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5hc6c5
why aren't unidentified dead bodies matched with missing persons?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5hc6c5/eli5_why_arent_unidentified_dead_bodies_matched/
{ "a_id": [ "daz31ns", "daz5ddp" ], "score": [ 5, 2 ], "text": [ "Well they are, if they can be. The police and medical examiner will use fingerprints, DNA and dental records to match to known missing people. ", "They are but you have to realise that facial recognition etc isn't really...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
9r985j
AskScience AMA Series: Hi! I am J.R. Skok. I am a planetary scientist with the SETI Institute and a Space entrepreneur. I am working with SETI and NASA to develop future missions to search for life on Mars, AMA!
Hi! I am [J.R. Skok](_URL_2_). I am a planetary scientist with the SETI Institute and a Space entrepreneur. I am working with SETI and NASA to develop future missions to [search for life on Mars](_URL_1_), map out the minerals and geologic history of that planet while leading expeditions to Mars analogs around the worl...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/9r985j/askscience_ama_series_hi_i_am_jr_skok_i_am_a/
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[ "https://i.redd.it/vi9rdud0p0t11.jpg", "https://www.madeofmars.com/", "https://www.jrskok.com/" ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/ast.2014.1218" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
1l1bgw
the scam in the producers.
I watched this movie about 6 years ago and have felt dumb ever since. I got the jokes, I thought it was hilarious, but I don't get the scam. They scam investors out of money for a flop, but the show is a success. Don't they make more money? Don't they have to return any unused money since it flops?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1l1bgw/eli5_the_scam_in_the_producers/
{ "a_id": [ "cburba0" ], "score": [ 9 ], "text": [ "I think the idea is that they are selling \"stock\" in the play to each investor, however they are selling more than 100% of the play to multiple people. So, lets say they have 5 investors. They tell each investor that they're going to own 50% of...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
5b8puy
why can't we put co2 scrubbers on airplanes or giant floating balloons to remove greenhouse gases?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5b8puy/eli5_why_cant_we_put_co2_scrubbers_on_airplanes/
{ "a_id": [ "d9mmz45" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "In order to hold the CO2 level steady, you would need a fleet of scrubbers that can handle that same air throughput as every gasoline and diesel engine on the planet. \n\nThey would need some source of power, which would contribute it's own emiss...
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[]
[ [] ]
1tgvc9
how accurate are birth date predictions? how do doctors determine when a baby will be born?
People always say a specific day when you ask when their child is due. How accurate are these predictions? Wouldn't indicating a date range be more sensible?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1tgvc9/eli5_how_accurate_are_birth_date_predictions_how/
{ "a_id": [ "ce7sqj1", "ce7tsf3", "ce7u75p" ], "score": [ 5, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The \"due date\" is actually not a prediction of the moment the baby is going to come out. Only about 5% of all babies are born on their due date. Instead, the due date is the best estimate of how lon...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
ejczp2
how could assassination of qasem soleimani lead to ww 3?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ejczp2/eli5_how_could_assassination_of_qasem_soleimani/
{ "a_id": [ "fcwynnj", "fcwzd9e", "fcwzgi9" ], "score": [ 9, 3, 4 ], "text": [ "WW3 may be a bit of a stretch, but I think it's plain to see that assassinating a foreign military leader, (even if it had somehow been an accident or collateral damage,) is a clear act of aggression th...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
3mloeb
Why did the Soviets lose so many of their tanks even though they were considered to be superior to German tanks?
Specifically the KV and T-34s during their initial fielding before the Panzer IV was converted to engage enemy armored vehicles.
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3mloeb/why_did_the_soviets_lose_so_many_of_their_tanks/
{ "a_id": [ "cvg4t69", "cvg5o5d" ], "score": [ 119, 11 ], "text": [ "The main tactical reason for high losses to KV-1s and T-34s is simply that, during WW2, tanks were not the only thing that fought tanks. While a PzII, III or IV might struggle to destroy a KV-1 or T-34, AT guns, artillery...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://tankarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/cheating-at-statistics-part-3.html" ], [] ]
exzuoj
how do the cable guided cameras, in football games, work and move?
The cameras mounted over the field and move with the players. How does the reel system work? Is it from the camera setup, or large reels around the stadium?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/exzuoj/eli5_how_do_the_cable_guided_cameras_in_football/
{ "a_id": [ "fgej6x4" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "The wires run to motorized winches. A computer moves the camera in response to an operator joystick. The winches, with their big spool of wire, are part of the stadium." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
hdhp8
Can ADHD be compared to a state equal to an inborn drug dependence? [explained]
My girlfriend has said on occasion that, when not on MPH (Methylphenidate; "Ritalin"), I sometimes behave "like a drug addict" [sic], and she has a very hard time seeing MPH as anything else than a drug I may be addicted to in her view. I tried to argue that with ADHD, aggressive, impulsive behaviour, mood swings as we...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/hdhp8/can_adhd_be_compared_to_a_state_equal_to_an/
{ "a_id": [ "c1uk0t9", "c1uk7lp", "c1ukuat", "c1ukxch" ], "score": [ 7, 5, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Not a scientist, but you and mostly your gf aren't realizing that mood and behavior are all based on chemical processes in your brain, what people consider \"normal\" behavior is b...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
4mz1bi
the dab. where did it come from and why do kids do it?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4mz1bi/eli5_the_dab_where_did_it_come_from_and_why_do/
{ "a_id": [ "d3zesgr", "d3zgk6a", "d3zgsjn" ], "score": [ 23, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Well back in the day it was simply called hash oil, the only real difference is in preparation and packaging.\n\nthe oil that gets us high is on the surface not in the plant in the form of small glands...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWulmBUNnHk" ], [] ]
47foe6
why does it take so long for finger/toenail fungus to be cured and go away?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/47foe6/eli5_why_does_it_take_so_long_for_fingertoenail/
{ "a_id": [ "d0ct30s" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Nail beds are moist, warm, and dark. Fungi must like this. It's a very good growing medium for fungi?" ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
4951wm
Did Lenin admit that capitalism is the better system before his death?Or is this bogus?
I read this online, is it bs?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4951wm/did_lenin_admit_that_capitalism_is_the_better/
{ "a_id": [ "d0q5iz3", "d0qhd5d" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "This is one of the fun inventions of fundamentalist Christian evangelical \"history\" that's taught in homeschool courses; that he had a deathbed conversion to Capitalism and to Christianity, and said \"I've made a great err...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1922/dec/testamnt/index.htm" ], [] ]
34p9kr
I understand that electricity moves from higher potential to a lower potential. Theoretically, it shouldn't matter how the batteries are positioned, so long as there is a potential gradient. So why is it that devices don't work if I insert the batteries the wrong way?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/34p9kr/i_understand_that_electricity_moves_from_higher/
{ "a_id": [ "cqwz2zg" ], "score": [ 8 ], "text": [ "It will work for some devices, e.g. a resistor. That's not very useful except as a heater perhaps, but it \"works\".\nA light bulb should work too.\nMost \"devices\" need a specific direction of current to function properly because they were des...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1pdxbb
explain the symptoms of aspergers like i'm 5.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1pdxbb/explain_the_symptoms_of_aspergers_like_im_5/
{ "a_id": [ "cd1ct61", "cd1da9v", "cd1ezgw" ], "score": [ 5, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "Asbergers is now considered part of the autism spectrum and probably won't be diagnosed separately anymore.\n\n\n\nNot completely accurate but the character \"Sheldon\" on the TV show \"The Big Bang The...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
1muaq7
What did WW2 ("the war that changed the world") NOT change?
World War II changed many things (US-USSR relationships, formation of UN). But I'm interested to know if there are things that stayed the same. Economically, politically or otherwise.
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1muaq7/what_did_ww2_the_war_that_changed_the_world_not/
{ "a_id": [ "cccsm3f" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Well, in Britain, the war was/is frequently talked about as \"a people's war,\" where everyone came together on the home front - which is true in one sense, in that the war asked for immense contributions from individual citizens, and made little...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1or1o3
Has a nation/state/kingdom ever simply kicked out a part of its territory that was deemed not to be worth the trouble of holding on to?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1or1o3/has_a_nationstatekingdom_ever_simply_kicked_out_a/
{ "a_id": [ "ccuqf1q", "ccuqoto", "ccur1c5", "ccurgcb", "ccurhbx", "ccurp52", "ccus83b", "ccusl83", "ccusy0k", "ccut8au", "ccuu803", "ccuvyap", "ccuwwxy", "ccuyabg", "ccv01gq", "ccv0695", "ccv0k6k" ], "score": [ 381, 167, 18, 11, ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donation_of_Pepin" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bir_Tawil" ], [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Purchase" ], [], [], [], [], [ "http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1087215/index.htm", "h...
1p0qkq
why are movie dvd covers so badly photoshopped or just look bad in general?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1p0qkq/eli5_why_are_movie_dvd_covers_so_badly/
{ "a_id": [ "ccxkszz", "ccxkt4q", "ccxocl9" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "[This](_URL_0_) was just in [/r/movies](/r/movies) the other day. ", "DVDs covers (and especially Bru-Ray discs) are rather small and are meant to be sold on a shelf. So design choices made for a fi...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1oydb7/before_photoshop_there_wasdrew_struzan/" ], [], [ "http://i.imgur.com/mo7Vzzl.jpg", "http://i.imgur.com/WTTkjkA.jpg", "http://i.imgur.com/Bb2p0sF.jpg" ] ]
dptyk9
why are people in nordic countries the tallest people on average, while people from tropical equatorial countries are some of the shortest?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dptyk9/eli5_why_are_people_in_nordic_countries_the/
{ "a_id": [ "f5zl0zz", "f60674b", "f5ym7qq", "f5yn4ao", "f5ypc20" ], "score": [ 5, 2, 15, 2, 12 ], "text": [ "Nordic countries have the lowest rate of extreme poverty and malnutrition.\n\nWhile genetic variations do play some role, the biggest predictor of average h...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19085512", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergmann%27s_rule" ], [], [ "https://youtu.be/ZGXa3Oj-sGE" ] ]
4ed7ji
why are school buses and city buses shaped differently?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4ed7ji/eli5_why_are_school_buses_and_city_buses_shaped/
{ "a_id": [ "d1z2q8x", "d1z4f11", "d1z7iyq", "d1ziohe" ], "score": [ 3, 4, 7, 3 ], "text": [ "School buses have been standardized by law, as their are special laws [about what a motorists must do around school buses](_URL_0_). School buses are also bought an maintained on a...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_bus_traffic_stop_laws" ], [], [], [] ]
1o8qor
Out of all the Native American tribes, which were the most technologically advanced?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1o8qor/out_of_all_the_native_american_tribes_which_were/
{ "a_id": [ "ccpvvff" ], "score": [ 151 ], "text": [ "There are a couple issues with this question, mostly in framing - and I'm going to assume that you mean everyone in the New World, not just North American Indians.\n\nFirst, what defines your model of technological advancement? On what scale? I...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1aggse/the_native_americans_and_several_other_cultures/?sort=top", "http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=2009" ] ]
fvdes
How did you choose your scientific field to enter and why did you choose to make a career out of it? Also, what are the upsides and downsides to picking this field?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/fvdes/how_did_you_choose_your_scientific_field_to_enter/
{ "a_id": [ "c1iwfgz", "c1ixev9" ], "score": [ 2, 3 ], "text": [ "I chose astrobiology because it is no one field. I do astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. It is amazing.", "I chose chemistry because my brother already chose astrophysics and I didn't want to copy him.\...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
7tzm86
why does cheese go hard when you melt it then let it go cold?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7tzm86/eli5_why_does_cheese_go_hard_when_you_melt_it/
{ "a_id": [ "dtgg9s2" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "When you heat the cheese up past a certain point, moisture is released, which when it cools down, makes it harder as it is more dense. Water in cheese makes it softer." ] }
[]
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[ [] ]
30bm46
why do we feel cold and have to use blankets when we sleep when we've been in the same room a few hours before sleeping and not feel the need to cover up?
I always spend a few hours in the same room using my computer and not feel cold but when I go to bed I get cold without a blanket.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30bm46/eli5_why_do_we_feel_cold_and_have_to_use_blankets/
{ "a_id": [ "cpqwnnj", "cpqwohe" ], "score": [ 4, 2 ], "text": [ "It's to do with your body slowing down for sleep, your heart rate drops and less blood is moved around cooling you down. Also our bodies get used to a certain temperature for sleep, a range that comes from habit over the spa...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
2ssx40
how does a dsl phone line work in unison with my router to bring me high speed internet?
15 years ago when I started using the internet it was the same basic phone line, although it was dial up internet and no router was involved. So how is it that I'm able to get faster internet now with dsl??
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ssx40/eli5_how_does_a_dsl_phone_line_work_in_unison/
{ "a_id": [ "cnsk5t8" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Modems communicated with sound that was transmitted down phone lines the same way that voices were. The advantage is that you could communicate with a modem on the other side of the world. The disadvantage is that bandwidth was very low - you h...
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[ [] ]
292mgx
how can some buisnesses say they won't accept bills over a certain denomination?
I guess if it's your business you can do whatever the hell you want, but it's strange to think I can walk into a store and have that crisp $100 dollar bill in my wallet be completely worthless.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/292mgx/eli5_how_can_some_buisnesses_say_they_wont_accept/
{ "a_id": [ "cigtf6j", "cigtg9l", "cigtsdc", "cigtwg9", "cigxrr5", "cih7q96", "cih7t7f" ], "score": [ 4, 4, 13, 3, 8, 3, 4 ], "text": [ "It's to avoid them being taken in by counterfeit bills. IIRC, the bank does not reimburse companies, so the lower...
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[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
24g0v7
Why do we anglicize city names? Why not call cities by the same name the cities' inhabitants use?
There's a whole list of examples [here](_URL_0_). I first learned of this in my high school Spanish class and it's been around in the back of my head for many years. Just occurred to me that I might be able to ask in this sub and actually get an answer :)
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/24g0v7/why_do_we_anglicize_city_names_why_not_call/
{ "a_id": [ "ch6s5vy", "ch6svlb", "ch6udmk", "ch6ux45", "ch77bxr" ], "score": [ 54, 10, 9, 13, 3 ], "text": [ "Essentially the answer is because we don't speak the language that they do. So most names of places are attempts to represent the sound of that name in the...
[]
[ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_European_cities_in_different_languages" ]
[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/faq#wiki_language_issues" ], [], [ "http://etymonline.com/index.php?term=Paris&allowed_in_frame=0" ], [], [] ]
15x96b
My digital clock counts time too slow. How is this possible?
I have an iHome digital clock, docking station etc., and no matter how many times I correct the time or even set it ahead it somehow ends up behind again. I thought that this would be impossible for a digital clock. What's happening?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/15x96b/my_digital_clock_counts_time_too_slow_how_is_this/
{ "a_id": [ "c7qnrv3", "c7qnsfb" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "It could be any number of things - an issue in the circuitry / electronics is quite possible. Without actually studying the clock, it's not possible to say - it's certainly possible for the clock to be slow, even if it is di...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2007960/Power-grid-change-make-clocks-run-fast-mess-stop-lights-starting-month.html" ] ]
ux7ei
If you were to shrink to the size of an atom, would you be able to see other atoms in any of the states of matter?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ux7ei/if_you_were_to_shrink_to_the_size_of_an_atom/
{ "a_id": [ "c4zdi3x", "c4zeydf" ], "score": [ 8, 4 ], "text": [ "The question does not have an answer because you can't see without having photoreceptor cells, eyes, and a brain, and you can't have photoreceptor cells, eyes, and a brain at such a tiny scale. ", "If you *could* shrink ...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
1p8rb3
when i get in a car that's been in the sun all day, why does my face go numb?
I would explain the feeling like a hot-numb.... is this like a temperature shock or something?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1p8rb3/eli5_when_i_get_in_a_car_thats_been_in_the_sun/
{ "a_id": [ "cczw75x" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "I have no idea what this is. I've never experience it, although... I am certainly noting this." ] }
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[]
[ [] ]
1i4snh
What made Russia the dominant power in the Slavic world?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1i4snh/what_made_russia_the_dominant_power_in_the_slavic/
{ "a_id": [ "cb16y2h" ], "score": [ 21 ], "text": [ "It is actually a rather long and fascinating story that starts in the 6th century CE.\n\nWhile there are a [few isolated reports](_URL_13_) from earlier periods, it is generally accepted that Slavs did not arrive in the Classical world until sev...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavicized", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchy_of_Moscow", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_I_of_Bulgaria", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasion_of_Rus", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_conquest_of_Bulgaria", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wi...
35kafu
Does the ethnic/racial composition of modern Turkey differ significantly from that of the Byzantine era?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/35kafu/does_the_ethnicracial_composition_of_modern/
{ "a_id": [ "cr5bv12", "cr5c4y6" ], "score": [ 3, 8 ], "text": [ "Yes.\n\nByzantine Anatolia was mostly orthodox christian and Greek or Armenian before the battle of Manzikert 1071. After that, Turkic people started migrating to Anatolia and mixing with the local population. This is an odd...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_history_of_the_Turkish_people" ] ]
egrxyv
Why did England's population recover so slowly from the Black Death?
So I've read that after the Black Death, England's population recovered very slowly compared to other countries like France. Is there any truth to this? Anyone know why this occured?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/egrxyv/why_did_englands_population_recover_so_slowly/
{ "a_id": [ "fcdiv0i" ], "score": [ 15 ], "text": [ "The evidence for the timing and pace of recovery is actually very sparse for all concerned, even for relatively well-documented England where there's nothing much to go on between the 1377-81 poll taxes and the lay subsidy and muster rolls of th...
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[ [] ]
62yb50
If we stop using an antibiotic, would resistance to that antibiotic disappear over a few years?
Basically I'm wondering if the genes responsible for microbial resistance to specific antibiotics will disappear once there is no longer any evolutionary pressure selecting for those genes. If everyone in the world stopped using amoxicillin for a decade, would infectious bacteria drop their resistance to amoxicillin, ...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/62yb50/if_we_stop_using_an_antibiotic_would_resistance/
{ "a_id": [ "dfr4gd2", "dfrhg1k", "dfrsi1v" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "You pose a good question but the answer is no (depending on the Abx). Most of the antibiotics derive from nature - fungal and bacterial in origin - as part of the continue battle for success in nature. ...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v8/n4/full/nrmicro2319.html#t1" ], [ "http://news.yale.edu/2011/01/08/antibiotic-holiday-needs-be-long-one-combat-resistance" ] ]
d9wwyo
how can babies differentiate between good tasting food from the bad?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d9wwyo/eli5_how_can_babies_differentiate_between_good/
{ "a_id": [ "f1lv15s", "f1lvdpe", "f1m70ij" ], "score": [ 6, 6, 2 ], "text": [ "Good food is sweet, bad food is bitter. It is slightly more complex but this is generally what instincts humans are born with. You can still learn new things regarding taste such as what bitter foods ar...
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[ [], [], [] ]
3ogksf
why does the us borrow its own money from the federal reserve? why don't we just nationalize the banks?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ogksf/eli5_why_does_the_us_borrow_its_own_money_from/
{ "a_id": [ "cvwzfy5" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "When investors look for places to park their money, US treasury bonds (t-bills) are considered the safest investment possible and thus the baseline against which all other investments are compared. If interest rates on t-bills are high, then they...
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[ [] ]
3a168n
How long have exercises like push ups and sit ups been around?
Have they been prevalent around the world, or were there exercises that we no longer practice?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3a168n/how_long_have_exercises_like_push_ups_and_sit_ups/
{ "a_id": [ "cs8emfr", "cs8eu9y", "cs97cxt" ], "score": [ 463, 121, 5 ], "text": [ "Follow up: at which point in history did conscious exercise become a thing? It seems vaguely like, for quite a bit of history, people desired a life of leisure because they spent so much time worki...
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[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/18cptu/when_did_the_elite_or_people_not_under_labor/" ], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/health#wiki_did_people_in_the_past_exercise.2Fwork_out.2Flift_weights.3F" ], [] ]
21al9w
why is the malaysian airplane incident so over-covered while crimea and syria don't get as much attention?
I was just watching the Daily Show with Jon Stewart who joked and criticized the media (especially CNN) for their over-coverage of the Malaysian Airplane. The incident was such a hot topic that the newscasters started making huge outrageous theories like "black holes" and "aliens" being the culprit. I understand that t...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/21al9w/eli5_why_is_the_malaysian_airplane_incident_so/
{ "a_id": [ "cgb7yqf", "cgb823e", "cgbclw6" ], "score": [ 3, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "I'd say it's largely because a missing airplane is more interesting in sound bite form to the average person. I know that personally I was more likely to click on a link with a captivating description l...
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[ [], [], [] ]
5mqweh
how many stocks compose a company?
My question is: how many stocks does a company have altogether, including the ones owned by "ordinary" people, and how is that amount determined? Does the value of a stock depend on how many others a company has in circulation? Do all companies have the same amount of stocks?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5mqweh/eli5_how_many_stocks_compose_a_company/
{ "a_id": [ "dc5mlo9", "dc5mov7", "dc5p9pp" ], "score": [ 3, 3, 5 ], "text": [ "During the initial public offering (IPO) the company decides how to apportion shares amongst the people that own the company, and then decides much of the company to \"sell\" and releases as many shares...
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[]
[ [], [], [] ]
2buiyd
Do nervous systems themselves produce heat?
Since the nervous system is carrying electricity for signals (even if it is a minute amount in terms of amperage or voltage), it has to produce some kind of heat unless the tissue that makes up the nervous system conducts without resistance, right? If so then, if we could somehow "overclock" our brains, we could pote...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2buiyd/do_nervous_systems_themselves_produce_heat/
{ "a_id": [ "cj947uf", "cj9b0it", "cj9nggo" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The brain isn't governed by a clocking type system. Parts all work independantly and dependantly depending on what they're doing and trying to do. Everything in the body has an electrical resistance, in...
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[]
[ [], [], [] ]
3jej58
Would a Vacuum Chamber Clothes Dryer Work?
Since water boils and dissipates in a vacuum could a clothes dryer be made out of a vacuum chamber and vacuum pump? How efficient would it be compared to other methods of drying?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3jej58/would_a_vacuum_chamber_clothes_dryer_work/
{ "a_id": [ "cuoy7d8" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Yes, that will work. However, to dry clothes quickly, you probably would want to introduce a heat source.\n\nWe frequently do this in the lab - with a [dessicator](_URL_1_). You put your sample or glassware within and connect it to a vacuum pump....
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[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sublimation_(phase_transition\\)", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiccator", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_evaporator", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeze-drying#Technological_industry" ] ]
1xgm4b
Why is matter like Positronium not on the periodic table and were would it fit on the periodic table?
Positronium can combine with chloride or hydrogen to produce PsH and PsCl. Why is matter like Positronium not on the periodic table. Where would it fit on the periodic table? Why is it not on the periodic table? What are the possible applications of Positronium? How can we make Positronium last longer? Are there other...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1xgm4b/why_is_matter_like_positronium_not_on_the/
{ "a_id": [ "cfbgo1y" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "The periodic table lists elements according to their atomic number, i.e. by their number of protons. The only place to add new elements would be at the end of the list (higher numbers) or at the very beginning of the list (numbers lower than 1). ...
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[ [] ]
41mox9
if you have the heat on in just one room, will the room get warmer if you leave the door open or close it?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/41mox9/eli5_if_you_have_the_heat_on_in_just_one_room/
{ "a_id": [ "cz3jl7h" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "That depends on a lot of things, including what type of heating it is, and how the heating system is designed.\n\nMany houses built in the US today use forced air. The hot air is delivered to the room through a vent, and then it returns through a...
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[]
[ [] ]
ana2pw
Why is it that the parasite that is transferred from one human host to another through mosquitos only appear to affect the human host and not the mosquito?
Hi all, In biology class, we were learning about the parasite Plasmodium and how it is very harmful to humans. It enters the bloodstream and multiplies rapidly within a single blood cell before erupting and killing the cell from inside. I was curious as to why the same thing does not happen within the blood of the mos...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ana2pw/why_is_it_that_the_parasite_that_is_transferred/
{ "a_id": [ "efu9ci9", "efu9ln2" ], "score": [ 7, 3 ], "text": [ "Plasmodium has a complex life cycle . \\[The CDC has a pretty good graphic\\]([_URL_0_](_URL_1_)) showing how and why it will only rupture blood cells in the target organism. Plasmodium use mosquitos as a vector to move fro...
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[ [ "https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/images/graphs/life\\_cycle/Malaria\\_LifeCycle\\_1.gif", "https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/images/graphs/life_cycle/Malaria_LifeCycle_1.gif" ], [] ]
2thk74
who decided on the continents? who decided australia would be one instead of another part of asia?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2thk74/eli5_who_decided_on_the_continents_who_decided/
{ "a_id": [ "cnz4df3", "cnz4ic0", "cnz4zjd", "cnz50et", "cnz5tn0" ], "score": [ 17, 2, 7, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "No one decides. What a continent is just loosely defined and there is no official list of what is and isn't a continent.\n\n_URL_0_", "Alfred Russell Wal...
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[]
[ [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBcq1x7P34" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Line" ], [], [], [] ]
3xwohr
what does "reasonable" mean in the context of "reasonable doubt" in the us justice system?
I've found a ton of explanations via Google, but many seem to contradict each other. I've never really understood this concept.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3xwohr/eli5_what_does_reasonable_mean_in_the_context_of/
{ "a_id": [ "cy8gl3w", "cy8gq66" ], "score": [ 7, 2 ], "text": [ "There's no hard test for it, but essentially it's a doubt that a reasonable person might have. A reasonable person is a normal person of sound mind. An example would be in a murder trial a juror having a doubt because they w...
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[]
[ [], [ "http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/" ] ]
hagzc
Does it take more or energy to launch an object into orbit towards the East or West?
Specifically with reference to the effect of the rotation of the earth?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/hagzc/does_it_take_more_or_energy_to_launch_an_object/
{ "a_id": [ "c1tuii4" ], "score": [ 22 ], "text": [ "The site of the ESA's [Guiana Space Centre](_URL_0_) was selected because of its proximity to the equator. That way, the space craft gets some free extra kinetic energy from the earths rotation.\r\n\r\nSee also [here](_URL_1_):\r\n\r\n > A fina...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guiana_Space_Centre", "http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/spacecraft/q0080.shtml" ] ]
9x26tz
Why did Lincoln believe that he lacked justification for a unilateral strike on the Confederate states prior to the attack on Fort Sumter?
As far as I can tell there was no indication that the Union was planning the first strike, deciding instead to wait until after Fort Sumter had been fired upon to begin military movements. What was Lincoln's reasoning behind this rationale? The Constitution makes it very clear that secession (which the Confederates h...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/9x26tz/why_did_lincoln_believe_that_he_lacked/
{ "a_id": [ "e9p26ll" ], "score": [ 61 ], "text": [ "The short answer: political and practical concerns. The Civil War was a highly politicized war, and forcibly relieving Fort Sumter (the only reasonable military action to take at the time) would have had harsh political consequences, including p...
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[ [] ]
48etpi
why do people start to appreciate wine as they get older? is it because their palates change, or are there other societal and life experience factors at play?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/48etpi/eli5_why_do_people_start_to_appreciate_wine_as/
{ "a_id": [ "d0j3zyr", "d0j4vlk" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "I think mostly palate changes. Not everyone drinks wine, or likes it. I find that the older I get the more I'm able to appreciate the different tastes and all. \n\nSomeone below mentioned that people want to get drunk, and i...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
3b1458
why are stop signs traditionally octagonal?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3b1458/eli5_why_are_stop_signs_traditionally_octagonal/
{ "a_id": [ "cshuqlt", "cshur96" ], "score": [ 4, 7 ], "text": [ "It was a decision made in 1922 when the stop sign was standardized. Its unique shape allows other drivers to identify the sign from the back, i.e. you approach an intersection and can tell if cross traffic also has a stop s...
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[]
[ [], [ "http://mentalfloss.com/article/56877/why-do-stop-signs-have-eight-sides" ] ]
aewa9w
why is it bad that orgs like the nra donate to politicians who favor them?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aewa9w/eli5_why_is_it_bad_that_orgs_like_the_nra_donate/
{ "a_id": [ "edt8lep", "edta3br", "edtaq3v", "edtbcna", "edtbo7p", "edtce03" ], "score": [ 4, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "This seems like favoritism or corruption, they're paying politicians to get favors from them like more laxist laws for guns or other exa...
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[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
2hskvi
When Rome conquered a new area, what was the process to "romanize" it and integrate it into the empire?
I'm imagining Rome flooding an area with Roman settlers and soldiers. Anyone in the local population who did not submit to Roman rule were systematically killed. Everyone would adopt Latin as the new language. Soldiers would intermarry with the local woman and raise families. This is a very wrong view it turns out. I'm...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2hskvi/when_rome_conquered_a_new_area_what_was_the/
{ "a_id": [ "ckvp7k7", "ckvpdhe" ], "score": [ 16, 123 ], "text": [ "I recall that conquering Romans would tend to assimilate the existing aristocracy of a region into the imperial system, rather than liquidating them and replacing them with an ethnically Roman administration. Not a comple...
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[ [], [] ]
1zc5rs
how are some movies made for the academy awards judges?
Occasionally when reading movie review the critics write that they feel as though the movie was not made for people to enjoy or appreciate and that the movie was aimed more at getting votes from Academy Awards judges. Often they are historical or controversial movies. How can it be a viable business move to make a movi...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1zc5rs/eli5_how_are_some_movies_made_for_the_academy/
{ "a_id": [ "cfsdm8f", "cfswkoc" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "I think it's the different to make a movie for the masses than it is to make something thought and emotionally inspiring. you could make a comedy like Wedding Crashes or action flick like the Dark Knight and know it's going ...
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[ [], [] ]
6d4zyc
how are cities like manhattan formed? specifically their structure, did they have to tear down people's properties to may way for their grid like structures.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6d4zyc/eli5_how_are_cities_like_manhattan_formed/
{ "a_id": [ "dhzydib" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "The oldest parts of Manhattan (i.e. Greenwich Village) do not fit the grid pattern. As the city grew and farmland was turned into homes and businesses the city leaders followed a plan to lay out streets on a standard grid. In the case of Manhatta...
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[ [] ]
35amj2
how do actors and actresses not get off during sex scenes.
All I'm saying is...how can an actor not go the 'natural course' when getting down with an attractive actress?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/35amj2/eli5_how_do_actors_and_actresses_not_get_off/
{ "a_id": [ "cr2kf6x", "cr2kg2x" ], "score": [ 10, 4 ], "text": [ "Because it's not sexy, romantic, or sensual. To you, it's a quiet, intimate moment in a bedroom between two people emotionally connected, getting physical in a seemless interaction.\n\nTo them, it's [this](_URL_0_), with no...
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[ [ "http://jamesgaffneyphotography.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v107/p2125456012-4.jpg" ], [] ]
26ddmd
Is the sun slowly losing mass?
AYpAdEKxxnrmLxZvHnvpv74b5F4g8Pd3DpLNBGgs48GclUo4NIEFpI0KIdkgssAYpAdEKxxnrmLxZvHnvpv74b5F4g8Pd3DpLNBGgs48GclUo4NIEFpI0KIdkgssAYpAdEKxxnrmLxZvHnvpv74b5F4g8Pd3DpLNBGgs48GclUo4NIEFpI0KIdkgssAYpAdEKxxnrmLxZvHnvpv74b5F4g8Pd3DpLNBGgs48GclUo4NIEFpI0KIdkgssAYpAdEKxxnrmLxZvHnvpv74b5F4g8Pd3DpLNBGgs48GclUo4NIEFpI0KIdkgssAYpAdEKxxn...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/26ddmd/is_the_sun_slowly_losing_mass/
{ "a_id": [ "chpz8pc", "chpzdn5", "chpzqi5", "chq0fsg", "chq2wbj" ], "score": [ 215, 11, 6, 32, 2 ], "text": [ "The Sun is a big ball of plasma, within it's core hydrogen is fused into helium. This process releases a small amount of energy, approximately 0.7% of the...
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[ [], [], [], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/26ddmd/is_the_sun_slowly_losing_mass/chq95yc" ], [] ]
2mtm6g
can someone explain why that last fish in the gif is so intent on dying with his friends?
_URL_0_
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2mtm6g/eli5can_someone_explain_why_that_last_fish_in_the/
{ "a_id": [ "cm7gxbe", "cm7gzep", "cm7hnwz" ], "score": [ 6, 7, 6 ], "text": [ "Hehehe. It's a mouth brooding fish :) \n\nSafest place for a little fish is in Mum's mouth.", "Because they aren't being eaten, they are being carried by momma. \n", "Those fish aren't being e...
[]
[ "http://i.imgur.com/BV9CQPF.gif" ]
[ [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouthbrooder" ] ]
41kc4y
why does fiber go away when you blend fruit and vegetables in a smoothie?
I was watching those popular health documentaries "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" and "Forks Over Knives" and they all recommend juicing to get your vegetables fast. But when I try to look online for recipes everyone says don't do smoothies because blending will destroy the Fiber anyway. Is this true? Is juicing that much...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/41kc4y/eli5_why_does_fiber_go_away_when_you_blend_fruit/
{ "a_id": [ "cz2zj3n", "cz2zlhh" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "I'm pretty sure that it's false information. Fiber is basically the stuff your body can't digest, and it doesn't make a difference if it's blended or not.", "You may want to check your sources. Blending and smoothies do ...
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[ [], [ "http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/juicing/faq-20058020" ] ]
7rwz7r
how is terry crews able to maintain so much muscle mass despite intermittent fasting?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7rwz7r/eli5_how_is_terry_crews_able_to_maintain_so_much/
{ "a_id": [ "dt0flpg" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Intermittent fasting is actually related to improved muscle mass. Rats that ar fed 12-14 hours a day lose muscle and gain fat. Rats restricted to 12 hours a day eating gain muscle and lose fat. Restricting to 10 hours a day has an even greater e...
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[ [] ]
3ky4f6
how can gyroscopes seemingly defy gravity like in this gif
After watching this gif I found on the front page my mind was blown and I cannot understand how these simple devices work. _URL_0_ Edit: Thanks for all the awesome replies, it appears there is nothing simple about gyroscopes. Also, this is my first time to the front page so thanks for that as well.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ky4f6/eli5_how_can_gyroscopes_seemingly_defy_gravity/
{ "a_id": [ "cv1jhq9", "cv1jo56", "cv1jswj", "cv1k23w", "cv1kj9s", "cv1klbb", "cv1knvb", "cv1n7bz", "cv1nc6l", "cv1o3a6", "cv1o9t4", "cv1oikd", "cv1oymk", "cv1pfrw", "cv1pwg0", "cv1ri51", "cv1rss4", "cv1s2wb", "cv1s3o1", "cv1sjey", "c...
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[ "https://i.imgur.com/q5Iim5i.gifv" ]
[ [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeXIV-wMVUk", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_momentum#Conservation_of_angular_momentum" ], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeXIV-wMVUk" ], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cRb0xvPJ2M" ], [], [], [], [], ...
274s6n
How does resonance stabilise a compound?
And also how does aromaticity work? How does a certain number of pi electrons make a cyclic compound stable? (resonance)I know that the electrons are delocalised from their p-orbitals and that the bond length is different. But I want to know exactly why/how the energy of, say, tropylium cation is reduced by resonance s...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/274s6n/how_does_resonance_stabilise_a_compound/
{ "a_id": [ "chxeo45", "chxesj0" ], "score": [ 10, 4 ], "text": [ "Well first resonance: It doesn't exist as a physical thing. Resonance is a way of visualizing the actual electronic state of the system by breaking it down into a set of resonance contributors. E.g a benzene ring is not act...
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[ [], [] ]
31gihd
How does protein from beef tendon (collagen I've read) differ from the protein of meat or whey or legumes for that matter?
I stumbled upon a recipe on a food blog that I read, and it made the note that beef tendon is very high in protein while being pretty low in calories and very low in fat. I always thought that tendon was a high fat thing (that texture and mouth feel) so I was surprised to find out that it wasn't bad like I thought. Cou...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/31gihd/how_does_protein_from_beef_tendon_collagen_ive/
{ "a_id": [ "cq1x80p" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Basically, tendons are like ropes : fibbers (collagen mostly) tightened in a solid structure, so it can resist the tension resulting of muscular contraction. And that is their only function. So tendons are mostly composed of proteins.\nMeat, whey...
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[ [] ]
8wra41
Why the flag of Belgium is similar to the German flag?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8wra41/why_the_flag_of_belgium_is_similar_to_the_german/
{ "a_id": [ "e1ypoxc" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "There really is not much of a concrete relationship between the modern [Belgian](_URL_3_) and [German](_URL_1_) flags. The Belgian colors come from the historical colors of the [Duchy of Brabant](_URL_2_), a polity that dates back to the medieval...
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[]
[ [ "https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCtzowsches_Freikorps#/media/File:Kersting_-_Auf_Vorposten_1815.jpg", "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/1280px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png", "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Coat_of_arms_of_Brabant.svg/20...
17d8wo
Why does it take more than 12 hours to get to the other side of the world?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/17d8wo/why_does_it_take_more_than_12_hours_to_get_to_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c84f3ab" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Because you are travelling the same speed as the earth when you first get airborne and have to accelerate in the other direction. " ] }
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[ [] ]
3hpf58
what makes the united states' economy the most powerful in the world? do they do anything different from other countries?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3hpf58/eli5_what_makes_the_united_states_economy_the/
{ "a_id": [ "cu9cyis" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "The United States is the most populous and has the most arable land of Western Countries meaning it could make good use of the technology developed over the last couple hundred years.\n\nIt also wasn't bankrupted by the two world wars." ] }
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[ [] ]
1xe2m3
Given that the ability to artificially cool beverages is a relatively recent phenomenon, why aren't more beverages traditionally enjoyed at room temperature?
Sure, we've got our hot coffee and tea. But nearly all alcoholic beverages, and most everything else, it seems, is preferred served chilled. It seems to me that given that the vast majority of human history was taken up with us not being able to do this, we ought to have developed a lot more traditions of drinking beve...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1xe2m3/given_that_the_ability_to_artificially_cool/
{ "a_id": [ "cfajpx2", "cfaoutl" ], "score": [ 27, 16 ], "text": [ " Many fine alcohols are still consumed at room temperature or just slightly below, also depending on location. Examples would be most dark beers, and nicer whiskeys/scotches/wines. Before refrigeration, things like wine wo...
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[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakhchal" ], [] ]
6rhw42
why does it hurt to take a deep breath after a day at the beach?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6rhw42/eli5_why_does_it_hurt_to_take_a_deep_breath_after/
{ "a_id": [ "dl57t4f", "dl58m95" ], "score": [ 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Is it because you're outside running around or even swimming? I don't understand the question. I didn't think a deep breath was an issue to be concerned about.\n\nI too would like an answer to this, if this is a thing for so...
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[ [], [] ]
8qfatn
How did we ever realize that gravity on other planets was different without actually going to them?
Just a thought I had in class
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/8qfatn/how_did_we_ever_realize_that_gravity_on_other/
{ "a_id": [ "e0isgmj", "e0iuo0o", "e0j6yga" ], "score": [ 4, 8, 17 ], "text": [ "The force of gravity we feel on earth is a result of the earth's mass (and our own) and radius, other planets have different masses and radio, so have different accelerations due to gravity. There's a ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavendish_experiment", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler%27s_laws_of_planetary_motion" ] ]
7dscol
water is h20 , hydrogen peroxide is h202, how can one extra oxygen molecule turn into something that can kill you
title.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7dscol/eli5water_is_h20_hydrogen_peroxide_is_h202_how/
{ "a_id": [ "dq006kz", "dq09bs1", "dq0dli5", "dq0i3r3", "dq0lakt", "dq0mxdh", "dq0x2in" ], "score": [ 1802, 83, 28, 2, 2, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Short answer: because changing even one element in a compound will drastically change how it interacts with o...
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[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
8mwqt6
why does a container of icing/frosting say refrigerate after opening but you don’t have to refrigerate the cookies or cake after you put the frosting on?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8mwqt6/eli5_why_does_a_container_of_icingfrosting_say/
{ "a_id": [ "dzr0yph" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Magic? The honest answer is That you should be refrigerating the product you made as well. It’s just such a low risk item that we don’t need to. But it’s better to put the statement on the bottle so the unlucky sob that does from food positioning...
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[ [] ]
14c148
Is there (Could there be) a periodic table of elements for antimatter?
Could it be just one element or could antimatter be made up of a number of elements similar to matter?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/14c148/is_there_could_there_be_a_periodic_table_of/
{ "a_id": [ "c7c23ba", "c7c2ba4" ], "score": [ 2, 3 ], "text": [ "Theoretically, yes. But at this point, its only theory because the majority of the antimatter elements have not been created in a way that allows for reliable measurement of their properties. A table with properties of Anti-...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
4c4ddz
if starfish don't have brains, how do they have consciousness?
Is consciousness not dependent on the brain? What is it then?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4c4ddz/eli5_if_starfish_dont_have_brains_how_do_they/
{ "a_id": [ "d1exrey", "d1exuda", "d1eyanm" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 12 ], "text": [ "Who said they have a consciousness? Who says you have to have a brain to have a consciousness?\n\nThere's a lot we don't know about these things, so I doubt anyone can say definitively one way or the o...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
2dy68t
Does HIV/AIDs only attack T Cells, or cells of the immune system? If so, is this common of viruses (to only attack certain types of cells)?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2dy68t/does_hivaids_only_attack_t_cells_or_cells_of_the/
{ "a_id": [ "cjuc5lh" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "HIV only infects cells that have a certain type of protein, called [CD4](_URL_0_), on their surface. This protein allows HIV to stick to the cell and then get inside the cell membrane. CD4 is found on several different types of immune cells, most...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD4", "http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/04/10/1214441110", "http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001574", "http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v505/n7484/full/nature12940.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20140123" ] ]
9agcvq
how are the raw images sent back from space probes processed in such a way to give a vibrant and colourful image?
Let's use Saturn as an example. [This is a raw image from Cassini](_URL_1_), and [this is a processed image](_URL_0_). Additionally, if I was to jump in a space ship and fly out to Saturn, would it look like the second image?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9agcvq/eli5_how_are_the_raw_images_sent_back_from_space/
{ "a_id": [ "e4v80lt", "e4v83d2" ], "score": [ 22, 3 ], "text": [ "Cameras aboard spacecraft like Cassini take photos using filters that isolate different wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum. Some, like red, green, and blue, capture light the human eye can see. Others, like ultravi...
[]
[ "https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQHxPXJjxzxA-dzVH56zmW7Vn0pE_oy4A_a5YvG4zIyG-AbtH0T", "https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR7fWONJDSdJ0Wjjt-YmSB0DMW2J-y220vEFlbm-iSTU4ko7htM" ]
[ [], [] ]
x61r0
Was atheism really the official doctrine of the Soviet Union when Stalin was in power?
I'm doing a case study on enemies of the state, and I came across this [wikipedia article} (_URL_0_) The first paragraph reads > The history of Christianity in the Soviet Union was not limited to repression and secularization. Soviet policy toward religion was based on the ideology of Marxism-Leninism, **which made ...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/x61r0/was_atheism_really_the_official_doctrine_of_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c5jhbyr", "c5jhc9b", "c5jhs8m", "c5jko1t", "c5jrtuc", "c5jsqnj", "c5jtli3" ], "score": [ 5, 18, 8, 4, 3, 3, 5 ], "text": [ "As far as I know, yes. I've never heard otherwise. Stalin was known for brutally repressing religion, and good ...
[]
[ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians_in_the_Soviet_Union" ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
27wo5q
Is your brain re-writeable? Can you forget something by learning something new?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/27wo5q/is_your_brain_rewriteable_can_you_forget/
{ "a_id": [ "ci57nz9" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "What the other guy said is not entirely true. Every time you recall a memory your brain actually alters it. Which means every time you remember something, your brain actually changes the memory, which may or may not impede what actually happened....
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[ [] ]
a65nd1
why are fats bad in combination with carbohydrates
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a65nd1/eli5_why_are_fats_bad_in_combination_with/
{ "a_id": [ "ebs7a7b" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "They're not. \n\nA consistent excess of calories is bad regardless of the source, but splitting your calory intake across the macronutrients is considered healthier by everyone except people that make a living off of making up fad diets. \n\nFor ...
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[ [] ]
6a3ja2
why do most grocery stores still accept checks as payment in the us, while most restaurants generally don't?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6a3ja2/eli5_why_do_most_grocery_stores_still_accept/
{ "a_id": [ "dhbgk2z", "dhbguag" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Part of it is because our culture has come to expect grocery stores to always be able to cash and use checks. Few restaurants accept checks because the cost of accepting checks is greater than the potential lost revenue f...
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[ [], [] ]
1pkgco
How did the culture that Christ was speaking to view the ancient Samaritans?
I hope my dictionary was satisfactory. I was once told the Samaritans were the ancient Jewish version of the Mormons. So like nice naive super religious people.
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1pkgco/how_did_the_culture_that_christ_was_speaking_to/
{ "a_id": [ "cd3g7yd" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "I'm not sure what you mean by \"naive\". The Samaritans are a non-Jewish but Israelite group--they also see themselves as descendants of the biblical characters, with similar theology. They had a schism of some sort in roughly the 6th+ century ...
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[ [] ]
b5nvvi
if a geostationary orbit is when a satellite is moving the same speed as earth’s surface, how does it also have enough speed to ‘miss’ earth when attracted by gravity and therefore orbit?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b5nvvi/eli5_if_a_geostationary_orbit_is_when_a_satellite/
{ "a_id": [ "ejenvcp" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "It's not moving the same speed as Earths surface, it is moving much, much faster. They are about 26,000 miles away from Earth, so they must travel a much greater distance for each rotation than does the Earths surface." ] }
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[ [] ]
83r8ey
why are variable propelling nozzles seemingly only fitted to jets with afterburners?
I've never seen variable nozzles on any other kind of engine. Example below. GIF: _URL_0_ EDIT: Spelling
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/83r8ey/eli5_why_are_variable_propelling_nozzles/
{ "a_id": [ "dvjyrwm", "dvjzdxj" ], "score": [ 5, 4 ], "text": [ "Most planes are designed to operate effectively at their cruising speed. They're going to take off, climb quickly to altitude, then spend a few hours cruising at a fixed speed and altitude before they descend. Their engine...
[]
[ "https://m.imgur.com/a/8VgbW" ]
[ [], [] ]
23x3ja
Why do our fusion reactors require isotopes such as deuterium, tritium and helium-3 as opposed to the "normal" forms of those elements?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/23x3ja/why_do_our_fusion_reactors_require_isotopes_such/
{ "a_id": [ "ch1gpep", "ch1kms0", "ch1mnwo" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "First, they are normal forms. Deuterium, tritium, and He-3 are found in nature. They are only found in smaller amounts. The main reason why you would want reactions like D+D or D+T is because they ar...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamow_factor" ], [], [] ]
15dom8
why do gun control advocates/opponents argue over the definition of the term "assault weapon"?
I have heard gun control opponents say that advocates are not using the term in the right context, or that the media isn't using the definition correctly. My initial thought is that they are splitting hairs. I've read the definition on several websites, but it's still seems muddled to me.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/15dom8/eli5_why_do_gun_control_advocatesopponents_argue/
{ "a_id": [ "c7lj8tl", "c7ljl27", "c7ljstm", "c7ljtv3", "c7ls6qf" ], "score": [ 11, 3, 7, 4, 3 ], "text": [ "Because the term \"assault weapon\" doesn't mean anything concrete, and its definition shifts based on whatever the anti-gun crowd wants it to mean. It's a ...
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[]
[ [], [], [ "http://cdn2.armslist.com/sites/armslist/uploads/posts/2012/12/04/698465_01_ruger_mini_14_optic_extra_stoc_640.jpg", "http://www.impactguns.com/data/default/images/catalog/535/ruger_5801.jpg" ], [], [ "http://i.imgur.com/IIU33.jpg" ] ]
3x1c0x
how does youtube determine when to play ads?
There are times when I don't see any ads for 5-10 videos in a row, then other times when I get 5-10 ads in a row. The length of the video doesn't seem to matter either, apart from those videos which are less than 15-30 seconds.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3x1c0x/eli5_how_does_youtube_determine_when_to_play_ads/
{ "a_id": [ "cy0nl1q", "cy0nrfu", "cy0qbiw", "cy0svlr" ], "score": [ 7, 4, 10, 3 ], "text": [ "Mainly, whether the YouTuber has allowed monetization (ads). However, YouTube only plays the ad like 90% of the time on these videos as being constantly bombarded with ads will lo...
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[ [], [], [], [] ]
6sirgj
how does algae grow in fountains filled with clean water?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6sirgj/eli5_how_does_algae_grow_in_fountains_filled_with/
{ "a_id": [ "dld2u5a" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Algae is a plant. Plants love clean water. Why wouldn't algae grow in a fountain? The only way people prevent this is by putting chemicals in the water that reduce algae growth." ] }
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[ [] ]
1yb623
how do they remove the ice and put it back in hockey stadiums?
always wondered!
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1yb623/eli5_how_do_they_remove_the_ice_and_put_it_back/
{ "a_id": [ "cfiy5vd", "cfiyeib" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Also, if you're thinking they remove it after every game for other events, they actually just put another floor over top ;)", "Here's a basketball to hockey transformation.. \n_URL_0_" ] }
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[ [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEAbTqAZ35s" ] ]
5dugnl
why is cable internet (which travels over two copper wires) faster than dsl (which is also just two copper wires)?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5dugnl/eli5_why_is_cable_internet_which_travels_over_two/
{ "a_id": [ "da7dqi9", "da7dsls" ], "score": [ 15, 4 ], "text": [ "It's more about the type of signaling used, and the type of wire. \n\nCoaxial cable the signal is on the inner wire, the outer braided shield helps protect against interference. IP over cable tends to be also a cleaner netw...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
atqax1
why are golf balls shaped the way they are and not perfect spheres?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/atqax1/eli5_why_are_golf_balls_shaped_the_way_they_are/
{ "a_id": [ "eh2t6s4", "eh2tmx5", "eh2z3vt", "eh39r1m", "eh3p2or", "eh3xjev" ], "score": [ 16, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The dimples actually improve the aerodynamics and flight characteristics. I know that seems counter intuitive, but their's hard science...
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[]
[ [], [], [ "https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_coefficient" ], [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/comments/a71726/golf_ball_150mph_impact_slowmo/?utm_source=reddit-android" ], [], [ "https://dnmkr7tf85gze.cloudfront.net/CACHE/images/media/image/3c5bfccdce7a4b9092d986fb34012716/...
2iel8s
In 1939, how common was it for a European to speak a second language?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2iel8s/in_1939_how_common_was_it_for_a_european_to_speak/
{ "a_id": [ "cl1pj29", "cl1t0u8" ], "score": [ 16, 6 ], "text": [ "It depends on wether this person comes from a countrythat speaks several languages or not. Finland was bilungual (Swedish and Finnish) and the state apparaturs required people to be bilingual. Swedish was taught at school a...
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[ [], [ "http://www.talenexpo.nl/hoofdstuk.php?mnu=16" ] ]
8a8ckf
If caffeine is flavorless, why do uncaffeinated sodas taste differently than their caffeinated counterparts?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/8a8ckf/if_caffeine_is_flavorless_why_do_uncaffeinated/
{ "a_id": [ "dwzqr0e" ], "score": [ 8 ], "text": [ "Caffeine is not flavorless; quite the opposite, in fact. In its pure form caffeine is quite bitter. \n\nThat said, the caffeine concentration in soda is generally overpowered by the sugar (though the absence of caffeine could certainly change the...
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[ [] ]
89jst4
Why did the approach of forgiveness fail the Southern U.S. in reconstruction, while it seems to have succeeded for Post-WWII Germany?
In discussion on the U.S. Civil War, I often find myself wondering what Lincoln (as far as his plans) and Johnson could've done differently with regards to reconstruction. I'm not interested in a purely economical take because, though I feel the south has likely lagged behind (feel free to show me otherwise) in terms o...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/89jst4/why_did_the_approach_of_forgiveness_fail_the/
{ "a_id": [ "dwryuyd" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Because the North was wishy-washy on how they actually wanted to respond to the aftermath of the Civil War. \n\nThe South lost *a lot* during the Civil War, namely their primary economic driving force: slavery. Though sharecropping was instituted...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=8&smtID=1", "https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/reconstruction" ] ]
1xq5k5
why is it that when i'm on a diet i seem to gain weight shortly before beginning to lose the weight?
It always seems like a day or two before I lose weight I seem to pack on a significant amount. What's the deal?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1xq5k5/eli5_why_is_it_that_when_im_on_a_diet_i_seem_to/
{ "a_id": [ "cfdlgjr", "cfdlq6g" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Which diet are you using? Different diets have different effects on the body. ", "Your weight will naturally fluctuate from one day to the next, due to a number of factors. I'd chalk this up to the fact that you're actu...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
3rxv56
To what extent could Emperor Constantine I be described as liberal?
[deleted]
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3rxv56/to_what_extent_could_emperor_constantine_i_be/
{ "a_id": [ "cwsojb4" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "It might be better if you defined \"liberal\" a little bit because a modern term that has many aspects to it is hard to apply. Is religious toleration the most important aspect? Then yes you could say Konstantine was tolerate, but there were coun...
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[ [] ]
69hpru
why do pictures (taken on a phone) taken 5+ years ago become very blurry, super low quality and corrupted on social media and online photo albums (photo bucket)?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/69hpru/eli5_why_do_pictures_taken_on_a_phone_taken_5/
{ "a_id": [ "dh6nsqh" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Pictures taken on older phones will be of way worse quality than phones today. So that's a major reason why they would look worse. Another reason is that those photo websites often compress the file even further to save space. Compression makes t...
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[ [] ]
7egguu
What factors led to the Dutch golden age? Was it primarily a period of economic strength, or were they militarily successful also? The Netherlands seems unusually multicultural at this time; did this contribute to their emergence as a world power?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7egguu/what_factors_led_to_the_dutch_golden_age_was_it/
{ "a_id": [ "dq5o5sl" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "I answered a similar question on the Dutch economy [here](_URL_0_) (and expanded it in replies). Hope it is of interest to you!" ] }
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[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6bkzjs/why_was_the_dutch_economy_so_strong_in_the_17th/dho201e/" ] ]
3k7qj4
How and when the order letters of Latin alphabet decied?
I mean who, when and how it is decided that A is the first letter and B will come next and Z will be the last one. Thanks for answering.
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3k7qj4/how_and_when_the_order_letters_of_latin_alphabet/
{ "a_id": [ "cuvin7i" ], "score": [ 25 ], "text": [ "The history of the Latin alphabet goes back a few milennia, and most of the letters and their position appear already back in the 2nd milennium BC. It is commonly accepted that the Latins adopted their alphabet from the ones the Etruscans used. ...
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[ [ "https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griechisches_Alphabet#/media/File:Griechisches_Alphabet_Varianten.png", "http://www.ancientscripts.com/images/phoenician.gif", "https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugaritische_Schrift#/media/File:22_alphabet.jpg" ] ]
xs5d6
How did the USA come to dominate the Olympics, and why is the other top contender seemingly always Communist?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/xs5d6/how_did_the_usa_come_to_dominate_the_olympics_and/
{ "a_id": [ "c5p3ocl", "c5p4kqj", "c5p65qk", "c5pfpyv", "c5pnf2k" ], "score": [ 22, 9, 6, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Pure speculation;\n\nThe USA is a first world nation with a rather large population and on average that population has enough discretionary funds to bankroll...
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[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
1l3i1f
Could the human eye clearly view nebula, galaxies, or other large-scale structures? If so, at what distance?
I was looking at [this image of the Orion Nebula](_URL_0_), and wondered if the naked eye could ever view something like that unaided. If so, at what distance could you see the Orion Nebula like that in its entirety? What about Andromeda, or our own Milky Way?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1l3i1f/could_the_human_eye_clearly_view_nebula_galaxies/
{ "a_id": [ "cbvfb2m" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Unfortunately, you won't ever see something like that without some sort of instrument to aid you. Distance doesn't actually make a difference - the surface brightness of an object doesn't change with distance. The *total* brightness would be diff...
[]
[ "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Orion_Nebula_-_Hubble_2006_mosaic_18000.jpg" ]
[ [] ]
3h5k6i
why do big airlines have multiple subsidiary brands that operate their regional flights?
E.g. why is a flight on American Airlines operated as "American Eagle operated by Envoy Air' when all 3 are the same Airline group.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3h5k6i/eli5_why_do_big_airlines_have_multiple_subsidiary/
{ "a_id": [ "cu4evfk" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "It's not a subsidiary. It's a completely different company that has an exclusive contract to operate codeshare flights on lower traffic routes, leaving the airline to focus on the main routes with larger aircraft. \n\nThis way the regional airli...
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[ [] ]
ngag8
How does the body paralyze itself during sleep?
What exactly happens when your body paralyses itself when you sleep. if I remember it is a hormone that is released. How common of an occurence is it when people wake up and still, for a few moments feel as if they can't move?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ngag8/how_does_the_body_paralyze_itself_during_sleep/
{ "a_id": [ "c38vzth", "c38vzth" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Your pons \"turns off\" your efferent spinal motor neurons, but only in REM sleep. I do not believe a hormone is involved, since such system would be slow and unresponsive to *unblocking*, as would be needed in the case of s...
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[]
[ [ "http://wiki.medpedia.com/Brain_Basics:_Understanding_Sleep", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis" ], [ "http://wiki.medpedia.com/Brain_Basics:_Understanding_Sleep", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis" ] ]
4cgpq7
how do they make boneless ribs?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4cgpq7/eli5how_do_they_make_boneless_ribs/
{ "a_id": [ "d1hzj18", "d1i7lhf", "d1ibexs" ], "score": [ 4, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "\"Boneless ribs\" are typically not actually cut from the ribs, but instead are thickly cut strips of typically shoulder steak.\n\nThey are still called \"ribs\" due to the similar texture and flavor wh...
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[ [], [], [] ]