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608qzt
why do high volt chargers fry a circuit but high amps one doesn't seem to affect it?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/608qzt/eli5_why_do_high_volt_chargers_fry_a_circuit_but/
{ "a_id": [ "df4e0q5", "df4enbw" ], "score": [ 3, 8 ], "text": [ "You can think about voltage and current like water in pipes. The voltage represents the water pressure pushing it forward and the current represents, well, the water's current or flow rate. Now, you can have water moving as ...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
ersrrr
because fish oil is so good for you, why don’t we use it for cooking?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ersrrr/eli5_because_fish_oil_is_so_good_for_you_why_dont/
{ "a_id": [ "ff5oews", "ff5oir2", "ff5p1na", "ff5pfxv", "ff65l9q", "ff68hdt", "ff6dxf4", "ff72bhf" ], "score": [ 66, 4, 231, 27, 3, 3, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Fish oil contains high levels of omega 3 fatty acids, which your body cannot make. Cooki...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.cancerschmancer.org/articles/healthiest-cooking-oil-comparison-chart-smoke-points-and-omega-3-fatty-acid-ratios" ], [] ]
2kruzp
why does israel insist on building settlements on lands not considered theirs and at great political cost? what internal politics drive this when the "costs" seem to be enormous?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2kruzp/eli5_why_does_israel_insist_on_building/
{ "a_id": [ "clo4qrg", "clo53tb", "clo5dh6", "clo63fi", "clocqls", "cloebjv" ], "score": [ 27, 6, 7, 6, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "Short answer, they do consider the lands theirs.", "Short answer. It doesn't cost them much politically. They do so with almost imp...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
2frtxv
why can apex predators feel fear?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2frtxv/eli5_why_can_apex_predators_feel_fear/
{ "a_id": [ "ckc55a6", "ckc5gj2", "ckc5jgy" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 6 ], "text": [ "Because apex predators can still be killed or injured.", "Even a lion needs to fear an elephant. And an elephant needs to fear a lion. ", "Getting wounded in a fight, even one that you win, wil...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
61hgsd
Why was Stettin/Szczecin given to Poland after WW2?
Considering Stettin is west of the Oder and Stettin had a german government under soviet control first after the end of the war.
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/61hgsd/why_was_stettinszczecin_given_to_poland_after_ww2/
{ "a_id": [ "dfei2ra" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "From [an earlier answer of mine](_URL_0_)\n\nThe reason why Stettin became Szczecin in 1945 is apparent when looking at the map. The core of the city, including its port facilities, was on the Western half of the Oder. Bisecting control over the ...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5oze9q/how_did_szczecin_stettin_end_up_on_the_polish/" ] ]
f15zf8
why do fish and sharks swim together at the aquarium won't the sharks just eat them all?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f15zf8/eli5_why_do_fish_and_sharks_swim_together_at_the/
{ "a_id": [ "fh26g6z", "fh4tps5" ], "score": [ 22, 3 ], "text": [ "They only kill to eat. And, killing is a lot of work. If the aquarium staff feeds them, they aren’t hungry, don’t need to kill to eat, and don’t kill.\n\nThis is true in the wild, too, but you just don’t see it.", "Not ...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
1z7iuy
what is happening atomically during a nuclear explosion?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1z7iuy/eli5_what_is_happening_atomically_during_a/
{ "a_id": [ "cfr7smg", "cfr7xh8" ], "score": [ 2, 5 ], "text": [ "Fission bomb? You smash two pieces of uranium together. The uranium splits, and suddenly you have a bunch of smaller atoms which have less total energy than the original uranium had. The excess energy is converted into heat,...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
8123da
What was the popcorn and hot dogs of the Roman coliseum? What did Romans have for snack foods while watching the events?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8123da/what_was_the_popcorn_and_hot_dogs_of_the_roman/
{ "a_id": [ "dv00ye7", "dv01hpy" ], "score": [ 842, 146 ], "text": [ "Not to discourage any future answers but we have actually had a few interesting thread on Roman street food:\n\n[I'm sitting here eating chips. Did the people of the Roman empire have an equivalent of such snack foods?](...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4q6mgp/im_sitting_here_eating_chips_did_the_people_of/d4quh29/?utm_content=permalink&utm_medium=front&utm_source=reddit&utm_name=AskHistorians", "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3m6cyu/what_kinds_of_street_food_would_of_been_avai...
332cfy
Benzodiazepines and dementia: correlation or causation?
A recent [study](_URL_0_) identified a strong link between benzodiazepine use and dementia. I'm a psychiatric nurse practitioner trying to decide whether to advise my patients to get off benzodiazepines based on this study and others. Due to the risk of dependence/addiction, I rarely start someone on these drugs but ma...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/332cfy/benzodiazepines_and_dementia_correlation_or/
{ "a_id": [ "cqih4ah" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "The studies have controlled for the possibility of confounding by dementia prodrome through statistical methods but I don't think anyone is convinced that that has really been ruled out. The unfortunate facts as I see them are that we don't reall...
[]
[ "http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5205" ]
[ [] ]
i3uyb
Can pharmaceuticals be removed from a water supply?
Water treatment methods can remove all kinds of things from both wastewater and drinking water, but is there a way to remove pharmaceuticals from our water supplies? I'm mainly thinking of all the pills and stuff that gets flushed down toilets Edit: I understand these are present only in extremely low concentrations...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/i3uyb/can_pharmaceuticals_be_removed_from_a_water_supply/
{ "a_id": [ "c20osck" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Does it matter if its there? Concentration is very important. For the most part pharmacueticals only exist in our water supply in basically nonexistent quantities. That being said if you're feeling really really anal there are plenty of ways t...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCEQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.water.siemens.com%2FSiteCollectionDocuments%2FInstitutional%2FLab_Water%2FBrochures%2Faureon_high_purity_water.pdf&rct=j&q=ultra%20high%20purity%20water&ei=dI3-TZupEsPngQfehrnwCg&usg=AFQjCNFyBia8U...
2rrcjq
why do all bollywood movies have songs in them?
My roommate is trying to get me into them, but even the serious ones, like ones with a murderer and that... all of them have songs.. I don't get it.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2rrcjq/eli5_why_do_all_bollywood_movies_have_songs_in/
{ "a_id": [ "cniiofr", "cniixg8", "cnijiu3", "cniko2d" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Indian music has a built in pecking-order, not only based on the seniority or ability of musicians but also by drawing a clear distinction between vocal and instrumental music. Voc...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
3xk825
how to use a combination of tor and a vpn to download torrents safely/anonymously
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3xk825/eli5_how_to_use_a_combination_of_tor_and_a_vpn_to/
{ "a_id": [ "cy5cusj", "cy5d8tt", "cy5d94k", "cy5de2p" ], "score": [ 5, 2, 7, 3 ], "text": [ "Any decent VPN will be good enough for torrenting. You only need both if you're doing stuff that'll get the government's attention, which torrents will not accomplish. ", "I kn...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/", "https://www.tunnelbear.com/" ], [], [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/TOR/comments/2u3j6m/why_exactly_is_torrenting_over_tor_bad_and_how/co4wcvo" ] ]
1rjuuh
How was Marxist thought treated by American academia prior to the Cold War? Prior to the Russian Revolution?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1rjuuh/how_was_marxist_thought_treated_by_american/
{ "a_id": [ "cdos9x5" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Prior to the probably around the late 19th century, the US and Russians were fairly close allies. They shared common enemies, France and Britain, expanded similarly, Siberia and the American west, viewed the abolishment of serfdom and slavery sim...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://i.imgur.com/gn9ZO4j.png", "http://i.imgur.com/ccNvr1D.png", "http://i.imgur.com/lNxGOS9", "http://i.imgur.com/mD8uyQ4", "http://imgur.com/a/ZDEHV", "http://i.imgur.com/tJWYUqZ", "http://i.imgur.com/89O1Kmz.png" ] ]
28f4sf
Do all acids taste sour?
It is hard to believe, but at one time chemists characterized compounds by tasting them. Early chemists called any compound that tasted sour an acid. Is this true for all acids? Were there any that were misclassified at one point?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/28f4sf/do_all_acids_taste_sour/
{ "a_id": [ "ciam3gh" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "My understanding of how acids and taste works is that the sour taste happens because H+ ions enter the cell and cause a membrane potential change which causes release of neurotransmitter which the brain recognizes as sour. Each of the 5 tastes (s...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
sycoe
What happend when someone dies?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/sycoe/what_happend_when_someone_dies/
{ "a_id": [ "c4i0270" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "There is no scientific support for the idea of a \"spirit\"." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1176ax
If someone were to ejaculate much more frequently than normal, would their body produce sperm quicker, effectively having larger 'loads'?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1176ax/if_someone_were_to_ejaculate_much_more_frequently/
{ "a_id": [ "c6jyqy2", "c6jznsf" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "i think you need to rephrase the question.\n\n > If someone were to ejaculate much more frequently than normal, would their body produce **seminal fluid** quicker, effectively having larger 'loads'?", "Hmm, a google sear...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fertility/MC00023", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermatogenesis" ] ]
1vk9c1
Why does the natural logarithm appear so much in the world?
We have all seen the natural logarithm appear in our math, chemistry, and physics classes. Is there a simple explanation to why so much of our world obeys in some way according to the natural logarithm? For example, a hanging rope obeys e^x. It is also found in Boltzmann's equation (S=k ln W), Nernst equation, etc.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1vk9c1/why_does_the_natural_logarithm_appear_so_much_in/
{ "a_id": [ "cet6lnj", "cet6qpb", "ceta8qw", "cetgjwk" ], "score": [ 13, 2, 4, 3 ], "text": [ "All logarithms are basically equivalent; log_a(x) and log_b(x) differ only by a [factor of a constant](_URL_0_).\n\nSo we could, if we wanted, write all those formulas using base ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logarithmic_identities#Changing_the_base" ], [], [], [] ]
1f7o6v
How often WERE peasant revolts in the Middle Ages? Feel free to segregate early middle ages from high middle ages.
Because it seems a standard trope in many movies/series to incorporate some sort of popular uprising into the plot which seems to take on more overtones of proletariat revolution influenced by assumptions derived from marxist philosophy than what an actual medieval peasant revolt would look like. But from my limited k...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1f7o6v/how_often_were_peasant_revolts_in_the_middle_ages/
{ "a_id": [ "ca7mxmt", "ca7n77l", "ca7nuxm" ], "score": [ 17, 3, 6 ], "text": [ "In Sweden, they were quite common during the era of the Kalmar Union.\n\n1434-36. The peasants rise against feudalistic policies in the Engelbrekt rising. The King is forced to agree to all their deman...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Tyler" ], [] ]
3sag5f
why are chicken eggs usually sold in 6s and 12s?
I've always wondered why eggs were sold in pack of 6 and 12, but not 4, 5, 3, or 10? It just seems like an oddly large number of eggs to sell at once.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3sag5f/eli5_why_are_chicken_eggs_usually_sold_in_6s_and/
{ "a_id": [ "cwvg3kr", "cwvj2m7", "cwvmyf3" ], "score": [ 17, 3, 5 ], "text": [ "Dozens are a very common number of items for a great variety of trades due to their ability to be evenly divided by 2, 3, 4, and 6.\n\nI'm not sure what you are using eggs for, but it is very easy for ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
2tsvg1
i understand trading stocks, but what is trading bonds? how can there be a market based on loans (bonds)? what are you investing in?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2tsvg1/eli5_i_understand_trading_stocks_but_what_is/
{ "a_id": [ "co21074", "co21vd9", "co22tie", "co23smc" ], "score": [ 5, 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "I am the King of Rasfertia, and I say to the financial world, \"If you pay me a dollar, I'll repay it at 3% interest for 5 years -- I'm only selling 300 dollars with this promise.\...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
mf56j
How big would the moon have looked 4 billion years ago?
Since the moon is moving away from the earth at ~4cm a year, how much larger would it have looked 4 billion years ago when it was first formed?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/mf56j/how_big_would_the_moon_have_looked_4_billion/
{ "a_id": [ "c30ekcd", "c30ekcd" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The moon is receding at about 4 cm a yr right now, but the overall average for the last 2.5 billion years is less than 2 cm a yr. before that I have not seen any data.\n\ncurrently the moon ranges between 355,000 and 405,000...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
3vez78
why do people want to live forever?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3vez78/eli5_why_do_people_want_to_live_forever/
{ "a_id": [ "cxmwene", "cxmwg2r", "cxmwhea", "cxmwmmu", "cxmwsuq" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 2, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "Because we can't ever imagine a situation where we would want to die. Life is great and awesome and preferable to the nothingness that awaits us. Why would I ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
21ps45
How do they differentiate foreshocks and aftershocks from the actual earthquake?
Is the main earthquake just the largest shock? Would it be re-classified if there was a larger shock shortly following what was previously defined as an earthquake?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/21ps45/how_do_they_differentiate_foreshocks_and/
{ "a_id": [ "cgfmj9a" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "In short, the answer is yes for both of your questions. In terms of what we actually measure using a seismometer, there is nothing that differentiates a foreshock, mainshock, or aftershock from each other. These are terms we apply in relation to ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2004GL019808/abstract", "http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/office/kfelzer/SeisLabTalk.pdf", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftershock#Aftershock_size_and_frequency_with_time" ] ]
5ik7fn
Why didn't more African Americans flee from the South that enslaved them to the North that had waged war to free them?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5ik7fn/why_didnt_more_african_americans_flee_from_the/
{ "a_id": [ "db9gbbr" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Enslaved people tell us again and again that slavery is horrific in just about every possible way. The violence, including sexual violence, the overwork, torture, scanty provisions (sometimes literally starvation rations and/or stuff too nasty fo...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
zuo7n
How much energy would it take to accelerate the mass of Earth to 99.999% light speed?
Like a super sized Hadron Collider. So if we sent astronauts to other stars at near the speed of light, earth could keep with time delineation, so original humans who sent the astronauts could experience the event... at a safe distance. If possible, could a reference for the amount of energy it would take be used? ...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/zuo7n/how_much_energy_would_it_take_to_accelerate_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c67v4y5", "c67y8yv" ], "score": [ 17, 4 ], "text": [ "Relativistic kinetic energy is gamma-1 times mc^2 where gamma is the Lorentz factor, which is 223 in this case. 222 times mass of earth (6x10^24 kg) times c^2 is 1.2 x 10^44 Joules, or the total output of the sun over 8 bil...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2g27zi
How come some medication comes in gel capsules while others are large, solid pills?
Is there a reason for this? I had a conversation today and this came up. Why are some over the counter medications/vitamins so large while others are small? Is there a reason only some are gel capsules instead of all?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2g27zi/how_come_some_medication_comes_in_gel_capsules/
{ "a_id": [ "ckfbppx" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "The most common reason is diffusion kinetics of the drug of interest. Liquids are processed by the body more quickly and the effect of the drug would then be noticed more quickly. If you want a fast acting drug, something like Nyquil, for example...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
a4u4mw
Why there are no blue people, green people, etc., when there are blue birds, green birds, etc.?
Mammals and even monkeys have a range of different colors and patterns. But the great apes are "monochrome". Why is that?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/a4u4mw/why_there_are_no_blue_people_green_people_etc/
{ "a_id": [ "ebhsy3c", "ebo4f81" ], "score": [ 139, 3 ], "text": [ " > Mammals and even monkeys have a range of different colors and patterns. \n\nYou say that, but in truth, mammals only produce two types of pigment; eumelanin (black-brown pigment) and pheomelanin (reddish-yellow) - whic...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_color_vision_in_primates", "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781854/pdf/rstb20090039.pdf", "https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/a4u4mw/why_there_are_no_blue_people_green_people_etc/ebhxy84/", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyndall_e...
63h02n
why would you choose a trebuchet over a catapult?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/63h02n/eli5_why_would_you_choose_a_trebuchet_over_a/
{ "a_id": [ "dfu0mip", "dfu0qcv", "dfu0sht", "dfu1pky", "dfu96ps", "dfubc7h" ], "score": [ 2, 10, 13, 48, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "A trebuchet is a better kind of catapult, it can throw the object farther. Why would you choose a less optimal catapult?", "A tr...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
1sr79h
why is it we can we send a robot outside of our solar system, and exploring the surface of an entirely different planet, but the deepest oceans are unknown to us?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1sr79h/eli5_why_is_it_we_can_we_send_a_robot_outside_of/
{ "a_id": [ "ce0dx7i", "ce0dz7a", "ce0e6y6", "ce0edfz" ], "score": [ 15, 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Space is empty. You're dealing with vaccum. \n\nThe ocean is full of water. Water crushes shit. ", "The problem with the ocean depths is pressure - for the same reason we ca...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
1i30hs
Microhistory - what is it?
Hey everyone, I had a question about "microhistory." I keep hearing this word everywhere, and I'm not sure I fully understand what it means. In particular, I've heard the term said a lot of Alain Corbin (who I really like). Well, what makes him a micro-historian? Is it just because he writes about not-well-known indiv...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1i30hs/microhistory_what_is_it/
{ "a_id": [ "cb0hi4s", "cb0ijlq", "cb0jl6a", "cb0l3mc" ], "score": [ 21, 30, 8, 7 ], "text": [ "I'd say it is difficult to provide an exact definition. Books such as Corbin's The Village of Cannibals, Carlo Ginzburg's The Cheese and the Worm, Natalie Zemon Davis's The Retur...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annales_School" ], [ "http://books.google.fr/books?id=4IUREWq_o3MC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+cheese+and+the+worms&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UPHeUYTxLoeo0AXV4IDQAQ&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=the%20cheese%20and%20the%20worms&f=false", "...
bfotoz
why are people now so much taller than they were hundreds of years ago?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bfotoz/eli5_why_are_people_now_so_much_taller_than_they/
{ "a_id": [ "elf6bol", "elf6d8b", "elf6hhq", "elf6tg5", "elf6udb", "elf8ai6", "elf8npe", "elf8qan", "elfbwj0", "elff05b", "elffn2a", "elfg39k", "elfhm02", "elfmg5z", "elfougd", "elfrz4z", "elfuask", "elfwek6", "elfx7r4", "elg1f3n", "e...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-04-18-highs-and-lows-englishman’s-average-height-over-2000-years-0#" ], [ "https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41228181" ], [ "https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304387818300...
1qlkzh
why is hairloss so hard to cure?
Many of my friends are at that age (late 20s) when thinning hairlines are really starting to manifest. It seems odd that with everything we know about biochemistry and genetics, a real treatment still eludes us. First world problem jokes aside, is it a matter of economics? Or is the basic science just so complicated t...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1qlkzh/why_is_hairloss_so_hard_to_cure/
{ "a_id": [ "cde327o", "cde3z25", "cde4hm2" ], "score": [ 2, 8, 3 ], "text": [ "check this out. treating hair loss and tendon damage with stem cells\n_URL_0_", "I'm really struggling with losing my hair. I'm 31 and getting really thin on top and around my crown. It's getting t...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.replicel.com" ], [], [] ]
48yv5h
how did mp4 technology improve?
I remember when mp4s started becoming commonplace rather than real media files and whatnot lets say 5 years or so ago (at least in China). I remember for the longest time that the dialogue was incredibly quiet and one had to turn up the volume almost to max. Then suddenly an action sequence would come up and end up wa...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/48yv5h/eli5_how_did_mp4_technology_improve/
{ "a_id": [ "d0npdbm", "d0npixt", "d0nzkfu" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ " > I remember for the longest time that the dialogue was incredibly quiet and one had to turn up the volume almost to max. Then suddenly an action sequence would come up and end up waking the neighbours...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_14" ] ]
eou8s3
The convoy system worked great against U-boats in WWI. Why did it have to be "relearned" in WWII?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/eou8s3/the_convoy_system_worked_great_against_uboats_in/
{ "a_id": [ "feflkp7" ], "score": [ 125 ], "text": [ "The question describes the traditional picture of British anti-submarine efforts in the interwar period. It is ultimately derived from Stephen Roskill's *Naval Policy Between the Wars*, and to a lesser extent from Arthur Marder's monograph *The...
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[]
[ [] ]
9vnnwk
what is it that makes some glues able to stick with plastik where others won't?
At work we have different types of glue for different tasks. We mostly use a mixture of wallpaper adhesive and some kind of dispersion (I don't know the right word in english, but in german it's '*Kunstharzdispersion*') which works great with any form of paper, however we have one glue especially for plastic and foil...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9vnnwk/eli5_what_is_it_that_makes_some_glues_able_to/
{ "a_id": [ "e9fxcw8" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "As far as I know, the glue sort of melds the plastic, so that the two peaces that have been glued together form a very strong bond! \n\nSource: Been doing a lot of model building with plastic glue! " ] }
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[ [] ]
4u29vu
why is it easier for non-native english speakers to sing, than to speak, with good pronunciation?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4u29vu/eli5_why_is_it_easier_for_nonnative_english/
{ "a_id": [ "d5mavrf", "d5mgwvs", "d5mh0a8", "d5mhvwn" ], "score": [ 47, 3, 28, 2 ], "text": [ "That's because we repeat the sounds we hear, instead of processing the sound from scratch. \n\nImagine speaking like drawing a horse, isn't it easier to copy one from your drawin...
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[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
6d92p1
How historically accurate is Ken Burns' Civil War?
I just started watching it with my dad not too long ago, and it got me thinking: just how historically accurate is it? I enjoy it very much, but I still want to know, nonetheless.
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6d92p1/how_historically_accurate_is_ken_burns_civil_war/
{ "a_id": [ "di0tctp" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "u/Georgy_K_Zhukov has written a lengthy [response](_URL_0_) in [other](_URL_1_) similar [threads](_URL_2_)." ] }
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/54zv3w/ken_burns_civil_war_series_i_love_it_and_have/d86qc8w/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3x29x6/the_1990_series_the_civil_war_is_one_of_the_most/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/54zv3w/ken_burns_civil_war_serie...
49gx68
why does having general anesthesia feel like you blink and you're in the recovery room when normal sleep feels like time passed?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/49gx68/eli5_why_does_having_general_anesthesia_feel_like/
{ "a_id": [ "d0rqora", "d0rrqai", "d0rslj7", "d0rt3t2", "d0rt6t6", "d0rtwf5", "d0ru6yr", "d0rueg3", "d0rvabr", "d0rvz71", "d0rwxn1", "d0rxb6b", "d0rxk64", "d0ry1m5", "d0ry44i", "d0ry4f5", "d0rz19z", "d0rzhnv", "d0rzu8e", "d0s06mp", "d...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.radiolab.org/story/anesthesia/" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
30yha6
Could much elements heavier that those on the periodic exist in black holes or other super massive celestial bodies?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/30yha6/could_much_elements_heavier_that_those_on_the/
{ "a_id": [ "cpwzuyn", "cpx02g0" ], "score": [ 3, 7 ], "text": [ "First of all, gravity is negligible on the scale of atoms, E & M would be the force that takes over for the strong force as an atom gets too large. Second, inside a black hole is a singularity, which means no elements can e...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_periodic_table" ], [] ]
kxf83
torrents and pirate bay and their dangers
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/kxf83/eli5_torrents_and_pirate_bay_and_their_dangers/
{ "a_id": [ "c2o0g7w", "c2o10ix", "c2o0g7w", "c2o10ix" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "torrents: You can download stuff on the internet using a special program.\n\nPirate bay: A website where you can find a list of files that can be downloaded with a special program....
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
pvqfs
Does driving a pickup truck with the tailgate lowered improve fuel efficiency?
Question is fairly simple, is there a reduction in drag significant enough to save you money on gas over an extended period?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/pvqfs/does_driving_a_pickup_truck_with_the_tailgate/
{ "a_id": [ "c3ss1en" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "[Mythbusters](_URL_0_) demonstrated there was more drag with an open tail gate." ] }
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[]
[ [ "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3aqHbD-O9E" ] ]
ch33u9
where did the original vinegar "mother" come from, if you need vinegar to make a "mother"?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ch33u9/eli5_where_did_the_original_vinegar_mother_come/
{ "a_id": [ "euog1zq", "euogxmc", "euoj8xa" ], "score": [ 11, 8, 9 ], "text": [ "Vinegar is Latin for “sour wine.” All you have to do is let wine go bad under certain conditions and you’ll get a mother eventually.", "There's nothing magical about the mother, it's just the biofi...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
106h1j
Why were there so few night battles during the Civil War?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/106h1j/why_were_there_so_few_night_battles_during_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c6ass0g", "c6axg27", "c6b5dgp" ], "score": [ 11, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Night battles could not be controlled, and navigation was extremely difficult. Large masses of armed men moving at night have little way to distinguish friend from foe without prompt communication that...
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[]
[ [], [], [] ]
4uckzx
After the swift defeat of the majority of British forces in the Pacific, did Japan believe that Australian and New Zealand forces maybe a considerable threat in halting Japanese advance, particularly in New Guinea, New Caledonia and Fiji?
Or did the quick collapse of British forces in Malaya substantiate a belief that the Australians and New Zealanders would be easily defeated and later isolated? Would the abundance of resources, agricultural and growing manufacturing power that Australia and New Zealand possessed at the time as well as Japan over expan...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4uckzx/after_the_swift_defeat_of_the_majority_of_british/
{ "a_id": [ "d5pnxa4" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "After the collapse of Singapore, Australia and New Zealand were effectively isolated and while their manufacturing capabilities were developing, they were not capable of supporting offensive actions in the pacific. (in fact after the supposed thr...
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[]
[ [] ]
18t0dk
Was the United States close to joining the Central Powers in World War I?
I'm currently taking a post-1945 United States history course, and my professor digressed a bit and mentioned that the United States was not destined to join the Triple Alliance in World War I. I'm wondering how accurate that statement is, and if it is accurate how close did the United States actually come to fightin...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/18t0dk/was_the_united_states_close_to_joining_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c8hqkv5" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Well, the United States never joined the Triple Entente/Allies period (the Triple Alliance in the context of WWI usually refers to the [German, Austro-Hungarian, Italian Alliance of 1882](_URL_0_), which was actually in force until 1914 when Ital...
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[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Alliance_(1882\\)" ] ]
6xyjta
why does customer service always say "high number of calls/emails" no matter what. how am i supposed to know when they actually are having a high number and not just saying it for seemingly no reason?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6xyjta/eli5_why_does_customer_service_always_say_high/
{ "a_id": [ "dmjelr1" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "It's pre-emptive. They say it to prepare you for the worst, and hopefully they can get to you reasonably fast and you say, \"Oh, that wasn't actually that long.\"\n\nAs opposed to saying \"we'll get to you as soon as possible\", and if that take...
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[ [] ]
2ppbon
How was agriculture invented? Given the low amount of usable food from pre-domestication plants and the long time it takes between planting seeds and harvest, why did the first agricultural society take it up in the first place?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2ppbon/how_was_agriculture_invented_given_the_low_amount/
{ "a_id": [ "cmyvive" ], "score": [ 13 ], "text": [ "This is a question for /r/AskAnthropology since it predates the historical record by many millenia.\n\nJust to touch upon a few points briefly:\n\n* Humans were aware of the basics of agriculture (i.e., bury a seed, eventually it becomes a plant...
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[]
[ [] ]
4puk3t
Which kings of Rome are likely to have been real?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4puk3t/which_kings_of_rome_are_likely_to_have_been_real/
{ "a_id": [ "d4o719l" ], "score": [ 26 ], "text": [ "Most historians believe that the first king, Romulus, is entirely legendary. His name simply means Roman. The next six kings - Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius and Tarquinius Superbus - probabl...
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[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3hu98e/what_do_we_know_about_the_kingdom_of_rome/cuaqad4" ] ]
1q8y5q
If clouds are formed by evaporation, then does global warming increase cloud formation and subsequent storm formation?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1q8y5q/if_clouds_are_formed_by_evaporation_then_does/
{ "a_id": [ "cdbzud2" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Clouds are not responsible for storms, clouds are caused by storms. The storms result from differences in temperature and pressure from place to place.\n\nThe impact that warming has on global evaporation rates, humidities and cloud cover is the ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
3qt7ni
if the earth rotates at an angle, why are summers at the poles not boiling hot?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qt7ni/eli5_if_the_earth_rotates_at_an_angle_why_are/
{ "a_id": [ "cwi52y3", "cwi53ro", "cwi5kdc" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The amount of energy from the Sun's rays that make it to the Earth depends heavily on the amount of atmosphere that the rays travel through. The more atmosphere the rays travel through, the more energy ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
5h9fxg
how do lines of code and text make up a game, or anything graphical overall?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5h9fxg/eli5_how_do_lines_of_code_and_text_make_up_a_game/
{ "a_id": [ "dayf58y", "dayfpn5" ], "score": [ 2, 3 ], "text": [ "As far as i know even photos taken with cameras are just a line of code going deep enough, how does it work?", "Like all programming, there's layers of complexity. At the highest level, you have a line of code that tells...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
47pa94
why do some people blink a ton?
I have met a handful of people who blink a ton when they are talking. Truly rapid blinking, I can't even try to flutter my eyelids the way they do, but they don't seem to notice it at all. I am very confused what it means/what causes it.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/47pa94/eli5_why_do_some_people_blink_a_ton/
{ "a_id": [ "d0emibd", "d0enkxl", "d0eqpv5", "d0eqzof", "d0eu45w", "d0f39t1", "d0f8ed5", "d0fh90b" ], "score": [ 13, 107, 3, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "For me, it's just a habit/tick. I get very dry eyes as well which is another reason why I...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17526-synchronised-blinking-stops-viewers-missing-the-action/" ] ]
24e4jb
do alpha particles form any compounds?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/24e4jb/do_alpha_particles_form_any_compounds/
{ "a_id": [ "ch68ttf", "ch6dzw6" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Helium forms some unstable compounds, like [hydrohelium](_URL_0_), which is basically an alpha particle bound to a proton.", "Alpha particles are just Helium nuclei, when alpha particles are emitted in enclosed spaces th...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium_hydride_ion" ], [] ]
161vdt
How did the United States of America get the Declaration of Independence back?
From what I understand this document was made as a letter to the king of the time basically telling the king that we are no longer a part of Britain and we are our own nation. What i'm wondering is if it was a letter how did the USA get it back, if I was the king I would be rather upset and probably discarded of such a...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/161vdt/how_did_the_united_states_of_america_get_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c7rxqc0", "c7ry066", "c7s0jus" ], "score": [ 16, 74, 2 ], "text": [ "It wasn't just made as a letter. It was publicly distributed around towns and printed to be hung on public bulletin boards. In layman's terms, it was a letter for the people of the new colonies, mainl...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/03/arts/declaration-of-independence-found-in-a-4-picture-frame.html" ] ]
2uk4hu
Did particles obey the same laws before the Big Bang?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2uk4hu/did_particles_obey_the_same_laws_before_the_big/
{ "a_id": [ "co9bhqa", "co9caos" ], "score": [ 12, 4 ], "text": [ "There wasn't a \"before the Big Bang\", time as we know it was created during the Big Bang. ", "No. In science, you can only study the universe. Anything outside of the universe is outside the realm of science. There...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
23yasr
After 1066, what did the Anglo-Saxons think of their new Norman rulers and vice-versa?
I'm curious as to if there are any historical texts which describes the relationship between the Anglo-Saxons and their new masters. Were they resented? Were they accepted? Similarly, did the Normans regard the Anglo-Saxons as inferior and barbaric? And ultimately, when did the line between "Anglo-Saxon" and "Norman" ...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/23yasr/after_1066_what_did_the_anglosaxons_think_of/
{ "a_id": [ "ch1rgzo", "ch1xvq8" ], "score": [ 9, 5 ], "text": [ "It’s important to understand that until at least the reign of John I, the title “King of England”, was merely an appendage to the title of leader of the [Angevin Empire](_URL_0_). William the Conqueror himself spent little t...
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[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_II,_Plantagenet_Empire.png" ], [] ]
65a9vt
Do objects constantly lose a tiny bit of mass due to emitting infrared radiation because of e=mc^2?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/65a9vt/do_objects_constantly_lose_a_tiny_bit_of_mass_due/
{ "a_id": [ "dg8zg3j" ], "score": [ 11 ], "text": [ "Well at equilibrium, they are absorbing just as much radiation on average as they are emitting. But yes, radiating away internal energy does decrease the mass of the object slightly." ] }
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[ [] ]
f31ki5
when doctors say that an antibiotic or some other medicine attacks certain types of cells, how can you make a drug target certain cells? would creating medicine to target cancer cells work to treat cancer?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f31ki5/eli5_when_doctors_say_that_an_antibiotic_or_some/
{ "a_id": [ "fhg17cu", "fhg1ew5", "fhg1gbc", "fhg1j89", "fhg1qjo", "fhglhyl" ], "score": [ 3, 8, 2, 2, 2, 4 ], "text": [ "In order for a normal body to function cells grow and divide to create new cells. When those cells grow old in the normal cell cycle, th...
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[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
s4l6a
Significance of the Phaistos Disk
Hey History Buffs! I was wondering what the significance of the Phaistos Disk was. From what I understand, it poses a challenge to historians because it shows that inventions are unpredictable, dooming efforts to generalize about the history of technology. But why is this? Any help would be appreciated! Cheers
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/s4l6a/significance_of_the_phaistos_disk/
{ "a_id": [ "c4b1sxb", "c4b3jzg", "c4b85zp" ], "score": [ 7, 5, 5 ], "text": [ "The greatest significance of the Phaistos Disc, is that it undecipherable. People have tried and tried but nothing works out right and seems forced. We can't understand it's purpose without understand...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
c55s8v
Can flow that has exited the throat of a converging-only nozzle exceed Mach 1?
Or can this condition only occur if it is contained/guided within a diverging cone?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/c55s8v/can_flow_that_has_exited_the_throat_of_a/
{ "a_id": [ "erzyqnl", "es07ggf" ], "score": [ 2, 5 ], "text": [ "A converging nozzle can only hit Mach 1. A converging diverging nozzle is required to get supersonic flow. The diverging portion causes the density of the fluid to drop. My compressible flow is a little weak so I'm not su...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
33i01r
how does lung capacity increase?
Does the volume of your lungs become bigger and thus expand outward creating a bigger chest or do the cluster thingies on the inside become more efficient? How does this work? im trying to increase my stamina and i couldn't find a solid answer
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/33i01r/eli5how_does_lung_capacity_increase/
{ "a_id": [ "cql3ji7", "cql6zga", "cql85zg", "cqlc8qs", "cqlcut7", "cqldmq9", "cqletll", "cqlmzlk", "cqm4xne" ], "score": [ 3, 19, 7, 4, 3, 3, 4, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "I think there is also an effect where people learn to breathe more ef...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
5jg2op
if you stick food in a vacuum sealed chamber will it decay?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5jg2op/eli5_if_you_stick_food_in_a_vacuum_sealed_chamber/
{ "a_id": [ "dbfz3hx", "dbfz8bs", "dbfzdgl" ], "score": [ 9, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "It will still decay, just slower. The aerobic bacteria that are present in the food will die after a while, as there is no oxygen for them to grow. Some anaerobic bacteria present in the food, which don...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_decomposition" ], [], [] ]
1gu54z
why are torrents more popular than regular downloads when it comes to illegal material?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1gu54z/eli5_why_are_torrents_more_popular_than_regular/
{ "a_id": [ "cantxrm", "canvogi", "canzgej", "cao3utu" ], "score": [ 88, 24, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Because a \"regular download\" has to be hosted by a server that somebody owns. If the copyright holder complains, it takes like five minutes to find out who owns it and go knock...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
bkryze
does bursting audio too loud ruin a speaker?
also, does the speaker gets damaged by a specific type of sound?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bkryze/eli5_does_bursting_audio_too_loud_ruin_a_speaker/
{ "a_id": [ "emj9wbd" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Yes, in any \"Speaker\" there are two components, the driver(s) and the amp. The driver(s) are the cones that actually move back and forth at specific frequencies to produce sound (sometimes there are multiple that allow the speaker to replicate ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
12t6ms
Faraday Cages: Is there a minimum width to wavelength ratio to be able to block it?
Does a faraday cage need to be thick enough to block certain spectrums of wavelengths? Is it dependant on the width or the density or conductivity of the material?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/12t6ms/faraday_cages_is_there_a_minimum_width_to/
{ "a_id": [ "c6xwgmz", "c6y5ree" ], "score": [ 5, 2 ], "text": [ "The cage material can be as thin or thick as your material will allow; it will work fine independent of the thickness. You can also have holes in it, \na general rule is that the holes need to be no larger than 1/10 of the ...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
1kdb16
Why is Vimeo's HD video streaming so much better than Youtube's?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1kdb16/why_is_vimeos_hd_video_streaming_so_much_better/
{ "a_id": [ "cbnreap" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "_URL_0_\n\nA lot of Youtube's problems come from peering issues. Certain IP ranges can be blocked that help." ] }
[]
[]
[ [ "http://bgr.com/2013/07/29/isp-video-streaming-disputes/" ] ]
1wtnb9
why when i weigh myself before and after i go number 2, i weigh more afterwards. (serious)
This has always bothered me and I'm really curious to know the answer.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1wtnb9/eli5_why_when_i_weigh_myself_before_and_after_i/
{ "a_id": [ "cf58wp6", "cf5bfhq" ], "score": [ 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Sounds like your scale isn't giving consistent results. Measure your self three times in a row stepping off and on, do you get the exact same result each time? Is your floor smooth?", "Is your scale electronic? They ofte...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
3ztcf5
what causes the "blaster" sound on frozen lakes and what is it called?
The best example I have is that of a cable under tension, sound [here](_URL_0_).
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ztcf5/eli5_what_causes_the_blaster_sound_on_frozen/
{ "a_id": [ "cyowc5o" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "It's the sound of ice cracking. The entire lake acts like a compressed spring, and when it cracks, the entire lake surface acts like a giant loudspeaker.\n\n_URL_0_" ] }
[]
[ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRWA9EUItC4" ]
[ [ "https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_6ptf6qFSdg" ] ]
671qpe
donating to eradicate starvation in africa... will it ever work?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/671qpe/eli5_donating_to_eradicate_starvation_in_africa/
{ "a_id": [ "dgn09g9", "dgn0g0j" ], "score": [ 8, 7 ], "text": [ "It's more because charities have to implement small localised solutions to problems that need massive infrastructure investments. Also, because these adverts often talk about 'Africa' rather than talking about specific count...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jul/22/africa-rescue-aid-stealing-resources" ], [] ]
3v3c8e
why does pollution from china and other polluted states not drift with the westerlies to the us?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3v3c8e/eli5_why_does_pollution_from_china_and_other/
{ "a_id": [ "cxjzmrt", "cxk1ybi", "cxk3u9d" ], "score": [ 4, 8, 2 ], "text": [ "It does. I think I read once that something like 1/4 of San Fransisco's poor air quality comes from China. Oregon and Washington get hit, too.", "It totally does. The pollution may be dangerous in t...
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[]
[ [], [], [] ]
3uadvs
why does an ipad cost $500, an ipod touch cost $200, but an iphone costs $700 (without an upgrade)
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3uadvs/eli5_why_does_an_ipad_cost_500_an_ipod_touch_cost/
{ "a_id": [ "cxd8tqe" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ " > An iPod touch is the same thing as an iPhone except it doesn't make calls. \n \nIt used to be, not anymore. The current iPod Touch has a 4\" 640p screen with a 800:1 contrast rario, the 6s has a 4.7\" 750p screen with a 1400:1 contrast rat...
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[]
[ [] ]
32zikn
how does superman exercise and build muscle?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32zikn/eli5_how_does_superman_exercise_and_build_muscle/
{ "a_id": [ "cqg38h1", "cqg3b5x" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Saw something the other day how he has a weightroom with kryptonite in it so it weakens him and allows him to actually work out.. Im sure someone has a better answer", "It depends on the universe that you are talking abo...
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[ [], [] ]
1ssqj8
Where does all the salt eventually go that we put on roads in the winter?
Every year I see plows and salt trucks putting massive amounts of salt on the roads to melt the ice. I also see people and businesses liberally applying it to their sidewalks and driveways. Where does it all go? If it goes into our water supply, why hasn't it been tainted after so many years of doing it?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1ssqj8/where_does_all_the_salt_eventually_go_that_we_put/
{ "a_id": [ "ce0vb2y", "ce0vgq0", "ce0voy2", "ce0w2mz", "ce0wypy", "ce0xkve", "ce0zrx8", "ce0zxk0", "ce12zx8", "ce14sfn", "ce15gpp", "ce15oq0", "ce16jj0", "ce18wuo", "ce1aobz", "ce1ayft" ], "score": [ 14, 341, 1240, 27, 142, 3...
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[ [ "http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/water/water-types-and-programs/minnesotas-impaired-waters-and-tmdls/tmdl-projects/special-projects/metro-area-chloride-project/road-salt-and-water-quality.html" ], [ "http://www.lakesuperiorstreams.org/understanding/impact_salt_2.html" ], [ "http://en.wiki...
1b2so2
Does a neutron, weighing more than a proton, have to be larger in size because it has more mass?
I'm wondering at the quantum level. The way I picture a nucleus is a very large core with protons and neutrons (the neutrons being slightly larger than the protons) with very tiny electrons orbitting it. Does it necessarily have to be this way or could the size of the atom not be set by its mass.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1b2so2/does_a_neutron_weighing_more_than_a_proton_have/
{ "a_id": [ "c932elx", "c932ou2", "c93a45t" ], "score": [ 5, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Fundamental particles have a very poorly defined \"size\". Also, there is no reason for a more massive particle to be \"larger\".", "[The \"size\" of an atom is set by its electron configuration, no...
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[ [], [ "http://crystalmaker.com/support/tutorials/crystalmaker/atomicradii/resources/VFI_Atomic_Radii_sm.jpg" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_orbital#Qualitative_understanding_of_shapes", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_electrodynamics", "http://profmattstrassler.com/articles-an...
31it33
why do i feel physically exhausted after an argument, even if i argued calmly?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/31it33/eli5_why_do_i_feel_physically_exhausted_after_an/
{ "a_id": [ "cq1yunl" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Because any sort of conflict triggers the 'fight or flight' response.\n\n[Wikipedia] Fight-or-flight response - _URL_0_" ] }
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[]
[ [ "https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fight-or-flight_response" ] ]
3mpn94
why do we need to wash our fruit and vegetables before eating them? what exactly are we washing off?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3mpn94/eli5why_do_we_need_to_wash_our_fruit_and/
{ "a_id": [ "cvgyzn2", "cvgzalp", "cvgzcd4", "cvgzhrs", "cvgzlsf", "cvgztgi", "cvh07pz" ], "score": [ 6, 5, 5, 2, 2, 8, 2 ], "text": [ "Possibly salmonella. The exterior of fruits and vegetables are handled often and are normally quite dirty. Unlike ...
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[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
1smlqd
why do materials in the earths crust group together in vains?
I know that the earth has a metallic core because the heavier elements sunk down when the earth was still a giant molten ball of fire. But wouldn't the same heat and fluidity have allowed for the diffusion and fairly even spread of elements.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1smlqd/eli5_why_do_materials_in_the_earths_crust_group/
{ "a_id": [ "cdz905l" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "In any given volume of molten rock in the core of the earth there is a mixture of different elements, roughly equally distributed like sugar stirred into a cup of coffee.\n\nSometimes that molten rock is cooled - usually by being injected into a ...
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[ [] ]
1si6cg
what is the basic idea behind the concept of a "rainbow universe" and what does it mean for us?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1si6cg/eli5_what_is_the_basic_idea_behind_the_concept_of/
{ "a_id": [ "cdxtqyv" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "The basic idea is that different frequencies of light would be affected slightly differently by gravity. The rainbow comes from just that -- looking at the color of the light as well as the effect that gravity has on it.\n\nIt would be very diffi...
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b71tbv
why would an overweight person not be able to eat as much as a skinny fit person? (read below)
Sorry the question is worded weridly. This subreddit is kinda bad about removing posts. But, I (18 and overweight) can barely eat one normal sized meal before feeling super super full and my girlfriend (18 and super skinny/fit) can eat a larger meal and still be hungry. Why is this?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b71tbv/eli5_why_would_an_overweight_person_not_be_able/
{ "a_id": [ "ejpsl0n" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "How much you can eat in one sitting is based on stomach size, not body size. The fact that you have a lot more fat stored around your body has nothing to do with how big your stomach is. In fact, it probably makes it harder for you to eat massive...
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bf63v6
why is it that i sometimes lose my complete sense of time and day after taking a nap?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bf63v6/eli5_why_is_it_that_i_sometimes_lose_my_complete/
{ "a_id": [ "elbbnzv" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "When you sleep you go through different stages dictated by what are called alpha and theta waves. Being in certain stages of sleep will result in different levels of awareness upon waking up. I don’t remember what stages dictate what, but some in...
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3jpuin
why do we prefer more width over more height on screens (movies, tv's, monitors, etc.)?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3jpuin/eli5_why_do_we_prefer_more_width_over_more_height/
{ "a_id": [ "curbjro", "curbth7" ], "score": [ 7, 2 ], "text": [ "Our eyes naturally see in a wide screen aspect ratio so wider screens fill our vision more than square ones.", "That's how our world is arranged: The sky and ground right beneath us are both mostly featureless, so we foc...
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[ [], [] ]
8apnhp
humans and their ancestors didn't always have civilization to make caring for one another so easy. when/why did human babys get so useless?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8apnhp/eli5humans_and_their_ancestors_didnt_always_have/
{ "a_id": [ "dx0htgu" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "They have been in tribes and small communities for hundreds of thousands of years. Depends how you define civilization but we have pretty much always had a group of other people to help out (at least as long as we were still considered people)." ...
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2k12ie
If CO2 dissolved in water is basically the same as carbonic acid, could you carbonate water by dissolving carbonic acid in it instead of using a CO2 tank?
I assume you'd need a high partial pressure for CO2 over the water, but would this otherwise work?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2k12ie/if_co2_dissolved_in_water_is_basically_the_same/
{ "a_id": [ "clh9zae", "clhdqqz" ], "score": [ 3, 5 ], "text": [ "Yep, the only problem is that solid carbonic acid often comes as a sodium salt. This means that while you add fizz, you also add saltiness. This is why baking soda is not so pleasant when overused (baking soda is sodium bica...
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[ [], [ "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482932/" ] ]
4o6smr
History of military strategies
Hello askhistorians I'm 23 years old and currently trying to become a history teacher. I have always been interested in the history of war and I've been reading a lot about it. I have read a lot about the political and economic side of war. But I don't know anything about the tactics and strategies that where used. ...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4o6smr/history_of_military_strategies/
{ "a_id": [ "d4a3793", "d4a4f2l", "d4a9pmn", "d4abzkv", "d4ammb8", "d4anv3e", "d4bkog5" ], "score": [ 5, 3, 5, 3, 5, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The historian Adrian Goldsworthy has made quite a successful career out of writing (normally very good) books abou...
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[ [ "https://www.amazon.com/Name-Rome-Roman-Empire-Phoenix/dp/0753817896" ], [], [], [ "https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FHWyffZn5-c" ], [], [], [] ]
cra0fi
; why do pills generally need to be kept at a certain temperature?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cra0fi/eli5_why_do_pills_generally_need_to_be_kept_at_a/
{ "a_id": [ "ex31dv7" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Heat typically accelerates the rate at which things degrade or break down, so keeping pills at a certain temperature reduces the likelihood and/or speed at which the active ingredient in your medicine breaks down and no longer does it's job.\n\nT...
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kjxez
- what would happen to the ocean (and the earth) if all sea life was removed from the ocean.
Talking more about the effects on the oceans level and the subsequent effects on the Earth, rather than the effects on humans themselves. (but explaining that would be cool too)
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/kjxez/eli5_what_would_happen_to_the_ocean_and_the_earth/
{ "a_id": [ "c2kuum0", "c2kuum0" ], "score": [ 4, 4 ], "text": [ "Plankton in the ocean are responsible for producing most of the oxygen that is created by biological processes. Without them, there will be lots more CO2 in the atmosphere. This will probably also accelerate global warming a...
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9ky533
why is the majority of education based simply upon regurgitating facts and memorizing details/formulas when nothing is gained simply from memorizing them, but rather using them in a meaningful way?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9ky533/eli5_why_is_the_majority_of_education_based/
{ "a_id": [ "e72okxi", "e72olw6" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "I'm just a burnt-out college senior sitting here late at night cramming for yet another midterm and pissed that I still have to take tests, but I'm fed up with education, at least as my experience with it has been. All I'm e...
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[ [], [] ]
magvc
Why does my french bread go hard as a rock after 3 days?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/magvc/why_does_my_french_bread_go_hard_as_a_rock_after/
{ "a_id": [ "c2zd7ev", "c2zd7tm", "c2zd7ev", "c2zd7tm" ], "score": [ 2, 6, 2, 6 ], "text": [ "lack of preservatives, or rather less than store bought white bread....", "It just dries out. Fresh bread has lots of moisture in it, but over time that moisture evaporates and...
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[ [], [], [], [] ]
a2g6b0
This post will self destruct... (what is the history behind the idea of the self destruct button?)
The "self-destruct" button is a pretty common trope in scifi, military, and spy media and is just taken as a normal precaution. Have there actually ever been (or I guess are there) places where self destruct buttons are routinely used? Do we have any historical examples of "self destruction"? When did this idea firs...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/a2g6b0/this_post_will_self_destruct_what_is_the_history/
{ "a_id": [ "eayfekj" ], "score": [ 31 ], "text": [ "Military equipment has long had some sort of process for self-destruction in order to prevent capture by the enemy. If they obtain functioning examples, not only might they press it into service with their own military, but more importantly, the...
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[ [ "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1343/9895/products/DSCN6870\\_1024x1024.JPG?v=1474667377", "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1343/9895/products/DSCN6870_1024x1024.JPG?v=1474667377" ] ]
1g32nc
Questions about Norse North America
As I understand it, there are a lot of theories about pre-columbian visitors to the Americas, and the only one that is wildly accepted as hard fact with hard evidence is Vikings in North America. I have a few questions about it. What was the state of the settlements at their height? If I were an average person in one...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1g32nc/questions_about_norse_north_america/
{ "a_id": [ "cagbmlg" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "Yipes.. these are a lot of questions! Here are a bunch of previous posts on the Norse settlement in North America that address at least some of your questions. I don't see that any touch on your first questions about the state of the settlements ...
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[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/wecun/nonsaga_sources_describing_interaction_between/", "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/yyut4/why_didnt_the_vikings_settle_in_north_america/", "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1f7efh/how_much_do_we_know_about_the_scandinavi...
6wxhqg
why are there no protections against a a rich person suing a poor person? why can a company sue a person and trap him for years, making him bankrupt?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6wxhqg/eli5_why_are_there_no_protections_against_a_a/
{ "a_id": [ "dmbi7q8", "dmbie31" ], "score": [ 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Think about it: what is the purpose of suing someone? Typically, you either want to stop them from doing something that's illegal (get an injunction), or get compensation for an illegal act (a tort) they committed against yo...
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29dlzi
how does a wooden sailing ship work in terms of the wheel steering it?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/29dlzi/eli5_how_does_a_wooden_sailing_ship_work_in_terms/
{ "a_id": [ "cijw1h2" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "The wheel controls a rudder located underneath the ship. The rudder then displaces water allowing the ship to move freely within its surroundings." ] }
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[ [] ]
1ltdpa
what is the invisible hand idea?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ltdpa/eli5_what_is_the_invisible_hand_idea/
{ "a_id": [ "cc2jbxz" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "In the 1700s, people were still trying to figure out how production and consumption worked and what governments should do about it. One set of ideas, now associated with a man called Adam Smith, came up with some theories which essentially said t...
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1jh7f9
the hubble telescope
Can someone explain in simple terms how astrophysicists and astronomers can determine the distance and existence of planets/stars billions of miles away? I know the Hubble telescope takes in light which has been emitted by glowing stars but with all that power and "accuracy" how come we have a hard time determining wha...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1jh7f9/eli5_the_hubble_telescope/
{ "a_id": [ "cbemxgp" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "The farther a star is, the dimmer it appears. A star's color spectrum is a good proxy for its actual brightness, so given that and it's apparent brightness (how bright it appears), we can estimate its distance. We can also see if it's moving away...
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2wxbxi
Did any medieval European countries have a proper standing army, or did they all rely upon the feudal system of raising levy forces?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2wxbxi/did_any_medieval_european_countries_have_a_proper/
{ "a_id": [ "cov5g3q" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Yes. The Byzantines had what you could consider a \"standing army\" in their Imperial *tagmata*, elite regiments of full-time professional soldiers used for a variety of operations, including the garrisoning of strategic sites and offensive campa...
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o9q9a
If we can make diet soda with zero calories, why can't we make lite beer (or any other alcohol) with zero calories?
I assume it has something to do with the unique properties of ethanol as far as producing the effects of intoxication, but it seems like we could come up with a chemical that mimics the effect just as we've come up with non-caloric chemicals that mimic the effect of sweetness.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/o9q9a/if_we_can_make_diet_soda_with_zero_calories_why/
{ "a_id": [ "c3fif09", "c3fimu6" ], "score": [ 20, 2 ], "text": [ "Because alcohol in and of itself *has* calories. Ethanol goes to acetaldehyde, which then goes to acetic acid and then acetyl CoA, which can enter the citric acid cycle. There are other chemicals which can mimic some of t...
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[ [], [] ]
2i34io
Without observing the sky, is it possible to prove that the earth is rotating/orbiting?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2i34io/without_observing_the_sky_is_it_possible_to_prove/
{ "a_id": [ "ckycxaf", "ckyg0a6", "ckyhn6l", "ckyits7", "ckyiv80", "ckyj61h", "ckyl1cj", "ckysugg", "ckz970k" ], "score": [ 472, 21, 33, 10, 14, 3, 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "In the case of the Earth's rotation, yes, for instance, a relati...
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[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foucault_pendulum" ], [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heading_indicator" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foucault_pendulum" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ab%C5%AB_Ray%E1%B8%A5%C4%81n_al-B%C4%ABr%C5%ABn%C4%AB" ], [], [], [ "h...
8h8rxh
Once the fate of the Mexican-American War was all but clear, was there any serious discussion amongst the Americans to annex ALL of Mexico?
I’ve heard some ridiculous statements from people saying, usually sarcastically, that we should’ve annexed all of Mexico. Well, once it was clear, with the successful capture of Mexico City in 1847, that the Mexico had lost the war, was there any serious discussion in the US government or media to actually annex all of...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8h8rxh/once_the_fate_of_the_mexicanamerican_war_was_all/
{ "a_id": [ "dyiatm8" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "There may be more to say, but you might like to start with a discussion from the FAQ section [\"American Expansion\"](_URL_1_) (in the app: about 25% of the way down the page). [\"During Manifest Destiny why did the US not try to annex all of Me...
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[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2f6an0/during_manifest_destiny_why_did_the_us_not_try_to/ck6bid4/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/us_history#wiki_american_expansion" ] ]
m5uea
What is the closest another habitable planet could be near earth?
If there was a new planet, similar to earth that was habitable, what is the closest path they could be to earth to be viable and still capable of holding life? Would they share an orbit with us? Be close by that we can travel back/forth with a ship? Would they have to be as far as Mars? Or would they die out because ...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/m5uea/what_is_the_closest_another_habitable_planet/
{ "a_id": [ "c2ycxyn", "c2ydjvw", "c2ygj7j", "c2ycxyn", "c2ydjvw", "c2ygj7j" ], "score": [ 5, 7, 3, 5, 7, 3 ], "text": [ "The closest star is [Proxima Centauri](_URL_1_) which is 4.2 light years away. That's [about 170,000 times farther than Mars](_URL_3_)....
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[ [ "http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=4.2%20light%20years%20%2F%2062000%20km%2Fh", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxima_Centauri", "http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/spacecraft/q0260.shtml", "http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=distance+to+proxima+centauri+%2F+distance+to+mars" ], [ "...
2oajaj
Theoretically, if a brain were to be continuously transplanted into different host bodies, would it be able to survive forever?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2oajaj/theoretically_if_a_brain_were_to_be_continuously/
{ "a_id": [ "cmldszm", "cmlrlve" ], "score": [ 27, 6 ], "text": [ "There are at least three issues:\n\n1. We've never transplanted a brain, so it's hard to answer this question even hypothetically (not theoretically, hypothetically).\n\n2. Mature brains don't produce new neurons, so you be...
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[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease" ], [] ]