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krywy
If I whip my head around to get my hair out of my face, am I causing my brain to hit my skull? Is this as bad as I imagine?
I mean the brain has no pain receptors, so I can't rely on that to tell me if I'm hurting myself, right? Sorry if this is a really basic question... I need to get a haircut : D
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/krywy/if_i_whip_my_head_around_to_get_my_hair_out_of_my/
{ "a_id": [ "c2mpr6d", "c2mq0bl", "c2mpr6d", "c2mq0bl" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Someone asked pretty much this same question [yesterday](_URL_0_), and myself and others gave a complete answer.", "No, your brain has a protective layer of fluid around it to ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/kr0hz/if_the_brain_has_no_pain_receptors_then_why_does/" ], [], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/kr0hz/if_the_brain_has_no_pain_receptors_then_why_does/" ], [] ]
1y7oxj
why are the president and vp always from the same party or "the twelve amendment"
**Twelfth* _URL_0_ So I was reading the constitution and I was a bit perplexed by the 12th amendment, it seems that a majority vote determines both president and vice, so why does the US never have a republican and a democrat in the office at the same time? Or does the winning party of the presidency get to vote on v...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1y7oxj/eli5_why_are_the_president_and_vp_always_from_the/
{ "a_id": [ "cfi2uas", "cfi2wpn", "cfi2xvn" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "The person running for president announces who he would like to be his running-mate (vice president).\n\nThe VP becomes president if the president is somehow rendered unable to do his job. From a vs sta...
[]
[ "http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" ]
[ [], [], [] ]
40cziy
if the max amount of money an individual or corporation can donate to a politician is $2700, how can the koch brothers and other millionares donate millions of dollars to the candidate of their choosing? wasn't the $2700 rule put in place specifically so that politicians couldn't be bought?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/40cziy/eli5_if_the_max_amount_of_money_an_individual_or/
{ "a_id": [ "cyt7erq", "cyt7ivg", "cyt7j3c", "cyt8ikf", "cytax00", "cyu66tr" ], "score": [ 34, 3, 14, 13, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Yes. They don't donate directly to the campaign in those amounts, though: they donate to the parties and to political action committe...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
25oec5
why am i not ticklish?
I used to be when I was younger now it just kinda annoys me?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/25oec5/eli5_why_am_i_not_ticklish/
{ "a_id": [ "chj5vnn" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Upvoted, I'm not either and my GF calls me a robot, I'm curious as well." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
fnn9s
can someone speak to the amount of human ancestor fossils we have?
specifically im interested in the amount we have that are millions of years old? and how do we determine these ages? ive read some explanations but id rather have reddit
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/fnn9s/can_someone_speak_to_the_amount_of_human_ancestor/
{ "a_id": [ "c1h9mus", "c1hbbgr" ], "score": [ 4, 2 ], "text": [ "_URL_1_\n\n_URL_0_\n\nIgnore the successful black guy.\n\nAnyway, there are lots of ancient hominid fossils, you can read about them [here](_URL_2_)\n\nYou can tell how long something has been sitting in the ground by compar...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://i.imgur.com/OgSaw.png", "http://delamagente.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/fossil-hominid-skulls.jpg", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_human_evolution_fossils" ], [] ]
bv9f4x
wrinkle resistant/non-iron clothing
What makes clothes wrinkle-resistant/non-iron? Why wouldn't all clothing be made this way? This seems like a relatively modern thing -- why is that?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bv9f4x/eli5_wrinkle_resistantnoniron_clothing/
{ "a_id": [ "epn4gat" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "It depends on the material. Natural fibers like cotton and linen wrinkle easily, though wool does not. Basically, cotton fibers (for example) have little elasticity - check a shirt or jeans, if you can find some with 100% cotton and see how well ...
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[]
[ [] ]
dgf21c
Is a vacuum cleaner's "sucking power" limited to the atmospheric pressure around it?
I feel like all a vacuum does is create an empty space by pushing air, and the "sucking" that happens at the end is just the weight of the atmosphere pushing air into the vacuum. So can a vacuum cleaner's suction only be so strong? I see some vacuums advertise high horsepower, but is there a limit to how much horsepowe...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/dgf21c/is_a_vacuum_cleaners_sucking_power_limited_to_the/
{ "a_id": [ "f3bb8bb", "f3bba9b", "f3bddbl", "f3bm3wj" ], "score": [ 24, 2, 5, 3 ], "text": [ "You are correct that the pressure differential is limited by the atmospheric pressure, but what you aren’t considering is the volume of air moved. A vacuum of higher power will be...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
3hvwjx
How clean were clean houses 100 years ago?
If we went back in time 100 years or so, would even immaculately clean houses and buildings look a little dirty to us, given all the new cleaning products and tools we have available to us now?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3hvwjx/how_clean_were_clean_houses_100_years_ago/
{ "a_id": [ "cubki4a" ], "score": [ 18 ], "text": [ "Hobbyist literary historian here. I would say \"no.\" When you read books from that era, you'll occasionally hear mention of such outlandish products as \"soap,\" \"bleach,\" \"lye,\" and \"ammonia,\" all of which have long been used to bring ab...
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[ [] ]
1p73su
Can medical science manufacture medical antibodies?
If i understand correctly, when you are vaccinated you are essentially teaching your immune system to be able to recognise a new foreign invader and giving it a chance to manufacture new type of antibodies to develop a resistance. Can medical science just manufacture the antibodies instead? Would an antibody injection ...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1p73su/can_medical_science_manufacture_medical_antibodies/
{ "a_id": [ "cczhm7j", "cczi1ps" ], "score": [ 2, 5 ], "text": [ "Antibody therapy is already in widespread use in patients, although maybe not as much in the way you've described. Monoclonal antibodies are currently being used to treat a variety of diseases, including several types of can...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
1fg64u
why does the us military have troops out in other countries, when there is not a specific war being fought?
Also, what would happen if we just had all of our troops come home and we focused on making the US better?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1fg64u/eli5why_does_the_us_military_have_troops_out_in/
{ "a_id": [ "ca9xvm9", "ca9y3ux" ], "score": [ 2, 11 ], "text": [ "The troops in other countries are there to defend those countries (or those regions). It's like having beat cops out on the street - a few officers walking around can prevent crime.\n\nAs to why it's important, the main re...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_deployments" ] ]
ajmamh
; why does saliva give grip?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ajmamh/eli5_why_does_saliva_give_grip/
{ "a_id": [ "eewrr9z" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "If we went down to a micro-scale, we would see that the vast majority of surfaces we consider to be \"smooth\" (like paper) are not smooth at all, but rather have many bumps and ridges (it would be like looking at a gravel driveway). Due to this,...
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[ [] ]
8iy2g6
how does the material on the other side of a sticker keep the glue sticky?
How does it keep the glue from drying out?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8iy2g6/eli5_how_does_the_material_on_the_other_side_of_a/
{ "a_id": [ "dyvfvji", "dyvp2kt" ], "score": [ 3, 3 ], "text": [ "It doesn’t. The glue does in fact dry out (that’s why really old stickers have that crusty yellow stuff if you leave them out for a long time). However, if you’re referencing the waxy paper that the stickers originally come ...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
1klpfn
Why does a laser create a dark spot on phosphorescent material
I have a 2" X 2" square of phosphorescent material. I fired a red laser at it expecting it to glow brighter where the laser hit the material. Instead the already partially glowing material ended up with dark patches where the laser touched it. Exposing the material to light cleared these patches up (not immediately, bu...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1klpfn/why_does_a_laser_create_a_dark_spot_on/
{ "a_id": [ "cbqefu6", "cbqlg3q" ], "score": [ 2, 5 ], "text": [ "I have a theory based on my (limited) understanding of phosphorescence:\n\nA material shows phosphorescence when photons of a certain energy kick electrons up to a semi-stable orbital which will later decay and release light...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804033/" ] ]
a1sf7o
how do engines run at 5,000 or even 10,000 rpms?
Even at idle an engine may be turning at 1,500 RPMs. This just seems incredible to me. How does it work?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a1sf7o/eli5_how_do_engines_run_at_5000_or_even_10000_rpms/
{ "a_id": [ "easads8" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Mainstream automobile engines usually redline at about 6-7k rpm. The reason they can spin so fast is because the crankshafts are perfectly balanced, and the pistons and rods are made to be as lightweight as possible. Also the journal jacking oili...
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[ [] ]
4j8voa
why is it that in a country where you are not supposed to drink the water (india or china for example) it’s still ok to shower, brush your teeth, and even bath with it?
Why is it that if you drink it you'll get sick, but using it for other functions where you come into contact with it is OK? Unless the danger of drinking it is exagerrated... Or the danger of using it for, say, washing a fruit before you eat it, is understated... Please & Thanks!
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4j8voa/eli5eli5_why_is_it_that_in_a_country_where_you/
{ "a_id": [ "d34nv4c", "d34p0gy" ], "score": [ 7, 3 ], "text": [ "It's mostly a matter of amounts. You might drink a few litres of water a day but you won't swallow anywhere near that amount while brushing your teeth. And of course, toothpaste is there to help kill bacteria anyway. Bathing...
[]
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[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioaccumulation" ] ]
2bvu6i
Synergy of Aqua Regia?
As I understand chemistry both nitric acid and hydrochloric acid are used to a 1:3 volume ratio to make aqua regia. Both nitric acid and hydrochloric acid don't dissolve noble metals like gold. It seems to me that Aqua Regia is better at dissolving substrate than the sum of the individual acids and thus has a synergist...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2bvu6i/synergy_of_aqua_regia/
{ "a_id": [ "cj9kl03" ], "score": [ 13 ], "text": [ "It's all based on chemical equilibrium. \n\nWhat happens is nitric acid does oxidize a tiniest bit of the gold to produce Au+3 ions and they're in a state of equilibrium; although this amount of dissolution would be negligible just by nitric aci...
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[ [] ]
84g6g4
Have we ever observed an object (such as an asteroid or comet) from another solar system come into our solar system?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/84g6g4/have_we_ever_observed_an_object_such_as_an/
{ "a_id": [ "dvpqnah" ], "score": [ 38 ], "text": [ "We did for the first time last year\n\n_URL_0_" ] }
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CA%BBOumuamua" ] ]
efzt45
What was ancient egyptian armor like?
Did they wear cloth or leather? Did they use animal parts like teeth or horns? Was it light or heavy?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/efzt45/what_was_ancient_egyptian_armor_like/
{ "a_id": [ "fdf0fjl" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "The common protective item was the shield. These were often hide, and could be quite large:\n\n* _URL_0_\n\n* _URL_8_\n\nThe Egyptian word for \"shield\" also means \"hide\" or \"skin\" (Howard, 2011), so rawhide appears to have been the standard...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://i.pinimg.com/originals/45/56/cd/4556cddfee886b9d7684c05d258d3b3f.jpg", "https://www.ancient.eu/img/r/p/500x600/5827.jpg", "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Pharaoh_Tutankhamun_destroying_his_enemies.jpg", "https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0d/ab/74/0dab7497b48b69609be01ad181b04149...
1sxsbi
why do the cfl lights remain dim & flash every few seconds even after being turned off?
I have noticed that you can see a CFL light in complete darkness, it gives out kinda greenish dim light. Also it flashes every few seconds like a camera flash but not that bright. Why?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1sxsbi/why_do_the_cfl_lights_remain_dim_flash_every_few/
{ "a_id": [ "ce2bsjc", "ce2bz4f", "ce2cwf4" ], "score": [ 2, 4, 3 ], "text": [ "The inside of the tube is coated with phosphor (glow in the dark). This is what produces the actual visible light. The charged gas (mercury vapor) in the tube produces UV which charges the phosphor an...
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[]
[ [], [], [] ]
3i7c3i
How do hydroelectric power plants produce electricity with a frequency of 50Hz/60Hz consistently?
Electric current provided by hydroelectric power plants needs to be precisely 50Hz/60Hz when it arrives at your household plugs. My physics teacher said that this current wasn't converted nor modified during its trip to the household. So my question is what makes that electric current stable at 60Hz/50Hz when it leaves...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3i7c3i/how_do_hydroelectric_power_plants_produce/
{ "a_id": [ "cudxi9s", "cudy0gl", "cudyqer", "cue0nd7", "cue9d6s", "cuebjzb", "cuectos", "cued5ve", "cueiwr8", "cuelnov" ], "score": [ 83, 9, 2, 3, 3, 5, 3, 3, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "Im an engineer but I will give you the answer. ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://fnetpublic.utk.edu/gradientmap.html" ], [] ]
of22g
why do americans generally not learn any second languages?
I know it's an *option* in school, but in other first world countries like Japan and most of Europe it's required to learn at least one other language, if not more. Why is this not common practice in America? I want actual historical or cultural reasons, not "hur dur Americans r dumb".
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/of22g/why_do_americans_generally_not_learn_any_second/
{ "a_id": [ "c3gpk91", "c3gq3sa", "c3gq9a1", "c3gqaf9", "c3gqift", "c3gqpfs", "c3gqqmt", "c3gqz5h", "c3gtqew", "c3gv2y2" ], "score": [ 2, 8, 2, 26, 2, 5, 2, 2, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "I can't really answer your question, but I woul...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_trade_of_the_United_States#Imports_and_exports" ], [], [], [], [] ]
27gwrh
The AskHistorians Podcast - Episode 12 Discussion Thread - The Spanish Civil War
[**Episode 012 is up!**](_URL_3_) [The AskHistorians Podcast](_URL_4_) is a project that highlights the users and answers that have helped make/r/AskHistorians one of the largest history discussion forum on the internet. You can subscribe to us via [iTunes](_URL_2_), [Stitcher](_URL_5_) or [RSS](_URL_1_). If there is...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/27gwrh/the_askhistorians_podcast_episode_12_discussion/
{ "a_id": [ "cj25k8q", "ci0omt4", "ci0wju1", "ci0zlej", "ci15n6a", "cjesb8b" ], "score": [ 3, 9, 3, 6, 7, 6 ], "text": [ "Just listened to the episode today while on a run. Very informative, you guys could probably fill twice the length of time and still no...
[]
[ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/search?q=title%3A%22askhistorians+podcast%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all", "http://askhistorians.libsyn.com/rss", "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-askhistorians-podcast/id812302476?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D8", "http://askhistorians.libsyn.com/ahp...
[ [], [], [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_general_election,_1936" ], [] ]
1u665l
If our modern calendar begins with the birth of Christ, why isn't Christmas the start of a new year?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1u665l/if_our_modern_calendar_begins_with_the_birth_of/
{ "a_id": [ "ceeyw1i" ], "score": [ 51 ], "text": [ "This is a long long story, going back to the founding of Rome in the 700s BC.\n\nThe very first Roman calendar (itself borrowed from the Greeks) had [ten months, starting with Martius and ending with December](_URL_5_):\n\n1) Martius\n\n2) April...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1u5why/what_is_the_story_behind_january_1st_being/", "http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/year-history.html#anchor-year-always-started", "http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-roman.html#anchor-republican", "http://davesgarden.com/guides/art...
egfetk
why does rinsing my car with just the hose not remove dirt but leaving my car out in the rain does?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/egfetk/eli5_why_does_rinsing_my_car_with_just_the_hose/
{ "a_id": [ "fc68qnt" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Probably because you don't wash your car with a hose for hours, if not a full day at a time" ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
80n917
Do we need the van Allen Belts as a protection from radiation?
I read that a potential space elevator would cancel the van Allen Belts by grounding them. Would that strip the Earth from radiation protection? And how would a space elevator do that cancel the belts? Also what do the sprites(lightning that goes up into space) have to do with them? Are they the reason for creating the...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/80n917/do_we_need_the_van_allen_belts_as_a_protection/
{ "a_id": [ "duwssy8", "duwswv6" ], "score": [ 22, 7 ], "text": [ "Van Allen belts are more like low points in the magnetic field where radiation settles, its not the belts themselves that keep us safe, but they are a product of the magnetic field which does indeed protect us from harmful ...
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[ [], [] ]
16c6de
Circular polarized light, I don't get it
If electromagnetic waves are 2D how can you make circular polarized light? I've tried reading wiki articles but I can't visualize it. It seems to me your circular polarizing filter would have to be rotating to create circularly polarized light. So a vertically slitted filter would block all non vertical waves of unpol...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/16c6de/circular_polarized_light_i_dont_get_it/
{ "a_id": [ "c7uo8zz", "c7uoczr", "c7uxmho" ], "score": [ 10, 7, 2 ], "text": [ "[Visualization](_URL_0_). Basically, the polarization vector of the light has to be 'rotating.' You can do this pretty easily [by putting a linear polarizer and a quarter-wave plate at an angle to each...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Circular.Polarization.Circularly.Polarized.Light_Right.Handed.Animation.305x190.255Colors.gif", "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Circular.Polarization.Circularly.Polarized.Light_Circular.Polarizer_Creating.Left.Handed.Helix.View....
49vlz5
If the Mongols asked my town to surrender, and we did, how would we be treated?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/49vlz5/if_the_mongols_asked_my_town_to_surrender_and_we/
{ "a_id": [ "d0va87g" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "This was asked just last week\n\n_URL_0_" ] }
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/48r8h3/my_city_gets_besieged_by_the_mongols_we_decide_to/" ] ]
24gusn
was it that knowledge of the Vikings' discovery of America didn’t spread or just that people didn’t realize the land they'd discovered was actually the edge of a giant continent so nobody viewed it as significant? if the former why didn’t it spread?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/24gusn/was_it_that_knowledge_of_the_vikings_discovery_of/
{ "a_id": [ "ch71nc0" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "hi! It seems that knowledge *did* spread, at least in Greenland, Iceland, Denmark, England, & Germany. It would be fantastic if an expert could comment on what Europeans thought of Vinland/Markland/Helluland in terms of significance; meanwhile,...
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[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1bjdcf/did_the_rest_of_europe_know_about_the_vikings/", "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1q51g8/is_there_any_evidence_that_christopher_columbus/", "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1kna2x/are_any_of_the_precolumbus_maps_of_am...
3w70vn
Has there ever been a rich country that has become a poor one and stayed poor?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3w70vn/has_there_ever_been_a_rich_country_that_has/
{ "a_id": [ "cxu04be" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Sorry, we don't allow [\"trivia seeking\" questions](_URL_0_). These tend to produce threads which are collections of disjointed, partial responses, and not the in-depth discussions about a particular topic we're looking for. If you have a spec...
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[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_no_.22trivia_seeking.22_questions", "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3nub87/rules_change_throughout_history_rule_is_replaced/" ] ]
ckxh3q
how does it work for two headed creatures? do they sense things independently? how is the nervous system controlled? do they have diminished intelligence?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ckxh3q/eli5_how_does_it_work_for_two_headed_creatures_do/
{ "a_id": [ "evrkgr6" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "I think it depends on where the sever is... if they share a brain, they will not sense, think, or feel things independently. However, if their brains are completely separate they will process thoughts separately; if their heads are the only thing...
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1ch93s
If you took a pill that contained an entire meal's worth of nutrition, would you still feel hungry after it was digested?
In other words, is the feeling of hunger based purely on the amount of stuff in your stomach, or is it a feeling produced by lack of available nutrients? Edit: I only used a "pill" as a hypothetical to frame my real question of whether or not hunger is dependent on how full your stomach is, or if your body is lacking ...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1ch93s/if_you_took_a_pill_that_contained_an_entire_meals/
{ "a_id": [ "c9ggrb3", "c9gh6nj" ], "score": [ 5, 3 ], "text": [ "How big would a pill be that contained that many calories and nutrients? Even if made entirely of dehydrated stuffs, wouldn't it also expand in your stomach.", "Fat and protein can inhibit the feeling of hunger regardle...
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[ [], [] ]
1jhv3k
how does workman's compensation work?
Particularly if you are a work-from-home employee that has 24/7 responsibilities (breaking news updates for a blog)
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1jhv3k/eli5_how_does_workmans_compensation_work/
{ "a_id": [ "cbeudkd" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "I answered how rates are set in another reply. I'll now address the what happens if you are working from home part.\n\nThis is an incredibly murky area of work comp right now, and tends to be extremely variable case by case. For example, I recent...
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30s8de
How did the female vote alter the political landscape? What new policies were shifted or enacted to accommodate the new base?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/30s8de/how_did_the_female_vote_alter_the_political/
{ "a_id": [ "cpvcc6n" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "hi! Could you specify which region/country/culture you're asking about? Also, if you don't get answers here, it might be worth x-posting this question to /r/AskSocialScience" ] }
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8fmd5i
why does drinking alcohol make you tired?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8fmd5i/eli5_why_does_drinking_alcohol_make_you_tired/
{ "a_id": [ "dy4tig7" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Alcohol interferes with the actions of glutamate and NMDA, two key excitatory compounds that stimulate/regulate activity in the nervous system. They’re sort of like natural stimulants that keep things moving. Alcohol can inhibit the activity of t...
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3dpbrb
If we can't put anymore transistors on a microchip because the transistors are physically too small, why don't we just make bigger microchips?
From what I've heard and read, transistors on microchips are reaching a point where if we tried to fit any more, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle might cause electrons to "bleed" across transistors because they are just too close. This puts a physical limit to the amount working transistors in a given space. If thi...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3dpbrb/if_we_cant_put_anymore_transistors_on_a_microchip/
{ "a_id": [ "ct7gbcx", "ct7hfhu", "ct7jfik", "ct7ldo1", "ct7n27w", "ct7qdgw" ], "score": [ 136, 34, 3, 10, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "they can make them larger...but that wont make them faster. Think of it like this....you work downtown....you live within the city c...
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11fy4a
do people have "brain prints"? people have unique finger prints, eyerises, and DNA, do we have unique brain structures aswell?
we all have different personalities so would that mean our brains look different? or are brains created equal?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/11fy4a/do_people_have_brain_prints_people_have_unique/
{ "a_id": [ "c6m4xk7", "c6m79xa", "c6m7lm9" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The short answer would be yes. The longer answer would be that the neurons in your brain form in a way unique to you, however the human adult has around 100 billion neurons, so making a \"print\" of thi...
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[ [], [], [] ]
1ucpml
why is michael jackson considered the "king of pop?"
I get the fact that he's extremely influential and all that, but what is his genius? Dance/Choreography, Musical talent, etc? I get Jimi Hendrix, SRV, Beatles, Hank Williams Sr., but would like an explanation about him.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ucpml/eli5_why_is_michael_jackson_considered_the_king/
{ "a_id": [ "cegq7om", "cehdd95" ], "score": [ 3, 6 ], "text": [ "He made Thriller. Thriller.", "Because he redefined pop culture.\n\nHe was the first black musician who broke through the color barrier on MTV. He made MTV a definitive TV channel. Before Thriller was released the music ...
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[ [], [] ]
1q7ai5
What was the actual incident of Karbala in the history of Islam?
It is the month of Moharram according to the Islamic calender and Muslims around the globe found it to be very sacred. Since very early days of my life, I have heard a lot about the incident of Karbala in which Hussain (Son of Ali) was killed which occured on the 10th of Moharram, a long time back. Islam is divided i...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1q7ai5/what_was_the_actual_incident_of_karbala_in_the/
{ "a_id": [ "cd9yaxu" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "I can give you a more detailed answer this weekend, but very briefly, there aren't two opposite versions. Contrary to popular belief, Sunni's are not (nor ever were) anti-Ali. Both Sunnis and Shi'ites consider the events of Karbala to be a massa...
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3k4n7k
what is going on over at /r/punchablefaces?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3k4n7k/eli5_what_is_going_on_over_at_rpunchablefaces/
{ "a_id": [ "cuuq4r7" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "/r/punchablefaces is a ~60k community that posts... punchable faces.\n\nHowever, in order to comply with reddits strict no harassment policies, they have had to implement a few rules:\n\n* No black, brown, tan, Asian, Latino, Native North ...
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[ [ "https://i.imgur.com/BqUMYPg.jpg" ] ]
c00i38
where does all the dirt from power washing go?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c00i38/eli5_where_does_all_the_dirt_from_power_washing_go/
{ "a_id": [ "eqz8d1e" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "It's floating in the water kicked off by the power washer. \nIt then usually flows with the water down into the drain." ] }
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2sx8c9
after an android device installs an update it will spend some time optimizing apps. what, exactly, is happening during this process?
^
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2sx8c9/eli5_after_an_android_device_installs_an_update/
{ "a_id": [ "cntpmn4" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "_URL_0_\n\n > When you install an application on Android, it performs some modifications and optimizations on that application's dex file (the file that contains all the dalvik bytecode for the application). It then caches the resulting odex (op...
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[ [ "http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7541281/what-is-dalvik-and-dalvik-cache" ] ]
eleglu
When Eratosthenes was calculating the circumference of the Earth in the third century BC, what did he calculate or scrawl on? Papyrus, wax, sand?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/eleglu/when_eratosthenes_was_calculating_the/
{ "a_id": [ "fdi0clt" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Papyrus or parchment. We now know, thanks to Wadi al-Jarf, that papyrus was being used in Egypt as early as the reign of Khufu (c.2550). By the time of Eratosthenes in the 3rd century BCE, it was common (but not cheap) and reasonably easy to acqu...
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mryl9
why the usa are (or have been) at war in the middle east.
Please refrain from trolling.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/mryl9/eli5_why_the_usa_are_or_have_been_at_war_in_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c33dob3", "c33e93h", "c33dob3", "c33e93h" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "The justification (meaning, the reason given by those who made the decision about why the decision was made) for sending troops to the Middle East was:\n\n* Iraq - To stop the use ...
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[ [], [], [], [] ]
4lxqiw
why does drinking alcohol with an empty stomach cause one to get drunk quicker?
Legitimately curious as to why this may be the case.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4lxqiw/eli5_why_does_drinking_alcohol_with_an_empty/
{ "a_id": [ "d3r9nbt", "d3qynp4" ], "score": [ 5, 6 ], "text": [ "It's harder to drink water from a sponge than it is from a cup because you have to squeeze or tear the sponge to access the water. If you imagine that the food you eat is like a sponge that can soak up liquids, then you can ...
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[ [], [] ]
39mu1t
if you could know the state of subatomic/quantum particles, could you calculate the future?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/39mu1t/eli5if_you_could_know_the_state_of/
{ "a_id": [ "cs4o3hm", "cs4o452" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "There seems to be a degree of randomness inherent in quantum physics. To the best of our understanding the answer to your question is no.", "That is still a subject of intense debate. It appears that the answer is no, as...
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[ [], [] ]
s83yv
Is it possible to consume too much Vitamin C in one day?
Say I put 10 emergen-c packets into a Nalgene bottle, mix it with water and consume in less than an hour. Is it possible to get too much vitamin-C? What would happen?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/s83yv/is_it_possible_to_consume_too_much_vitamin_c_in/
{ "a_id": [ "c4bv296" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Vitamin C has laxative effects at high dosages" ] }
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z4o5p
How does a pane of glass "become" a mirror when there is a strong contrast in lighting on either side? most prominent at night time with the lights on inside
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/z4o5p/how_does_a_pane_of_glass_become_a_mirror_when/
{ "a_id": [ "c61edj3", "c61flza", "c61ggjo", "c61gsnl", "c61hqj6", "c61jjg1" ], "score": [ 138, 15, 11, 4, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "Glass reflects around 4% of the light incident on it, with the lights on inside this 4% is much brighter than the darkness outside. ...
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[ [], [], [ "http://www.amazon.com/QED-Strange-Theory-Light-Matter/dp/0691024170" ], [], [], [] ]
1ap8ct
Broad prehistory/anthropology question: Which do you view as more relevant in motivating a move from a hunter-gatherer society to an agricultural society... (see text)
An advancement or progression of a society or A response to change, such as loss of hunting territory to another group or climate change. OR Do you see these factors working at different rates in different situations? Any specific examples to cite? Are other factors important? OR.. do you see these factors w...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ap8ct/broad_prehistoryanthropology_question_which_do/
{ "a_id": [ "c8zm6dv" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "I think that your perspective is a bit off, but then the anthropological perspective is very different from most peoples' and takes a lot of reading and lectures to really start to grasp, so your perspective is pretty much par for the course.\n\n...
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[ [ "http://www.pnas.org/content/98/13/6993.full" ] ]
2cvy36
neoconservatism vs. neoliberalism
I hear these terms a lot but I don't really know what they mean. Are they just governmental terms about the conflict of conservatives vs. liberals, or are they bigger philosophical concepts?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2cvy36/eli5_neoconservatism_vs_neoliberalism/
{ "a_id": [ "cjjuohs" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "When they combine they make neo-fascism." ] }
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1avlua
How did German soldiers view Canadians during WW2
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1avlua/how_did_german_soldiers_view_canadians_during_ww2/
{ "a_id": [ "c9166lk" ], "score": [ 12 ], "text": [ "This isn't an answer to the question but a related piece of information, because I figure you'd be interested in how Canada was seen more generally in this era. At Auschwitz, the warehouses that held the luggage and possession stolen/confiscated...
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[ [ "http://lastexpression.northwestern.edu/essays/glossary_milton_main.htm#kanada" ] ]
5l397n
why can't clicking the x to close a program in windows act in the same way as clicking end task from a ctrl+alt+del?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5l397n/eli5_why_cant_clicking_the_x_to_close_a_program/
{ "a_id": [ "dbsk52c", "dbsk87g", "dbskbk7", "dbskdgt", "dbskgza", "dbslk5o" ], "score": [ 5, 25, 2, 2, 8, 17 ], "text": [ "The [X] is intended for proper shutdowns and letting close naturally. To prevent data loss and file corruption. Closing the task with ...
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2g900p
what is diminishing returns?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2g900p/eli5what_is_diminishing_returns/
{ "a_id": [ "ckgs2vn", "ckgs8ph", "ckgspie", "ckgy163" ], "score": [ 17, 2, 7, 2 ], "text": [ "Imagine I gave you a chocolate bar. You'd be pretty happy, right? It's tasty.\n\nNow, imagine you had a hundred chocolate bars, and I gave you one more. You wouldn't gain as much ...
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[ [], [], [], [] ]
311bem
Why were there so many Kolechian attacks on Arstotzka (particularly the East Grestin) border in December 1983?
I understand that they wanted East Grestin, but that was politically recognised as Arstotzkan land. As a followup question, were The Order actually affiliated with the terrorists?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/311bem/why_were_there_so_many_kolechian_attacks_on/
{ "a_id": [ "cpxnri5" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Although, as you say, East Grestin is POLITICALLY recognised as Arstitzkan territory, there was a lot of nationalist sentiment lingering in Kolechia, especially amongst the ethnic Grestians in the population, who believed that, as East Grestin wa...
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4lyyml
why do probiotics sometimes cause diarrhea, gas, or other symptoms of ibs?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4lyyml/eli5_why_do_probiotics_sometimes_cause_diarrhea/
{ "a_id": [ "d3rb3ge" ], "score": [ 13 ], "text": [ "Probiotics and antibiotics can both affect the amount of 'flora' (helpful bacteria) that live naturally inside your gut. Part of what those bacteria do is help digest things and create important chemicals that the body uses. Bacteria can act alm...
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5lnhyz
what would happen to astronauts in orbit if earth instantly disappeared?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5lnhyz/eli5_what_would_happen_to_astronauts_in_orbit_if/
{ "a_id": [ "dbwzs7l", "dbx000u", "dbx014e" ], "score": [ 8, 7, 2 ], "text": [ "They would continue in a \"straight\" line from their current trajectory. Away from the former position of the planet. ", "THERE'S ONE EVERY SEASON!\n\nAnyways. So all the astronauts and the space s...
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zrcky
How far are we away from economical synthetic/In vitro meat?
[Wikipedia](_URL_0_) says, it could be competitive around 2050. It is stated that in vitro meat has a lesser environmental impact, requires less energy to produce and does not harm animals. Is In-vitro meat a realistic and sustainable alternative to common animal-meat? What main problems have to be overcome in the next...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/zrcky/how_far_are_we_away_from_economical_syntheticin/
{ "a_id": [ "c6734kq", "c673hru", "c6740z8", "c6749z7", "c674olg", "c674tjw", "c6755w8", "c675am3", "c675s9q", "c675z48", "c677o0g" ], "score": [ 7, 120, 53, 12, 2, 2, 3, 3, 9, 2, 196 ], "text": [ "Last I heard they ca...
[]
[ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_meat" ]
[ [], [ "http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jun/22/fake-meat-scientific-breakthroughs-research?CMP=twt_gu" ], [ "http://www.tedxtoronto.com/speakers/isha-datar/" ], [ "http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2012/07/beyond_meat_fake_chicken_that_tastes_so_real_it_will_freak_you_o...
6rq0pi
what's so bad about (us) debt collectors?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6rq0pi/eli5_whats_so_bad_about_us_debt_collectors/
{ "a_id": [ "dl6wmjf" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "You're correct. Only issue is that occasionally debt collectors try to collect on debts that aren't legally your responsibility. " ] }
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dlg2nw
why was it better for swords to only have one edged blade (like the katana or falchion)?
Just wandering if it was better at all, or if there are disadvantages to having both blades edged.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dlg2nw/eli5_why_was_it_better_for_swords_to_only_have/
{ "a_id": [ "f4pritf", "f4qe457", "f4qjuak", "f4rclms" ], "score": [ 34, 10, 23, 6 ], "text": [ "Swords were designed for various purposes. Double edged blades were used to impale or stab the opponent. Whereas katanas are curved and one sided to provide a better slicing mot...
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[ [], [], [], [] ]
zejj7
Why does some salt taste saltier that other salt?
I've noticed that the finely ground salt in little packets often doesn't taste as salty as a new jar of flaky kosher salt. Why is this? I remember reading somewhere that it had something to do with the salt's crystal size & density which effected how well/fast it was absorbed on your tongue, is this true?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/zejj7/why_does_some_salt_taste_saltier_that_other_salt/
{ "a_id": [ "c63w7ci" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Salt's saltiness can be affected by many different factors. The composition and purity of the salt in question, the concentration of the salt, and persistence of the salt on the tongue all make up each different salt's taste. \n\nThis article sum...
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[ [ "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK50958/" ] ]
2a4e1e
What were cocoliztli and matlazahuatl, and how did these epidemics affect indigenous and colonial communities?
Were they diseases indigenous to the Valley of Mexico, or did they arrive from elsewhere? How were they transmitted and what were their symptoms? How far beyond the Valley of Mexico did these epidemics spread? What impact did these diseases have on the indigenous and immigrant populations of New Spain?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2a4e1e/what_were_cocoliztli_and_matlazahuatl_and_how_did/
{ "a_id": [ "cirhryt", "cirtvfj" ], "score": [ 11, 3 ], "text": [ "I have not researched matlazahuatl, but cocoliztli is now considered to be a viral hemorrhagic disease akin to our modern [Hantavirus](_URL_1_). Several [recent studies](_URL_0_) have linked the 1545 and 1576 Mexican epidem...
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[ [ "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2730237/", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanta_virus" ], [] ]
3itwvx
why is it so difficult to find video highlights of football/soccer games?
It is super easy to find video highlights of basketball, baseball, and American football games, but when I try to find video highlights for football/soccer matches all I get are stills or commentary. What gives?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3itwvx/eli5_why_is_it_so_difficult_to_find_video/
{ "a_id": [ "cujlk71", "cujlkkl" ], "score": [ 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Because of very strict control of (very expensive) TV rights. Rights owners know filter images and videos by the droplet.", "In short, nothing is for free anymore. Would you wish to see the highlights, you would (you bei...
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2ngs23
where the fuck were these lonely mountain dwarves in lotr when every one of their allies was battling sauron?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ngs23/eli5_where_the_fuck_were_these_lonely_mountain/
{ "a_id": [ "cmdgkb8", "cmdgwcj" ], "score": [ 20, 56 ], "text": [ "Well, sauron didn'send his whole army to capture minas tirith-he split it into two armies. One went for humans in gondor and the second went for dwarves and humans in lonely mountain(dwarves scouted them) . It's explained...
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aqc3x6
how do they make weed killer that they can spray on grass and plants that only kill weeds without hurting the grass or plants?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aqc3x6/eli5_how_do_they_make_weed_killer_that_they_can/
{ "a_id": [ "egexeq9", "egexwid", "egeya3x", "egf6ari", "egfsut8", "egg5hox" ], "score": [ 401, 10, 45, 5, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "There are two major families of flowering plants, called dicots and monocots. There are a lot of subtle differences between them, bu...
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[ [ "http://www1.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/library/webb/BOT201/Angiosperm/MagnoliophytaLab99/LeavesDicotMonocotColor400.jpg" ], [], [], [], [], [] ]
2pprog
How big does an object have to be to have color?
Does a single atom have color? If a photo could be taken in color of such a small particle, would it have color?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2pprog/how_big_does_an_object_have_to_be_to_have_color/
{ "a_id": [ "cmywdps", "cmywykq", "cmz2oyi", "cmzbhbt", "cmzxrrw" ], "score": [ 25, 55, 3, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "These are solutions of gold nanoparticles.\n\n_URL_0_\n\nThe smallest ones are about 1000 atoms, the biggest ones about a billion atoms. You can see that th...
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[ [ "http://www.tedpella.com/gold_html/gold-colloids-wcopy.jpg" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_gas" ], [], [], [] ]
3od9sr
In WW2, how exactly did technological transfer from Germany to Japan take place and how did Japan pay for it?
For all I know the Japanese received a lot of technology from the third Reich like plans to build their Nakajima Kikka jet plane. No doubt - there has been military and industrial cooperation before the war, but when WW2 broke out the technological transfer continued. How did Japan actually receive all the construction...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3od9sr/in_ww2_how_exactly_did_technological_transfer/
{ "a_id": [ "cvx8vas" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "For the most part, technology and trade in raw materials between Germany and Japan occurred through individual blockade-runners. In exchange for examples of German military technology and plans, the Japanese provided raw materials and other items...
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74aiye
what's the difference between ssris and saris?
I know what the acronyms stand for, but I don't know what they actually do and the difference between the two.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/74aiye/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_ssris_and_saris/
{ "a_id": [ "dnws2tr" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "SSRIs bind to transporters that clear serotonin out of the synaptic cleft. Depending on how selective the specific SSRI in question is, it may or may not have some effect on dopamine and norepinephrine transporters.\n\n & nbsp;\n\nSARIs have simi...
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2as407
why do mini m & m's taste so much better than regular m & m's?
Or is it just me?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2as407/eli5_why_do_mini_mms_taste_so_much_better_than/
{ "a_id": [ "ciy70r0", "ciy71ef", "ciy93sk", "ciy9dwc", "ciyajnf", "ciybcag", "ciycty6", "ciyn5mj", "ciyniz7" ], "score": [ 146, 29, 16, 7, 10, 10, 10, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "I'm going to go with the crunchy outside to chocolate ratio.", ...
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14nz6b
semiconductors
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/14nz6b/eli5_semiconductors/
{ "a_id": [ "c7et59v", "c7etzx5" ], "score": [ 2, 3 ], "text": [ "Most things either conduct electricity well, or don't (insulators). Typically, things that conduct, conduct even better at higher temperatures. Semiconductors are substances that can either conduct well or not, based on th...
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[ [], [] ]
1s2c40
Why are anti-rejection drugs needed permanently for transplants?
One of the things I do know about the body is that it knows what cells are what and replenishes them constantly (with the exception of very few like a few types of neural/brain cells). The main issue I see is, when a person gets a transplant: either the body sees it as part of it and begins to integrate itself into i...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1s2c40/why_are_antirejection_drugs_needed_permanently/
{ "a_id": [ "cdtbd4s" ], "score": [ 9 ], "text": [ "The answer to your question is inherent in your understanding of transplants and immunology. The one flaw in your reasoning is:\n\n > organs regularly require constant regeneration by the host body\n\nTransplanted organs do have cellular turnover...
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57slcz
Why are trucks, and not trains, the main method of freight transportation in the U.S.?
I heard all kind of tin foil hat stories regarding this issue. It is clear that trains are more fuel efficient, but yet trucks are the main method of freight transportation. I heard oil companies had something to do with this, lobbying for trucks (in the form of roads) in order to get profit. Is there any truth in thes...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/57slcz/why_are_trucks_and_not_trains_the_main_method_of/
{ "a_id": [ "d8umv9m" ], "score": [ 35 ], "text": [ "Without getting at all into the history of how it developed, it isn't clear to me that your premise is correct that trucks are the main method of freight transport in the US. \n\nAccording to the [US Department of Transportation](_URL_0_), 39.5%...
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[ [ "https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0362" ] ]
59gzq0
why is sitting close to a monitor for long periods bad for your eyes as apposed to looking at brickwall for a long period
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/59gzq0/eli5_why_is_sitting_close_to_a_monitor_for_long/
{ "a_id": [ "d98d47l", "d98gh2v" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "You're focusing at the same distance for hours on end day after day. The muscles in your eye will hold at that focus and tire. RSI.\n", "It's not bad for your eyes in that it causes permanent harm. It's bad for your eyes...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
8t0kll
what the differences between micro and molecular biology
I really don't understand the differences even after looking it up online several times.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8t0kll/eli5_what_the_differences_between_micro_and/
{ "a_id": [ "e13ouo9", "e13qtah" ], "score": [ 6, 5 ], "text": [ "Microbio is like...cell to cell interactions. It's on the level of cell organelles in humans, cells interacting with each other in small colonies, that kinda thing. It's usually interested in viruses, bacteria, etc.\n\nMolec...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
1mqtrq
Not sure if this is more "Ask Historians" or "Ask Science" but, essentially, how did pre-industrial civilizations move water uphill?
So I'm taking a course on medieval cities, and [one of the books](_URL_0_) we're reading currently briefly mentions digging 200ft. deep wells, arranging for fountains to be atop hills, etc. This got me wondering how these problems were solved specifically (it just says 'hydraulics' and moves on, no details) and, more ...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1mqtrq/not_sure_if_this_is_more_ask_historians_or_ask/
{ "a_id": [ "ccbt1md", "ccbubsc", "ccbxmte" ], "score": [ 10, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "There was the [Archimedes Screw](_URL_0_), which has been around since at least the 3rd Century BCE. Also, you should read the first couple sections on fountains, [here], (_URL_1_) where it explains ho...
[]
[ "http://www.amazon.com/Italian-Republics-Daniel-Philip-Waley/dp/1405859008" ]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes%27_screw", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain#Medieval_fountains" ], [], [ "http://www.marlymachine.org/", "http://www.unc.edu/~duncan/personal/roman_mining/deep-vein_mining.htm", "http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasserkunst" ] ]
ewu8h0
a mongooses immunity to cobra venom
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ewu8h0/eli5_a_mongooses_immunity_to_cobra_venom/
{ "a_id": [ "fg4gvn2" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Your nerves are covered in protein receptors that function like little locks. They also produce proteins, called neurotransmitters, that function like little keys which perfectly match the keyhole that the receptors have. When the correct neuro...
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[ [] ]
2vq7u8
Is it possible to acquire AIDS from something other than HIV?
If AIDS is a condition brought upon by something (HIV, a virus), is possible to get into this condition by something else aside from HIV? I understand it is possible to show an extremely minimal viral load for HIV. Is it possible to regress from AIDS conditions to a prior state? For example, if you gain a significant...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2vq7u8/is_it_possible_to_acquire_aids_from_something/
{ "a_id": [ "cokh6cg", "cokjqzg", "coll9fn" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Well, as far as I know AIDS is, by definition, the final stage of an HIV infection. There are other causes for immunodeficiency of course (genetic and infectious), it's just not called AIDS then. And ye...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndrome" ], [ "http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6303a1.htm" ] ]
jsib0
WTC 7: How did this fall down (at free fall acceleration) from fires?
I'm not here to bait anyone, nor am I here to discuss the federal reserve or the CIA (etc...). I just want to know the science behind this tower collapsing at 9.8m/s^2 from fires. Groups such as [Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth](_URL_0_) make a compelling case, but I feel as though I don't know enough about th...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/jsib0/wtc_7_how_did_this_fall_down_at_free_fall/
{ "a_id": [ "c2es8gm", "c2eseky", "c2etakf", "c2es8gm", "c2eseky", "c2etakf" ], "score": [ 4, 2, 6, 4, 2, 6 ], "text": [ "This is outside of my specialty, but I think you could also get good answers by going to /r/AskEngineers. They will have much more knowl...
[]
[ "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZEvA8BCoBw&feature=player_embedded" ]
[ [], [ "http://iopscience.iop.org/0143-0807/31/4/023" ], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/js15r/how_did_all_of_the_wtc_buildings_fall_vertically/" ], [], [ "http://iopscience.iop.org/0143-0807/31/4/023" ], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/js15r/how_did_all_...
3c5r7m
Is modern-day veterinary medicine better than the medical science of the 1860s?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3c5r7m/is_modernday_veterinary_medicine_better_than_the/
{ "a_id": [ "csss927" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Yes!\n\nNo question about it.\n\nYou can find a lot of old vet books at [Internet Archive](_URL_0_) to see what they practiced then. You can find equally old medical (human practice) books.\n\nAt any period, vet practice does not lag much behind ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.archive.org" ] ]
177zwd
How has the discipline of History evolved over time? In other words, what is the history of History (from Herodotus to monotheism to the enlightenment to postmodernism, etc)?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/177zwd/how_has_the_discipline_of_history_evolved_over/
{ "a_id": [ "c834ytp" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "This is a *massive,* massive question, one far bigger than I suspect the sub is prepared to answer. \n\nWhat you're asking about is called the discipline of **historiography** -- in other words, the history of how history is studied and told. As ...
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[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historiography", "http://www.amazon.com/History-Introduction-John-H-Arnold/dp/019285352X" ] ]
cd7yzd
why do our energy levels go down when we're depressed?
Depressed people I've seen generally feel more tired and fatigued than usual and end up sleeping more than usual. Why is this?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cd7yzd/eli5_why_do_our_energy_levels_go_down_when_were/
{ "a_id": [ "etsidi9", "etsv40r", "ettbpb9", "ettdoiy" ], "score": [ 9, 17, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "From an article on Medical News Today: \"People with depression are more likely to experience fatigue, and people with chronic fatigue are more likely to become depressed, creatin...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [ "https://psycheducation.org/diagnosis/rapid-cycling-and-mixed-states-as-waves/" ] ]
60tgw8
Is it possible to magnetically levitate an object with total freedom of rotation?
hi, i was wondering if it is possible to simulate [how rigid objects rotate around their three axis in microgravity](_URL_0_) by using magnetic levitation. In [this video](_URL_2_) the rotation seems to be constrained to one axis, while [here](_URL_1_) the rotation is more freely.
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/60tgw8/is_it_possible_to_magnetically_levitate_an_object/
{ "a_id": [ "df99udi", "df9e262" ], "score": [ 2, 7 ], "text": [ "Something like this?\n\n_URL_0_\n\n\"This project uses an Infrared-LED Beam and a Photodetector. The detector looks for an interruption in the light beam. The general principle is straight forward: An electromagnet pulls a b...
[]
[ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n-HMSCDYtM", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1vyB-O5i6E", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMMM62NC-4" ]
[ [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApdZVTfq78Q" ], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1vyB-O5i6E" ] ]
5o580b
Was Charles V's title Emperor or King of Spain? Why was he not king of Hungary-Croatia and Bohemia?
My two questions elaborated: 1. Charles V abdicated in ~1550. The titles of King of Hungary and Croatia, & Bohemia do not appear in his titles but appear in his brothers'. Why is it so? 2. Were Spain and Portugal ever officially declared as Empires? Charles V and his son Philip have only king of Spain and Portugal(o...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5o580b/was_charles_vs_title_emperor_or_king_of_spain_why/
{ "a_id": [ "dcjbjsg" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Regarding 1. \nKingdom of Hungary and Croatia were never parts of the HRE, and Charles V was **never** their king nor emperor. \n\nAfter disastrous battle of Mohacs in 1526, where king of Hungary and Croatia died, their respective noblemen hel...
[]
[ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_V,_Holy_Roman_Emperor#Abdications_and_later_life" ]
[ [] ]
2qkklp
Is my newish car more fuel efficient in a warm summer or cold winter?
Is the air proportionally denser in cold to the density of fuel or are they out of whack making the fueling all messed up? (Petrol with fuel injection).
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2qkklp/is_my_newish_car_more_fuel_efficient_in_a_warm/
{ "a_id": [ "cn8buf9", "cn8cmgh" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The air is definitely denser but either your car injects more fuel to keep the mixture constant or it doesn't and the mixture will be off, but there will be more air to totally burn the fuel, which should happen in a well tu...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warm_air_intake" ] ]
2848lr
On Youtube's home page, there is a seemingly robust algorithm that shows suggested videos (aka What to watch) based on your watching habits and subscriptions. Why does it include mostly videos I have already seen? Doesn't that totally defeat its purpose?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2848lr/on_youtubes_home_page_there_is_a_seemingly_robust/
{ "a_id": [ "ci7bdgu" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "I don't have any inside information for how youtube works internally, but having just spent all night trying to solve similar technical challenges (on a much smaller volume), I can take a guess: scaling is hard. Even for youtube engineers with ...
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[ [] ]
1zu33c
Why does a neutron destabilise a uranium atom?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1zu33c/why_does_a_neutron_destabilise_a_uranium_atom/
{ "a_id": [ "cfx05ak" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "There is a big difference in relative stability between U-235 and U-236. It is similar to standing on a cliff - at the top, you have a lot more potential energy than someone standing at the bottom.\n\nFission occurs when the nucleus breaks up in...
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4v71pa
why is it not a good idea to give people who are starving as much food as they want?
I remember reading something in an old history class talking about those who were deeply malnourished in concentration camps. It was mentioned that some of them died after they were released because the Allies gave them a bunch of food and they basically "ate themselves to death". How did this happen? Could something l...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4v71pa/eli5_why_is_it_not_a_good_idea_to_give_people_who/
{ "a_id": [ "d5vz6m4", "d5vz6xd" ], "score": [ 28, 4 ], "text": [ "It's called refeeding syndrome.\n\nEssentially, their entire body has gone into starvation mode that is optimized for survival under conditions of extreme food shortage. Minerals such as phosphate, magnesium and potassium ...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
1nf8zy
how a waiter can lose money if someone doesn't tip
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1nf8zy/eli5_how_a_waiter_can_lose_money_if_someone/
{ "a_id": [ "cci1r4y", "cci1wla", "cci2eaa", "cci2kac", "cci3qe2" ], "score": [ 4, 9, 3, 6, 4 ], "text": [ "A waiter's employer usually pays them around $2.50/hour. If they do not make the equivalent of minimum wage with tips their employer is legally obligated to r...
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[]
[ [], [], [ "http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/foodtrda.pdf", "http://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-and-Gaming-Industry-Partner-on-Voluntary-Tip-Compliance-Agreements" ], [], [] ]
go2bi
Is life decreasing or increasing the total entropy in the universe?
I hear entropy is inevitably increasing over time. My view may be distorted. Would the assumption that life is increasing order be wrong? Does it then overall produce more entropy or is life not in the picture with entropy at all and I got it all wrong?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/go2bi/is_life_decreasing_or_increasing_the_total/
{ "a_id": [ "c1oznrw", "c1ozo0m" ], "score": [ 11, 4 ], "text": [ "We are always increasing entropy. It's not so much a physical law as it is a statistical law.\n\nA dorky example my secondary school chem teacher once gave us. If our room is a giant mess, we can say in some loose way tha...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
7blm0n
why is it that sitting for extended periods can cause blood clots but laying down sleeping for 6-8 hours a night doesn’t?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7blm0n/eli5_why_is_it_that_sitting_for_extended_periods/
{ "a_id": [ "dpivgkj", "dpivhfq", "dpivhsc", "dpj20r4", "dpj6fcp", "dpj6r2h", "dpj6th2", "dpj9nlx", "dpjem7v", "dpjhvri", "dpjm3wb", "dpjpq5p", "dpjugah", "dpjvkr4", "dpkandj" ], "score": [ 4914, 13, 24, 970, 7, 6, 228, 17...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
1odipv
Does distilled water still contain ions?
I have tested a coolant that advertises its product to contain "Ultra pure water (through distillation)", against the same ingredients as the coolant but with plain deionized water from a battery shop, and the resistance in the coolant (with distilled water) was lower than the one I recreated with deionized water. Cou...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1odipv/does_distilled_water_still_contain_ions/
{ "a_id": [ "ccr3iso", "ccr56ro" ], "score": [ 7, 7 ], "text": [ "Yes. Even in the absence of influences that might induce self-ionization in water a certain proportion of the molecules will have enough energy to break an oxygen-hydrogen bond to produce a hydroxyl anion and whatever proton...
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[]
[ [], [ "http://www.caslab.com/News/deionized-vs-distilled.html", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion-exchange_resin" ] ]
141xcb
Is there a minimum and maximum 'speed' of time?
An object can be stationary, or moving at the speed of light, and that serves as the minimum and maximum speed through space. Is there an equivalent for time? We use the speed of light as a reference point for many things, is there/would there be any use in referencing the maximum speed of time?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/141xcb/is_there_a_minimum_and_maximum_speed_of_time/
{ "a_id": [ "c794ttv" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "We also use the speed of light as a reference point for the maximum speed of time. Think of all objects as moving at the same speed. Objects that you and I observe as being stationary are moving at the same speed as an object moving at 0.999c. Th...
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[ [] ]
1jd2h0
how do i get fruit flies when i wash my produce when i bring it home and don't leave the window open?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1jd2h0/eli5_how_do_i_get_fruit_flies_when_i_wash_my/
{ "a_id": [ "cbdg96g", "cbdg9er" ], "score": [ 3, 5 ], "text": [ "Follows you through the door, gaps in the window, tiny cracks and and holes etc. ", "I'm assuming you mean Drosophila melanogaster (_URL_0_) or one of its relatives as opposed to other fruit fries (if you are referring t...
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[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosophila_melanogaster" ] ]
3fi162
When was the last time 2 ships fired broadsides at eachother?
I mean 2 large ships like battleships or heavy cruisers at close range, or whatever close range is or ship to ship fighting. I'm assuming it would be in the pacific in WW2 but I have no idea how I would go about finding that out.
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3fi162/when_was_the_last_time_2_ships_fired_broadsides/
{ "a_id": [ "ctouc52" ], "score": [ 284 ], "text": [ "The last time a battleship fired on another battleship was at the Battle of the Surigao Strait, Oct. 25, 1944. The American forces had six battleships: *California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee*, and *West Virginia.* They fire...
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[ [] ]
ncpz0
What is the difference in environmental impact between a new car and a used car?
Assuming the impact of building the used car is discounted since it already exists, and the impact of the new car is taken into account since you're increasing demand. Also, it might help to assume each will be driven 150,000 miles in it's life, with the logic there being the older car will be easier to repair and les...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ncpz0/what_is_the_difference_in_environmental_impact/
{ "a_id": [ "c38312m", "c38312m" ], "score": [ 3, 3 ], "text": [ "Short news piece with numbers [here](_URL_0_) (unfortunately, original article unavailable). \n\nSummary (trusting their numbers): making a new Prius costs 1,000 gallons of gas. A Prius (45mpg) would have to drive ~16,000 ...
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[ [ "http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/16-06/ff_heresies_09usedcars" ], [ "http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/16-06/ff_heresies_09usedcars" ] ]
676olv
how does my body know which muscle i'm telling it to flex, or limb i want to move?
I'm fairly high, so if this is dumb I'm sorry but I'm pretty sure it's fairly not dumb
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/676olv/eli5_how_does_my_body_know_which_muscle_im/
{ "a_id": [ "dgo4jfm", "dgo5sk3" ], "score": [ 6, 6 ], "text": [ "This is the most simplistic way I can think of to explain this; your brain has connections between neurons called synapses. Synapses carry electrical signals across neurons and parts of the body move based on the intensity a...
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[ [], [] ]
165oud
why bacon is seen as a manly food and seen as the best food ever? is it it's high calorie and fat content that makes it extremely palatable to humans?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/165oud/why_bacon_is_seen_as_a_manly_food_and_seen_as_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c7sz219", "c7t2563", "c7t2qkx" ], "score": [ 9, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Because its tastes delicious.", "it's the kind of food that provides the energy and motivation to smash a wild animals head in with a rock (and let us as a species become awesome)", "Because the...
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[ [], [], [] ]
qrncm
Can we determine, solely by examining the ear of an animal, the range of frequencies that the animal can hear? Or, how much more information do we need?
I'm also kind of interested in what animals can hear the widest range/most extreme frequencies, if anyone has information on that. Thanks
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/qrncm/can_we_determine_solely_by_examining_the_ear_of/
{ "a_id": [ "c407rzk" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Good question. I don't think there is anything about the outer ear morphology that you can look at and then guess what frequencies an animal can hear, but I may be wrong. However, it's fairly easy to determine the range of frequencies an animal c...
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[ [] ]
1e2wlf
When did silent reading become common?
I've been reading a book about monastic practices which includes a reference to Augustine's *Confessions*, specifically to the passage in which Augustine observes Ambrose reading silently. Ambrose's silent reading is bound up in the *Lectio Divina* and so on, but when (and where, I suppose) did silent reading become t...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1e2wlf/when_did_silent_reading_become_common/
{ "a_id": [ "c9wa8h3", "c9wh7ni", "c9wlpvx" ], "score": [ 11, 7, 3 ], "text": [ "The passage you mention from Augustine (c. 398) is the most famous. A century later in Benedict of Nursia’s day reading aloud must have still been around. In his *Rule* (c. 520s) in ch. 48 he advise...
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[]
[ [ "http://www.sup.org/book.cgi?id=683" ], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/10f13m/shift_from_reading_out_loud_to_reading_silently/c6cwrim" ], [] ]
a8ilsq
why does the act of burning fuel at the buttom of a rocket make it move? what causes propulsion?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a8ilsq/eli5_why_does_the_act_of_burning_fuel_at_the/
{ "a_id": [ "ecayk5z", "ecayrch", "ecayrgu", "ecayrij", "ecayrlx" ], "score": [ 17, 2, 2, 2, 5 ], "text": [ "It’s like blowing up a balloon and letting it go, the air escaping the balloon makes it fly. Now imagine the balloon can keep creating air by burning fuel.\n...
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[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
erdlb0
on old fashioned ships from the 1600s pirate times etc i’m guessing they had fires to keep warm how did they keep these safe and protect the wooden ship from burning?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/erdlb0/eli5_on_old_fashioned_ships_from_the_1600s_pirate/
{ "a_id": [ "ff32n8s", "ff3eviw", "ff3jdn9", "ff3ji6m", "ff3zo6n" ], "score": [ 1000, 96, 11, 44, 5 ], "text": [ "In the age of sail, ship's cabins were poorly ventilated, and dozens (or even hundreds) of men would keep the cabin more than warm enough with their bod...
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[]
[ [ "https://www.quora.com/How-did-they-heat-old-sailing-ships" ], [], [ "https://www.hms-victory.com/things-to-see/galley" ], [], [] ]
2o8kyu
What was the most powerful European country during the Middle Ages? Military, technology and economy.
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2o8kyu/what_was_the_most_powerful_european_country/
{ "a_id": [ "cmkqta2" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Could you be a little more specific please?The \"Middle Ages\" covers a very long period of History, the answer will be very different comparing on when it is." ] }
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[ [] ]