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1mi3x3
How is it that two of history's greatest civilizations' most notable feats of engineering were pyramids if they were seemingly unaware of each other's existence?
The Mayans and the ancient Egyptians both constructed huge pyramids in completely different parts of the world and at different times. Is it simply coincidence that their largest structures had the same geometric shape, or was there a logistic reason for the design? Finally, is it possible that the two civilizations h...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1mi3x3/how_is_it_that_two_of_historys_greatest/
{ "a_id": [ "cc9gktr", "cc9ix36" ], "score": [ 6, 7 ], "text": [ "Pyramids are easy to build. Big slabs go on the bottom, smaller ones go on the top. Just because the designs are recurrent across the world doesn't in itself infer contact and 'design exchange'.\nThe cocaine mummies are like...
[]
[ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Columbian_trans-oceanic_contact#Egyptian_coca_and_tobacco" ]
[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1m18cv/monday_mysteries_what_are_the_most_outlandish_or/cc4tgc1" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_mound", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramids_of_G%C3%BC%C3%ADmar", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_pyramids", "http://en.wikipe...
79wcvd
- how do baggage scanners at the airport work? what do the different colors on the x-ray mean?
The x-ray I get from my doctor is only black and white whereas the x-ray scanners at the airport show different colors. Also, what do the colors mean?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/79wcvd/eli5_how_do_baggage_scanners_at_the_airport_work/
{ "a_id": [ "dp594ox", "dp5979g" ], "score": [ 13, 3 ], "text": [ "The x-ray devices in luggage scanners are a bit more complicated than the x-ray medical imaging devices. In particular, they're set up to identify and distinguish between different *kinds* of objects, whereas medical x-rays...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
18u9ad
What happens if you mix all the elements together on the periodic table?
This was inspired by an /r/shittyaskscience post. It would be nice to be walked through the first few reactions that would occur or the final result. I'm an engineer, not a chemist, but I'll try to establish some constraints: * in a 1 litre, enclosed container, ultra-high vacuum (10^-7 Pa) * 1mol of each element *...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/18u9ad/what_happens_if_you_mix_all_the_elements_together/
{ "a_id": [ "c8i9ziu" ], "score": [ 10 ], "text": [ " > It would be nice to be walked through the first few reactions that would occur or the final result.\n\nOK, I'll try to go up to sodium, how's that? But realize that we have to make a lot of guesses and assumptions along the way...\n\nOur tou...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium_atom_scattering", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_%28unit%29", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbomolecular_pump", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triplet_oxygen", "http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.200502325", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_beam...
37vmik
homeless & unemployed people in first world countries?
My "attitude" may be stupid or ignorant but that's a thing I was always wondering about. Is it really that hard to find a job as an uneducated person? I was taught that there are more than enough jobs out there that require almost no education/career and that if your willing enough, you will find at least a minimum wag...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/37vmik/eli5_homeless_unemployed_people_in_first_world/
{ "a_id": [ "crq5ijs", "crq5juk", "crq5vwh", "crq6dib" ], "score": [ 2, 5, 14, 2 ], "text": [ "There are more people than jobs. Americans tend to blame the victim, so we effectively punish the poor and refuse to hire them for anything.", "The person who told you there a...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [ "http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm", "http://www.bls.gov/news.release/jolts.nr0.htm" ] ]
72pyim
when looking for specific street signs, why do we turn down the music to see better?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/72pyim/eli5_when_looking_for_specific_street_signs_why/
{ "a_id": [ "dnkeo6o" ], "score": [ 12 ], "text": [ "“Directing attention to listening effectively ‘turns down the volume’ on input to the visual parts of the brain. The evidence we have right now strongly suggests that attention is strictly limited — a zero-sum game. When attention is deployed to...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/11/11/why-do-you-turn-down-the-radio-when-youre-lost/" ] ]
2natj5
why is baseball considered "the american pastime"?
As a person that isn't American, I'm just curious really.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2natj5/eli5_why_is_baseball_considered_the_american/
{ "a_id": [ "cmbxc37" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Because for a long time, it was America's most popular sport. Baseball as a sport developed in the mid-1800's and it wasn't until the late 1950's that football overtook it as America's most popular sport. (the 1958 NFL Championship game is thou...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
a0icrw
Otto von Bismarck famously predicted that the next major European war would be the result of "some damned foolish thing in the Balkans" well before it happened; how was he able to anticipate that this would be the flashpoint? What made it a natural candidate to set off a major conflict?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/a0icrw/otto_von_bismarck_famously_predicted_that_the/
{ "a_id": [ "eaibmbv" ], "score": [ 91 ], "text": [ "I'd like to link to a previous thread. Not only because of usual reasons of relevancy, but also because user /u/Aleksx000 also tackles the question of whether Bismarck actually even said the quote:\n\n_URL_0_\n\nThere are also links to other pr...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8ax9vl/otto_von_bismarck_famously_anticipated_that_the/" ] ]
1st3ii
Historically, how much did martial skill in combat matter between two armies?
How much did the relative difference in martial skill between two armies matter in combat, compared to other factors, such as morale and equipment? As a typical infantryman, how much did it matter how good I was with fighting with a sword or pike, compared to the quality of my equipment or the morale of my comrades? Th...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1st3ii/historically_how_much_did_martial_skill_in_combat/
{ "a_id": [ "ce11wd5", "ce13jdy", "ce13l7z", "ce142ut", "ce1490y", "ce15oc1", "ce18jpa", "ce19e8j", "ce1dpqj", "ce1g8qv" ], "score": [ 20, 24, 313, 36, 57, 11, 2, 143, 3, 4 ], "text": [ "Early firearms certainly required a lot...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1sitcl/what_was_it_like_to_be_in_an_ancient_battle/cdy3plw" ], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numidian_cavalry" ], [], [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Corti%C3%A7o", "http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/hispanic_a...
1pzu15
How did the end of slavery affect agriculture in the American south? Did the major plantations collapse?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1pzu15/how_did_the_end_of_slavery_affect_agriculture_in/
{ "a_id": [ "cd7tcge", "cd7u61l" ], "score": [ 7, 5 ], "text": [ "The American south still used a system called share-cropping. This system allowed wealthy white farmers to keep the poorer black farmers constantly in debt and farming land that they did not own. This means that large plan...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2rsfrw
Did the Nazis learn other languages prior to invading countries or did they employ translators? For example, did a few soldiers get made to learn Czech before they annexed Czechoslovakia?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2rsfrw/did_the_nazis_learn_other_languages_prior_to/
{ "a_id": [ "cnjoceh" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Czechoslovakia actually has cohabited by Germans Czechs Slovaks Hungarians Ukranians Polish etc for a very long time. After World War I and the sudden decline of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the newly found Czechoslovakia had more germanspeakin...
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[ [] ]
1rcvso
Why does it matter to have both Big and Little Endian?
Wouldn't it be easier if everyone agreed on using one over the other? Or are their cases where byte significance matters?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1rcvso/why_does_it_matter_to_have_both_big_and_little/
{ "a_id": [ "cdm27j3" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "The original computer architectures used different circuitry for retrieving bytes assembling into word sizes matching the register size in the CPU. When you were looking at the memory sequentially, independent from the CPU, you needed to know wh...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
3xy81l
how does one become a musical conductor? at the job interview do they just say "here, wave this stick to the tune of this music, that the band already thoroughly know"?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3xy81l/eli5_how_does_one_become_a_musical_conductor_at/
{ "a_id": [ "cy8u0vl" ], "score": [ 18 ], "text": [ "Speaking as a lifetime musician who's been playing in brass bands, wind bands and orchestras since I was ten years old, if that's all you think a conductor does, then you're spectacularly unqualified for the position.\n\nA conductor's role is th...
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[]
[ [] ]
z2ib5
what sort of chance does gary johnson really have of winning the presidential election?
I haven't seen an ad for him or any media coverage or even a discussion here, on reddit. It seems to even know he exists I had to look for him.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/z2ib5/eli5_what_sort_of_chance_does_gary_johnson_really/
{ "a_id": [ "c60w3zf", "c610jm6" ], "score": [ 7, 2 ], "text": [ "None. Realistically the American political system will only sustain two parties. Historically very few third party candidates (i.e. not a Democrat or Republican) have ever had any real success in elections. Most of the time,...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2im8r6
why do the fog lights on my car turn off when i turn on my highbeams? why can they not be on at the same time?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2im8r6/eli5_why_do_the_fog_lights_on_my_car_turn_off/
{ "a_id": [ "cl3dswg" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "The for lights try to shine underneath the fog. If you turn on your highways, the light reflects off of the for or snow back to your face, blinding you. \n\n\nDisclaimer, apologies if I don't make sense, I'm baked. " ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
19dhwm
An atom hits you!
Would you feel a single atom hitting you at an extremely fast speed such as 100000mph? lets say something as heavy or heavier than 30amu. It's always puzzled me.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/19dhwm/an_atom_hits_you/
{ "a_id": [ "c8n12qa", "c8n1553", "c8n17z4", "c8n4ie8" ], "score": [ 2, 7, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "No. Such an atom would have 5e-17 Joules of energy, which is about the energy of 150 green photons.", "Nope. But that's not very fast, nor heavy. \n\nBut even if we were to tak...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=kinetic+energy+lead+atom+.99999+c" ], [], [ "http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/05/the-man-who-stuck-his-head-inside-a-particle-accelerator/" ] ]
2aowdm
where did the phrase "used to" come from?
Example: *I used to be a pilot.*
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2aowdm/eli5_where_did_the_phrase_used_to_come_from/
{ "a_id": [ "cixbcm9", "cixbdmf" ], "score": [ 4, 33 ], "text": [ "Obviously not my own words but I found this \n & gt;According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest text using \"used to\" in the context you ask about is Robert Mannyngs \"Handlyng Synne 1303.\" The quote cited i...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=use&searchmode=none" ] ]
5znavs
why do we shed tears because of certain emotions? why not other body fluids, or sort.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5znavs/eli5eli5_why_do_we_shed_tears_because_of_certain/
{ "a_id": [ "dezfzzs" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Look I know you want to ejaculate when you cry, but it just isn't normal m'kay?" ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1xchnu
What was the nature of the relationship between Richard I and Phillip II?
I'm not sure if there is a definite answer to this. Sometimes they are portrayed as friends and allies; other times they are portrayed as having a homosexual relationship. Is there any truth to the second theory? What do we know about their relationship?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1xchnu/what_was_the_nature_of_the_relationship_between/
{ "a_id": [ "cfa6sxz" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "It was in-tents.\n\nBecause they once slept together in the same tent.\n\nMan I am on a dad joke roll today.\n\nAnyway, that time they slept together in the same tent is the root of the myth - and let's re-emphasize this word **myth** - that Rich...
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[]
[ [] ]
q0qtw
Why are some people flat-footed and what are the known disadvantages/advantages of this trait?
I asked this before, but after no response, decided to delete and rephrase my question. I know the US military will not accept flat-footed soldiers. They mentioned increased fatigue over long distance, but their research was inconclusive. Considering me and most of my living relatives have this condition, I'm intereste...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/q0qtw/why_are_some_people_flatfooted_and_what_are_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c3tso45", "c3tu6vz", "c3ty3sq", "c3tzc0r", "c3u0lxo" ], "score": [ 12, 60, 2, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Not sure about the genetics behind it, all I know is flat-footed people have a tendency to over-pronante (Rolling on the inside of the foot after the heel s...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [ "http://barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/", "http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/publishahead/Foot_Strike_and_Injury_Rates_in_Endurance_Runners_.98750.aspx" ], [ "http://www.amazon.com/Foot-Book-Complete-Healthy-Hopkins/dp/1421401304/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1...
5e35hy
why raising ones arms behind the head is a sign of relaxation?
I was wondering as I was [sitting 'kicking back' on my chair I raised my arms behind my head](_URL_0_). Doesn't this actually use extra power to lift the arms rather than putting them on the sides or the lap?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5e35hy/eli5_why_raising_ones_arms_behind_the_head_is_a/
{ "a_id": [ "da9byj2", "da9c01r", "da9c8vz", "da9d510" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "To my understanding, crossed arms means insecure or defensive. So open raised/arms kinda shows that someone's comfortable with being somewhat vulnerable.", "Well, first things ...
[]
[ "http://previews.123rf.com/images/tomsaga/tomsaga1301/tomsaga130100004/17566153-Man-relaxed-sitting-on-a-chair-looking-at-camera-Stock-Photo.jpg" ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
mx2sv
what is creativity?
Why do humans have it? What part of the brain is responsible for it? edit: Too broad originally
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/mx2sv/eli5_what_is_creativity/
{ "a_id": [ "c34j13p", "c34kdw8", "c34j13p", "c34kdw8" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "A bold turnip, his red scarf flapping in the wind, barely maintains control of an ever accelerating sportscar while we reflect on the events that made him the man he is today, acco...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
2dn4kg
which part of the brain helps us focus?
I have wondered if focusing is something that overlaps the 'thinking' part of the brain. Since even during the times when the brain is hyper-activated and trying to think about a a lot of things at the same time (like when on strong medication and under the influence of drugs), one needs to focus to follow and stay on ...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2dn4kg/eli5which_part_of_the_brain_helps_us_focus/
{ "a_id": [ "cjr3zsy" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Your brain is broken down into different parts:\n\n_URL_0_\n\nThe cortex (all the colored parts that can be seen on the surface of the brain) is made up of the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobe. Each of these lobes is thought to be...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://cern-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Brain-Anatomy-Function.jpg" ] ]
1hvy1a
Did the Hindenburg Disaster discourage any further research into airship/balloon powered travel, or were we already moving towards planes for air travel?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1hvy1a/did_the_hindenburg_disaster_discourage_any/
{ "a_id": [ "cayhgpj" ], "score": [ 12 ], "text": [ "Airships had reached the limits of their possibilities in the 1930's, while planes were making rapid advances in speed, range, ceiling and rough-weather capacities. The Nazi's weren't very interested in airships, and a number of other disasters ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
i3a4w
If I shine a flashlight or laser pointer into the night sky, does emission of stimulation radiation continue on infinitely?
Or does the energy deplete via the earth's atmosphere (or something)?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/i3a4w/if_i_shine_a_flashlight_or_laser_pointer_into_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c20jfkk", "c20lfg2" ], "score": [ 11, 4 ], "text": [ "Unless it hits something, it is ever so slowly absorbed by interstellar gas and dust.", "[This](_URL_0_) is a common model for laser beams, and it contains a term for divergence angle. I *think* all real lasers have a f...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaussian_beam" ] ]
1nff9c
How did european infantry tactics change between 1860 and 1910?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1nff9c/how_did_european_infantry_tactics_change_between/
{ "a_id": [ "cci5b2t", "cci5lzb" ], "score": [ 10, 24 ], "text": [ "*Please note the following applies to when two mainland European armies faced each other. Tactics differed when engaged in colonial conflicts.*\n\nThe long and short of it are as follows. The tactics of pre 1860 Europe (ge...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/33697/20111130jdp001_bdd_Ed4.pdf" ] ]
1uwicx
why does orange juice with pulp have the same fiber content as pulp-free?
Comparing two MinuteMaid bottles yesterday.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1uwicx/eli5_why_does_orange_juice_with_pulp_have_the/
{ "a_id": [ "cemckif" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Fiber is soluble in water (try it with some Metamucil!) and the actual pulp adds an insignificant amount of fiber to that already in the OJ." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
eogqxn
Why is paramagnetism seemingly stronger than diamagnetism?
Studying I just learned that there’s things that magnets exclusively repel called diamagnets, but I’ve never seen on in real life, not even in college labs when studying magnetism. From what I’ve seen online diamagnetic materials are barely repelled in comparison to strong magnets attracting paramagnetic material which...
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/eogqxn/why_is_paramagnetism_seemingly_stronger_than/
{ "a_id": [ "feesti4" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Your example of \"crushing fingers\" probably involves a ferromagnet, not a paramagnet, but you are right that paramagnetism tends to be stronger than diamagnetism.\n\nUsually, paramagnetism comes from the spins of unpaired electrons, whereas dia...
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[]
[ [] ]
3l287g
Can someone explain to me the Fetch Decode Execute cycle?
After reading up on the subject and watching several videos I still find the whole process rather complicated. Would it be possible for someone to explain it to me in a more simple manor. I know quite a few basics about the subject I would just like a concise order of events. Thank you for your time.
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3l287g/can_someone_explain_to_me_the_fetch_decode/
{ "a_id": [ "cv2j3dz", "cv3ifli" ], "score": [ 8, 3 ], "text": [ " 1. Fetch: copy an instruction from memory to CPU\n 2. Decode: look at the instruction and, based on what type of instruction it is (for example, \"store value in memory\" vs \"add two values\", decide what to do next\n 3. E...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Computing-Systems-gates-beyond/dp/0072467509", "http://images.slideplayer.com/5/1509078/slides/slide_13.jpg", "http://ece224web.groups.et.byu.net/reference/LC3_Instructions.gif", "http://www.liafa.jussieu.fr/~carton/Enseignement/Architecture/Cours/LC3/data...
2xwklj
What would have happened if the Apollo astronauts were stranded on the Moon?
I've read the ['In Event of Moon Disaster'](_URL_0_) transcript, to be delivered by President Nixon in the event of Armstrong and Aldrin being stranded on the Moon, but have a few further questions: * Was this speech to be delivered whilst the astronauts were still alive? * Would NASA have ended communications with...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2xwklj/what_would_have_happened_if_the_apollo_astronauts/
{ "a_id": [ "cp426a2", "cp427l8", "cp42c0v", "cp4j397" ], "score": [ 28, 9, 126, 5 ], "text": [ "I don't have the book on front of me at the moment (posting from phone), but Jim Lovell (of Apollo 13) and Jeffrey Kluger actually addressed the suicide issue in \"Lost Moon: Th...
[]
[ "http://www.lettersofnote.com/2010/11/in-event-of-moon-disaster.html" ]
[ [], [], [ "http://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/12/opinion/essay-disaster-never-came.html" ], [ "https://archive.org/details/OTRR_X_Minus_One_Singles", "archive.org", "https://ia802608.us.archive.org/15/items/OTRR_X_Minus_One_Singles/XMinusOne56-02-01036TheCaveOfNight.mp3" ] ]
ueccw
Do dyslexic people read Arabic/Hebrew backwards or is dyslexia not a problem for languages read right to left?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ueccw/do_dyslexic_people_read_arabichebrew_backwards_or/
{ "a_id": [ "c4uof41" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "_URL_0_\n\nDyslexia is a broad term... " ] }
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyslexia" ] ]
s1y2d
When I happen to get shot or stabbed in a dream, I wake up with "pins and needles" in that spot. Why is this, and which one causes the other?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/s1y2d/when_i_happen_to_get_shot_or_stabbed_in_a_dream_i/
{ "a_id": [ "c4afuqq" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ " > Research has been able to show that pain is rare but perceptible in dreams. Three explanations for pain dreams are postulated: incorporation of pain during sleep, memories of self-experienced pain (first-person memories), and pain seen in othe...
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[]
[ [ "http://www.mendeley.com/research/physical-pain-mental-pain-malaise-dreams/" ] ]
2q9b8b
why does the vending machine not take my dollar until it feels like it?
Every time I try inserting a dollar bill into a vending machine, the damn machine just spits it out until it finally decides its done having me as its bitch and accepts it like nothing happened. Why does this happen??
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2q9b8b/eli5_why_does_the_vending_machine_not_take_my/
{ "a_id": [ "cn41dqq" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Well, the machine checks the dollar for being genuine. Being it a machine and not a human there are multiple kinds of tests. Magnetic, optical and some others I do not know about. Based on an algorithm and looking at the defects, it determined th...
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[ [] ]
6bs7i7
why do people want to live on mars?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6bs7i7/eli5_why_do_people_want_to_live_on_mars/
{ "a_id": [ "dhp39mb", "dhp3gsy" ], "score": [ 3, 8 ], "text": [ "To prove it can be done. To make history. To be one of the chosen. To build something new. To go boldly.", "Its more like your Lamborghini is reaching 300k miles and you need to prove that you know how to buy a car so yo...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2rlv8v
ounces; measuring liquids and measuring weight?
I am confused about this. So apparently ounces can be used as two different measurements just as metres and litres? Why? How did this come about? Murica pls
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2rlv8v/eli5_ounces_measuring_liquids_and_measuring_weight/
{ "a_id": [ "cnh3118" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "There are two unrelated units:\n\nOunces are a measure of mass.\n\n[Fluid ounces](_URL_0_) are a measure of volume. They are not the same thing as ounces, although sometimes when the context makes it clear that it's talking about volume, it's com...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_ounce" ] ]
766w23
How are we able to sense roughness / smoothness of a surface by touch?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/766w23/how_are_we_able_to_sense_roughness_smoothness_of/
{ "a_id": [ "docau28" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Dermal papilla, aka fingerprints may help you detect this. You have mechanosensitive nerves that detect pressure and deformation of your fingertips, and the grooves on your fingers can get caught on small bumps on a surface, enhancing your sensat...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
7chi2a
why do home dishwashers need to take 3 hours? i know it’s for energy star requirements, but commercial machines get the job done in 90 seconds. why the massive difference? wouldn’t even a more powerful motor take less electricity for such a big time difference?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7chi2a/eli5_why_do_home_dishwashers_need_to_take_3_hours/
{ "a_id": [ "dpq1ot0", "dpq2fc4", "dpq4cui", "dpq4m0d", "dpq5n9r", "dpq7o0m", "dpqgbr8", "dpqkc7v", "dpqlitl", "dpqmh6l", "dpqn2t0", "dpqn5tz", "dpqnoz8", "dpqogsj", "dpqpexa", "dpqqzts", "dpqr21b", "dpqrar7", "dpqrnug", "dpqs390", "d...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ms2MBb0fEY" ], [], [], [ "https://www.proz.com/kudoz/English/marketing_market_research/2507584-sinner_circle.html" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic...
3scai1
How accurate is the relationship between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton as depicted in the musical "Hamilton"?
In the musical (which is fantastic for those who haven't listened to it), their relationship is depicted in a very dramatic arc, so much that I can't really believe it reflects reality. Here are the basic strokes of he musical for those who don't know: Hamilton looks up to Burr starting in the early 1770s, who always ...
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3scai1/how_accurate_is_the_relationship_between_aaron/
{ "a_id": [ "cztrmzq", "cww8zco", "cwwd53t", "cxnmet3" ], "score": [ 4, 12, 16, 8 ], "text": [ "In the musical they have Burr and Hamilton as seconds at the duel between Charles Lee and John Laurens.\n\nWhich is excellent foreshadowing.\n\nBut in reality Charles Lee's secon...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
8msq6h
Why do storms develop after a hot day? And why do these storms sometimes get forecast but then seem to get pushed back later and never end up developing?
Self-explanatory title, but I just wondered because we have had a few hot days in the UK, and each day a storm has been forecast for early-mid afternoon. Then by the time it gets to midday it is pushed back later, and later.. what makes it so difficult to predict when/if a storm will develop after a hot day?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/8msq6h/why_do_storms_develop_after_a_hot_day_and_why_do/
{ "a_id": [ "dzqcfzx" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "Storms develop on hot days because the sun causes hot spots on the earths surface to form. Air above these hot spots rises up quickly. Now there is a lower pressure at the hot spot which causes air to move in from the side \\(also known as wind\\...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2i6kcd
I don't get vernacular Jewish languages.
How did Yiddish, Ladino, etc develop? It seems like regional Jewish vernaculars developed through contact with the local culture (obviously) but then how did the languages not assimilate? Why do local Jewish vernaculars pop up so regularly rather than the community being bi lingual?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2i6kcd/i_dont_get_vernacular_jewish_languages/
{ "a_id": [ "ckzd22z", "ckzhny0", "ckzm35z" ], "score": [ 10, 3, 5 ], "text": [ "The development story of each of those languages is different, so I'm going to confine this post to broad strokes and specifically Yiddish.\n\nFirst, the broad strokes. There are two terms usually used...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/22t0vn/askhistorians_podcast_episode_008_discussion/" ], [] ]
22jnxq
Is it theoretically possible for dark matter to form bodies (similar to asteroids and rogue planets) that could travel through the galaxy and destabilize a solar system?
Read some stuff online, wasn't satisfied with the answers.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/22jnxq/is_it_theoretically_possible_for_dark_matter_to/
{ "a_id": [ "cgnktvo", "cgnmewu" ], "score": [ 5, 8 ], "text": [ "Not really, as far as we know, dark matter isn't \"lumpy\". It doesn't form clumps because it just passes through itself. ", "the reason it's called \"dark\" isn't just to make it sound spooky or mysterious, it happens t...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
d5wii4
light is a form of energy, where does the energy go when it's absorbed into blackness?
The colour black barely reflects light, if light is a form of energy where does this energy go and what does it convert to? I know black things get hot, is this it transferring into heat energy?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d5wii4/eli5_light_is_a_form_of_energy_where_does_the/
{ "a_id": [ "f0odig7", "f0odn3l", "f0odqoo", "f0ofllf" ], "score": [ 3, 3, 12, 2 ], "text": [ "Photons get absorbed by electrons which in term transfer photons to the nucleus. Essentially a photons energy gets converted into kinetic energy of electrons and nucleons. It’s no...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
51nvxk
why did most ancient cultures associate their gods with animals?
I may be mistaken, but it would appear that all polytheistic cultures had specific animals associated with specific deities. Is this mostly a coincidence, or is there a reason that this convention was so consistent?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/51nvxk/eli5_why_did_most_ancient_cultures_associate/
{ "a_id": [ "d7deq8x", "d7dexf7", "d7dfsiy", "d7dhlz0" ], "score": [ 5, 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "What else is there? People, animals, natural forces... and most cultures associated gods with all of those at once.", "Most ancient cultures had gods that related to elements o...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
1vu6g7
shell (computing)
Also, how could knowing shell commands be useful for someone. What would it be practical for exactly?? examples would be appreciated.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vu6g7/eli5_shell_computing/
{ "a_id": [ "cevtpxh", "cevumru" ], "score": [ 4, 2 ], "text": [ "A shell or command shell is a program which has a special purpose: it reads keystrokes from the keyboard and interprets the \"commands\" that it receives in this way. The general idea is to have a human user interact with th...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2m59z8
when _url_0_ reports that my internet speed is 900 mb/s and the test runs for several seconds, is it downloading several gigs worth of stuff?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2m59z8/eli5_when_speedtestnet_reports_that_my_internet/
{ "a_id": [ "cm122ku" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Speedtest measures in Megabits per second or kilobytes per second depending on the display setting. Megabits are not the same thing as megabytes. Thats about 112 megabytes, not a few gigs. Your computer downloads some small temporary files that a...
[ "speedtest.net" ]
[]
[ [] ]
cbw8v7
why are hairs over old wounds thicker and darker?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cbw8v7/eli5_why_are_hairs_over_old_wounds_thicker_and/
{ "a_id": [ "etjcb6w" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "I'm guessing that they grow thicker because it's a targeted area of your body where copious about of healing resources (blood, nutrients, etc) were sent and thus the hair there is overdeveloped and beefier. My guess for deeper color would be sinc...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2de948
why do websites more frequently have you scroll through multiple pages for the rest of the article or to see the subsequent photo in a long list?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2de948/eli5_why_do_websites_more_frequently_have_you/
{ "a_id": [ "cjonwcr" ], "score": [ 13 ], "text": [ "More pages = more ads = more revenue" ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
8ig12g
why does xbox and ps4 charge for multiplayer but pc does not?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8ig12g/eli5_why_does_xbox_and_ps4_charge_for_multiplayer/
{ "a_id": [ "dyrf1yx", "dyrf25e" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Xbox and Playstation are closed ecosystems -- the manufacturers control what can and can't connect to it, so they are in a position to charge for multiplayer access.\n\nA PC is an open system -- there's no one company that c...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
1uwedd
how do you clean up the water in a situation like west virginia?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1uwedd/eli5_how_do_you_clean_up_the_water_in_a_situation/
{ "a_id": [ "cembh4h" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Clean up the spill.\n\nLet the river clean itself for a while, or dredge the muck that is contaminated off the bottom and dump it in a chemical landfill.\n\nClean the water treatment plants if needed, or run water through them until no more hazar...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1onhy0
What is the earliest known instance of a type of weapon/warfare being "banned" by both sides of an armed conflict?
I'm currently studying weapons banned by the UN (Chemicals, atomic etc.) and was wondering if there were any early cases of two or more sides banning a specific type of weaponry?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1onhy0/what_is_the_earliest_known_instance_of_a_type_of/
{ "a_id": [ "ccto5s3", "cctpbq1", "cctrg74", "cctrh8s" ], "score": [ 102, 18, 2, 27 ], "text": [ "Chemical weapons were actually banned before the UN came about. The 1929 Geneva Protocol to the Hague Convention banned their use in international warfare, but in theory they h...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
1jtae3
Was the middle east on a path to secularism in the early twentieth century? If so, what changed?
I've seen disparate sources claim that many middle eastern countries were on a track towards liberalization and secularization in the first half of the twentieth century, only to shift gears at some point and begin to focus on Islamic radicalism and/or incorporate more elements of Islam into governmental structures. Is...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1jtae3/was_the_middle_east_on_a_path_to_secularism_in/
{ "a_id": [ "cbi4dcu", "cbi4f5z", "cbid8j7", "cbieesg" ], "score": [ 7, 92, 8, 8 ], "text": [ "Sort of. The Middle East had brief periods of secularization in the years after the Ottoman Empire was [partitioned](_URL_0_) in the post-WWI years; as the British and French sei...
[]
[ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d'%C3%A9tat" ]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitioning_of_the_Ottoman_Empire", "http://www.byegm.gov.tr/Content.aspx?s=tcotrot" ], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd%C3%BClmecid_II", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Government:_Governance_of_the_Jurist" ], [] ]
23ibi5
i like very spicy food, but how come sometimes my sissy friends can easily eat food i would consider "quite spicy"?
It seems to happene every so often; I'll be like "This is quite spicy!" and people who have no tolerance for spice will comment "Really? I don't think it's very spicy at all..." which is backed up by the fact they are able to eat it comfortably
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/23ibi5/eli5_i_like_very_spicy_food_but_how_come/
{ "a_id": [ "cgx9yrv" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "The feeling of heat you experience when you consume spicy food is probably Capsaicin, the chemical found in chilli peppers that stimulates the same receptors used to detect actual heat. It doesn't actually damage your cells at all it just makes y...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1x5d90
Why aren't spheres used instead of wheels in cars?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1x5d90/why_arent_spheres_used_instead_of_wheels_in_cars/
{ "a_id": [ "cf8lt6t" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "You don't want it to be easy for the car to slip and slide sideways. A sphere makes that a much harder problem to overcome than a wheel. You'd need to add a texture. But if you add a texture, you're essentially just adding a tire, and most of tex...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1raftj
If you continued to grind sand into finer and finer particles, would it ever begin behaving like a like a liquid?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1raftj/if_you_continued_to_grind_sand_into_finer_and/
{ "a_id": [ "cdl8d4s", "cdl8ok4", "cdl8sip", "cdl9183", "cdl9sks", "cdlaovd", "cdlb3sf", "cdlb9od", "cdlc9m6", "cdldi1w", "cdlia9a", "cdlic1w", "cdlonsl" ], "score": [ 2016, 3, 3, 3, 8, 105, 3, 24, 3, 8, 3, 16, ...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_hydroxide" ], [], [ "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsfm4xlm6cA" ], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejdh9Ye9IDM" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt4jzVUEJjo" ], [ "http://pillars.che.pitt....
fifri
When should scientists not use excel?
This is sort of a meta askscience question, so sorry if this is in the wrong subreddit. My school pushes excel for dealing with data, and sometimes I question if that is the best choice. I'm not very familiar with excel so I know I can't judge it accurately. However, I have a bit of a computer science background and i...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/fifri/when_should_scientists_not_use_excel/
{ "a_id": [ "c1g5zio", "c1g623x", "c1g64h5", "c1g678u", "c1g6d26", "c1g6evg", "c1g6oij", "c1g6siy", "c1g6suz" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 6, 3, 2, 8, 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "When OriginsPro is available.", "excel is on basically every compu...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
1080e2
Can a person get sick from getting "chilled"?
Grandma's, my mother and other people's mothers, my girlfriend, have at some point or another warned me of catching a cold literally from being cold. Going outside with wet hair at night? Surefire way to get a cold according to my grandma. Any truth to this old wives tale?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1080e2/can_a_person_get_sick_from_getting_chilled/
{ "a_id": [ "c6b60bl" ], "score": [ 8 ], "text": [ "The 'common cold' is usually caused by a rhinovirus. Cold temperature itself does not cause illness. [However, temperature effects may facilitate viral infection:](_URL_0_)\n > Although not all studies agree, most of the available evidence from...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17705968" ] ]
spb21
How do genetics effect muscle strength/growth?
I was just curious if the whole "that guy is buff because he has great genes" stuff is well..bull.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/spb21/how_do_genetics_effect_muscle_strengthgrowth/
{ "a_id": [ "c4fvdq7" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Yes! However as most things it is an interplay of nature and nurture. Nature is responsible for supplying the genes we need to build the structures and molecules and cells associated, the will also be the basis for metabolism and body \"shape\". ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2lmlid
when commercials say "call within the next 5 minutes" do they really mean it?
You know when you're watching commercials and they tell you to call within a certain time allotment to get the best deal, or say the next 20 callers get a certain deal, etc. Are they being serious? Do they actually have a way to track every time the commercial airs on a specific network and from there are able to track...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2lmlid/eli5_when_commercials_say_call_within_the_next_5/
{ "a_id": [ "clw6vqy", "clw8rxs", "clw8s0x", "clwcoo0", "clwcuud" ], "score": [ 3, 14, 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "No, I'm pretty sure it's to get a person to make a snap decision, as a technique to lure more buyers. That's my understanding of it ", "Never. It's just...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
470j02
what is it that can make us so indecisive about which way to move when someone walks towards us?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/470j02/eli5_what_is_it_that_can_make_us_so_indecisive/
{ "a_id": [ "d097xs0", "d09coak" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Without established system for which way to move, which has been agreed upon earlier, this problem doesn't have a definite answer. You might never get past the other person. For computers this types of problems are more seve...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
57ep0q
how the great barrier reef is now considered "dead" and what factors lead to it?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/57ep0q/eli5_how_the_great_barrier_reef_is_now_considered/
{ "a_id": [ "d8rdyh6", "d8re16o", "d8rhiin", "d8rk3nn", "d8rkflm", "d8rkrbm", "d8rlua1", "d8rmr0p", "d8rmrg2", "d8rnsxr", "d8roy8h", "d8rrep6", "d8rsf4y", "d8rtn4x", "d8ru4hw", "d8rxny9", "d8sf9h7", "d8shmik" ], "score": [ 5120, 126, ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [ "http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-11/coral-belches-algae-as-water-temperature-rises-bleaching/7917754?pfmredir=sm", "http://youtu.be/19T8SNZH1lc" ], [ "www.cnn.com/2016/10/14/us/barrier-reef-obit-trnd/", "https://thinkprogress.org/great-barrier-reef-closer-to", "https:/...
jl663
why does it matter to my bank if i use my bank card as a debit card or a credit card?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/jl663/eli5_why_does_it_matter_to_my_bank_if_i_use_my/
{ "a_id": [ "c2d0q8v", "c2d0u0a", "c2d0q8v", "c2d0u0a" ], "score": [ 4, 4, 4, 4 ], "text": [ "Your bank makes more money from the merchant if you use your debit card as a credit card. It's all about the money.", "When you use your bank card as a debit card, you're esse...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
2n6oz1
If a ball bounces 50ft when dropped from 100ft, will it bounce 100ft when dropped from 200ft?
In other words, is the ratio between the bounce height and the drop height always the same, given that it's the same ball hitting the same ground? If so, why?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2n6oz1/if_a_ball_bounces_50ft_when_dropped_from_100ft/
{ "a_id": [ "cmaua74" ], "score": [ 8 ], "text": [ "In the real world? No. \n\n- Air drag will affect the speed of the ball on the way down. \n- The [coefficient of restitution](_URL_0_) is not constant. \n- Material deformation is not elastic (see #2)\n\nIn a contrived physics problem? \n\n(Big e...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficient_of_restitution" ] ]
z8kj1
Will your body use alcohol or store it as fat, or does it all just get filtered out by the liver? Similarly, where do the calories in beer come from?
I've always heard that both hard alcohol and beer have a nontrivial amount of "calories," and lots of people claim to have lost weight while cutting back on their drinking. I can't find any good information online about where these calories come from. Whatever sugar that was in the wart was fermented into alcohol, an...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/z8kj1/will_your_body_use_alcohol_or_store_it_as_fat_or/
{ "a_id": [ "c62f42r", "c62f9z6", "c62jlfy" ], "score": [ 2, 5, 2 ], "text": [ "Your body can use alcohol for energy. One gram has about 7 calories. \n\n\nI'm not aware of any way the body can turn alcohol into fat directly, but it will burn alcohol for energy over fat which means...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_metabolism" ], [] ]
rldcq
What would cause a drinking glass to break right after pouring liquid in it?
I'll post pictures when I get back home. I simply took the glass out of the cupboard(it was room temp) and poured myself a glass of orange juice. When I turned around to put the OJ back in the fridge I heard some glass break and turned to see the glass split almost exactly down the center. My roommates and I have be...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/rldcq/what_would_cause_a_drinking_glass_to_break_right/
{ "a_id": [ "c46r5l4", "c46s4nz" ], "score": [ 8, 3 ], "text": [ "Typically when glass breaks without being struck, thermal shock is to blame -- if hot glass is cooled too quickly, different regions will contract at different rates, developing stresses too quickly for flow to be able to di...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Rupert%27s_Drop" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fracture_mechanics#Griffith.27s_criterion" ] ]
1ixzb7
who owns ancient roman artifacts? if i privately sponsored an archaeological dig, could i keep any ancient artifacts i found, or do countries have laws against that? if i wanted to purchase an ancient roman artifact, could i do so online? how much would it cost?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ixzb7/eli5_who_owns_ancient_roman_artifacts_if_i/
{ "a_id": [ "cb97b7u" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "The laws vary from country to country, and the question would need to be more specific." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
6olac4
why is staring at the sun painful? what happens if you stare too long?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6olac4/eli5_why_is_staring_at_the_sun_painful_what/
{ "a_id": [ "dki8km8", "dkiq1vj" ], "score": [ 14, 2 ], "text": [ "Your eyes have a focusing lens in front of them somewhat similar to a magnifying glass lens. Just like a magnifying glass, the lens will focus the sunlight tightly and begin to rapidly heat up whatever the light is focused ...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
5o2bid
why is taiwan valuable to china under the "one china" policy? they've been ruled separately for so long, what would the real benefit to controlling it again be?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5o2bid/eli5_why_is_taiwan_valuable_to_china_under_the/
{ "a_id": [ "dcg41nb", "dcg7qkw" ], "score": [ 4, 3 ], "text": [ "Taiwan is the legitimate government of China that fled when the communist revolution occurred. Allowing them full autonomy erodes their own legitimacy. ", "Contrary to the other responses, I think economic reasons are pr...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
9reg8c
the 'rail-gun' and why it's such a big deal?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9reg8c/eli5_the_railgun_and_why_its_such_a_big_deal/
{ "a_id": [ "e8g932x", "e8g9512", "e8g9isl", "e8gdfjt" ], "score": [ 2, 7, 4, 3 ], "text": [ "A rail gun uses electromagnetism to accelerate a piece of metal to extremely high speeds. It can make that chunk of metal go much, much faster than any gunpowder-propelled projecti...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railgun" ], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMs4IJQVRYM" ] ]
31ckgj
If a person is falling at a speed faster than terminal velocity, will he slow down to reach terminal velocity?
The person would be falling let's say because he was flying straight down in a jet and ejected at a speed faster than terminal velocity for him would be.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/31ckgj/if_a_person_is_falling_at_a_speed_faster_than/
{ "a_id": [ "cq165t9" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Yes, if you move faster than terminal velocity, aerodynamic drag will slow you down until you reach terminal velocity, which is the velocity at which the aerodynamic forces (that slow you down) and the gravitational forces (that accelerate you) c...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2rx1y3
why do we experience a movie's plot as exciting when we know the good guys will win?
Take the James Bond movies for example. We know from the beginning that he's gonna be successful in his mission, so why is it still interesting to watch?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2rx1y3/eli5_why_do_we_experience_a_movies_plot_as/
{ "a_id": [ "cnk2q6e", "cnk2xpo" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "It's the journey not the destination. Plus we may still want to know how the plot will resolve itself, or the fate of secondary characters we may care about, both of which are independent to whether the main character dies o...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2mo13p
if it is a myth that skinny people have higher metabolism, how is it that we all have a non-active friend who can eat truckloads of junk yet be skinny or, more alarmingly, fit?
Everyone always talks to these people about how "jealous of your metabolism" when in fact differing metabolisms are apparently a myth. So how is it we all know someone who can eat 1000000g of carbohydrates per day and yet stays skinny, or more alarmingly, fit without any regular or intense exercise?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2mo13p/eli5if_it_is_a_myth_that_skinny_people_have/
{ "a_id": [ "cm5yuji", "cm5yyez", "cm5zp0f" ], "score": [ 3, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Sometimes their day is more active then yours. \n\nFor example, I walk to the grocery store every 2 days. Its part of my routine to pick up small filler groceries between larger box store trips. I don't...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.healthassist.net/food/300kcal/small-img/french-fries-s.jpg" ], [] ]
2ap25v
How would a citizen of Rome experience the fall of its Empire?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2ap25v/how_would_a_citizen_of_rome_experience_the_fall/
{ "a_id": [ "cixce7u", "cixi7fs" ], "score": [ 6, 14 ], "text": [ "Hi there, there's always room for more here, but while you wait for an answer you might find a fair amount to interest you in the [Rome section of our FAQ](_URL_1_).\n\nThese might be of some use: \n\n[How did the decline a...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/172866/how_did_the_decline_and_fall_of_ancient_rome/", "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/darkages#wiki_rome_and_the_barbarians", "http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1zy2yl/during_the_300s400s_ce_did_any_figures_write/", "http://...
hfw6v
Nature vs. Nurture
My friend and I were having a slight disagreement and were hoping the reddit community could help us settle our little dispute. There is a kid (who will remain nameless for obvious reasons) in one of our classes, who is a junior in high school, has been accepted into RPI with a 15k scholarship already, is on the junio...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/hfw6v/nature_vs_nurture/
{ "a_id": [ "c1v34nl", "c1v3527", "c1v3fg1", "c1v3xob" ], "score": [ 7, 16, 18, 2 ], "text": [ "nature. some people are just built better. nurture goes a long way, but you can't nurture a 5', 150lbs person into a decent linebacker. ", "The best explanation I've heard:...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
t8nj6
How do the gulf stream and the jet stream and other large scale streaming effects stay together?
Been wondering this for a while. Why don't the gulf stream in the Atlantic, the Jet stream in the atmosphere, and other similar things dissipate? What exactly is going on here?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/t8nj6/how_do_the_gulf_stream_and_the_jet_stream_and/
{ "a_id": [ "c4kgw7q", "c4khzat" ], "score": [ 2, 4 ], "text": [ "The jet sreams are created and 'maintained' because of the [Coriolis Effect](_URL_0_).", "It's a bit unclear from your question. Do you mean A) why don't these features slowly die away? or B) why do they exist as narrow ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect" ], [ "http://www.es.flinders.edu.au/~mattom/science+society/lectures/illustrations/lecture26/gyre.jpg", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostrophic_current", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rossby_radius_of_deformation" ] ]
ehxgkl
how come so many canned goods like soups and vegetables have really high sodium content but do not taste that salty.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ehxgkl/eli5_how_come_so_many_canned_goods_like_soups_and/
{ "a_id": [ "fcm6enx", "fcm6gy8", "fcm6tp7", "fcmuth6" ], "score": [ 6, 5, 62, 10 ], "text": [ "Because soups have alot of water. Water makes it not taste salty even if there is alot of salt in it. It's same with home made soup too. You have to put alot of salt in soup ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
7zq0y8
why is being flat-footed a hindrance?
As a child, I was flat-footed - my father insisted I needed orthopedic insoles at a young age, so as to be able to serve in the armed forces if my grades didn't come good. Lo and behold, I shit-talked my way into a decent paying desk job as a young adult that did not require a protractor to get me hired. So, what advan...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7zq0y8/eli5_why_is_being_flatfooted_a_hindrance/
{ "a_id": [ "dupuawg", "dupv23w", "dupv3zc", "dupvtv2", "dupvvrd", "dupvxmc", "duq3skg", "duqvv78" ], "score": [ 14, 13, 6, 129, 4, 3, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Zombie apocalypse?\n\nBut in all seriousness there are situations in life where you may ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
5i2y5y
Is it possible to cool water down past 0C without it turning into ice?
askscience
https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/5i2y5y/is_it_possible_to_cool_water_down_past_0c_without/
{ "a_id": [ "db52w4c", "db565cy" ], "score": [ 10, 3 ], "text": [ "Yes, it's called [supercooling](_URL_0_). When the supercooled liquid is finally disturbed, it freezes rapidly, usually in [spectacular fashion](_URL_1_). Look around the 1 min mark.", "Yes, raise the pressure on water ...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercooling", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fot3m7kyLn4" ], [] ]
imexc
Why are white people white and black people black?
Evolutionarily, I don't see the benefit. I would actually expect the opposite, as black people tend to come from warmer climates and white skin would reflect more sun. Perhaps I'm not understanding the mechanics there, though. Does black skin, in fact, keep a person cooler?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/imexc/why_are_white_people_white_and_black_people_black/
{ "a_id": [ "c24xfug", "c24xgdh", "c24xgty" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Not every difference has an evolutionary benefit. It's possible that differences in skin colors are due to random drift and/or sexual selection.\n\nBut if there is a benefit, it may be that dark skin is...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eumelanin#Eumelanin" ], [] ]
2nbjpu
Why is it impossible to be (or at least perceive to be) sucked into a black hole?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2nbjpu/why_is_it_impossible_to_be_or_at_least_perceive/
{ "a_id": [ "cmc77rv" ], "score": [ 8 ], "text": [ "I think your question is misworded. If you fall into a black hole, you will experience it! (I mean, if you could survive getting TO the black hole in the first place). \n\nWhat you may be referring to is the fact that an outside observer will not...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/BlackHoles/fall_in.html" ] ]
2vcnbk
Why are holy religious cities not their own city states, the way the Vatican is for Catholics?
Jerusalem, Mecca and Constantinople are thought to be holy cities of religions. However, they are still part of another country. Why is the Vatican the only one that is a city state?
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2vcnbk/why_are_holy_religious_cities_not_their_own_city/
{ "a_id": [ "cogrkw5", "cogvb9t" ], "score": [ 3, 6 ], "text": [ "There is actually at least one other \"sacred city-state\", although it is not a major city per se-the penninsula of Mt. Athos, a sort of monastic state composed of a collection of monasteries. Although part of Greek territo...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
6i309o
how are tv commercials played with correct timing during live television events?
I was just wondering how commercials were played at the correct time during a sporting event, and how everything is coordinated, like the length of the commercials, and also how nothing in the live show gets cut off.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6i309o/eli5_how_are_tv_commercials_played_with_correct/
{ "a_id": [ "dj369z7", "dj37jgt" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Producers/directors in the control room have everything timed out. They know exactly when to cut for commercials. It may be live but everything is planned ahead. Also, some live programs usually have a bit of a delay. I us...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NFL_Sideline_Television_Coordinators.jpg" ] ]
g34bug
when the tide is high and the water is pushed to the edges, does the middle of the ocean become shallower to some degree?
So obviously water isn't added to the ocean during every tide and water isn't taken out every low tide, so the tides must be from displacement of water. When the water is pushed to the edges, does the middle of the ocean become less deep?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/g34bug/eli5_when_the_tide_is_high_and_the_water_is/
{ "a_id": [ "fnp429b", "fnpudyp" ], "score": [ 2, 3 ], "text": [ "So a good way to think of this, I think, is if you fill a deep square pan (maybe a roasting pan) with a little bit of water, and slide it steadily back and fourth on the counter top to get a steady waving - that’s pretty muc...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://www.bayoffundy.com/about/highest-tides/" ] ]
7xldvd
since aids is no longer considered a “homosexual disease” why do blood banks still ask if a man has had sexual contact with another man, on the questionnaire?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7xldvd/eli5_since_aids_is_no_longer_considered_a/
{ "a_id": [ "du95iyp", "du9626t", "du96d0z", "du971ia", "du97tz8", "du98634", "du9shbq", "du9ukho", "du9v4ed", "du9vlv6", "du9wg2q", "du9xz12", "dua43wy" ], "score": [ 43, 9, 10, 5, 54, 12, 4, 7, 6, 24, 3, 195, ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/overview/ataglance.html", "https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/12/21/fda-officially-alters-decades-old-ban-on-blood-donations-from-gay-and-bisexual-men/?utm_term=.e1ac6dcec9d3", "https://ww...
ai82qs
from how far away could an extraterrestrial alien observe us?
Prompted by [a recent post](_URL_0_) of a comic strip where ETs are observing our planet from 65million light years away, and see dinosaurs through their telescope: How many [photons](_URL_1_) would one need to be able to make out a dinosaur. Given that the photons bouncing off the dinosaur will spread by the [inverse-...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ai82qs/eli5_from_how_far_away_could_an_extraterrestrial/
{ "a_id": [ "eelwtpv", "eelxjt3", "eelybdf", "eembe4l" ], "score": [ 23, 12, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Diffraction's your biggest enemy here. Literally. Light spreads out, so you need a massively wide telescope to differentiate between two nearby points. If your telescope is any s...
[]
[ "https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/ahw13u/where_are_the_aliens/", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photon", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse-square_law" ]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_resolution" ], [], [] ]
1654ef
How do we know what we should expect for the angular sizes of spots in the CMB under different geometries of the universe?
According to this [nasa page](_URL_0_): > If the universe were flat, the brightest microwave background fluctuations (or "spots") would be about one degree across. If the universe were open, the spots would be less than one degree across. If the universe were closed, the brightest spots would be greater than one degr...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1654ef/how_do_we_know_what_we_should_expect_for_the/
{ "a_id": [ "c7sug9j" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "It comes down to trigonometry. In the early Universe, before the CMB was emitted, matter particles (baryons) and light particles (photons) were interacting with each other so frequently that they could be considered a single fluid, a baryon-photo...
[]
[ "http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_shape.html" ]
[ [] ]
q0p4h
the difference between the processor and memory of a computer?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/q0p4h/eli5_the_difference_between_the_processor_and/
{ "a_id": [ "c3tqwvi", "c3tr2bk", "c3trdsj", "c3tre2q", "c3tsq72", "c3tw1s2" ], "score": [ 7, 14, 2, 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The processor is basically a very powerful calculator. It takes data out of the computer's memory (the RAM), does a bunch of math to it...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
9iymg2
"Oh God!" How long has shouting a deity's name been seen as a way to express sexual satisfaction?
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/9iymg2/oh_god_how_long_has_shouting_a_deitys_name_been/
{ "a_id": [ "e6nrep3" ], "score": [ 15 ], "text": [ "Roman plays and in particular Plaute's plays abound with profanity as would have been used in the late republican period. Some of the most common words used are \"Hercle\" (by Hercule !) or \"Pol/Edepol\" (corrupted forms of \"Polluce\", by Poll...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1y5w66
Would it be possible to establish an orbit within a gas planet?
It's nearly 5am here in Sydney and this came unbidden to my mind: ignoring the corrosive or other qualities of the gasses that make up gas giants like Jupiter, would it be possible to establish an orbit within the layers? I assume not as I assume the 'outer limit' of planet would operate the same as earth's atmospher...
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1y5w66/would_it_be_possible_to_establish_an_orbit_within/
{ "a_id": [ "cfhnu9y", "cfhpw4t", "cfhtlvz" ], "score": [ 10, 5, 2 ], "text": [ "The atmosphere on a gas planet is too thick to allow for an orbiting spacecraft, as the orbit would quickly decay. Just make an aircraft.", "If you're moving through an atmosphere at all, you're go...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
9yvfg6
why did north america never “settle” like europe?
Peoples lived in North America for tens of thousand of years, but North America - specifically southern Canada, coastal and Great Plains United States - never had cities like Europe did. Why did Europe “settle” by c. 1000BCE while North America, didn’t “settle” until c. 1500CE when Europeans arrived? (I am excluding ...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9yvfg6/eli5_why_did_north_america_never_settle_like/
{ "a_id": [ "ea4crcj", "ea4d06a", "ea4ex2d", "ea4puf7" ], "score": [ 59, 11, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "They did.\n\n1. A native American city Cahokia existed in what is now Illinios, estimates place the population as high as 40,000 people.\n\n2. Pueblo(s), not one but multiple cit...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2rrm1y/why_are_there_no_ancient_native_american_cities/" ], [], [], [] ]
2p6c54
Why will there always be more of herbivores than predators?
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2p6c54/why_will_there_always_be_more_of_herbivores_than/
{ "a_id": [ "cmtrqq0", "cmtzegt" ], "score": [ 10, 3 ], "text": [ "Awesome question! In short, because the [Second Law of Thermodynamics](_URL_1_) necessitates that energy transformations are not 100% efficient.\n\nThink of it this way: living organisms are all part of an ecological system...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophic_level", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_law_of_thermodynamics" ], [] ]
6q0f77
Is there any particular reason why most question-starting adverbs in English start with the letter w-?
e.g. * What * Who/Whom * Why * Where
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6q0f77/is_there_any_particular_reason_why_most/
{ "a_id": [ "dktmkkr" ], "score": [ 8 ], "text": [ "Yes. It comes from Proto-Indo European _kwo-_ root of interrogative pronouns.\n\nYou'll see the same pattern in other Germanic languages (e.g. Norwegian _hvad_, _hvem_, _hvor_, _hvordan_) and similar things in other branches of the Indo-European ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
4qmdys
why are cough suppressants added to medications with guaifenesin such as mucinex?
It would seem that the two are working against each other. Guaifenesin helps thin the mucus to make it easier to cough up, but the cough suppressant makes you stop coughing.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4qmdys/eli5_why_are_cough_suppressants_added_to/
{ "a_id": [ "d4u3vd4" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "So guaifensesin, as you said thins your mucus, allowing it to more easily be removed. It is often given with dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant. It does seem counter intuitive to mix expectorants and cough suppressants. But cough suppressants ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
142jfv
How does U.S. federal government raise its revenue before adoption of income tax?
I'm mostly thinking of before 1900s. Where did the federal government get its money? edit: grammar and clarity.
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/142jfv/how_does_us_federal_government_raise_its_revenue/
{ "a_id": [ "c79d9q8", "c79da7f", "c79dozy" ], "score": [ 9, 5, 4 ], "text": [ "Almost entirely from tariffs (customs duties) on imported goods. Excise taxes (direct taxes on the production and sale of specific goods within the US) were tried, but they were very unpopular, and in ...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/revenues/", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_Rebellion" ], [], [ "http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_Statutes_at_Large/Volume_1/1st_Congress/1st_Session/Chapter_2" ] ]
7p06sf
why and how do some animals (i.e. birds) move their heads in a quick way, almost as if snapping to an angle?
Edit: Thanks for all the answers!
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7p06sf/eli5_why_and_how_do_some_animals_ie_birds_move/
{ "a_id": [ "dsdiej0", "dsdiwxn", "dse7fbj", "dsea4h3" ], "score": [ 49, 1072, 17, 7 ], "text": [ "Birds can't move their eyes around like other animals, so their head does to make up for it. Birds also have one less bone in the back of their skull that makes it possible fo...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [ "https://www.livescience.com/44822-how-do-dolphins-sleep.html" ] ]
4102z7
how does the transmission of electricity work?
Funnily enough the settlement creation in Fallout 4 got me realizing I have no I idea how electricity is transmitted from place to place. So it's created in a generator of some kind, and then some sort of conduit? Why does it travel through wires like it does? When it reaches a power plant does it distribute from there...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4102z7/eli5_how_does_the_transmission_of_electricity_work/
{ "a_id": [ "cyyihsz" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "First thing first, electrons flow through metal wires because metal atoms share electrons with their neighbors, which means they're not really locked on to a particular atom. As long as there are enough electrons around the atom, it doesn't care ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
69bax2
How did the Italian nationalists justify the annexation of the Papacy to themselves during the unification of Italy?
As the title says, I'm kinda curious as to how a group that was majority catholic justified going to war with the pope.
AskHistorians
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/69bax2/how_did_the_italian_nationalists_justify_the/
{ "a_id": [ "dh5qjp9" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "The main driver of the Italian unification process was a peculiar union of certain segments of the Italian nobility and the urban bourgeoisie, and both were aggressively secular. \n\nIt's important to note that it was the French Emperor Napoleon,...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5uscno/how_did_italian_catholics_justify_wars_against/ddxnlf2/" ] ]
4401ms
intel cpus
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4401ms/eli5_intel_cpus/
{ "a_id": [ "czmapmy" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Terms like Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge are related to the processor's microarchitecture. This is essentially the unique way a processor is built, but I'll explain it in a bit. To understand this better, you need to know Intel's Tick-Tock model.\n...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
14tbgg
Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the door. He wasn't the first to disagree with the Roman Catholic Church...why did his request for a dispute turn into a religious revolution?
The long title says it all. I'm not opposed to historical texts that investigate the effect that the Germanic leaders had on Luther's reformation, and particularly the extra-church reasons. Luther's theological points weren't new, so I'm wondering why he had such an impact. In other words, what made him such a perfect ...
AskHistorians
http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/14tbgg/martin_luther_nailed_95_theses_to_the_door_he/
{ "a_id": [ "c7g87tu", "c7g8e5s", "c7g8foy", "c7gck8m", "c7ge2aw", "c7gee0q", "c7ghid0", "c7ghs6c" ], "score": [ 6, 75, 45, 10, 3, 3, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "The printing press had been invented. That made it much easier for ideas to disseminate,...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [ "http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2666/a-mighty-fortress" ], [], [], [], [] ]
1jxtz9
stephen colbert's character
Being from Australia, I don't often watch the Colbert Report, only some of the clips that surface on Reddit. I understand that on the show Colbert performs as his own character, can anyone explain what the character is and how it differs from Colbert's real persona.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1jxtz9/eli5_stephen_colberts_character/
{ "a_id": [ "cbjc75a", "cbjcahr", "cbjjrzh" ], "score": [ 11, 14, 3 ], "text": [ "Colbert in real life is very liberal/Democratic. He's a comedian playing a part. The part he plays, based on Bill O'Reilly, is an over the top patriot Republican that bleeds red white and blue and wor...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert_\\(character\\)" ], [] ]
1909i5
if jesus's ministry overruled the old testament laws then how do christians use leviticus to demonize homosexuality?
I believe the big anti-gay passage is Leviticus 18:22, but since Christians do not keep Kosher or utilize most of the other Old Testament practices outlined in Leviticus, how do they justify this?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1909i5/eli5_if_jesuss_ministry_overruled_the_old/
{ "a_id": [ "c8jlgco", "c8jlvnx", "c8jrz69" ], "score": [ 42, 15, 3 ], "text": [ "They cannot in a logical fashion. Most Christians are not biblical scholars and only repeat what they are taught. The bible is so big and contradictory that you can use it to teach anything. So what y...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://rachelheldevans.com/", "http://www.ajjacobs.com/books/yolb.asp" ], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_New_Testament" ], [] ]
jfo6j
Why are humans in a better mood when the skies are blue and the sun shining, compared to wet, grey overcast skies?
When ironically if it continued to never rain, we would be in serious trouble in the long term.
askscience
http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/jfo6j/why_are_humans_in_a_better_mood_when_the_skies/
{ "a_id": [ "c2boxl2", "c2bp4sf", "c2bpebt", "c2bqtev", "c2brg9x", "c2boxl2", "c2bp4sf", "c2bpebt", "c2bqtev", "c2brg9x" ], "score": [ 6, 21, 11, 3, 3, 6, 21, 11, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "Layman here.\n\nI'd more put the terms as wh...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineal_gland" ], [], [], [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineal_gland" ], [], [] ]