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8d5c2y
why does water taste sweet when we're super thirsty?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8d5c2y/eli5_why_does_water_taste_sweet_when_were_super/
{ "a_id": [ "dxkdj4d", "dxkkxkx", "dxklj3n", "dxklqh6", "dxkma5h", "dxkncyz", "dxknxs4", "dxko6zj" ], "score": [ 619, 58, 8, 2, 4, 18, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "The taste you detect with your tongue is relative. Imagine you drink something with a lo...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
5k74pc
could a theoretical santa claus traverse the entire world and visit each house all in one night by any means? why or why not?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5k74pc/eli5_could_a_theoretical_santa_claus_traverse_the/
{ "a_id": [ "dbltvz2" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "he could be doing it from outside the space-time dimension we live in. \n\nlike Matthew McConaughey." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
18vjbj
how does a tv series have different writers credited for each episode but still have continuity?
I've noticed this on most of the recent shows I've watched (Suits, Homeland, Breaking Bad, etc) that when you look up who wrote the episodes, it is usually either a large amount of different people, or a group of people who seem to keep popping up. How is this done but the story still flows between the episodes?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/18vjbj/eli5_how_does_a_tv_series_have_different_writers/
{ "a_id": [ "c8icw4m", "c8icx2z", "c8id81a" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 5 ], "text": [ "Because most tv series are written at least weekly or even daily they need to have a bunch of writers working at once. All these writers have a basic idea of the over arching plot but each do their own ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChuckCunninghamSyndrome" ] ]
as5ojl
how do fire engines change traffic lights when they hit red?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/as5ojl/eli5_how_do_fire_engines_change_traffic_lights/
{ "a_id": [ "egryrxm", "egrz9yk" ], "score": [ 11, 6 ], "text": [ "If you look at some traffic lights, you can see a little sensor by the lights, the fire truck has a strobe light that triggers that sensor and causes the light to switch.", "Yes. Some of the modern ‘strobes’ are IR LEDs...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
3m9m3k
Question about the gravitational escape velocity of the big bang?
This may have been addressed before, if so please point me in the right direction. My question relates to how the big bang was able to create enough force to propel even the rudimentary particles/energy comprising the "universe" out of its super condensed state and the accompanying gravitation pull. As I understand i...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3m9m3k/question_about_the_gravitational_escape_velocity/
{ "a_id": [ "cvddv6u" ], "score": [ 12 ], "text": [ "In general relativity, [Einstein's equation](_URL_0_) has a mathematical object (a tensor) describing the curvature of spacetime on the left hand side, and another mathematical object (another tensor) describing the contents of spacetime on the ...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_field_equations" ] ]
8ivg4c
what is different in the brain of a person having add or adhd?
In comparison to a average brain what is different in someone having a attention deficit disorder ? I tried googling it but I couldn't find a real answer Also can someone please tell me what causes adhd ? Is it genetics ?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8ivg4c/eli5_what_is_different_in_the_brain_of_a_person/
{ "a_id": [ "dyux8vf", "dyux9nv", "dyuykg2", "dyuzozb" ], "score": [ 5, 2, 33, 6 ], "text": [ "It’s a disorder having to do with dopamine deficiency, which then affects executive functions. Essentially it’s less rewarding to do certain things. It’s also a self compounding p...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
yvkma
What are some more interesting border conflicts through history?
I know for example, that the [Bir Tawil](_URL_0_) region is unclaimed and neither Egypt nor Sudan want it.
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/yvkma/what_are_some_more_interesting_border_conflicts/
{ "a_id": [ "c5z8d9q", "c5zgmnc" ], "score": [ 7, 2 ], "text": [ "Michigan almost spilt blood with Ohio over who owned Toledo. Jackson's administration intervened. Michigan won and Ohio had to keep it.", "The Caribbean from 1500 to about 1750.\n\nHoly hell man. Governors declaring the...
[]
[ "http://bigthink.com/strange-maps/396-you-take-it-no-you-take-it-the-bir-tawil-trapezoid" ]
[ [], [] ]
17s7ig
what is "eye movement desensitization and reprocessing?" treatment for ptsd?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/17s7ig/eli5_what_is_eye_movement_desensitization_and/
{ "a_id": [ "c89580n" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "If this is what I think you are talking about, this was used on me by my therapist. \n\nThe doctor moves an object back and forth to replicated Rapid Eye Movement, R.E.M. The doctor wants to do this because when you are asleep and dreaming, your ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
8ntwzf
Charles De Gaulle famously responded 'non' to the UK application to join the EU in 1963, what were the reasons for his refusal and why did he choose to be so public and yet so vague on it?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8ntwzf/charles_de_gaulle_famously_responded_non_to_the/
{ "a_id": [ "e00a2yx" ], "score": [ 35 ], "text": [ "I can answer the first part of your question: geopolitics. De Gaulle wanted to keep the six-member European Community (as it was known then) as a continental bloc that France would lead and that would act as a rival pole of power to the US and t...
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[]
[ [] ]
3mq8e5
request: how can big pharma get away with long term price gouging?
With the recent news reports of skyrocketing healthcare costs and 1000x drug price increases, how can the companies get away with such greed?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3mq8e5/eli5_request_how_can_big_pharma_get_away_with/
{ "a_id": [ "cvh5077", "cvh7gom" ], "score": [ 3, 4 ], "text": [ "They have a captive audience and (most of the time) not enough public unrest to force them to change. You need their medicine, but they aren't obligated to provide it to you, they can charge what they want for it. ", "Th...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
z290u
I know phrenology is BS but do people with different mental capacities have differently shaped brains?
E.g. an especially eloquent person having a larger "language center" in their brain. My intuition is that brains have to differ physically to have different abilities and that should be reflected in the fraction of the brain allocated to those abilities.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/z290u/i_know_phrenology_is_bs_but_do_people_with/
{ "a_id": [ "c60tr0g" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "I think any changes would be extremely subtle. I've just done some searching and evidence of cortical atrophy after spinal cord injury is subtle, but [present](_URL_0_). I think this is the largest possible type of change you could reasonably exp...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.neurology.org/content/66/5/762.short", "http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=mediation-correlated-with-structura-11-01-22", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein's_brain" ] ]
1x80l7
unfinished accommodations and olympic althelets refusing to participate because the events are too dangerous due to poor construction. how did the winter olympics get to such a state of disarray and why was this allowed to happen?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1x80l7/eli5_unfinished_accommodations_and_olympic/
{ "a_id": [ "cf8x67u", "cf8ylyr" ], "score": [ 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Even in better developed and less corrupt host countries there is a crunch to get this stuff done at the last minute...\n\nThere is also a desire to make everything BIGGER, Apparently for Sochi they are trying to make the lu...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-04/winter-olympics3a-sochi-luge-track-slowed/5237650" ], [] ]
bgt9p2
if our brain paralyzes our body when we go to sleep, how do we roll over?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bgt9p2/eli5_if_our_brain_paralyzes_our_body_when_we_go/
{ "a_id": [ "elnb7rq", "elnn2rs" ], "score": [ 10, 36 ], "text": [ "REM cycle. Sometimes you’re more asleep than other times. When you’re dreaming you’re not in a deep sleep, and when you’re in a deep sleep you can’t move. Wild right?!", "The muscle paralysis only occur during REM slee...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/01/28/3861788.htm" ] ]
139lgg
During WW2, how did the US manage convince their people to focus on Germany over Japan when isolationism kept them out of the war for so long
I found it a bit strange when I watched the World at War (great documentary btw) episode on the USA and it seemed to make a bit of a leap between isolationism policy and attacking Germany when the Japanese gave them the cause for war. The government had difficulty convincing their people that they should enter the war...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/139lgg/during_ww2_how_did_the_us_manage_convince_their/
{ "a_id": [ "c721prd" ], "score": [ 9 ], "text": [ " > If they needed to convince the people to go to war, how did they go from justifiably defending against the Japanese to attacking what is more or less a third party ally (Germany) which they couldn't go to war with to begin with. Germany did de...
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[]
[ [] ]
451hqn
what does "dx" sign in Riemann integral really mean?
i want a real answer. why not just drop it? It baffles me for years. And why do people use the same sign in indefinite integral?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/451hqn/what_does_dx_sign_in_riemann_integral_really_mean/
{ "a_id": [ "czvf4b2", "czvfbbw", "czvfl4i", "czvlrbv", "czwpuzh" ], "score": [ 7, 3, 4, 15, 2 ], "text": [ "First, it tells you which variable you're performing the integration on.\n\n & int; xy wouldn't tell you if you're integrating over x or y.\n\nThe dx is also...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreal_number", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riemann_integral#Riemann_integral", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_form" ], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_form" ], [] ]
50d0rg
Why are phone motherboards able to be so much smaller than desktop boards despite being almost as powerful as an average PC?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/50d0rg/why_are_phone_motherboards_able_to_be_so_much/
{ "a_id": [ "d744skc", "d74u2j8" ], "score": [ 7, 4 ], "text": [ "Miniaturization is expensive, and in the case of a desktop, unnecessary. Furthermore, desktops often include expansion capability (mobiles don't) as well as support for a wider array of ports and communication protocols (lik...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
30izhd
if feminists are fighting for gender equality, then why call themselves feminists?
Doesn't this title imply superiority of women over men? It's an honest question not meant to be mean-spirited; I certainly agree that gender equality is an important issue.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30izhd/eli5_if_feminists_are_fighting_for_gender/
{ "a_id": [ "cpsv1vq", "cpsv60j", "cpsv9h4", "cpsvgsc", "cpsxkk8", "cpt0rs7", "cpt0xw8", "cpt2kkn", "cptaq53", "cptccqd" ], "score": [ 17, 137, 60, 11, 20, 45, 32, 25, 5, 2 ], "text": [ "It doesn't. You can fight for women's r...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
5nfxog
what would happen if a president or other high-ranking us government official just blurted out highly classified information on live tv?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5nfxog/eli5_what_would_happen_if_a_president_or_other/
{ "a_id": [ "dcb6tl7" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "I know this violates the sub rules, and I honestly don't have a genuine answer. But [this](_URL_0_) is the first thing that came to mind when this post came up." ] }
[]
[]
[ [ "http://i1359.photobucket.com/albums/q798/djdavis516/florida-man-iron-man-robert-downey-jr-1a_zpsf0641117.gif" ] ]
1pyp0m
what does it mean to be audited and why do people not like it?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1pyp0m/eli5_what_does_it_mean_to_be_audited_and_why_do/
{ "a_id": [ "cd7e6te", "cd7ea4z" ], "score": [ 5, 4 ], "text": [ "*Edit: like others are pointing out, there are lots of different types of audits. I assume you are asking about a typical income tax audit, as that's the type you hear people complain about in media or IRL.*\n\nDishonest peo...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
1miewm
how is monstanto not a monopoly?
I was reading back in 2010 they had something like a 90% market share. Then I was watching the daily show recently and again, Monstanto is in the news with their domination of the industry. We almost broke up Microsoft for releasing IE with the Windows OS, how is Mansanto, which has a much larger market share, not co...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1miewm/eli5_how_is_monstanto_not_a_monopoly/
{ "a_id": [ "cc9j54m", "cc9kn1d" ], "score": [ 14, 5 ], "text": [ " > I was reading back in 2010 they had something like a 90% market share.\n\nMarket share of what? Monsanto makes *a lot* of different products. Also, as far as I know, they're pretty much neck-and-neck with DuPont in most...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2ulrl6
Is Loschmidt's paradox really a paradox? What are its implications for contemporary physics?
For those unaware, in 1872 Boltzmann attempted a kinetic treatment of the second law of thermodynamics, known as the H-theorem in statistical mechanics. Boltzmann, using an assumption of "molecular chaos" (independent positions, velocities, and kinetic energies during collision), purportedly derived a physical 'arrow o...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2ulrl6/is_loschmidts_paradox_really_a_paradox_what_are/
{ "a_id": [ "co9lp8f" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Yes Loschmidt's paradox is a puzzle for modern physics (paradox may be too strong a word). Arrows of time remain something of an area of open speculation. There are arguments for a global time direction from general relativity in spacetimes that ...
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[]
[ [] ]
av6zfo
how did netflix remaster the friends episodes from 4:3 to 16:9 and increase the field of view?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/av6zfo/eli5_how_did_netflix_remaster_the_friends/
{ "a_id": [ "ehd0p0a", "ehd1ng6" ], "score": [ 4, 3 ], "text": [ "The content was always widescreen but was formatted to 4:3 back in the day. It has always been this way, ever since movies came out back in the 20s or 30s or whenever it was.", "If this is true, the episodes must’ve been...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2ahwsb
do two organisms that differs greatly in relative size perceive time differently?
Why do movies of miniature organisms or of giants show the bigger of the objectives moving at a slower rate? Do they truly perceive time differently? As smaller organisms do tend to have much shorter lifespans than larger ones. (Ie bugs to humans)
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ahwsb/eli5_do_two_organisms_that_differs_greatly_in/
{ "a_id": [ "civb09y", "civj5hj" ], "score": [ 5, 3 ], "text": [ "The answer to your question is both yes and no. Size doesn't specifically alter the perception of time. What you're talking about is called critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) It is the rate at which anything can observe...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/accumulating-glitches/metabolism_and_body_size_influence" ], [] ]
ceex2d
how did einstein realize that light will bend near heavy objects?
Hi, i was a reading a book and found that Einstein knew light will bend near heavy objects but how did this idea pop into his head or how did he realize it? edit: i am so glad my question was helpful to many other people as well! thanks everyone.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ceex2d/eli5_how_did_einstein_realize_that_light_will/
{ "a_id": [ "eu21fh6", "eu2322j", "eu2bk8e", "eu2rsm1" ], "score": [ 9, 25, 275, 2 ], "text": [ "The bending of light is a bit of a mis-representation of what is really the bending of space-time through which the light travels - that spacetime is bent by mass of objects.\n\...
[]
[]
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18fw61
why is the american paper currency green?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/18fw61/eli5_why_is_the_american_paper_currency_green/
{ "a_id": [ "c8efl6t" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Green ink was something that were really easy to get hands on during the period when the dollar first arrived. It was also a strong ink so it doesn't rub off easily. That's was good, considering how many touched it. The ink were also made up of ...
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[ [] ]
j3tgi
what is the boehner bill that just passed? what does it cut?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/j3tgi/eli5_what_is_the_boehner_bill_that_just_passed/
{ "a_id": [ "c28wrmh", "c28ww3w", "c28wyti", "c28xsr2", "c28yew9", "c28yo29" ], "score": [ 4, 11, 2, 3, 9, 2 ], "text": [ "It didn't pass.", "The bill passed the House of Representatives but was rejected by the Senate. \n\nIn the United States, in order ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
50mt9d
AskScience AMA Series: I am the co-founder of iNaturalist, an online social network for sharing biodiversity information. Ask Me Anything!
[iNaturalist](_URL_0_) is an online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature. It's also a crowdsourced species identification system and an organism occurrence recording tool. You can use it to record your own observations, get help with identifications, collaborat...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/50mt9d/askscience_ama_series_i_am_the_cofounder_of/
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[ "http://www.inaturalist.org/" ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/" ], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
z54cc
Did the homo sapiens kill off the homo neanderthalensis?
I'm aware we co-existed with these men, I was wondering did we kill them, or did they die out because they were evolutionarily inferior to us? Also how old is the latest record of the Neanderthal?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/z54cc/did_the_homo_sapiens_kill_off_the_homo/
{ "a_id": [ "c61o2w3" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "There are a few hypotheses concerning their extinction. Here are some.\n\n1. Competitive exclusion (with humans).\n2. Genocide (by humans).\n3. An epidemic (perhaps carried by humans, but not as lethal to them). \n\nThese are strengthened by evid...
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[]
[ [] ]
8mekoh
Were there any cold-adapted dinosaurs?
Any time you see a depiction of a dinosaur it's in a tropical setting. But there's lots of birds that survive and thrive in cold places, and since birds are basically a type dinosaur do we have any idea whether there would have been any ancient, stompy-type dinos that lived in a cold climate? Lets say anywhere there's ...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/8mekoh/were_there_any_coldadapted_dinosaurs/
{ "a_id": [ "dzougec" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "There were in fact dinosaurs in Antarctica which was more or less in the same place it is now. It didn't get as cold as it is now, but still pretty cold. There's a whole episode in Walking with Dinosaurs about it actually." ] }
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[ [] ]
1exf8g
Would countries give back territories lost in war
Now I'm talking more in the older times when it took much more time for information to get around. Say two countries were fighting and they called a peace treaty. Now lets say that one of the countries generals then captured a city or place because they were unaware of the peace treaty what would happen? Would they ret...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1exf8g/would_countries_give_back_territories_lost_in_war/
{ "a_id": [ "ca4tuo9" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "During the War of the Austrian Succession the British colonists captured the town of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia in 1745. When the war was over the British traded Louisbourg back to the French for lands the French had captured elsewhere. The colonist...
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[]
[ [] ]
2jlvnn
AMA - Medieval Witchcraft, Heresy, and Inquisition
Welcome inquisitors! I'm [idjet](_URL_1_) and although I've participated in a few medieval AMAs (and controversial [threads](_URL_0_)) in the last year, this is my first AMA about subjects closest to me: medieval heretics, witchcraft and early inquisition. A little over a year ago I quit my job in North America, sold...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2jlvnn/ama_medieval_witchcraft_heresy_and_inquisition/
{ "a_id": [ "clcwrkl", "clcwrno", "clcwvr1", "clcx5i1", "clcxpni", "clcyi7x", "clcyqmd", "clcytlw", "clcz3aa", "clczcds", "clczxk5", "cld2n17", "cld38bp", "cld41g6", "cld46gi", "cld5q87", "cld78nb", "cld7sdd", "cld7z92", "cld8bh3", "c...
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[ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1xwqqf/high_and_late_medieval_europe_10001450/cffa9i0", "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/profiles/idjet" ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.amazon.com/Heresy-Making-European-Culture-Perspectives/dp/1472411811/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413657607&sr=8-1&keywords=Heresy+and+the+Making+of+European+Culture" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://b...
md2go
fragmentation/defragmentation
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/md2go/eli5_fragmentationdefragmentation/
{ "a_id": [ "c2zxqcz", "c2zxs7d", "c2zxqcz", "c2zxs7d" ], "score": [ 24, 4, 24, 4 ], "text": [ "ELI5 version:\n\nYour hard drive is like a warehouse. There's stuff going into it and leaving it all the time. The guys in the front office keep track of what spaces are open, ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
1ua75a
How come liquid oxygen is magnetic where as liquid nitrogen isn't?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1ua75a/how_come_liquid_oxygen_is_magnetic_where_as/
{ "a_id": [ "ceg597m" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "An oxygen oxygen bond has two unpaired electrons. Unpaired electrons are responsible for magnetism. A nitrogen nitrogen bond has no unpaired electrons (because the two electrons that are unpaired in oxygen oxygen don't exist in nitrogen nitrogen)...
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[ [] ]
8908hf
how does a numbing agent block pain but not pressure?
I did a quick search of this sub to try and find an answer but all I could find were posts about limbs going numb from lack of circulation. When someone gives you a shot of a localized numbing agent, why can you still feel pressure in that area but not any pain? Edit: r/todayilearned that there are many different ty...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8908hf/eli5_how_does_a_numbing_agent_block_pain_but_not/
{ "a_id": [ "dwog9ee", "dwoiehl", "dwoki2s", "dwop09i", "dwpakop" ], "score": [ 18, 3, 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Because the nerves responsible for pain are different than the ones that feels pressure. A numbing agent basically makes it so that the nerves responsible fo...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
2l9b1w
Are there any good books or other literary sources on the history of the CIA Special Activities Division?
All I have been able to find is Wikipedia and a few web-sites but I have no idea how accurate this information is. Are there any good books out there worth reading?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2l9b1w/are_there_any_good_books_or_other_literary/
{ "a_id": [ "clsnaq7", "clsqmz4", "clsvjn8" ], "score": [ 5, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "There's a slightly surprising dearth of good history of the CIA in general, partly because it's a relatively young intelligence agency, but also because the Agency is very cagey about its archives. And,...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/970488.Legacy_of_Ashes" ], [], [] ]
70h0de
what is the kind of skill required to be an f1 driver? what really makes the greats like senna, lauda and others?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/70h0de/eli5_what_is_the_kind_of_skill_required_to_be_an/
{ "a_id": [ "dn31s5x", "dn39kdw", "dn3b4wh", "dn3gbza" ], "score": [ 4, 8, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Lauda and Senna were two different styles but they had a huge technical skill. As a driver you need physical fitness on one side. The other side you need to understand exactly what...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
tmvxj
Using a Bomb Calorimeter on Food
To my understanding, a bomb calorimeter will provide you with the amount of energy contained in a substance when it combusts it. It's challenging getting proper caloric content for home-made foods at times, so would it be possible to take a smaller, representative portion of something like calzone and combust that to f...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/tmvxj/using_a_bomb_calorimeter_on_food/
{ "a_id": [ "c4o05uu", "c4o14oo" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "You mean that, if you want to calculate the energy content of the food, you make a smaller dish with the same proportions for the bomb calorimeter and just scale it up? Yes, it would work, however a bomb calorimeter isn't ex...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
8qoifm
What evidence actually exists to support the theory of the unconscious mind as postulated by Freud and Jung?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/8qoifm/what_evidence_actually_exists_to_support_the/
{ "a_id": [ "e0m3jtx" ], "score": [ 17 ], "text": [ "Unfortunately, Freud and Jung both postulated an unconscious mind that is by definition inaccessible and buried behind layers that obscure its action. Freud and Jung laid out no scientific criteria to confirm their hypotheses, and as such, it is...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2npcws
why is it that when i sleep in, i feel like i have not slept at all?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2npcws/eli5_why_is_it_that_when_i_sleep_in_i_feel_like_i/
{ "a_id": [ "cmfmk1u", "cmfmt04" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "I honestly feel like this gets asked every week on ELI5. Jesus.", "Guilt.\n\nActually, your varying your sleep cycle too much from the usual, throwing off your cycle.\n\n\n_URL_0_\n\n" ] }
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm" ] ]
bct435
why are names of molecules and such in chemistry so long and convoluted?
For example, riboflavin, or vitamin B2, is also known in chemistry as 7,8-Dimethyl-10-[(2S,3S,4R)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypentyl]benzo[g]pteridine-2,4-dione. Why are the names so complicated?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bct435/eli5_why_are_names_of_molecules_and_such_in/
{ "a_id": [ "ekt78r1", "ekt7k3p", "ekt86al" ], "score": [ 11, 7, 21 ], "text": [ "Because there are millions and millions of possible molecules. It takes a lot of details to describe a complex one.\n\nSimple ones have shorter names: *carbon monoxide*", "the complex name is a sy...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Riboflavin.svg/1048px-Riboflavin.svg.png" ] ]
e7koc4
why are washing machines usually smaller than dryers? (have way less space for clothes in them)
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/e7koc4/eli5_why_are_washing_machines_usually_smaller/
{ "a_id": [ "fa0ki9b", "fa1exoc", "fa1o3tp" ], "score": [ 39, 3, 4 ], "text": [ "Dryers need to tumble the clothes apart from each other more. Washing machines can have clothes very close to each other. They rub against each their helping to clean each other with friction. \n\nDrye...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
2rnaau
Watching the Obama press conference, he states "...France is one of our oldest allies..." Who would actually be our OLDEST ally?
Just as the title asks. Who is our oldest ally? My assumption would be France. Didn't they help us during the war of independence? Thank you in advance.
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2rnaau/watching_the_obama_press_conference_he_states/
{ "a_id": [ "cnhfh82" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Correct, though the Dutch and Spain could claim the title as they worked with the French to supply the revolutionaries. However they were also more focused on the other wars the revolution kicked off in Europe and India almost to the point you ca...
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[ [] ]
2gtyrx
the process of making butter involves over whipping heavy cream then straining the solids (butter) from liquids (buttermilk). so why is it ok to leave butter out at room temperature for days whereas buttermilk and cream would spoil?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2gtyrx/eli5_the_process_of_making_butter_involves_over/
{ "a_id": [ "ckmip7d" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Butter's not a good environment for most germs, because it has very little sugar and moisture. Milk (and most unfermented liquid dairy products) has two big strikes against it: it's got a bunch of sugar (lactose, mainly) and protein in it, which ...
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[]
[ [] ]
aionyr
what is different about a good student instrument and a pro level instrument?
Please be specific about the steps in manufacture that go into a very high level instrument that would not be found in a good student instrument. I know with a violin or guitar there is a huge difference in sound, but what would I see about a pro level instrument? Is it all in the ear? EG this one sounds good so c...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aionyr/eli5_what_is_different_about_a_good_student/
{ "a_id": [ "eep9qm4", "eepajir", "eepjatr" ], "score": [ 4, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "A Professional quality instrument will have better quality materials and be finished/constructed to a higher standard. That's about it.", "Just like with any precision instrument (think cars, watche...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
8zvuhn
why can't we recycle the stuff that's sent to landfill?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8zvuhn/eli5_why_cant_we_recycle_the_stuff_thats_sent_to/
{ "a_id": [ "e2lr0pt", "e2lru4i", "e2ls739", "e2ls939" ], "score": [ 30, 3, 9, 12 ], "text": [ "There are two reasons, both of which are applicable in many cases:\n\n1) Things that are mixed together are more expensive to take apart. Aluminum cans are easy to recycle becau...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
2wy9ad
Is it possible to ignite Saturn, and if so how would you go about doing it?
Since Saturn is primarily made of helium, would there be a way of lighting it all in fire, essentially creating a second sun in the solar system? And if you could, how would you go about doing it?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2wy9ad/is_it_possible_to_ignite_saturn_and_if_so_how/
{ "a_id": [ "covbpa1" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "No.\n\nSaturn is primarily hydrogen, only a minority of its material is helium. Helium is not flammable. The chemical process of combustion does not occur in the Sun; the Sun is powered by nuclear fusion, in which hydrogen atoms merge to form hel...
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[]
[ [] ]
1oyurp
why is it when people see an incredibly cute baby one of the reactions is to 'eat' the baby? or bite at it?
Just something I've noticed amongst various cultures and people.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1oyurp/eli5_why_is_it_when_people_see_an_incredibly_cute/
{ "a_id": [ "ccx03z5", "ccx0l0m" ], "score": [ 2, 4 ], "text": [ "I feel the same way with cats, because they're so cute I need them inside of me ", "_URL_0_\n\nTake a read of the article above.\n\nTo put it basically it is because the smell of the baby activates the same receptors of ...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.medicaldaily.com/why-do-people-want-eat-cute-babies-scientists-say-its-their-smell-257806" ] ]
of86b
How small would a planetary body need to be in order for the curvature to be drastically obvious to a human on the surface?
I realize an exact answer cannot be given since everyone will have a different definition for "drastically obvious", but I'm just looking for a general range. For instance, we can see evidence of Earth's curvature when ships sail far out to sea and disappear below the horizon. Did humans on the moon (or perhaps Mars) ...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/of86b/how_small_would_a_planetary_body_need_to_be_in/
{ "a_id": [ "c3gr5z4" ], "score": [ 10 ], "text": [ "Your question has a slight problem: what is \"drastically obvious\"? This very subjective.\n\nTo answer your question: it depends. The curvature of a planetary body will be discernible when the angle where you see the horizon exceeds a certain a...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/GF/explain/atmos_refr/dip.html" ] ]
cmo33g
what is a freehold tenancy?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cmo33g/eli5_what_is_a_freehold_tenancy/
{ "a_id": [ "ew3k5pr" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "In English law it refers to owning land rather than leasing it. Lots of property in England is owned by large landholders and leased long term (99 year leases etc). Freehold is land purchased outright (to the extent possible under the law)." ] ...
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[ [] ]
154i01
What are the metabolic risk factors involved in the progression Alzheimer's Disease?
*of AD
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/154i01/what_are_the_metabolic_risk_factors_involved_in/
{ "a_id": [ "c7jca65" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "[This study](_URL_0_) found, with overall poor strength of evidence: \n > Diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia in midlife, and current tobacco use were associated with increased risk of AD, and Mediterranean-type diet, folic acid intake, low or mode...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21555601" ] ]
bxg8dx
how do energy companies safely obtain radioactive material for nuclear power plants?
The new HBO Chernobyl series has me pondering about this. For instance, after the unfortunate indicident of the reactor core exploding, radioactive graphite was seen exposed. Consequently, radioactive particles were emitted at an extremely dangerous level. So, how to energy companies initially obtain the radioactive m...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bxg8dx/eli5_how_do_energy_companies_safely_obtain/
{ "a_id": [ "eq69evx", "eq6a1hh", "eq6ainl", "eq6avnz", "eq6erfm" ], "score": [ 8, 3, 8, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "Uranium requires a \"critical mass\" to sustain a chain reaction. If you don't have that critical mass, you'll just have regular old radioactivity, which can ...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_cask_storage" ], [], [], [] ]
3clpnp
what happened at the new york stock exchage today and what it affects
What exactly happened at the New York Stock Exchange today, and how does it affect anything?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3clpnp/eli5_what_happened_at_the_new_york_stock_exchage/
{ "a_id": [ "cswqgrq", "cswqksy", "cswr6x2", "csx6dah" ], "score": [ 66, 3, 20, 2 ], "text": [ "To put it simply the computer system that runs the NYSE crashed and it took about 3 hours to get it back up. It's believed to be an internal technical issue that has now been re...
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[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
d4hdo1
why there is no bacteria or something can't eat the plastic waste? plastic is organic matter
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d4hdo1/eli5_why_there_is_no_bacteria_or_something_cant/
{ "a_id": [ "f0bx650", "f0c282f", "f0cae8m", "f0cbpm1" ], "score": [ 6, 4, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "[Cellulose](_URL_0_) is made of (long strings of) sugar, and is a natural \"building block\" of most plants, but it takes specialized stomachs to digest (break down) cellulose. Yo...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose" ], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideonella_sakaiensis" ], [] ]
3zv4y5
how come tim cook makes so much less then other apple execs?
Tim Cook made $10.3M last year, but most of the Senior VPs at Apple made about $25M. Source: _URL_0_
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3zv4y5/eli5how_come_tim_cook_makes_so_much_less_then/
{ "a_id": [ "cyp85ga", "cypaifu", "cyphjep" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "The board of directors aka the largest shareholders of the Apple get too decide how much to pay Tim Cook. ", "He doesn't. His actual \"How much, in total, by all sources, is Tim Cook paid\" is close...
[]
[ "http://www.macrumors.com/2016/01/06/apple-ceo-tim-cook-2015-salary/" ]
[ [], [ "http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-17/tim-cook-s-65-million-pay-is-best-deal-among-top-paid-u-s-ceos" ], [ "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/162" ] ]
8f7mcj
When did Hindus and Buddhists in India begin to identify themselves as separate from each other?
It is a fact that Hinduism and Buddhism have never been and still are not separate from each other in South Asia, but as the concept of Hinduism is quite new, I am assuming there was a long period at which people followed the thoughts and teachings of Buddha without calling themselves Buddhists. Is this true? If so, wh...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8f7mcj/when_did_hindus_and_buddhists_in_india_begin_to/
{ "a_id": [ "dy1y45p" ], "score": [ 10 ], "text": [ "This is far more rooted in culture than history, i.e. the common south Asian culture shared in the Dharmic religions (what we can loosely group together into Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism) is IMO more important to understanding what actually d...
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[ [] ]
48pk7f
how do ip bans work on games, forums etc if your ip changes daily?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/48pk7f/eli5_how_do_ip_bans_work_on_games_forums_etc_if/
{ "a_id": [ "d0lh88w" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Well, most broadband connections don't quite have a static IP, but the IP doesn't change that frequently either. Maybe not for weeks or months. If your IP is changing every day, then an IP ban doesn't work. \n\nThey could do a partial IP ban. For...
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[ [] ]
1t7wgn
how can a space craft (in space) redirect itself without an atmosphere to push against?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1t7wgn/eli5how_can_a_space_craft_in_space_redirect/
{ "a_id": [ "ce58m57", "ce58mju", "ce58nes", "ce5egg4" ], "score": [ 2, 15, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.\n\nYou send a force in one direction (exhaust) and it pushes you in the other.", "Rockets do not work by pushing agai...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
205yzj
why is "globalization" liked by most people? or does the media just want us to think most people like "globalization"?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/205yzj/eli5_why_is_globalization_liked_by_most_people_or/
{ "a_id": [ "cg0315r", "cg03dgg" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Globalization has resulted in hundreds of millions of people being lifted out of poverty in the past few decades. At a basic level, you could view globalization as the gains of modern civilization and the modern economy bein...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2oru4a
How did the London Stock Exchange function in its earliest days? How did people trade in stocks in the 1600s/1700s?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2oru4a/how_did_the_london_stock_exchange_function_in_its/
{ "a_id": [ "cmpwe89" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Early stock trading was more like investment that what we think of today. Lacking any official location investors would meet in the collection of coffee houses along \"Exchange Alley\" to meet with people offering stock. With no structure, regula...
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[ [] ]
5yyv8p
what gives us the legal, social and ethical rights to dig up, claim ownership, and display mummies and other ancient humans?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5yyv8p/eli5_what_gives_us_the_legal_social_and_ethical/
{ "a_id": [ "detxxbd", "deu1x06" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "About 1000 years has to pass before it is currently considered culturally acceptable to dig up graves just to have a look, and potentially display bodies.\n\n\nTaking headstones and other identifiers away is a FAR shorter p...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
22lr35
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. British- Israeli relations + Sadat motives in the 1970s?
So i've been doing a bit of reading for my thesis. and i have a few questions on the early-mid stage of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict .. 1960s What exactly was the British stand towards Israel? They seem to have support the partition yet they then impose control on number of Jews Immigrant as well as saying things l...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/22lr35/israelipalestinian_conflict_british_israeli/
{ "a_id": [ "cgo16c4" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "You're talking about Jewish paramilitary activity in Palestine as though it were one, unified group. It wasn't.\n\nThere were huge splits over strategy between the Hagannah and the Irgun. The Irgun wanted all of their demands, in full, immediatel...
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[]
[ [] ]
94ysqa
why is the achilles' tendon so infamous for injuries?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/94ysqa/eli5_why_is_the_achilles_tendon_so_infamous_for/
{ "a_id": [ "e3os7nu", "e3ot4o0" ], "score": [ 2, 7 ], "text": [ "It's a story from Greek Mythology. \n\nAchilles was a great warrior who was dipped in a river as a child making him either invincible or very very strong (not exactly sure which one). However when he was dipped in the river ...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
3supsc
how do shows that expose drug trafficking in prisons protect the dealers they film.
Shows like Drugs Inc on Nat Geo for example, like how do guards look the other way while dealers are showing how they smuggle drugs in front of a film crew? Some people wear masks and others allow their faces to be completely seen.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3supsc/eli5_how_do_shows_that_expose_drug_trafficking_in/
{ "a_id": [ "cx0r8xs" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Some things are very real and the people being interrogated, whether they are a dealer or a witness, may be unaware of the consequences of revealing their identity. Also the interrogation of suspects is spotlighted in each episode and several sho...
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[]
[ [] ]
15ipcb
Is there any scientific merit behind the term "Heartbroken"?
Can emotional trauma cause actual reactionary pain in the heart?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/15ipcb/is_there_any_scientific_merit_behind_the_term/
{ "a_id": [ "c7msp16" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Yes, it's called [Takotsubo cardiomyopathy](_URL_0_), where emotional stress causes weakening of the muscles of the heart and can lead to heart failure.\n\nI have a colleague that published a number of case reports on this phenomenon." ] }
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takotsubo_cardiomyopathy" ] ]
99h6mg
what about watching or hearing another person throw up—or even pretend to throw up—makes someone have to throw up worse?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/99h6mg/eli5_what_about_watching_or_hearing_another/
{ "a_id": [ "e4nm9a7" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "I remember reading somewhere it's a biological indicator. Essentially when you see or hear someone else do it that triggers your body to try to flush out potential toxins. Basically your body thinks the other person ate or drank something bad so ...
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[]
[ [] ]
s02db
If you let water sit, with no outside forces acting upon it, would it eventually become perfectly flat?
Lets say if scientists invented a room that made every type of force (wind, earthquakes, etc), and they put a bowl of water in the middle of the room. Since there are no forces acting upon it, would it eventually become perfectly flat?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/s02db/if_you_let_water_sit_with_no_outside_forces/
{ "a_id": [ "c4a05f8", "c4a0aun", "c4a0e1v" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Actually, it would be very slightly rounded, due to the non-planarity of the earth.", "There would also be interactions between water and the sides of the bowl, probably moving the edge of the water...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
y50zz
Where on earth is the difference between highest and lowest temperature largest, and why?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/y50zz/where_on_earth_is_the_difference_between_highest/
{ "a_id": [ "c5sel5b", "c5sello", "c5seq2m", "c5seukw", "c5sfsgp", "c5si7oy" ], "score": [ 6, 2, 4, 12, 5, 2 ], "text": [ "Almost certainly on the surface, in a lab. Laboratories have succeeded in creating the [coldest known points](_URL_1_) in space (around...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://news.discovery.com/space/rhic-holds-guinness-record-for-hottest-man-made-temperature-120626.html", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowest_temperature_recorded_on_Earth" ], [ "http://montanakids.com/facts_and_figures/climate/Temperature_Extremes.htm" ], [ "http://www.wolframalpha.com/...
et2ht4
why is a triangle always 180 degrees?
I’m trying to relearn GEO for an upcoming assessment, and need to explain with things such as “Interior Angles Theorem” and etc. If anyone could shed some light on this, that’d be great!
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/et2ht4/eli5_why_is_a_triangle_always_180_degrees/
{ "a_id": [ "ffdr2m8", "ffduyj1", "ffdw9ba" ], "score": [ 4, 12, 4 ], "text": [ "This is actually something you can prove using one of the five assumptions of euclidean geometry. If you have a triangle then one of the lines is the line from the fifth postulate ( _URL_0_ ), and the ...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnW5IRvgvLY" ], [], [] ]
1x3gxg
why is the drug culture amongst hollywood rock/movie stars so prevalalenty? what about that industry makes drugs so alluring, and sometimes, fatal?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1x3gxg/eli5_why_is_the_drug_culture_amongst_hollywood/
{ "a_id": [ "cf7r6fv", "cf7u3dy" ], "score": [ 2, 3 ], "text": [ "There's nothing special going on here except that the media lets us know that there are a lot of stars using drugs and alcohol. The truth is that there are a lot of people who aren't stars who are doing the exact same thing....
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
nbjw2
what is behind NSAID addiction? if such a thing exists
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/nbjw2/what_is_behind_nsaid_addiction_if_such_a_thing/
{ "a_id": [ "c37sngk", "c37sngk" ], "score": [ 7, 7 ], "text": [ "The first thing that you need to do is define addiction and dependence. Dependence is generally defined as the physical need of the body for a substance in order to perform properly. Addiction encompasses dependence and adds...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
13rl1c
How do some fabrics "keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter?" Or, is this just an advertising gimmick?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/13rl1c/how_do_some_fabrics_keep_you_cool_in_the_summer/
{ "a_id": [ "c76nr66", "c76nw9k", "c76nwt7", "c76o12k", "c76o8kj", "c76phss" ], "score": [ 18, 4, 6, 4, 6, 2 ], "text": [ "As this is a very specific question, and relies largely on which product you are talking about, could you provide a link to a specific ...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/hiking/wool-when-wet2.htm" ], [ "http://www.bogsfootwear.ca/shop/technology.html" ], [], [ "http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/centers/jsc/spinoff/PhaseChange.html", "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S135943110200...
r7sni
how smartphones connect to the web
My phone automatically connects to the internet to check email, or whenever I want to browse the internet. How does it do it? Does it just automatically connect to the nearest wifi?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/r7sni/eli5_how_smartphones_connect_to_the_web/
{ "a_id": [ "c43mt9u", "c43ptah" ], "score": [ 8, 2 ], "text": [ "I started to answer this, but my answer was so full of technical jargon that I couldnt possibly expect the average american to understand, let alone a five year old.\n\nTo sum up what I was about to say, your handheld comput...
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[ [], [] ]
2cfnam
In the English language, we have consonants and vowels. How did we decide which sounds are vowels and which are consonants?
Is it completely arbitrary or is there some sort of criteria?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2cfnam/in_the_english_language_we_have_consonants_and/
{ "a_id": [ "cjezomo" ], "score": [ 16 ], "text": [ "Vowel sounds are made without constricting the air flow (which is why they can be produced alone). With consonants you constrict or cut off the airflow (generally with your tongue, lips, and teeth) to produce the sound. That's why consonants c...
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49qlnr
How much of the Magyar DNA do modern Hungarians have?
Modern Hungarian is a Uralic language, and the Magyars are the Hungarian people. This said, they seem to have a Turkic aristocracy in pagan days. They intermarried with peoples they conquered before and after they settled in Hungary. As with any nation of that era, they had slaves, and presumably assimilated such sl...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/49qlnr/how_much_of_the_magyar_dna_do_modern_hungarians/
{ "a_id": [ "d0u4aev" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Hi, questions on DNA analysis are worth x-posting to the geneticists over in /r/AskScience" ] }
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[ [] ]
3az27n
what is happening when i put a coin into a vending machine and it instantly falls into the change holder?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3az27n/eli5_what_is_happening_when_i_put_a_coin_into_a/
{ "a_id": [ "csh9j27", "csh9n6p", "cshcvxa" ], "score": [ 2, 4, 23 ], "text": [ "Each coin has a magnetic signature. When the signature isn't quite correct the machine detects it as not a coin. It's only when it detects a coin that it triggers the deposit action.", "Either the ...
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[ [], [], [] ]
1x6sug
[Biology] If our cells are always dying and being replaced by new cells, then why do we have things like liver disease?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1x6sug/biology_if_our_cells_are_always_dying_and_being/
{ "a_id": [ "cf8nwuf" ], "score": [ 13 ], "text": [ "2nd year med student here\n\nLiver disease is a good example because it is an organ with good regenerative abilities (compared to other organs, for example your heart and nerves which are quite bad)\n\nYou can replace liver cells with new cells,...
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[ [ "http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/185856-overview" ] ]
al5o97
American intellectual property theft in the 19th century
I came across an interesting article today which draw parallels between the rise of the 19th century American economic juggernaut and China in the modern day (_URL_0_) The article focuses primarily on the finished cotton textiles industry, claiming that propionate to GDP, the British industry was “three times the size...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/al5o97/american_intellectual_property_theft_in_the_19th/
{ "a_id": [ "efdre9w" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Not to discourage other replies but you may be interested in comments on [this earlier post](_URL_0_) about American capitalism and intellectual property rights in the 19th century, including comments by u/Bacarruda, u/Bodark43 and myself, which ...
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[ "https://foreignpolicy.com/2012/12/06/we-were-pirates-too/amp/" ]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/a7ojob/is_the_claim_that_american_capitalism_was_built/" ] ]
1bpl5r
Crosspost from /r/stopsmoking: Can anyone explain the effect of smoking on telomere length & aging?
Thought this as a topic might be interesting for people trying to stop smoking, but I'd struggle to articulate it correctly - also I'm not a scientist so anything I write about it could be very wrong! Can someone give it a shot? _URL_0_
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1bpl5r/crosspost_from_rstopsmoking_can_anyone_explain/
{ "a_id": [ "c98tqch" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "I recently was at a seminar on aging and the professor speaking stressed that we do not understand aging in a quantitative manner. The theory involving telomeres is that each time a cell divides the telomere (end of a chromosome)is shortened and...
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[ "http://redd.it/1bpjmp" ]
[ [] ]
gcevb
Why are there fields in quantum mechanics?
ok, this is supposed to be a follow up question from what i just learned [here](_URL_0_) but since its entirely different question, i thought i'd start a new topic. So, I always thought quantum theory "quantizes" things. Like a quanta of light is a particle called photon, and likewise everything is quantized to parti...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/gcevb/why_are_there_fields_in_quantum_mechanics/
{ "a_id": [ "c1mjf20" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "*\"Quantum field theory arose out of our need to describe the ephemeral nature of life.\"*\n\nSo quoth the great Anthony Zee in his [monumental tome on QFT](_URL_1_).\n\nResorting to fields is an elegant way (that works) of explaining creation an...
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[ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/gce1r/how_do_you_visualize_a_photon_of_radio_frequency/" ]
[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/Physics/comments/bfm17/askphysics_do_we_know_or_have_a_good_guess_of/c0mis3z", "http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Field-Theory-Nutshell-Zee/dp/0691010196" ] ]
224doy
halo's plot
I think I understand the following: The Halos were built to wipe out the flood (all living things) so they don't take over the universe. This was kind of like going scorched earth. The covenant came to worship the Halos. Then I get kinda lost. I've read wikipedia's summary a few times and just never got it. I've...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/224doy/eli5_halos_plot/
{ "a_id": [ "cgj7v84", "cgjawx0" ], "score": [ 3, 40 ], "text": [ "_URL_0_\n\nSomeone explained it perfectly here. Marking explained.", "This is a very, very simplified overview of the story so far:\n\nTens (hundreds?) of thousands of years ago the galaxy was ruled by a species called...
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[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/za5a9/eli5_plot_summary_of_all_the_halo_gamesjust_the/" ], [ "http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Technological_Achievement_Tiers" ] ]
381b7o
what are composers doing when they wave their hands around all over the place?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/381b7o/eli5_what_are_composers_doing_when_they_wave/
{ "a_id": [ "crrhq16" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "You mean conductors? They are giving cues to to the various sections of the orchestra about the exact timing of when to play their pieces, how loudly, how softly, etc." ] }
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2wl6fz
(in the uk) why do we not need a tv license to watch tv shows on iplayer?
Why is it that we don't need a TV license to watch BBC shows on iPlayer an hour or so after they have aired? I don't really get the point. Also, why is it that you are allowed to watch TV on iPlayer live if your laptop isn't connected to the mains? I just don't understand the logic behind this at all.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2wl6fz/eli5_in_the_uk_why_do_we_not_need_a_tv_license_to/
{ "a_id": [ "corvvtg", "corw9uu" ], "score": [ 3, 5 ], "text": [ "1) If you are watching any shows live without a TV License, then that's illegal.\n\n2) TV Licensing laws are to watch live things, or TV that you have recorded on a TiVo, or a Sky+ box. Uploading your shows to be watched \"O...
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[ [], [] ]
12q0y5
what is protein(whey) made of/from?
Do they like pulverize meat or what?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/12q0y5/eli5_what_is_proteinwhey_made_offrom/
{ "a_id": [ "c6x71jj", "c6xa5xg" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Whey protein is extracted from milk, usually as a leftover from cheese making. It's then dried out and powdered to add protein to supplement powders. ", "Whey is what is left over after acid or an enzyme was used to proc...
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[ [], [] ]
7iang2
When charging a battery, what is the best time to charge the battery to ensure total battery longevity?
I know batteries are fairly simple chemical reactions with the charged atoms moving from one side to the other, and that as batteries age, they lose their ability to retain charge, but I was wondering if there was an ideal time to charge batteries (say at maybe 10% or 12% or 20% of life left,) or is there something els...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/7iang2/when_charging_a_battery_what_is_the_best_time_to/
{ "a_id": [ "dqxh8ua", "dqxumps", "dqyd4pa" ], "score": [ 7, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Batteries are actually pretty complicated, as a whole. Some types of batteries are simple in theory but there are many types and they all behave somewhat differently. For instance a lead-acid battery (l...
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[ [], [], [] ]
4fb6zz
how does the gpa system in us schools work?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4fb6zz/eli5how_does_the_gpa_system_in_us_schools_work/
{ "a_id": [ "d27cu19" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Some schools do it differently, but most are on a 4.0 scale (5.0 being the highest you can get on a 4.0 scale). In your classes, you get a letter grade: A, B, C, D, & F, those grades equal a GPA number. Now, many high schools, like mine, did aw...
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2vv18n
What exactly happens when white blood cells attack things in our body? What are they doing?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2vv18n/what_exactly_happens_when_white_blood_cells/
{ "a_id": [ "coldiv4", "colew45", "colh7x3" ], "score": [ 5, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "This is a pretty complex question actually and I try to keep the answer short and simple.\n\nThere is a large variety of different white blood cells that do different things with pathogens (stuff that \...
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[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogen-associated_molecular_pattern", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_recognition_receptor", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listeria_monocytogenes", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrophage", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysosome", "http://en.wik...
wowt9
Do left handed people die sooner?
I've seen in a few places that left handed people die sooner than right handed people and I was wondering if there is any truth to this. Can anyone help a lefty out?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/wowt9/do_left_handed_people_die_sooner/
{ "a_id": [ "c5f6dt5", "c5f9obl" ], "score": [ 6, 2 ], "text": [ "Well, there might be some truth in it, the cause being a higher rate of accidents happening in daily usage of things that are designed to be operated with the right hand (e.g. knives, scissors, etc). Here are some scientific...
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[ [ "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2006231", "http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/35320/35323/1419241.html?d=dmtHMSContent" ], [ "http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4310" ] ]
20vasl
how exactly does front windshield defrosters work?
Besides just evening out the temperatures on each side of the pane of glass.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20vasl/eli5_how_exactly_does_front_windshield_defrosters/
{ "a_id": [ "cg72g3s" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "The basic principle is that the air conditioning system removes moisture from the air inside of your vehicle. Said system is removing moisture from the interior of your windshield. Just try defrosting without a functioning air conditioning syst...
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12e9so
Why do suspension bridges need to be so tall?
I was travelling over [this](_URL_0_) the other day and wondered if there's a particular reason the central 'towers' need to be hundereds of feet tall.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/12e9so/why_do_suspension_bridges_need_to_be_so_tall/
{ "a_id": [ "c6ubybk", "c6uchxp", "c6ud2kv", "c6ufaj1" ], "score": [ 11, 2, 2, 4 ], "text": [ "So, for a suspension bridge it basically works like this:\n\n1. Towers support the long cable that spans between them and the anchors at the start and end of the bridge.\n\n2. Tha...
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[ "http://i.imgur.com/9xXav.jpg" ]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenary" ], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Bridge_%28London%29" ], [ "http://modelingphysics.org/freeparticle/problem7pix.gif" ], [ "http://cnx.org/content/m42075/latest/?collection=col11406/latest" ] ]
2dr8fv
When did pizza become fairly standardized in terms of toppings?
When did common pizza toppings (pepperoni, ham, etc.) become fairly standardized? What led to picking them as toppings, as opposed to other similar items (for example, salami is not a common pizza topping, but pepperoni is)? For that matter, when did pizza become a popular takeout food in the United States, to such an...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2dr8fv/when_did_pizza_become_fairly_standardized_in/
{ "a_id": [ "cjsfqjh", "cjsjudc" ], "score": [ 112, 39 ], "text": [ "Now, I can't answer all of your questions, but I can say that pizza was a relatively new food in the 1950's, at least outside of Italian ethnic enclaves, and only really becoming ubiquitous in the 1960's and 70's. My fav...
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[ [ "http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Pizza/PizzaHistory.htm", "http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2011/07/a-brief-history-of-the-pizza-box.html", "http://my50syear.blogspot.com/2011/07/25-july-1957-pizza-1950s-way.html", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovnb9aVrqZs", "http://www.nytimes....
4u7txs
what do countries exactly do when they devalue their currency?
I have a basic idea of how it works, but I'd like to know the exact steps that governments take and events that lead up to the devaluation.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4u7txs/eli5_what_do_countries_exactly_do_when_they/
{ "a_id": [ "d5njno6", "d5njvg0", "d5nktbq", "d5nm8o6", "d5np8vz", "d5nquhv", "d5nrugv", "d5nrz1y", "d5nsdkb", "d5ntkfv", "d5ntuzy", "d5nuaju", "d5nufui", "d5nuyc3", "d5o022h", "d5o1o0v", "d5o3gx1", "d5o3p69", "d5o45cv", "d5o6cv6", "d...
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[]
[ [], [ "http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/01/economist-explains-13" ], [], [ "http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/11/start_the_presses.html" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ...
1a6mdc
What led Egypt and the Ottoman Empire to rely on castes of warrior-slaves?
This might be little broad and their are probably some fundamental flaws in my assertion. I was wondering why Egypt and the Ottoman empire respectively relied on the Mamlukes and the Janissaries as the backbone of their military; I know the Mamlukes levied their power to form their own sultanate, and that the Janissar...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1a6mdc/what_led_egypt_and_the_ottoman_empire_to_rely_on/
{ "a_id": [ "c8uk1wp" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "I can't answer for Egypt, but for the Ottomans it was their way of ethically (at least in their eyes) dealing with conquered peoples. As many conquered heathens were young boys, they would give them prestigious government schooling, and they woul...
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qejnq
If I moved from Seattle to Boston, would I be exposed to a different set of common cold viruses and therefore get sick more often?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/qejnq/if_i_moved_from_seattle_to_boston_would_i_be/
{ "a_id": [ "c3wzcvt", "c3wzdff", "c3x3u0j" ], "score": [ 4, 27, 2 ], "text": [ "In the UK we have a phenomenon called 'Fresher's flu'. It's basically the idea that at the start of a university semester, freshers coming from all over the country are sharing germs and all make each ...
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[ [], [ "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2600308/?tool=pmcentrez" ], [ "http://www.sciencemag.org/content/320/5874/340.short", "http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1000566" ] ]
9mc3bx
Why does Uranus look more uniform and less streaky than Neptune when they have similar atmospheric compositions?
Uranus looks way more uniform than Neptune, and it's also a lighter shade of blue. If they have very similar atmospheric compositions, mustn't their appearances be nearly the same?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/9mc3bx/why_does_uranus_look_more_uniform_and_less/
{ "a_id": [ "e7ds7lt" ], "score": [ 40 ], "text": [ "For some reason - it's not totally clear why - Uranus produces less internal heat than Neptune. The heat sources cause Neptune's clouds to billow up and create interesting structures, while Uranus is more uniform.\n\nAdditionally, very small dif...
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9ccba0
how are solids and liquids separated during the digestion process and how come stomach acid doesn’t damage the intestines?
How is solid food routed into the intestines for nutrient absorption while water enters the kidneys/bladder. Also, how is stomach acid prevented from entering the intestines and kidneys? I know the stomach has a protective lining, do the intestines have the same thing? Does water entering the stomach dilute stomach a...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9ccba0/eli5_how_are_solids_and_liquids_separated_during/
{ "a_id": [ "e59lpqr", "e59odty", "e5a2qni" ], "score": [ 20, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Water doesn't enter the kidneys.\n\nEverything that enters your mouth goes into the small intestine. The small intestine has little \"fingers\" that stick up and absorb water and nutrients into the bl...
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[ [], [], [] ]
50cto1
why not do a controlled release of pressure from a volcano/caldera vs waiting for it to release on its own?
I am thinking of the caldera under yellowstone. Why not drill down and pop a hole now releasing some pressure vs waiting for it to wipe out a large area of the U.S. when it blows on its own? Edit: I did not add flair as it seems the answer might span a few categories.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/50cto1/eli5_why_not_do_a_controlled_release_of_pressure/
{ "a_id": [ "d72zx05" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "For one, drilling to the depths involved is a massive and difficult undertaking. I couldn't find any direct info as to how deep we would need to drill, but getting even a tiny width hole down to 40,000 feet _URL_0_ was a big undertaking.\n\nSo yo...
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[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kola_Superdeep_Borehole" ] ]
203vk1
do people die instantly in the event of a plane crashing hard in the middle of an ocean, or can passengers survive the crash but succumb to other factors (e.g hypothermia, smoke, etc).
Air France 447 and Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 are scaring the hell out of me. Wanted to know if in such an eventuality, death would be instantaneous or would involve prolonged suffering.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/203vk1/eli5do_people_die_instantly_in_the_event_of_a/
{ "a_id": [ "cfzk0wm" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "It depends on the crash. If it wouldn't be survivable on the ground, it won't be survivable on the water either. But the chances are worse for survivors, as any merely knocked unconscious will likely drown and those who are floating in the ocean ...
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14mnza
why can't i run x86 applications on an arm cpu if i use the "same" os (so, e. g. debian) on both.
Let me be clear - I *do* know that different architectures have different instruction sets but I always thought, one of the major points of having the same OS on different hardware is, that I can use basically the same applications on both, so the OS acts as some kind of "translator" between CPU and application. Spec...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/14mnza/eli5_why_cant_i_run_x86_applications_on_an_arm/
{ "a_id": [ "c7egx57", "c7emixu" ], "score": [ 7, 4 ], "text": [ "The OS provides a common set of functionality and services for programs, but it doesn't usually abstract away all the differences in the underlying hardware. By choosing to write a program in a language like C++ that compi...
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[ [], [] ]
7vcmzr
How does emergency contraception (morning after pill) containing levonorgestrel work? Pre-fertilization or post-fertilization MOA?
I just saw this in an AskReddit thread where someone said that the morning after pill works to prevent ovulation and fertilization. This caught me a little off guard, so I wanted to ask about this here! I'm not in the US - I'm in South America. Although I eventually dropped out, I did go to med school for three years, ...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/7vcmzr/how_does_emergency_contraception_morning_after/
{ "a_id": [ "dtrl4xi" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "Both.\n\nPre-fertilisation: it can prevent the egg from being release or it being fertilised (by making it harder for sperm to enter the womb). \n\nPost fertilisation: it's effectively an abortive, which works by preventing the fertilised egg fro...
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[ "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5102184/" ]
[ [] ]
48zdm3
why are quadcopters suddenly a thing, it's not new tech (is it?) so is it just just good marketing or something?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/48zdm3/eli5_why_are_quadcopters_suddenly_a_thing_its_not/
{ "a_id": [ "d0nu01x", "d0nudmm", "d0nuj7x", "d0nzzqw", "d0o1owg" ], "score": [ 12, 17, 5, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Quadcopters share many components with smartphones. They have to have a large rechargeable battery, they need sensors like cameras and accelerometers, and t...
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