature... So no. But if you froze a flammable substance, like alcohol (albeit, it only freezes at extremely low temperatures), could you burn the frozen alcohol? Yes you could. Temperatu...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2dq95w
On Earth we have salt water and fresh water - are there planets with other sorts of water? Are they possible?
Hopefully this question makes sense. On Earth we differentiate between "salt water" and "fresh water"? Do we know of planets with other types of water? Would they be theoretically possible/likely?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2dq95w/on_earth_we_have_salt_water_and_fresh_water_are/
{ "a_id": [ "cjs4r83", "cjs4y8x" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Water is capable of dissolving a huge variety of compounds and elements, not to mention its ability to form mixtures with many liquids. I'd say yes, as the different waters you referred to just refer to how much and what kin...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2014/0315-titans-lakes-the-basics.html", "http://arxiv.org/abs/1303.0894" ] ]
boteh5
is there light in a closed box?
Say you close a perfectly sealable box in a lit room, does some light stay in the box? If not, where would it go?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/boteh5/eli5_is_there_light_in_a_closed_box/
{ "a_id": [ "enkg2s3", "enl0f7r", "enld6k5" ], "score": [ 2, 10, 6 ], "text": [ "The light in the box will have transferred it's energy to heat/radiation or whatever. There would be no light in the box. This is basic physics.", "The light would bounce around in on the walls in ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
5b25cy
can we yawn while sleeping ?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5b25cy/eli5_can_we_yawn_while_sleeping/
{ "a_id": [ "d9l8dk1", "d9lcy2o" ], "score": [ 4, 2 ], "text": [ "While we are asleep our brain still has control over our muscles. Yawning is an involuntary reflex meaning, it just happens. Scientifically speaking yawning is one of the more challenging mammal traits we have. It provides n...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
5slu5k
Is it possible to create Prince Rupert's drops from other materials, and if so, what properties would they have?
There has been a lot of information available from smarter every day involving these things and I feel like I grasp the concepts at play- but perhaps this question is showing my ignorance. Is there any reason molten steel, iron aluminum, or any other hard/soft metal can't be dropped into a bucket of water and produce ...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/5slu5k/is_it_possible_to_create_prince_ruperts_drops/
{ "a_id": [ "ddgb8bp" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "From my elementary understanding of glass, I don't think so. Glass is dense, but still very fragile. Steel is dense, but is not as fragile as glass. The same shape might could be achieved with steel, but I don't think it would be under as much te...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2um22u
What makes a pulsar spin?
I know the basics of a pulsar, that they are a neutron star and their from a super nova but is it something with their gravity that makes them start to spin or is it from the super nova?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2um22u/what_makes_a_pulsar_spin/
{ "a_id": [ "co9o55x" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Conservation of angular momentum. The star that the pulsar formed from was already rotating, and when the core collapsed to such a tiny size (most neutron stars have radii of around 10 km) the rotation rate increased dramatically in order to cons...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
lrcva
why financial year starts at july instead of january?
I see that for all companies financial year is from July to Jun. e.g. July-Sep 2011 is Quarter 1 of financial year 2012, Oct-Dec 2011 is Quarter 2 of financial year 2012 Wouldn't be it easier if it started from January and Jan-Mar 2012 is first quarter of 2012?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/lrcva/eli5_why_financial_year_starts_at_july_instead_of/
{ "a_id": [ "c2uzhyi", "c2uzhyi" ], "score": [ 5, 5 ], "text": [ "The fiscal year is *not* always July to June. The US government's fiscal year, to pick an example, is October to September. Apple Inc. uses the same fiscal year, while Walmart uses February-January, and Exxon Mobile's is Jan...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
1jn140
During the cold war, how did the U.S. manage to place its own missiles in Turkey aimed at USSR?
Did they pressure the Turkish government or what? Did/do they control Turkey? How does/did it work?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1jn140/during_the_cold_war_how_did_the_us_manage_to/
{ "a_id": [ "cbgbwj7", "cbgj0a2" ], "score": [ 25, 4 ], "text": [ "Turkey joined NATO, since the Turkish government was worried about Soviet-backed communist instigators in their own nation (Greece joined NATO for the same reason).\n\nThe placement of [Jupiter](_URL_0_) mid-range nuclear m...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PGM-19_Jupiter" ], [] ]
lr67p
If you could get to the centre of a black hole, would you just freeze in time?
Or do you exit out of a white hole or something?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/lr67p/if_you_could_get_to_the_centre_of_a_black_hole/
{ "a_id": [ "c2uy66t", "c2uynjo", "c2uy66t", "c2uynjo" ], "score": [ 8, 4, 8, 4 ], "text": [ "[Here](_URL_1_) is RobotRollCall's comment on that topic which you might enjoy reading.\n\nAlso, BH questions come up fairly regularly here, so there is a wealth of knowledge on th...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/search?q=black+hole&sort=top&restrict_sr=on", "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/j81b2/whats_in_a_black_hole/c29wpye" ], [], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/search?q=black+hole&sort=top&restrict_sr=on", "http://www.reddit.co...
34wx72
if anyone can access the "deep web" by downloading tor, how are illegal sites not getting shut down immediately?
I recently watched season 2 of House of Cards and learned about the "Deep Web," and from the little I've read about it, it's mostly used for things like drug and weapon trading. The thing is, apparently literally anyone can access the deep web just by downloading a browser called Tor. If this is true, how have all th...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/34wx72/eli5_if_anyone_can_access_the_deep_web_by/
{ "a_id": [ "cqyujvn", "cqyun09", "cqyv1oi", "cqyweyq", "cqywg75", "cqyxwhf", "cqz1246", "cqz12a3", "cqz4tf4", "cqz8jkt", "cqzal8v", "cr01dx9", "cr02kcm" ], "score": [ 3, 14, 6, 19, 244, 95, 23, 5, 2, 8, 5, 2, ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
rr9pw
Light and atoms
Imagine you had a piece of iron (or any other solid), that was just one atom thick. Would light be able to pass through this?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/rr9pw/light_and_atoms/
{ "a_id": [ "c48044k" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Mostly. It can absorb and scatter some light, but if it's only a single atom thick, there's a pretty large probability the light will simply pass through it. Already gold leaf, the thinnest metal you'll easily produce, is fairly transparent, and ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/images/content/9_diameter_of_gold.jpg" ] ]
1gioir
Are there any estimates or statistics for how many Americans continued to drink alcohol during Prohibition?
If it's subdivided by geography or demography, all the better.
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1gioir/are_there_any_estimates_or_statistics_for_how/
{ "a_id": [ "cakpjbg", "caks654" ], "score": [ 17, 4 ], "text": [ "Alcohol consumption fell, at first, to approximately 30 percent of its pre-Prohibition level; but, over the next several years, increased to about 60-70 percent of its proir-prohibition level. At least 10,000 people died fr...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.cas.unt.edu/~mkim/Paper_alcohol%20prohibition.pdf" ] ]
4ivs7d
Do animals seek a variety in their diet?
For animals, why are feeding chains organised into food webs, rather than chains, is it because having more than one source of nutrition provides a security in the case of an extinction occurring to a species you're feeding on, or do they simply enjoy having a variety in their diet, much like the way we humans do?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/4ivs7d/do_animals_seek_a_variety_in_their_diet/
{ "a_id": [ "d31rlvr" ], "score": [ 8 ], "text": [ "This largely depends on the animal! Some animals, like the leatherback turtle, whose diet consists solely of jellyfish, are specialists that lack variety in diet. Animals that DO eat several food sources generally do so because of two main reason...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
7m9i7u
What happens to fish that die near the poles?
Some fish have to die of natural causes, and since freezing temperatures preserve food, is it possible that there is a massive graveyard of fish that have died and are just sitting on the ocean floor near the land masses frozen in time? Or do they float off into warmer waters, then are eaten?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/7m9i7u/what_happens_to_fish_that_die_near_the_poles/
{ "a_id": [ "drsd0fy", "drse32m", "drsebn9", "drsl2ls", "drsmtnw", "drsoglj", "drspc88", "drsrzzx", "drsx480", "drsy5sb", "drsyvbh", "drszijc", "drszjiz", "drt1cqz", "drt5zrs", "drt9w19", "drtawyd", "drtb6fw", "drthvbz" ], "score": [ ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_ocean_water" ], [], [], [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_fall" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAupJzH31tc" ], [], [], [ "https://skemman.is/handle/1946/24845" ], [] ...
12u7gm
Trade in Bronze Age Mesopotamia
I've been wondering recently what was traded in the Bronze Age in the Fertile Crescent and surrounding areas. I'd also like to know what routes were followed, what was used to transport them, and what life was like for a merchant. The period that I'm most interested in right now is the Middle Bronze Age, but I'm also ...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/12u7gm/trade_in_bronze_age_mesopotamia/
{ "a_id": [ "c6y9q7u", "c6ytby0" ], "score": [ 4, 3 ], "text": [ "The best documented site for Bronze Age trade is Kanesh in Central Anatolia. This site has yielded approximately 12,000 tablets and 4,000 of them have been published, giving a great deal of de...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
hafjj
I understand 'shooting stars' are actually meteorites, but how fast would a star at say 4 lightyears have to travel to appear to be shooting?
My friend states that he saw a literal shooting star, with no trail. He can't be convinced it was an orbiting satellite or something similar. Quite possibly one of the dumbest arguments I've ever entertained.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/hafjj/i_understand_shooting_stars_are_actually/
{ "a_id": [ "c1tuak9", "c1tub66", "c1tubi8" ], "score": [ 14, 4, 4 ], "text": [ "Using trigonometry... much much much much much faster than the speed of light.\n\nLet's say this \"shooting star\" covered half the night sky over the course of one minute, ok?\n\nLet's also assume the...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
m0w7p
what makes up the price of a gallon of gas?
Also, what could I watch in the market to gauge the change in price? For example, if (blank) went up then I could assume that the gas prices would increase in a few days.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/m0w7p/what_makes_up_the_price_of_a_gallon_of_gas/
{ "a_id": [ "c2x6bfr", "c2x6bfr" ], "score": [ 3, 3 ], "text": [ "The Department of Energy has a web site that lists the breakdown.\n\n_URL_0_\n\nIn short, for Sept 2011, 63% of the price was crude oil, 14% refining, 12% distribution/marketing, and 11% taxes.", "The Department of Energ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.eia.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp" ], [ "http://www.eia.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp" ] ]
3bkw69
why do cops weave back and forth across lanes on the freeway?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3bkw69/eli5_why_do_cops_weave_back_and_forth_across/
{ "a_id": [ "csn2r5x", "csn2w08" ], "score": [ 9, 6 ], "text": [ "You said it. To slow down all of the traffic. I have seen them do it in San Diego, to slow traffic prior to an accident further down the road. Considering California traffic, it makes a lot of sense. Might be that there's a ...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
vrb9r
If you dissolve a compressed spring in an acid where does the energy go?
You don't allow the spring to naturally go back to its normal, uncompressed, position (dissolving/disintegrating it before that point). The conservation of energy holds, so how/where does the energy go?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/vrb9r/if_you_dissolve_a_compressed_spring_in_an_acid/
{ "a_id": [ "c56xqnf", "c56y3yc", "c56y5bx", "c56ygbk", "c56yjbn", "c56zwq9", "c570jav", "c570ncg", "c570x6o", "c572pl7", "c574l6a", "c575xeh", "c5773w6", "c579kcg", "c579od5" ], "score": [ 247, 52, 1278, 3, 10, 6, 4, 7, ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/search?q=dissolve+spring&restrict_sr=on" ], [], [], [] ]
4m6x3j
What did Medieval soldiers do during sieges waiting for the fort/castle/city to starve?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4m6x3j/what_did_medieval_soldiers_do_during_sieges/
{ "a_id": [ "d3to9qk" ], "score": [ 166 ], "text": [ "I can give you an idea of what a crusader army was doing and you may be surprised by how much activity was necessary to keep a besieging army in the field, even when it was static.\n\n**Food and water**: Although we might think of those trapped...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saladin", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_of_Lusignan", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_of_Bouillon", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_I_of_England", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Crusade", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambroise", ...
6qmg7e
Do scientists understand the internal anatomy of Dinosaurs or only the skeletal system?
Organs layout, vessels, neuro-anatomy. What are the tests or ways that they are trying to figure this information out. This applies to any extinct organism.
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/6qmg7e/do_scientists_understand_the_internal_anatomy_of/
{ "a_id": [ "dkyk4n6" ], "score": [ 13 ], "text": [ "The skeletal system gives strong hints about the internal anatomy, and in rare instances internal organs have been preserved to some extent. \n\nExamples of fossilized organs include a [brain](_URL_3_), [liver and intestines](_URL_7_), and [\"...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/nov/02/dinosaur-brains-and-other-remarkable-fossil-finds-palaeontology-soft-tissue-birds", "http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0004497", "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2596187/", "http://news.nationalgeographic....
f9kokk
if you can see the sun and the moon at the same time, what happens on the other side of the world?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/f9kokk/if_you_can_see_the_sun_and_the_moon_at_the_same/
{ "a_id": [ "fitpxac" ], "score": [ 28 ], "text": [ "So, despite the artistic clichés, the Moon is up during the day just as much as it's up during the night. You can have the moon up all day, or you could have the moon underground all night.\n\nIn this situation, someone on the opposite side of t...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
ulgj1
Will drinking alcohol while sick make worsen my symptoms or slow my recovery?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ulgj1/will_drinking_alcohol_while_sick_make_worsen_my/
{ "a_id": [ "c4wfr99" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "You may have some temporary relief of symptoms from the direct effects of alcohol ingestion. Also, there is conflicting information on alcohol's effect on the immune system. While there is evidence of dysregulation of cytokine pathways being a fa...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v58/n1/abs/1601742a.html" ] ]
xt904
why is this mars landing so much more hyped than the last few?
This one seems a bit bigger than before... why?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/xt904/eli5_why_is_this_mars_landing_so_much_more_hyped/
{ "a_id": [ "c5pdvl2" ], "score": [ 9 ], "text": [ "Hyped is a bad word for the excitement of people, bbbuuuttt, in the past we have landed rovers by inflating a series of balloon around them, the rover will bounce and eventually land. This time how ever the rover was too heavy to do this, so inst...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
3vc0r7
Is Jordan a Palestinian State?
I've heard some suggest when discussing a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that it already exists and that Jordan is a Palestinian State. Is there any legitimacy to this statement?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3vc0r7/is_jordan_a_palestinian_state/
{ "a_id": [ "cxm8e6c", "cxmat56" ], "score": [ 11, 15 ], "text": [ "This might be something I can contribute to. To answer you question, it depends on your definition of Palestinian, (and maybe your definition of what a \"state\" really is\") but probably no, Jordan can not be considered a...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/brwh1922.asp", "http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13537120412331321523" ] ]
14x8rw
Water as a faraday cage
Electromagnetic radiation can't penetrate through a conductive shell, right? But isn't water (with salt/ionic impurities) a very good conductor? So, why can light pass through salty water?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/14x8rw/water_as_a_faraday_cage/
{ "a_id": [ "c7he2v8" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "The conductivity of good conductive metals is more than [10000000 = 10^7 times that of sea water](_URL_0_).\n\n[The depth to which E/M waves penetrate a conductor](_URL_1_) is inversely proportional to the the square root of the conductivity (as ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_resistivity_and_conductivity#Resistivity_of_various_materials", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_effect#Formula" ] ]
35k4ak
why is the philippines are prone to be hit by major typhoons?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/35k4ak/eli5_why_is_the_philippines_are_prone_to_be_hit/
{ "a_id": [ "cr55ivc" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Geography. The same way that the nations/states/territories in the Gulf of Mexico get slammed by hurricanes every year, the Philippines has to deal with typhoons. \n\nWarm ocean currents mix with wind along the water's surface to produce these ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
3gj3nn
How does brain translate nerve activity into conscious experience?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3gj3nn/how_does_brain_translate_nerve_activity_into/
{ "a_id": [ "ctyybq3", "ctzu0e0" ], "score": [ 4, 3 ], "text": [ "This, my friend, is the holy grail of neuroscience. For a start, try reading Phantoms in the Brain by V.S. Ramachandran", "As others have said, nobody knows.\n\nWhat we DO know, however, is that it's probably not central...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
5khebu
[Astronomy] Is the water on Europa all fresh water?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/5khebu/astronomy_is_the_water_on_europa_all_fresh_water/
{ "a_id": [ "dbovqkh", "dboyl5w" ], "score": [ 5, 6 ], "text": [ "It's thought to be salt water. \n\nEuropa is covered by a relatively smooth surface, which is thought to be ice. There's evidence from magnetic measurements made by Galileo that a subsurface conductive layer exists, imply...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
3joueh
why hasn't youtube/google made it possible to play sound from videos with the app closed?
I remember on my old iPhone (when the YouTube app was still a picture of a TV) I could close the app and I could click play and it would continue playing, even with the screen shut off. Then it updated to the more recent version and you can't. People have been demanding this for a long time. Is there a reason it hasn'...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3joueh/eli5_why_hasnt_youtubegoogle_made_it_possible_to/
{ "a_id": [ "cur30l6", "cur3gda", "cur3ky4" ], "score": [ 3, 7, 2 ], "text": [ "If you do it from safari on an iPhone I think you can... Just swipe up and play it again. And if you lock the phone, it may stop. Just press play again.\n\nHope that helps. :)", "YouTube is not a...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/musickey" ] ]
1ki4jp
why do athletes make significantly more money than people like the president who have greater responsibilities in society?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ki4jp/eli5_why_do_athletes_make_significantly_more/
{ "a_id": [ "cbp5t0e", "cbp6cp7", "cbp7785", "cbp7oeh", "cbp8ero" ], "score": [ 18, 3, 3, 2, 4 ], "text": [ "It's mainly the economics surrounding sports. Sports bring in billions of dollars through ticket sales, broadcasting deals, jersey sales, endorsements, etc....
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
bni8d2
What would happen if you were hit by a beam from a particle accelerator?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/bni8d2/what_would_happen_if_you_were_hit_by_a_beam_from/
{ "a_id": [ "en61c5g" ], "score": [ 52 ], "text": [ "It depends on the accelerator. It could be deadly, or it could just give you a large, non-fatal dose of radiation. But for an example, see what happened to [Anatoli Bugorski](_URL_0_)." ] }
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatoli_Bugorski" ] ]
3i504d
How sure are we that the Egyptian hieroglyphics and Mayan Symbols are actually what we think they are?
Question might be hard to understand but I've been watching a couple documentaries on Netflix, and most seem like pure speculation. I heard the Rosetta Stone helped a lot when that was " decoded " but I just can't help to think, what if we are COMPLETELY wrong? How can we be so sure we know what the meaning behind all ...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3i504d/how_sure_are_we_that_the_egyptian_hieroglyphics/
{ "a_id": [ "cudjy4y", "cudkrck" ], "score": [ 21, 14 ], "text": [ "I can't speak for Mayan texts, but Egyptian being completely wrong is basically impossible. We have such an understanding of Egyptian text and language that we can tell when an Egyptian scribe makes a mistake. There may be...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2hpaum/with_computer_technology_at_such_an_advanced/ckuxvuk" ] ]
3rp2go
why can't the government take back alcatraz from the park service and rehab it into a modern prison for gitmo detainees?
I mean, if SF didn't have a problem with the country's most dangerous criminals for decades... Why would they have such a hard time about now?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3rp2go/eli5_why_cant_the_government_take_back_alcatraz/
{ "a_id": [ "cwq1a9i", "cwq1vuw", "cwq9a78" ], "score": [ 8, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Gitmo is located in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. so that it exists outside the juristiction of the American Constitution. \n\nThis allows long term incarceration without trial and conviction and interrogation ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
jn3rp
What would be required for an AI to be considered mentally "alive" or sentient?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/jn3rp/what_would_be_required_for_an_ai_to_be_considered/
{ "a_id": [ "c2dgrel", "c2dh38o", "c2dgrel", "c2dh38o" ], "score": [ 3, 3, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "People who actually work with AI do not come up with such requirements, because the field of study called artificial intelligence does not have the tools, ability, or desire to dec...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
3gmizm
Is every black hole surrounded by a spinning disk of matter and heat?
Im wondering if humanity could ever come close to a black hole, or if we would get killed by the radiation, heat etc.?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3gmizm/is_every_black_hole_surrounded_by_a_spinning_disk/
{ "a_id": [ "ctzzf12" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Nope, their are black holes with no disk but they are nearly impossible to find them since the disk is the reason we can see them, their are also theoretical atom sized dark holes all over the universe. As for your other question, it depends on t...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
9s1nmz
AskHistorians Podcast 123 - Historical Linguistics in the Balkans
[**Episode 123 is up!**](_URL_6_/askhistorians-podcast-123-historical-linguistics-in-the-balkans) The [AskHistorians Podcast](_URL_6_) is a project that highlights the users and answers that have helped make r/AskHistorians one of the largest history discussion forums on the internet. You can subscribe to us via [iTun...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/9s1nmz/askhistorians_podcast_123_historical_linguistics/
{ "a_id": [ "e8q0kfw" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Very interesting. Fun fact about /u/rusoved, he may be the only person who is both a panelist on /r/askscience and /r/askhistorians.\n\nI have some poorly phrased questions about the intersections of linguistics and nationalism.\n\nIt seems over ...
[]
[ "https://goo.gl/forms/jflq5meKXIM4Hfql2", "http://askhistorians.libsyn.com/rss", "https://www.patreon.com/askhistorians", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJudPwztZyg2BQjhetw_bww", "http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/tas-stacey/the-askhistorians-podcast", "https://soundcloud.com/user679855208", "http://as...
[ [] ]
9h2sks
whats worst that can happen if i don't get enough sleep?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9h2sks/eli5whats_worst_that_can_happen_if_i_dont_get/
{ "a_id": [ "e68qpg5" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "The worst? Death. Chronic sleep deprivation can kill you.\n\nMost likely you aren't anywhere close to that point but it can also lead to a host of negative health effects to the point of taking years off your life. Quantifying exactly what the co...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
4k4s15
How do cells that are touching not fuse together like soap bubbles?
I'm a medical student so I'm aware of a lot of the biochemistry governing cell membranes, but how do cells that are touching not just fuse together? Is it just the fact that the hydrophobic parts of the phospholipids stop any mixing of the two plasma membranes? I could imagine that with enough force you could shove the...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/4k4s15/how_do_cells_that_are_touching_not_fuse_together/
{ "a_id": [ "d3c6hi8", "d3c6hqe" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "They do and they don't. There isn't enough force to fuse them normally, but cell membranes do fuse during cell division. Normally, though, the hydrophilic phospholipid heads repel each other. This is why tight junctions need...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
4rebsj
Which Roman emperor do we know the least about, which emperor is spoken about the least in primary sources?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4rebsj/which_roman_emperor_do_we_know_the_least_about/
{ "a_id": [ "d50njwf" ], "score": [ 9 ], "text": [ "There are many Emperors whom nearly nothing is known about. But the majority of these cases are Emperors whom only ruled for a few months, or were co-emperors who held little actual power Sometimes both, such as in the case of Gordian II, who's o...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
a8fqn2
How does the new air purifier in China work? It’s apparently working incredibly well and is probably a bio-engineering marvel.
I don’t know if many people have seen it but China has recently installed a ‘air purifier’ of sorts, and it is apparently working incredibly well. I saw an article about under the News tab but AskScience doesn’t allow crossposts :(
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/a8fqn2/how_does_the_new_air_purifier_in_china_work_its/
{ "a_id": [ "ecbwn27" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "The base of the tower is constructed like a greenhouse, which traps heat and warms air. The warm air then flows up through a series of filters in the tower. This induces convection, which draws more cool air into the base, which is then heated. \...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_tower" ] ]