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w9ry8 | construction workers, please eli5 why miles and miles of highway are shut down when construction isn't taking place | I was on the Ohio turnpike yesterday and noticed there were miles and miles of left lane closures, but I never even saw any equipment aside from the barriers, let alone any active work.
I notice this a lot, where there will be a couple miles of a blocked lane, but then only see work being done in a small area. Is it s... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/w9ry8/construction_workers_please_eli5_why_miles_and/ | {
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"\"2 lanes of road for miles because of a 200 ft\"\n\n* they probably moving as they work\n* do you want to stand immediately behind some pylons when cars (po... | [] | [] | [
[],
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2wfxo9 | do ceiling fans actually do something? | i have never seen one in real life, i guess they're not as popular here, but the ones i see in tv shows, movies, animation seem to spin very slow and just waste energy. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2wfxo9/eli5_do_ceiling_fans_actually_do_something/ | {
"a_id": [
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"Yes, they actually do circulate the air, and they usually have 3 speed settings. I sleep with my ceiling fan on every night.",
"They are actually quite helpful. If you run them at a good speed, they... | [] | [] | [
[],
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2jpio2 | why are people scared to invest in penny stocks? | Even more specifically, the Pump n Dump scheme. People are scared they'd lose a lot of money. Say I bought 100 shares of a stock worth $.02, I only put in $2. Even if the value of the stock raises to $3 due to somebody artificially raising the price and then sells their shares, I still only stand to lose $2 of my own m... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2jpio2/eli5_why_are_people_scared_to_invest_in_penny/ | {
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"The Return on Investment for penny stocks is generally far lower than the return on \"regu... | [] | [] | [
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66rzxb | how does the body separate fluids from solids when processing food/sustenance? | The body obviously separates the sustenance you intake and turns it into feces or urine, how does it do that? And how does it separate a semi-solid, semi liquid food like soup?
| explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/66rzxb/eli5_how_does_the_body_separate_fluids_from/ | {
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"Digestion (churning), enzymes, and bacteria break your food down, then as the food travels through your intestines the liquids are removed, sending them to be filtered then excreted, and the remaining s... | [] | [] | [
[],
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1b3dhy | how does medicine know which part of my body to go to? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1b3dhy/how_does_medicine_know_which_part_of_my_body_to/ | {
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"You might want to ask this in r/askscience if you don't get a good reply here. ",
"it doesnt. everything you take goes to your bloodstream and is distributed to your whole body. Its just a matter... | [] | [] | [
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"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacodynamics",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacology",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacokinetics"
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3x8ju4 | how have diseases caused by recessive genes (eg. cystic fibrosis) not been evolved out of existence? | Surely before proper treatment became available the chances people with serious genetic diseases would be able to survive and reproduce would have been really low, resulting in those genes not being passed on and the disease eventually ceasing to exist? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3x8ju4/eli5_how_have_diseases_caused_by_recessive_genes/ | {
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"Because only having 1 of the recessive gene provided a resistance to Cholera, a very lethal disease. If your parents are carriers of the CF gene but don't have CF, that means they each have a dominant ... | [] | [] | [
[],
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511388 | why windows me, vista and 8 are considered "bad"? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/511388/eli5_why_windows_me_vista_and_8_are_considered_bad/ | {
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"text": [
"Windows ME had two big problems: it was wildly unstable (applications would crash much more frequently than on Windows 98, and the system as a whole would die surprisingly frequently), and it removed compatibility for a lot of DOS software (whic... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1vnlt2 | why is iceland considered part if europe when it is closer to north america | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vnlt2/eli5_why_is_iceland_considered_part_if_europe/ | {
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"text": [
"I'm no expert, but I think its based on tectonic plates (Large stone slabs that float on top of the magma inside earth.) I found this map of tectonic plates from a google image sea... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/images/new_map.jpg"
],
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1ptcvp | college football, conferences, bowls, etc. | Why don't all teams play one another and how is decided who wins the national championship. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ptcvp/eli5_college_football_conferences_bowls_etc/ | {
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"text": [
"There are [a lot](_URL_0_) of teams in college football. Given the number of teams and the amount of rest required between games, in addition to issues relating to travel and accommodating class time, it would be impossible to play every single ... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCAA_Division_I_FBS_football_programs"
]
] | |
ayvfxx | the concept behind government bonds | someone, anyone? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ayvfxx/eli5_the_concept_behind_government_bonds/ | {
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"Basically, it's an agreement between you and the government. You pay the government some amount of money now, and the government promises to pay you back more after a certain amount of time. The payment... | [] | [] | [
[],
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] | |
27oz8s | why do all of the electronics in my car briefly turn off when i start the engine? | If I put my key in the ignition and turn the battery on, all of the electronics come to life, but then when I start the engine, they all shut off for a moment while the engine starts then come back on. Why does this happen? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/27oz8s/eli5_why_do_all_of_the_electronics_in_my_car/ | {
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"text": [
"The starter motor in the engine is a big drain on the battery, reducing the current for the electronics.",
"A typical car battery is 12 volts, with around 650 amps. With the engine off and key in, your radio/lights/vent... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
6yub5d | why can't your phone use wifi and 4g/3g together? | For example when you start to move away from the wifi source, the signal and speed are getting weaker and slower. So why can't your phone gradually move to using the mobile network available instead of you have to turn off your wifi and move to using your 4G exclusively. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6yub5d/eli5_why_cant_your_phone_use_wifi_and_4g3g/ | {
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"text": [
"[You can do it on Android](_URL_0_)\n\nIn general it's undesirable because mobile bandwidth is far more limited. Something like watching youtube in high quality could easily use up all your limit in very little time if you fail to notice.\n\nIt c... | [] | [] | [
[
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6os8x7 | what are the financial gains of isps choosing to throttle bandwidth on streaming sites like netflix? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6os8x7/eli5_what_are_the_financial_gains_of_isps/ | {
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"Pretty much the worry is they can then start to put in their own versions of these sites with the advertisement that they won't be throttled and/Or force current companies to pay premiums to prevent thr... | [] | [] | [
[],
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3z1n7u | why do we bundle up our top halves with coats and sweaters but only ever wear pants below? | Like, I know there's thermal underwear but that's only when it's really cold. When it's like around freezing why don't we put on "coat pants"? Is there some historical reason why people don't think they're fashionable? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3z1n7u/eli5_why_do_we_bundle_up_our_top_halves_with/ | {
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"text": [
"Our legs are only muscle and fat, they contain no organs. All of our organs are in our torso and head, so the are the most important parts to keep warm. We... | [] | [] | [
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2nyw4v | why using shampoo every day can be a bad thing? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2nyw4v/eli5_why_using_shampoo_every_day_can_be_a_bad/ | {
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"text": [
"Each head hair is anchored in a specialised pore of skin. The root of your hair is inside that pore. The pore secretes natural oils that clean and protect your hair. Washing y... | [] | [] | [
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248dug | why does it sometimes cost more to fly from a - > b than it does to fly from a - > b - > c? | There's no way it costs less in terms of man-hours or fuel, so why is it often cheaper to go past a layover city than end up there?
For example: A flight from Baltimore to Milwaukee with a stopover in Chicago is cheaper than just the flight from Baltimore to Chicago. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/248dug/eli5_why_does_it_sometimes_cost_more_to_fly_from/ | {
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"text": [
"Supply and demand. People are willing to pay more to shave a few hours off of their trip and there's only so many seats on the plane. Airlines aren't priced by how much it costs them to fly; they charge... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoke-hub_distribution_paradigm"
],
[]
] | |
3y7yda | what ocd is really like | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3y7yda/eli5_what_ocd_is_really_like/ | {
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"text": [
"You have disturbing thoughts that you cannot control, e.g. people you care about dying. These are the obessions part of OCD. Certain actions, like tapping a door four time, reduces/stops your obsessions for a short period of... | [] | [] | [
[],
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3td36d | what is the logic behind the most common hiccup recipes such as jumpscares, sucking on lemons, sipping water, and holding your breath? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3td36d/eli5_what_is_the_logic_behind_the_most_common/ | {
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"text": [
"The idea is that it will strongly stimulate the vagus nerve (responsible for hiccups). There are actual, more medically accepted treatments (i.e. lidocaine) that actually stimulate the nerve, but even those are not totally understood. Either way,... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1xbnax | how does red lobster sell lobster dishes for so cheap? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1xbnax/eli5_how_does_red_lobster_sell_lobster_dishes_for/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Low quality ingredients, produced in large quantities in factories and prepared by low quality kitchen staff.",
"In some places in New England you can buy lobsters at the dock during lobster season (notice Red Lobster ad... | [] | [] | [
[],
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] | ||
1wb4v3 | the north american college class numbering system? 101, 209, etc... | Classes in college in America tend to have numbers after the description (eg. Chemistry 101). What do they mean? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1wb4v3/eli5_the_north_american_college_class_numbering/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"- The first number has to do with the year level. \"100\" classes tend to be for freshmen, \"200\" for sophomores, etc. \n\n- The later numbers are just for organizational purposes, but usually lower digits means classes required for the major wh... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
9vuvwu | why is it when i’m driving planes look like they are still in the sky | Whenever I’m driving and see a plane, it always looks like it’s not moving, and it just looks really weird. Anyone know why that is? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9vuvwu/eli5_why_is_it_when_im_driving_planes_look_like/ | {
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"It's because of the distance involved. Its real speed is quite fast by earthly standards, but it's so far away from you that the proportion of your field of view it crosses in a given time is really small. When you're drivin... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
4opx61 | are 'good germs' dying in your mouth due to mouthwash, what are the consequences ? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4opx61/eli5_are_good_germs_dying_in_your_mouth_due_to/ | {
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"text": [
"Bacteria in the mouth are wholly responsible for the reduction of dietary nitrate to nitrite, which in turn is reduced to nitric oxide - this is very important for blood vessel tone and blood pressure... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3605573/"
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[],
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dhd9jb | when we zone out and stare at something random for a long time and then snap out of it, why does that happen? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dhd9jb/eli5_when_we_zone_out_and_stare_at_something/ | {
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"Usually we are thinking about something a... | [] | [] | [
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3oaoi8 | why are battery sizes named the way they are? (aaa smaller than aa etc.) | I've always wondered why batteries are named the way they are. Why is D larger than AA and AAA larger than AA? I don't get it | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3oaoi8/eli5_why_are_battery_sizes_named_the_way_they_are/ | {
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"text": [
"The letter system appears to originate in the two types of early radio batteries: A (low-voltage) and B (high-voltage). The first attempt to standardize various manufacturers’ battery names came during World War I, and stan... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
9luhed | what happens to a defendant who no attorney wants to defend? | like a Ted Bundy kind of guy, who's own attorney reluctantly defended him and lost friends over it. But those kinds of people still have the right to a lawyer. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9luhed/eli5_what_happens_to_a_defendant_who_no_attorney/ | {
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"text": [
"Public defenders are appointed to people who can't afford their own lawyers, they don't usually get a say in whether or not they'll take a client.",
"Yo... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
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"https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/us/dylann-roof-killers-defense-lawyers.html"
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] | |
m2kir | what is credit score, and can you save money by using a credit card? | I was reading a post on askReddit earlier when I read [this comment](_URL_0_). The part that interested me was the second half, where the redditor talks about saving money by using a credit card for purchases.
**I don't really understand the benefit of credit cards. You're spending money that you don't have and paying... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/m2kir/eli5_what_is_credit_score_and_can_you_save_money/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"OK, his comment is kinda accurate. \n\nCredit cards make all their money by charging interest (a penalty based on how much you spent) on items purchased that isn't paid off by a certain date (usually every month). To attract... | [] | [
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/m1v0z/redditors_who_are_over_30_what_knowledge_do_you/c2xh97z"
] | [
[],
[]
] | |
268v7q | what's needed to make a knife that doesn't dull? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/268v7q/eli5_whats_needed_to_make_a_knife_that_doesnt_dull/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Nothing will make a knife un-dullable.\n\nMechanical action against the edge of the blade will always cause particles to shear/fracture off and as time goes on, this will become more and more evident as the blade becomes less and less sharp.\n\nF... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4a70lh | why do lovebugs and june bugs flock to the color white? | I went outside tonight and noticed that June bugs were beginning to show up, with at least four of them loitering on a wet towel I had left outside. This had got me thinking about why certain insects crowd on things like walls, light fixtures, and fence posts that are painted white. Is it something involving light rece... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4a70lh/eli5why_do_lovebugs_and_june_bugs_flock_to_the/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"It's almost certainly tied to some other behavior that is hardwired into their brain (maybe they evolved to do this because the circuit that developed this behavior gave its host a better chance to survive which meant it wou... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"https://www.dispersions-pigments.basf.com/portal/basf/ien/dt.jsp?setCursor=1_564558",
"http://www.chemistry-blog.com/2012/08/23/whiter-than-white-how-does-it-work/"
]
] | |
2oc6zc | why does space scientists always search for 'habitable planets/plays that may have life on them' when in reality they are basing that off humans, whats to say the aliens couldn't survive in environments we'd die in? due to adapting. | Title says it all, but I was wondering why this is. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2oc6zc/eli5_why_does_space_scientists_always_search_for/ | {
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"text": [
"We know a lot of earthlike life, and have good ideas about how we might be able to detect it from very far away.\n\nWe have no idea what non-earthlike life would be like, or how t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
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8louth | what would the universe look like after the heat death of the universe? would rocks remain, or would they have somehow "decayed"? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8louth/eli5_what_would_the_universe_look_like_after_the/ | {
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"text": [
"A rock is a high energy state. Lots of bonds with lots of energy. Definitely not an end state.",
"No. Eventually everything would be in a perfect state... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_particle"
],
[],
[]
] | ||
ds5e7s | why do paper back and hard back cover books exist? why not just one type of book? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ds5e7s/eli5why_do_paper_back_and_hard_back_cover_books/ | {
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"text": [
"Hardcovers are much more durable than paperbacks. This is why you see school textbooks with hard covers, and, sa... | [] | [] | [
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4jvq47 | . how does your body make you sleep so much when you are ill? | I got a stomach bug and ended up sleeping through most of the day and night. Normally I couldn't sleep that much if I wanted to. How does your body overcome your normal circadian rhythm and make you sleep so much? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4jvq47/eli5_how_does_your_body_make_you_sleep_so_much/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Your wanting to sleep is regulated by a chemical in your brain. When your brain feels it's better off sleeping to deal with an illness, it makes more of the chemical. So you sleep more. ",
"there are several molecular p... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2b8c5e | i've often seen j.s.bach described as mathematically perfect. how is music maths; and how is it perfect? | Do any other composers have similar mathematical patterns? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2b8c5e/eli5_ive_often_seen_jsbach_described_as/ | {
"a_id": [
"cj2r8hx"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"All music is based on mathematics, actually! Let's look at a musical scale, which contains 12 repeating tones - you may have seen this before:\n\nA, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G# - and repeat. Each note corresponds to a tone of a specific ... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~suits/notefreqs.html"
]
] | |
74bwdb | why does coke/beer/etc spray everywhere after you shake a can but la croix doesn't? | I need science. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/74bwdb/eli5_why_does_cokebeeretc_spray_everywhere_after/ | {
"a_id": [
"dnx2vr5"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"The sparkling water is not carbonated to the same pressure as the soft drinks or beer. While shaking can make it fizz more it simply doesn't have enough dissolved gas to foam as much as the other beverages."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3bhj1j | who does wearing gloves at food stalls prevent food infection, the workers would still touch the same surfaces as they would with bare hands? | How* does wearing gloves | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3bhj1j/eli5_who_does_wearing_gloves_at_food_stalls/ | {
"a_id": [
"csm6mky",
"csm6ulz",
"csm94y1"
],
"score": [
2,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"bare hands are not sterile - try it yourself. take a piece of cheese, cut it with a disposible knife and put it in the fridge. it won't mold. break it and rub your hands on it. it will mold like crazy.\... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3o2dbv | the volkswagen scandal | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3o2dbv/eli5_the_volkswagen_scandal/ | {
"a_id": [
"cvteqt8",
"cvterrc",
"cvthkfs"
],
"score": [
3,
9,
2
],
"text": [
"Their cars (or some of them) are programmed to perform and meet the emissions standards when the car \"senses\" that its being tested.\n\nThese tests are preformed under the same conditions every time. ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
339te5 | when a law is passed, why is there a date that it goes into effect and why does it not go into effect immediately? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/339te5/eli5_when_a_law_is_passed_why_is_there_a_date/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqiujfj",
"cqiun8i"
],
"score": [
3,
13
],
"text": [
"Generally it's so that people affected by the law have time to adjust to the new laws. (For example, with the Affordable Care Act, it left time for states to build their healthcare exchanges and for people to acquire insura... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1n61ko | why china is such a hot bed for paleontological discoveries, in particular dinosaurs. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1n61ko/eli5_why_china_is_such_a_hot_bed_for/ | {
"a_id": [
"ccfq056"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"It's a massive country, being about the same land area as Canada or the US. And a lot of people are looking very carefully for fossils there now. It would be much stranger if China *were not* a major source of new discoveries, honestly. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6snkmv | what happens to elders whose family refuses to take care of them? | Like say they have no money themselves, limited social security, and their kids/extended family want nothing to do with them and refuse to provide care or finances. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6snkmv/eli5_what_happens_to_elders_whose_family_refuses/ | {
"a_id": [
"dle3g8g",
"dle415m"
],
"score": [
3,
4
],
"text": [
"That depends on what country they're in. But, generally, they will live a life of poverty if they don't have their own resources and no one chooses to help them.",
"Stay tuned: Millions of Americans are about to find out... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/poverty/reports/2008/07/30/4690/elderly-poverty-the-challenge-before-us/",
"https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/05/20/senior-poverty-is-much-worse-than-you-think/?utm_term=.8c3a167aff6a"
]
] | |
23d50c | why is it that some people hate the sound of certain materials (e.g styrofoam or crackling of joints) | For me, I hate the sound of styrofoam, it makes my jaw 'fall', but my brothers are fine with it, my dad hates the found of crushing empty water bottles but I'm fine with it | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/23d50c/eli5_why_is_it_that_some_people_hate_the_sound_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"cgvwzo2",
"cgw2qdw"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"As far as cracking knuckles go... can anyone ever resist the urge to crack your own after?",
"Could be a few things. Many sounds that are hated fall in the same range of frequencies that correspond to human screams, whic... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
8gdui9 | how does a car (when driving) charge it's battery? does it even charges it's own battery or is it a myth? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8gdui9/eli5_how_does_a_car_when_driving_charge_its/ | {
"a_id": [
"dyavmxl",
"dyavqks",
"dyawaxe"
],
"score": [
19,
4,
5
],
"text": [
"It does indeed! The engine drives a little generator (or a similar device called an alternator), which makes electricity that recharges the battery. This is why typical cars never have to be plugged in... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
223inr | why can't (or doesn't) comcast, twc, or i, for that matter, create a tv service where i pick and choose what channels i want? | It baffles me as to why I get the Food Network and 400 other channels when all I watch is ESPN and my local channels. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/223inr/eli5_why_cant_or_doesnt_comcast_twc_or_i_for_that/ | {
"a_id": [
"cgiz99y",
"cgizh0g",
"cgizhgq"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because if you only paid for ESPN, they wouldn't be making as much money. They'd rather package channels in bundles, so if you want a specific channel you have to buy the upgrade that includes the 40 ch... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
21zllp | why are cans of generic or unknown brands of soda more thicker(stronger) than cans of coke or pepsi? | I would think that a thicker can would only increase the cost to manufacture, so why would they do it?
Edit: [This] (_URL_0_) was the result of me trying to squash this particular can, I know if I applied the same force on a Coke can it would be completely squashed not just a dent as in the picture. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/21zllp/eli5_why_are_cans_of_generic_or_unknown_brands_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"cghxf37"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"i have never seen this to be the case. The generic sodas they sell round where i live have aluminum just as thin as the name brands."
]
} | [] | [
"http://i.imgur.com/SifotzC.jpg"
] | [
[]
] | |
a2xqmw | how is it that ads play well on mobile apps even when the internet is spotty? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a2xqmw/eli5_how_is_it_that_ads_play_well_on_mobile_apps/ | {
"a_id": [
"eb1x7ji",
"eb210jo"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"They are preloaded I think? They do the same on Instagram or FB even when I have no data or Wi-Fi enabled. But I'm sure someone has the actual answer for you.",
"There are different types of advertisements depending on t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1w79cn | why did wwii bombers always fly in formation? | I was watching an old WWII movie and there were portions about large groups of bombers flying over Europe to their targets. Despite enemy fighter attacks and antiaircraft fire, pilots always stressed the need to stay in close formation, with no deviation in altitude or direction. In these scenes, they must have been... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1w79cn/eli5_why_did_wwii_bombers_always_fly_in_formation/ | {
"a_id": [
"cezbmk6",
"cezd7og"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Formation allows for each bomber's guns to support the others. If a fighter takes on a bomber one-on-one, it's probably likely that the bomber will go down, if the fighter knows what he's doing. If ten fighters approach ten ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2ky7if | i have heterochromia and am short sighted. are the two related? | One of my eyes is green and the other is a noticeable browner colour; and I am short sighted. Is there possibly a correlation between the two? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ky7if/eli5i_have_heterochromia_and_am_short_sighted_are/ | {
"a_id": [
"clpr41z"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Since, as far as I know, there is no connection between eye color and near-sightedness, no, they are probably not related. I'm curious though, are both eyes equally short sighted? If one were worse then the other I'd be more inclined to think the... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3e9mrv | why haven't they made cars that are unable to unlock by clicking the button on your keys once? | In order to unlock all of the doors, you have to hit it twice. Why do this? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3e9mrv/eli5_why_havent_they_made_cars_that_are_unable_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctctfj4",
"ctctg6f"
],
"score": [
6,
6
],
"text": [
"In case you're being attacked. You unlock the driver's side without unlocking the others, so the murderers rapists can't get in before you. ",
"its a safety feature, if you are approaching a car, you may only want to u... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5oh7uc | what exactly about microwave ovens makes them very dangerous to repair? | I asked an appliance repairman yesterday. He was kind enough to talk to me on Martin Luther King Day (everyone else took the holiday off). He said something about the solenoid retaining electrical power whose amount you can never be sure of; and that if you touch this area of the microwave--which does not look the same... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5oh7uc/eli5_what_exactly_about_microwave_ovens_makes/ | {
"a_id": [
"dcjb6n1",
"dcjcldd"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Microwave ovens contain a high-voltage capacitor which stores charge; if you touch the capacitor or the HV part of the circuit you may receive an electric shock. \n\nTypically they're also reasonably high quality capacitors ... | [] | [
"http://www.howeverythingworks.org/page1.php?QNum=1535",
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL9h8T0KJik"
] | [
[],
[]
] | |
556our | when purchasing a new car why does the dealership ask for a down payment? does that downpayment go towards the payment of the car? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/556our/eli5_when_purchasing_a_new_car_why_does_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"d880v3e"
],
"score": [
15
],
"text": [
"A. If you have cash on hand the banks think you have your shit together and are more likely to give you a loan. If they have to repossess the vehicle it will be more likely worth more than the original amount you borrowed and they lose less mone... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
8gg85g | how long does it take animals to fall asleep once they lay down? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8gg85g/eli5_how_long_does_it_take_animals_to_fall_asleep/ | {
"a_id": [
"dybhmew",
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"dybp578",
"dybpse8",
"dybrozb",
"dybt4so"
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"score": [
97,
9,
11,
101,
5,
3
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"text": [
"It depends entirely on what type and species of animal, as well as on the individual in question. Sorry but your question, while int... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
dd1oq0 | how would we perceive an object with a colour off of our perceivable spectrum? | I might just be super dumb but if for example there were aliens out there with a colour not in our spectrum how would we see them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dd1oq0/eli5_how_would_we_perceive_an_object_with_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"f2dndb1",
"f2dpb51"
],
"score": [
20,
5
],
"text": [
"We simply see the *other* colors that the object reflects, with no effect from this additional color content.\n\nIf the object doesn't reflect any of the colors we can see, it looks black to us.",
"So color is reflected... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
jxzt9 | why is it every time i look into my flashlight and close my eyes(or look at a blank wall), i see the figure of the light but in a different colour? | My new charizard flashlight that is! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/jxzt9/eli5_why_is_it_every_time_i_look_into_my/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2g0x7j",
"c2g1jta",
"c2g4hxh",
"c2g0x7j",
"c2g1jta",
"c2g4hxh"
],
"score": [
8,
2,
2,
8,
2,
2
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"text": [
"Well, the way I like to think of it is this: when your body senses anything, it counteracts it with the opposite effect of whatever you ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
fkjb7u | can someone explain what a polity is to me? | For example, what constitutes as a polity? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fkjb7u/eli5_can_someone_explain_what_a_polity_is_to_me/ | {
"a_id": [
"fkt2o01"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"I go back to the Greek, which I think is related to the notion of a civil society and the rights and responsibilities of its citizens. In that sense, a polity is the civil community the citizens establish and operate. It is more than just the cit... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
4fyb55 | what is a nebula, and why is it not absorbed into some stronger source of gravity? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4fyb55/eli5_what_is_a_nebula_and_why_is_it_not_absorbed/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2czfx3",
"d2d000b",
"d2d02wm",
"d2djawj"
],
"score": [
29,
3,
10,
2
],
"text": [
"A nebula is a cloud of dust that is often the early stages of a solar system forming. If conditions are right it will eventually collapse on itself and form a star and planets. ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_Nebula"
],
[]
] | ||
any3k0 | i graduated from college, got a job and was never once asked for proof of my degree. what systems are in place that stop people from just forging/faking a degree and going straight to good pay without the debt? i learned nothing useful. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/any3k0/eli5_i_graduated_from_college_got_a_job_and_was/ | {
"a_id": [
"efwuv8q",
"efwv0c2",
"efwzv6z"
],
"score": [
3,
9,
2
],
"text": [
"How would you go about faking the degree? If you just printed it on a piece of paper, the company can call the university/college and ask if Timmy Turner 3432 ever graduated from their school. The unive... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
911zea | how do screens know where to put individual pixels or how its all connected? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/911zea/eli5_how_do_screens_know_where_to_put_individual/ | {
"a_id": [
"e2uugxn"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Well talking about a simple picture, the computer doesn’t really know they’re all connected. Each pixel just is a small amount of information that knows where it is supposed to be and what color.\n\nJust like when multiple people are holding a si... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
x8s5t | what is the hiv "cure" | I think that all of you have read about the two dudes that have been cleared of HIV for 2 years (?). | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/x8s5t/eli5_what_is_the_hiv_cure/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5k79q4",
"c5k7kae",
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"c5k9mje",
"c5kcnpz",
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"score": [
220,
34,
6,
2,
10,
2
],
"text": [
"This will have to be like you're five, because that's the only level at which I understand it.\n\nThere is a very rare mutation that... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
5s54e1 | what do epa opponents mean when they say they take issue with epa overreach? what do they mean by epa overreach? | I've tried to google it, but can only seem to find ultra-conservative explanations. Looking for a less radical, neutral clarification. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5s54e1/eli5_what_do_epa_opponents_mean_when_they_say/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddcfpx7",
"ddcgmyi"
],
"score": [
8,
18
],
"text": [
"Occasionally poorly written environmental regs get enforced in weird edge cases that end up with ridiculous or outrageous decisions like mud puddles being deemed \"wetlands.\" Similar situations happen with most regulatory ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2dtsw0 | when asked to pick a 'random' number from the top of my head, what am i really doing? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2dtsw0/eli5_when_asked_to_pick_a_random_number_from_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cjszcqv"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"You're thinking up random numbers until you find one that feels right (i.e. that you think is unlikely to be guessed or is otherwise appropriate to the situation) and then you choose it."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
8qqwyx | is there friction in space and does it affect big objects like moon? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8qqwyx/eli5_is_there_friction_in_space_and_does_it/ | {
"a_id": [
"e0lb6x8",
"e0lc52l"
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"score": [
4,
10
],
"text": [
"Space is not actually a perfect vacuum so there is the SLIGHTEST bit if friction, the affect on the moon is so incredibly miniscule its practically non exsistant. ",
"The NASA answered this:\n\n_URL_0_\n\n > Does frict... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://helios.gsfc.nasa.gov/qa_sp_ms.html#friction"
]
] | ||
6gpsuo | how do shows and movies eliminate unwanted noise? | I was watching an episode of Better Call Saul (S1 Ep 3, about 18 minutes in) and you can clearly hear the wind in the background and see the trees shake violently. I feel, that if it were shot with a normal camera, you would hear a lot of the wind distortion. How do they minimize the noise of the wind so that you can h... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6gpsuo/eli5_how_do_shows_and_movies_eliminate_unwanted/ | {
"a_id": [
"dis71a5",
"dislv3y"
],
"score": [
8,
2
],
"text": [
"You've seen the long boom mics that Saul's crew uses? Those are real - they're intended to just capture the actors lines during filming. Any background noise is added later by foley artists or other sound crew using sounds... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
1soq4o | why do the chinese copy so much? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1soq4o/eli5why_do_the_chinese_copy_so_much/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdzoqml"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Because they don't have the infrastructure for design/invention but they have the manufacturing know how. They can replicate items easily and their government doesn't do anything to stop it."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3h41qh | why is the 1tb hard drive i bought only 930gb? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3h41qh/eli5why_is_the_1tb_hard_drive_i_bought_only_930gb/ | {
"a_id": [
"cu40za3",
"cu41agf",
"cu421do",
"cu44hho",
"cu46bz9"
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"score": [
3,
2,
8,
50,
2
],
"text": [
"[lifehacker](_URL_0_) explains this really well.",
"There are a number of different reasons, but the main ones are that the way the drive is measured, I'... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://lifehacker.com/5950506/why-doesnt-my-new-hard-drive-show-the-right-amount-of-space"
],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
alt3t9 | how do goats and sheep not walk around in a constant state of concusion with all the headbutting they do? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/alt3t9/eli5_how_do_goats_and_sheep_not_walk_around_in_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"efgr0qg",
"efhmi28"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"They're brains are pretty small and their bodies pump their heads with lots more blood which cushions against impacts. It's called the bubble wrap effect. They also have very dense, strong bones in their heads. ",
"Cause... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
au785u | the principle behind laplace transform | I know how to perform it, but I still don't understand why doing so would let me solve differential equation | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/au785u/eli5_the_principle_behind_laplace_transform/ | {
"a_id": [
"eh6kxvs",
"eh6lrm0",
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"eh72c7s",
"eh79aba",
"eh79m9e",
"eh79p37"
],
"score": [
72,
19,
11,
5,
7,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Imagine you're solving a crossword and you don't know an answer for a certain question about some wild herb tha... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recurrence_relation",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_number#Closed-form_expression",
"http://ulcar.uml.edu/~iag/CS/Fibonacci.html"
],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
d25c4r | why do some cancers present symptoms early while others don't often present until stage iii or iv? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d25c4r/eli5_why_do_some_cancers_present_symptoms_early/ | {
"a_id": [
"ezsuv14",
"ezsweu4",
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"ezugq75",
"ezun1pz"
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"score": [
8,
28,
5,
2,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"There are no cancers that I can think of that naturally present themselves in early stages. Some cancers are jus... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
2s9x8g | why does the rims on the front wheels of a bus stick out, but the rims on the back wheels cave in? | Here is a good picture to show what I mean.
_URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2s9x8g/eli5why_does_the_rims_on_the_front_wheels_of_a/ | {
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"Have a look at this picture of a front hub\n\n_URL_1_\n\nThe wheel attaches to the stub axle that sticks out to the left. The hub swivels about the two vertical pins which is what allows it to turn and steer the vehicle. \n\nIf the wheel is a lon... | [] | [
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17q2um | why is wall street performing above average, while the economy is performing below average? | Please and thanks! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/17q2um/eli5_why_is_wall_street_performing_above_average/ | {
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"Because the two aren't related to each other except very indirectly.\n\nDo you know what I mean when I say the \"housing market?\" Houses are a *thing,* obviously. That means they're bought and sold. When we talk about all t... | [] | [] | [
[],
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3bo9ma | if adrenaline numbs soldiers from feeling pain during war, why don't doctors inject it in patients before surgery? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3bo9ma/eli5_if_adrenaline_numbs_soldiers_from_feeling/ | {
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"Because it increases your heart rate and depending on the surgery, could be life threatening. We have much safer anaesthetics now.",
"It can often cause vomiting; so this would be increasing the po... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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653trr | what is plant-based meat? | Was reading an article about synthetic meat and it kept mentioning "culture created meat" and "plant-based meat".
| explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/653trr/eli5_what_is_plantbased_meat/ | {
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"Animal cells take amino acids from plants and turn them into proteins. Then they arrange the proteins into muscle cells and other tissues. When we kill these animals and eat them, we call it meat.\n\nNow instead of using animal cells to make our... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
5xxjp6 | how is it that we can breathe through t-shirts/face masks, but aren't able to smell or contract anything? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5xxjp6/eli5_how_is_it_that_we_can_breathe_through/ | {
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"What are you talking about? You can certainly smell through a t-shirt, and you can contract diseases too. Actual sterile surgical masks and air filters are not a loose cotton weave like a shirt. They are very tightly woven specialty fabrics.\n\nB... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
7q41j5 | how is metal made and formed? how do we create things like steel and iron? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7q41j5/eli5_how_is_metal_made_and_formed_how_do_we/ | {
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"We don't really \"create\" iron; it, and most other metals, exist in nature. You (typically) dig it up out of the ground and run it through a smelter, which melts the metal (allowing you to concentrate ... | [] | [] | [
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"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzLvqCTvOQY",
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVV4xeWBIxE"
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aqcog9 | how do animals who aren't parented know when they meet their own species? | For example, a Parrotfish knows to school with other Parrotfish, despite never having seen itself or knowing what it is?
edit: Thanks for all the fantastic replies ELI5 =) | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aqcog9/eli5_how_do_animals_who_arent_parented_know_when/ | {
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1ijjwu | if all the pixels in my computer are red, green, and blue, how is my screen white? | how does red, blue, and green add up to white? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ijjwu/eli5_if_all_the_pixels_in_my_computer_are_red/ | {
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"text": [
"Because white light is comprised of the entire visible light spectrum together.\n\nRemember those old experiment in school where you shone a light through a triangular prism and got to see how it defracted into a rainbow of ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
6ej6c8 | does the human body have the ability to dampen incoming sound on command? | It seems that an unexpected loud noise hurts your ears more than an expected loud noise. Is this because you have the ability to dampen the incoming noise? Or is it the mental awareness of expecting the incoming sound that seems to dampen it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6ej6c8/eli5_does_the_human_body_have_the_ability_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"diaoyy8",
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"text": [
"This is anecdotal but maybe it is useful. I have sensitive ears and when I hear sharp/loud noises, I attenuate my ears in a way that shifts the sounds a tiny bit. I am also able to wiggle my ears and these are the same mu... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperacusis",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensor_tympani_muscle",
"http://en.friends-against-wind.org/img/Tensor_tympani_muscle.jpg"
]
] | |
3oafnu | what do cell phone service providers, like sprint, do with phones from other companies like verizon or at & t | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3oafnu/eli5_what_do_cell_phone_service_providers_like/ | {
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"From what I understand, they would sell them to Asurion, the company that provides insurance for att/tmobile/sprint/verizon...\n\nWhen you turn in the phone, typically it needs to turn on and off, be free of cracks, and have the reactivation lock... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
d01xw3 | how are credit cards manufactured? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d01xw3/eli5_how_are_credit_cards_manufactured/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"The card numbers are assigned to banks by the credit card company, in blocks. You’ll notice all Visa cards start with 4, and MC starts with 5, other card companies start with other numbers. Then the next set of numbers is different for every bank... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
32bs9k | is skipping more efficient than running? if not why does it feel like it is? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32bs9k/eli5_is_skipping_more_efficient_than_running_if/ | {
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"http://philboxing.com/news/pix/pistorius.paralympics.300w.jpg"
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[],
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[
... | ||
3h3w17 | why does going 30mph on a speedboat feel so much faster than 30mph in a car? | They're roughly the same size and going the same speed so why does one feel faster than the other? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3h3w17/eli5_why_does_going_30mph_on_a_speedboat_feel_so/ | {
"a_id": [
"cu4059g"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"It's largely because you're exposed to the outside, and especially the wind. You're not experiencing the speed with more than one sense, rather than just your sight."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3if7gd | what do people actually do at work when they have no work to do? | Do they honestly continually ask their boss for new projects? Doesn't the boss get annoyed after a while? Do people just surf the web? Wander around Reddit? I've had three different jobs in office settings and I always have significant amounts of spare time. And yes, I assure you, I'm doing my job thoroughly and well. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3if7gd/eli5_what_do_people_actually_do_at_work_when_they/ | {
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11,
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"text": [
"If you have lots of spare time in your job, count yourself lucky that your boss haven't figured out how to squeeze employee for every ounce of \"productivity\". Some corporate office workers have to wo... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2mbdhl | what's happening neurologically when you get addicted to a song? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2mbdhl/eli5_whats_happening_neurologically_when_you_get/ | {
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"I am fairly positive you can't get addicted to a song as it has no chemical component that makes it addictive. I know that isn't the answer you want but that's the answer. I do know people can enjoy certain rythemes and sounds and that will make ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
ommfy | what is the purpose of bass? | I've been getting into metal lately, and am wondering about the role of the bass guitar. Even with booster, I can barely distinguish it from the rest of the sound, so I imagine it has to have a purpose beyond contributing another set of sounds to the song. I notice the music seems to have less "punch" when I reduce it,... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ommfy/what_is_the_purpose_of_bass/ | {
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"I can't speak for metal, but in other genres, bass is used as a bridg... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3Lf10U0yZrs#t=243s"
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],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2WUm7JWh2Ag#t=6... | |
3ldiaq | how is it that the periodic table works out so "perfectly"? | I'm not too bad at chemistry, but one thing I can't wrap my head around is how perfect the periodic table is. How is it that each element that we know is only one more proton than the last? How come it goes in PERFECT order instead of having a few elements with protons not perfectly linear to the periodic table? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ldiaq/eli5_how_is_it_that_the_periodic_table_works_out/ | {
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"text": [
"You classify by elements by their protons. It goes in \"perfect order\" because you're just counting the number of protons to identify the atom. The number of neutrons and electrons vary though. \nIt's ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
d9dz8a | i keep seeing studies that say vegetables have less nutrients compared to those 100 years ago. does this apply to organic vegetables? is there a way to ensure you’re getting nutritious food? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d9dz8a/eli5_i_keep_seeing_studies_that_say_vegetables/ | {
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"text": [
"Yes, it also applies to organic... organic just means whether chemicals were used as pesticides or not. Many of ... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"https://youtu.be/Yl_K2Ata6XY"
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[],
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"https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/soil-depletion-and-nutrition-loss/"
]
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2ar536 | why do some people like to take books or magazines to read in the bathroom? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ar536/eli5_why_do_some_people_like_to_take_books_or/ | {
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"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"If you're gonna be sitting there for a while, you may as well be entertained.",
"Because they don't have reddit on their phones."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
80p301 | why does the adhesive inside my nasal strip packaging light up purple in the dark? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/80p301/eli5_why_does_the_adhesive_inside_my_nasal_strip/ | {
"a_id": [
"dux544y"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"This is called triboluminescence. Light is generated through the breaking of chemical bonds in a material when it is pulled apart, crushed, or rubbed. As i'm understanding it, when you're pulling the packaging apart you are exciting the electrons... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
aeen8g | different paper sizes | I just recently starting working for a printing company that sells all kinds of printers and toners, and occasionally different paper sizes. I’m used to the 8.5” x 11” which is standard, and the 8.5” x 14” which my lawyers use a lot. I’m learning that there are series of paper sizes from A to C, with a drastic change i... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aeen8g/eli5_different_paper_sizes/ | {
"a_id": [
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],
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8
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"text": [
"A0 is 841 x 1189 mm. Every other number up is just half of previous one, so A1 is 594 × 841 mm, A2 is 420 × 594 mm etc, so when you fold A0 in half, you get 2 A1's, when you fold that one in half, you have 2 A2's... A4, standard widely used siz... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1wubok | why "can't" you lie when you're under oath? what would happen if you do, and how would anyone ever find out? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1wubok/eli5_why_cant_you_lie_when_youre_under_oath_what/ | {
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"it's illegal to lie under oath, thus committing another crime and potentially extending your... | [] | [] | [
[],
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97kngo | the method to the madness of country codes (+1, +44, +358 etc). what's the actual pattern, if any? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/97kngo/eli5_the_method_to_the_madness_of_country_codes_1/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"There was a bit of politics to the pattern. 1 for the USA down to 7 for the USSR at the time with other areas being given intermediate numbers. Africa is 2, Europe is 3 and 4, South America is 5, Aust... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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oqcnj | why can us celebrities openly admit drug abuse and suffer virtually no consequences? | I'm talking about the likes of Lindsey Lohan, Amy Winehouse, Hunter S. Thompson, etc. They are known drug abusers, and what's more, they don't even try to keep it a secret. In a country where you can be locked away in a slammer for years for possession, it seems very unfair and incongruous to see that the same standard... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/oqcnj/eli5_why_can_us_celebrities_openly_admit_drug/ | {
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"c3j95mi",
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"c... | [] | [] | [
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[],
[],
[
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcqQqNBJXa8#t=2m15s"
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[... | |
2oga65 | what are "daddy issues"? and how do they relate to your openness to sex? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2oga65/eli5_what_are_daddy_issues_and_how_do_they_relate/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"It's not always openness to sex first off. When you are born your ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electra_complex"
],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
9nqbmd | why everybody cares so much about kanye west and his political views. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9nqbmd/eli5_why_everybody_cares_so_much_about_kanye_west/ | {
"a_id": [
"e7o883f"
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"score": [
3
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"text": [
"He is a very high profile star with a wide fan base. That and his political views are exactly opposite of what you think such a man would have. \n\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
202849 | how steve irwin was stabbed by the stingray which killed him | Having seen and swam with rays, I am having a hard time visualizing how he was killed. His cameraman describes the event as "all of a sudden the stingray propped on its front and started stabbing Steve with his tail".
Even a crappy paint drawing would help! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/202849/eli5_how_steve_irwin_was_stabbed_by_the_stingray/ | {
"a_id": [
"cfz74ab"
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"text": [
"Stingrays whip their tails either over their backs or to the sides to put their barbs to use. \"Propped on its front\" probably refers to putting its nose down for better reach/angle with it's tail. \n\nHere's a good video to show what happens.\n... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://youtu.be/A15ud8RL1rQ?t=20s"
]
] | |
4zxtt4 | i pay a monthly fee for cable tv. why are there commercial advertisements, and, more importantly, why are movies censored for language? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4zxtt4/eli5_i_pay_a_monthly_fee_for_cable_tv_why_are/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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5
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"text": [
"The advertisement is to pay to make the expensive original content, or to cover the costs of buying the rights to air syndicated old shows.\n\nThe censorship is for different reasons, usually a hold over from a long ago pass... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
6yw4bg | why do we have to pay to freeze our credit? | Why do we have to pay each of the three credit reporting companies to stop sharing our personal information? Considering that we never consented to them collecting our information in the first place, and the only way we can get them to stop sharing it is to pay them, how is that not extortion?
On a similar note, does... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6yw4bg/eli5_why_do_we_have_to_pay_to_freeze_our_credit/ | {
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"text": [
" > Considering that we never consented to them collecting our information in the first place, and the only way we can get them to stop sharing it is to pay them, how is that not extortion?\n\nYou did consent to them collecti... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3ahesi | what would happen if my tires were filled entirely with water, rather than air? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ahesi/eli5_what_would_happen_if_my_tires_were_filled/ | {
"a_id": [
"cscnqbe"
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"text": [
"You would have less traction, as the water would not compress, so less of the tyre would touch the road because it wouldn't squash much. You would lose control easier, as the much stiffer and heavier wheel would bounce much more. The ride would b... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2oi3m1 | given enough time, would every river turn its channel into something like the grand canyon? | Is water erosion severe enough that every river would erode its channel hundreds (maybe thousands) of feet into the earth to form something like the grand canyon? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2oi3m1/eli5_given_enough_time_would_every_river_turn_its/ | {
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],
"text": [
"It needs to have enough volume and the surrounding rocks have to be sturdy enough to stand by themselves. If the river is in a sand like environment, it eventually just erodes the soil without making a canyon. \n\nBut with t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2tc2t8 | what happens to a multi-million dollar company if every important person or owner dies/disappears? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2tc2t8/eli5what_happens_to_a_multimillion_dollar_company/ | {
"a_id": [
"cnxn7ly"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Well. In terms of ownership it's easy. The owner owns shares, the shares would go to whomever inherits from him. So, assuming he has no will, and is declared legally dead, it would go to his wife then children then other family depending on who... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3orm9f | the hate on florida. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3orm9f/eli5_the_hate_on_florida/ | {
"a_id": [
"cvztsjy",
"cvztwc1",
"cvztwvs",
"cvzu03t",
"cvzwiu6"
],
"score": [
2,
13,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"I mean it depends on where you want to look at the hate. The hate could be\n\n > Joking [About the insane amount of old people out there] \n\n > Weather, I... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
8gtq1f | how do storms continually drop rain? why does it not all drop at once, and how can storms keep a steady stream up? | Just was thinking about this while getting rained on :) | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8gtq1f/eli5_how_do_storms_continually_drop_rain_why_does/ | {
"a_id": [
"dyemick",
"dyengtk",
"dyes3qx",
"dyewelr",
"dyexngt",
"dyf0sd8",
"dyf3k2f",
"dyf4ii3",
"dyf5ixa",
"dyf6607"
],
"score": [
40,
3868,
4,
27,
57,
4,
2,
2,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"I'm not entirely sure why it doesn't all f... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideal_gas_law"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
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