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a85e0s
what does a cpu core do when no program is using it?
Normally one core is noticeably higher than the rest cause it is handling windows and maybe some background processes. But all other cores are also being uses, very minimally, but something is happening. Just curious as to what a core does when not in use by a program or the OS.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a85e0s/eli5_what_does_a_cpu_core_do_when_no_program_is/
{ "a_id": [ "ec83oi2", "ec8iyel" ], "score": [ 7, 2 ], "text": [ "Unused cores are \"idling\". They are basically doing nothing (actually doing \"NOOP\"=\"no-operation\" commands every cycle, afaik) while waiting for some work to arrive.\n\nModern CPUs are often able to underclock them on ...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
37yong
why does my dog hate being wet from the shower but doesn't care about being wet from swimming
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/37yong/eli5_why_does_my_dog_hate_being_wet_from_the/
{ "a_id": [ "crqx32m", "crqzonr", "crr6ta9" ], "score": [ 94, 5, 3 ], "text": [ "It's like this. Take yourself for instance, do you enjoy a hot shower at your will? Probably, just like a dog enjoys the water at his own will. On the contrary, do you enjoy being blasted in the face w...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
9vgq1y
how does paying off credit cards before interest accrues improve your chances of getting a new credit card?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9vgq1y/eli5_how_does_paying_off_credit_cards_before/
{ "a_id": [ "e9c1q2p" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "It doesn't. Having a history of on-time payments and credit usage increases your credit score. Paying it off before accruing interest still satisfies both requirements. The credit card company doesn't care that you're not paying interest, they ma...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
883xnc
port forwarding vs. port triggering
I've generally understood port forwarding to allow me to host my own servers for games that might require you to do so, but when checking my port management in trying to get this experimental feature from NVIDIA to work, I wondered if this might be something I might want to do, but not sure. So what would be the diffe...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/883xnc/eli5_port_forwarding_vs_port_triggering/
{ "a_id": [ "dwhnevc", "dwi4kg7" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Port triggering is like port forwarding but is not always active. It activates usually when certain outbound traffic is present (ie. a server is running a game instance). ", "Port forwarding takes a single port and direc...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
3udabh
why does it seem like everyone gets offended very easily all of a sudden? (particularly college-aged students). this hyper-politically-correct climate seems to have come out of nowhere in the last year to year-and-a-half. what contributed to this change?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3udabh/eli5_why_does_it_seem_like_everyone_gets_offended/
{ "a_id": [ "cxdvc8w", "cxdw3v9", "cxdw6ko", "cxdwn61", "cxdwy1f", "cxdxg2o", "cxdxv0w" ], "score": [ 31, 18, 3, 16, 11, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "Being a liberal I am disturbed by this level of self censorship. It almost seems like we are setting ourselves...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
44x437
how come there are laws banning sodomy anno 2016?
I just read about how Michigan republicans have passed a bill banning, amongst other things, anal intercourse. My bias is gonna shine through here, but how is that remotely possible anno 2016? This goes for the rest of the United States as well. How is it constitutionally, politically or socially acceptable to potent...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/44x437/eli5_how_come_there_are_laws_banning_sodomy_anno/
{ "a_id": [ "czthmx7", "czthpkp", "czuoouy" ], "score": [ 15, 9, 3 ], "text": [ " > but how is that remotely possible anno 2016?\n\nWell, they can pass a bill saying whatever they want, as long as enough of the legislators are agreed. If by 'possible' you mean \"actually successful...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
5ykgqm
what are the mouth movements hearing impared people make while doing sign language?
The mouth movements don't seem to match up to the words as they would be spoken, so what are people mouthing while signing??
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ykgqm/eli5_what_are_the_mouth_movements_hearing_impared/
{ "a_id": [ "deqtt0p", "deqvcic" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Sign language is not a one-to-one translation of English. It's a completely separate language -- some of the word ordering is different and it has a much smaller vocabulary.\n\nSo the \"mouth movements\" are simply the signe...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
28jxdl
if i drink and smoke and then find out i'm pregnant what damage have i already done to the fetus?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/28jxdl/eli5if_i_drink_and_smoke_and_then_find_out_im/
{ "a_id": [ "cibm19d", "cibr48v" ], "score": [ 6, 3 ], "text": [ "Depending on a lot of circumstances, it could be more or less... But probably not too much. But now that you know, stop drinking and smoking! And maybe consult a doctor with details.", "Drinking & Smoking Cigarettes ha...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
3fnkxv
how does the british monarchy still have all of its money?
Surely if none of them are working and they own hundreds of servants and they have to pay huge inheritance tax every time one of them dies, they would have run out of money a long time ago?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3fnkxv/eli5_how_does_the_british_monarchy_still_have_all/
{ "a_id": [ "ctq89l5" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "The Royals are paid roughly 40 million pounds a year by the British Government in exchange for the incomes derived from the massive amount of land that they own. It nets out to being about 160 million pounds in favor of the government but also m...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
kufhg
what an acid trip feels like.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/kufhg/eli5_what_an_acid_trip_feels_like/
{ "a_id": [ "c2nb7eq", "c2nbamc", "c2nbb2s", "c2nbbtg", "c2nbeux", "c2nbffk", "c2nbfn2", "c2nbic5", "c2nbqh8", "c2nbtmp", "c2nc15p", "c2nclwt", "c2ncm5e", "c2ncwmd", "c2ndoyu", "c2nghdz", "c2ngj1r", "c2nhgvs", "c2nkwpd", "c2nb7eq", "c...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.erowid.org/experiences/subs/exp_LSD.shtml" ], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU" ], [], [], [], [ "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJeysC17PyI" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.erowid.org/e...
5am6wm
gears and sprockets
I'm completely new to engineering and stupidly put myself forward to work on the transmission for a project I've been working on where I have to raise a fairly heavy object with a wind turbine spinning at approximately 100 mph. I've been working on the transmissIon for days and can't for the life of me figure out if I'...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5am6wm/eli5_gears_and_sprockets/
{ "a_id": [ "d9hinx3", "d9hys12" ], "score": [ 5, 3 ], "text": [ "I think you have the ratios backwards. \n\nYour turbine is spinning very quickly, generating a ton of speed (say 100 RPM, though the actual speed depends on the design of the turbine). Now, you don't need that speed for the ...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worm_drive" ] ]
277nbt
why do people dislike gypsies?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/277nbt/eli5_why_do_people_dislike_gypsies/
{ "a_id": [ "chy50wq", "chy550d", "chy5ygo", "chy674t", "chy67rf", "chy6c59", "chy6ect", "chy6h0l", "chy6jzt", "chy6npw", "chy6rlm", "chy6zdd", "chy70ua", "chy718t", "chy72pi", "chy734w", "chy75g1", "chy78sd", "chy79yn", "chy7cyw", "c...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQSnua3M2lo" ], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiziganism" ], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R57PlZFAeM&feature=kp" ], [], [ "http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/how-gypsies-work/" ], []...
1fcd3s
how laser hair removal works
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1fcd3s/eli5_how_laser_hair_removal_works/
{ "a_id": [ "ca8wucc" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "Think about a nice sandpit. While you like grass, you don't want grass on the sandpit. The problem is that the grass are settled there, and they are really really tougher than any normal grass you know. \n\nYou could shave it. But then it will gr...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1sa9k9
why is there never a "wind chill" (seperate from when a thunderstorm/hurricane approaches) in the summer? i.e., it regularly is 35 but "feels like" 20, but i never hear "95 today, but will feel like 80."
i think i may have misspoken. my confusion isn't necessarily what meteorologists tell us about the apparent temperature. but anecdotally, i can't ever remember in the dog days of d.c. summer having the thermometer read +90, but feeling like, "oh, this ain't so bad because of the sustained 12mph wind all day." which see...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1sa9k9/eli5_why_is_there_never_a_wind_chill_seperate/
{ "a_id": [ "cdviwu8", "cdvkna3", "cdvmxh6" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "My understanding is that these values typically act as outside measures (max and min). During the summer you would have a high of X which would be augmented by the humidex to a higher value. During the ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
b5jodf
how does food "contaminate" plastic?
I have heard that most food packaging is thrown away and sorted into general waste (a.k.a landfill) because the food residue interferes with the plastic recycling process. Is this true? If so, please ELI5 me
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b5jodf/eli5how_does_food_contaminate_plastic/
{ "a_id": [ "ejdyit2" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Let's say you have two tons of virgin plastic pellets at your factory. You are going to melt them down and mold them into 1 million dollars worth of Tupperware. Right before they go into the melting oven a disgruntled employee takes a massive shi...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
40cpot
what was americas role in contributing to the current instability in the middle east and the refugee crisis?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/40cpot/eli5_what_was_americas_role_in_contributing_to/
{ "a_id": [ "cyt5eci", "cyt5gl7", "cytbp97" ], "score": [ 2, 5, 2 ], "text": [ "Interference in geopolitical affairs of other countries in the middle East, invading Afghanistan, Iraq and essentially pissing off everyone in that region is a good place to start. Unfortunately if our ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
2gkuxz
i'm confused about pie
I've been reading about the Proto-Indo-European language recently, and I was just wondering if there's anyone here who would be able to explain how we actually know that it even existed? Also, I wish we still spoke in PIE
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2gkuxz/eli5_im_confused_about_pie/
{ "a_id": [ "ckk1qqq" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "We know it existed because we can see its child languages. Latin, Greek, Sanskrit and German wouldn't have the similarities that they do if they didn't evolve from a common parent language.\n\nLinguists can [reverse engineer](_URL_1_) what [PIE](...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Indo-European_language", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_reconstruction" ] ]
avk3if
how are damaged airplanes transported to a repair facility?
Let's say an aircraft crashed and its tail is damaged, cabin is leaking, had an uncontained engine damage, etc. but could be repaired to be put back into service later. How are damaged airplanes transported to a repair facility if it can't safely fly? A standard twinjet can fly with one engine, however it is difficult...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/avk3if/eli5_how_are_damaged_airplanes_transported_to_a/
{ "a_id": [ "ehfqfpz", "ehfqhwh" ], "score": [ 17, 4 ], "text": [ "Former aircraft mechanic here. Depending on damage aircraft can be repaired on site. I've flown to smaller airports where we have rented hanger space and got to work. Parts and tools are shipped to you. Often a representati...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/roo-tales/that-time-when-we-strapped-an-extra-engine-on-to-a-jumbo/" ] ]
1o6wpz
why is it i can remember the lyrics to hundreds, if not thousands, of songs; yet when i go downstairs i frequently forget why i went downstairs in the first place?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1o6wpz/eli5_why_is_it_i_can_remember_the_lyrics_to/
{ "a_id": [ "ccpb7po", "ccpb86w", "ccpc59u" ], "score": [ 7, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "You changed rooms. Your brain associates thoughts with things like rooms. Your thought was from the other room. When you changed rooms your brain switched to the new room but the reason you entered t...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
b6spx8
what is the electroweak theory?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b6spx8/eli5_what_is_the_electroweak_theory/
{ "a_id": [ "ejmy4v0", "ejn4r97" ], "score": [ 8, 4 ], "text": [ "The electroweak theory states that, while the electromagnetic force and the weak nuclear force appear to be very separate forces doing very different things at *vastly* different scales, they're actually two different manife...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_point_(thermodynamics\\)" ] ]
3ct4nz
why did people in the 18th and 17th centuries have so many kids compared to today
I always see these stories (like Benjamin Franklins) where they are born as the youngest of 9 kids or are the oldest of 5. nowadays, most people have 2-3 kids, why?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ct4nz/eli5_why_did_people_in_the_18th_and_17th/
{ "a_id": [ "csyo5c5", "csyt26y" ], "score": [ 13, 2 ], "text": [ "Because back then (1) they did not have effective birth control and (2) a large percentage of children died of illness, so people tended to have extra. Brutal reality, eh?", "Back in the day, a child had an economic val...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
4bi4rk
what would a society with no money look like?
I read a comment on a recent ass credit thread that said technology will eventually lead to socialism and possibly a society without money. My puny brain can't comprehend a life without money and debt. What will motivate people? What's the point?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4bi4rk/eli5_what_would_a_society_with_no_money_look_like/
{ "a_id": [ "d19apy6", "d19aqbj", "d19ar33", "d19b14h" ], "score": [ 8, 7, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "So this is an interesting question, because it is one of the more challenging hypotheticals. [David Graeber wrote a book on money and debt.](_URL_0_) Summarizing his account of the...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debt:_The_First_5000_Years" ], [], [], [] ]
29ykzq
why do i break into a sweat when i move from a hot area, into a cooler one?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/29ykzq/eli5why_do_i_break_into_a_sweat_when_i_move_from/
{ "a_id": [ "ciproyk" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "i'd think that it's not that you suddenly break into a sweat, it's that you just don't stop sweating immediately, and the sweat was evaporating more quickly in the hot area so you didn't notice it as much." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
ad4uk0
how would we translate a newfound language into one we understand?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ad4uk0/eli5_how_would_we_translate_a_newfound_language/
{ "a_id": [ "eddk2wo", "eddl39h" ], "score": [ 13, 2 ], "text": [ "The movie ‘Arrival’ does a great job of showing how our linguists would begin to start the process of communicating with an alien race we know *literally* nothing about. It’s all about building a groundwork and establishing...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
32whl4
why do countries like china, japan, and korea test so much higher than the u.s. in math, science, and reading. having recognized this, why doesn't the u.s. implement similar teaching styles?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32whl4/eli5_why_do_countries_like_china_japan_and_korea/
{ "a_id": [ "cqfa1st", "cqfabt3", "cqfam2g" ], "score": [ 4, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "It is more down to the parents valuing education especially in mathematics and sciences than to a difference in teaching methods, though valuing teachers as a resource is less regarded in the USA than A...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
1vfwyn
why do we try to protect animals which don't have any much or any good use?
An example would be Rhinoes, it's illegal to kill them, even though they are pretty useless while they live. Sorry if this appears as ignorant.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vfwyn/eli5_why_do_we_try_to_protect_animals_which_dont/
{ "a_id": [ "ceru95s", "ceruck9", "ceruexs", "cerugij", "cerujht", "ceruo4d" ], "score": [ 2, 9, 2, 3, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "All life is sacred.\n\nWhile it is true that species go extinct and is a part of the cycle of the world, when it comes to man-influenced...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_zone_%28ecology%29#Gulf_of_Mexico_.27Dead_Zone.27" ], [], [] ]
cgpfgm
why do people on sinking ships/battleships die. if sinking takes multiple hours and there are enough rescue boats or nearby boats to swim to, why does nearly all of the crew die?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cgpfgm/eli5_why_do_people_on_sinking_shipsbattleships/
{ "a_id": [ "eujautj", "eujba8d", "eujnrpm", "eulkr12" ], "score": [ 3, 10, 5, 2 ], "text": [ "I can’t explain it like you’re 5, but the submerging object sucks smaller objects in, do to its mass. You can do this at home as well,find a toy boat with a few lighter objects ar...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
5m5mzn
what kind of work do monks in an abbey do?
I've found tons of info about the daily schedules of monks and the various names for their different prayer times, but there's an oft ambiguous part just titled "manual labor" and I am curious outside of the religious practices, what kinds of work do monks tend to do? Mostly interested in European self-sustained abbeys...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5m5mzn/eli5_what_kind_of_work_do_monks_in_an_abbey_do/
{ "a_id": [ "dc0z9to", "dc10gz1", "dc10m7x", "dc10z87", "dc11jof", "dc11y0v", "dc12f6f", "dc152x3", "dc1d9xx" ], "score": [ 43, 31, 17, 6, 3, 15, 9, 2, 15 ], "text": [ "If it is self sustained abbey it is probably farming. Then it cou...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/john-carlisle/2016/01/23/monks-making-jam-in-upper-peninsula-monastery/78371442/" ], [], [], [] ]
5eddr0
in india, what happens if lower caste person becomes suddenly rich?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5eddr0/eli5_in_india_what_happens_if_lower_caste_person/
{ "a_id": [ "dabk8pj", "dabkpqe", "dabxjeq" ], "score": [ 2, 5, 2 ], "text": [ "[There are plenty of stories about this.](_URL_0_) Many younger Indians don't really believe in the caste system, but plenty of people still treat a rich dalit as a dalit despite his wealth.", "It's...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.nbcnews.com/id/45770579/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/t/rich-indian-cant-buy-out-lowest-caste/#.WDS7faIrJE4" ], [], [] ]
2308t1
the difference between pop culture and regular culture.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2308t1/eli5_the_difference_between_pop_culture_and/
{ "a_id": [ "cgs3new" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Popular culture is a subset of overall culture. It's usually things that come and go (fads), like musicians and actors or fashion trends. A pop musician writes songs that are designed to appeal to the current target audience but might not have lo...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2l04tk
why do only certain electronics usually use 9 volt batteries?
I hate buying 9 volt batteries, but certain household devices seem to require them. Things like fire alarms, desk clocks, and RC car controllers. Is there a specific reason why they use 9 volt instead of other sizes? Is it just a lifespan thing?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2l04tk/eli5_why_do_only_certain_electronics_usually_use/
{ "a_id": [ "clq9405" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "With circuit designs that we call \"linear,\" the supply voltage is irrelevant. You can use a 9V battery, or you can use a 1.5V battery and draw six times as much current from it: at least in theory, the device will function the same way. The 1.5...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
6dmsd6
how do filmmakers film close-up gunfire?
I was watching the season finale of Arrow and it got me thinking so spoilers for that. When Chase puts a gun to his head and fires, how does one film that safely? Blanks are known to blow the heads off snakes at 6ft range (granted that's a rifle round) so surely it's not that. Is it just cgi? What about before that?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6dmsd6/eli5_how_do_filmmakers_film_closeup_gunfire/
{ "a_id": [ "di3u3f1", "di3uq0l", "di43kzz" ], "score": [ 12, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "You are right that it is just CGI. Sometimes they use gas blow back guns that will have a recoil similar to a normal gun but will be harmless. It might be enough to trigger the squibs to have blood spl...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://youtu.be/KJZLcsAmLbM", "https://youtu.be/miVhTaFSH3I" ], [ "https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=242s&v=QChWIFi8fOY" ] ]
7ncnjf
what causes the audible electric 'buzzing' sound from high voltage power lines?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7ncnjf/eli5_what_causes_the_audible_electric_buzzing/
{ "a_id": [ "ds0ymly", "ds10oq5", "ds11c55", "ds15kpf", "ds16a58", "ds184ur", "ds18628", "ds18a8z", "ds19a2v", "ds1a8mr", "ds1csdt", "ds1fy88", "ds1i4e3" ], "score": [ 1899, 75, 9, 2, 74, 673, 2, 3, 5, 3, 3, 3, ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_hum" ], [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7ncnjf/eli5_what_causes_the_audible_electric_buzzing/ds1ej44" ], [], [] ]
2hdaw5
why do gold coins and bars typically say "99.999% gold" or some variation of that? why are they not 100% pure gold?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2hdaw5/eli5_why_do_gold_coins_and_bars_typically_say/
{ "a_id": [ "ckrlkxs", "ckrm5eo" ], "score": [ 6, 2 ], "text": [ "Some amount of impurity is almost unavoidable, even if it's just a few specks of some other metal/rock.\n\nSo, to prevent any jerks who would find those tiny impurities and start a big fuss with some lawyers, they cover them...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
aniwjv
the role of blood in the color of our flesh and what would it look like if we had no blood.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aniwjv/eli5_the_role_of_blood_in_the_color_of_our_flesh/
{ "a_id": [ "eftqwgs" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Flesh appears \"reddish\" in humans because hemoglobin, a type of protein, contains an iron component which to a greater or lesser degree acts as a pigment for flesh.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nDecellularized organs/tissues are \"white\". You might find t...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/1rpm0n/decellularized\\_ghost\\_heart/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/1rpm0n/decellularized_ghost_heart/" ] ]
66olfd
how does animal/plant create some of the most potent poison out of nothing?
i mean it just soil and water for plant, normal food for animal. yet it can create poison that can kill whole village out of single drop.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/66olfd/eli5how_does_animalplant_create_some_of_the_most/
{ "a_id": [ "dgk281a", "dgk4l0b", "dgk5z1g" ], "score": [ 17, 2, 4 ], "text": [ "But it's not out of nothing!\n\nHave you ever played with Legos? Everybody starts with the same building blocks. Maybe you couldn't make something huge out of it -- but someone else certainly did. \n\n...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histamine" ] ]
1y33i1
why isn't all the information in our brain instantly available to us?
A lot of the time i know that i know the answer to a question but i have to try and remember. Surely it'd be more advantages for us as humans just to be able to access all the information in our brains instantly.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1y33i1/eli5_why_isnt_all_the_information_in_our_brain/
{ "a_id": [ "cfgx1xt" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Because your brain simply isn't built for that. It relies on triggers and connected neurons to recall information. Most information from the same set of information isn't even stored in the same location. The memory of what what you had for dinne...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
4l0g23
rgb lines when you take a picture of your monitor
[Example](_URL_0_)
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4l0g23/eli5_rgb_lines_when_you_take_a_picture_of_your/
{ "a_id": [ "d3j8a00", "d3j8ot2", "d3jfx98" ], "score": [ 2, 16, 2 ], "text": [ "It's called a 'moiré' pattern.\n\nThe dots/pixels on the monitor in the picture don't line up exactly with those on the camera's CCD or display monitor, causing the effect.\n\n_URL_0_", "That's cal...
[]
[ "http://prnt.sc/b8bi2i" ]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moir%C3%A9_pattern" ], [ "https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moir%C3%A9_pattern" ], [] ]
3qv1e4
are dogs really happy when it's owner comes back home?
My dog goes crazy, is jumping around, licks me and generally looks super happy. I am welcoming it for like 10 minutes by petting it and carrying. It's super happy... or is it not ?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qv1e4/eli5are_dogs_really_happy_when_its_owner_comes/
{ "a_id": [ "cwijxze", "cwikqxt", "cwilwdz", "cwix771" ], "score": [ 10, 35, 47, 3 ], "text": [ "Dogs have feelings like compassion and affection. Also, you're the one who feeds him. So yeah, he's happy. ", "It's more like they are feeling too many things at once. They...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "http://news.discovery.com/animals/zoo-animals/dogs-humans-120208.htm", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin", "https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201303/which-emotions-do-dogs-actually-experience", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytocin", "http://news.national...
eppz1y
why did american pilots in ww2 not like the p-39 but russian pilots did?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/eppz1y/eli5_why_did_american_pilots_in_ww2_not_like_the/
{ "a_id": [ "fekyzie", "fel6mk8" ], "score": [ 6, 2 ], "text": [ "For the environment the Americans were using them in, notably the pacific theater, they did not perform very well and were often out performed by Japanese planes. They were also considered quite unreliable. The Soviet Union ...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
6ckzea
how is clorox splashless bleach actually splashless?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6ckzea/eli5_how_is_clorox_splashless_bleach_actually/
{ "a_id": [ "dhvgxbu" ], "score": [ 22 ], "text": [ "It has a higher viscosity than the normal bleach solution. Even concentrated bleach is not 100% sodium hypochlorite (the \"bleach\" part of bleach): high strength concentrated bleach is 8.25%, the rest is water (and scent additives and so on). ...
[]
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[ [] ]
4fl72p
why people smoke cigarettes after sex? what does it do? how does it feel?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4fl72p/eli5_why_people_smoke_cigarettes_after_sex_what/
{ "a_id": [ "d29t7xd", "d2a5o2m", "d2a9xvq" ], "score": [ 7, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "That myth came around when a significant percentage of America was addicted to smoking and pretty much needed to smoke all the time. Aside from calming their nicotine withdrawals, it also is stimulating...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
2ox88b
what exactly does it mean when my cpu says it's running at 2.80ghz. why does task manager say it's faster?
Hey all, so I believe I understand hyper-threading and cores and all that, but I also see how 2.80ghz in games is often too slow. And this didn't make much sense to me, sure I know I'm on a gaming laptop but I don't think I've seen a game yet that I couldn't run. Now today just out of curiosity I checked out the "Perf...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ox88b/eli5_what_exactly_does_it_mean_when_my_cpu_says/
{ "a_id": [ "cmrccti" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "the 3.45ghz is the turbo boost speed, intel cpus can boost all cores or some cores to higher than normal speeds. the 2.8ghz is the normal speed. the turbo boost is on by default. \n\nif the 2.8ghz is what you're seeing for recommended specs. ...
[]
[ "http://imgur.com/a/bp0bs" ]
[ [] ]
3eoohr
whats a "shadow" minister? i'm from the us and don't understand.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3eoohr/eli5_whats_a_shadow_minister_im_from_the_us_and/
{ "a_id": [ "ctgx1mw", "ctgx5fj", "ctgx7ky" ], "score": [ 4, 3, 6 ], "text": [ "A shadow minister is the opposition's alternative for an existing government minister. Ex. Joan Smith might be a \"Liberal\" Party minister of education. The \"Conservative\" Party wants someone to crit...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
5twh76
why has the wild west been explored so heavily in films and television when it was a relatively short moment in human history?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5twh76/eli5_why_has_the_wild_west_been_explored_so/
{ "a_id": [ "ddpjs44", "ddpkq3d" ], "score": [ 19, 121 ], "text": [ "A good question, one that has to do with the US's culture, and also what it cost to **make** movies. Speaking of culture, you should definitely add a culture tag to this before the bot gets you!\n\n\nAnyway, the wild west...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
9ugdt1
what's the difference between 3-in-1 shampoo and mixing equal parts shampoo conditioner and body wash yourself?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9ugdt1/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_3in1_shampoo/
{ "a_id": [ "e942wkl", "e943u4r" ], "score": [ 11, 3 ], "text": [ "I am not an expert on this, but came across a video recently which broke this down (might have been Wired).\n\nA shampoo is designed to remove oils (among other things) from your hair. \n\nA conditioner is designed to add o...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
20vt9y
how do arctic animals like polar bears and arctic foxes drink water when there's just snow and salt water everywhere?
I've been watching nature docs for the past few days and still can't get over how these arctic animals consume water… or do they even consume much water at all? So much is left unexplained...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20vt9y/eli5_how_do_arctic_animals_like_polar_bears_and/
{ "a_id": [ "cg77ogv" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "They get much of it from the food they eat. IIRC there was an ex Seaworld trainer that did an AMA; she said they had to force feed the whales water because the frozen fish they ate did not have enough water in it." ] }
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[ [] ]
djjk6n
how do rocket scientists know for sure that the payload is not going to crash into a space junk while being deployed to space ?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/djjk6n/eli5how_do_rocket_scientists_know_for_sure_that/
{ "a_id": [ "f45kebj", "f45kewb", "f45kpmi", "f45mxm6" ], "score": [ 17, 2, 6, 2 ], "text": [ "They track every piece of junk they know of.\n\nBut once you are out of orbit, space is beyond huge.\n\nHere's a example. When putting a probe out into space, and it has to pass t...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
7llktj
how do scientists acquire mice with very specific, and often rare, diseases or illnesses for the purpose of testing treatments?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7llktj/eli5_how_do_scientists_acquire_mice_with_very/
{ "a_id": [ "drn51mn" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "They usually get perfectly healthy mice and just administer the desease into them \n\nTheyre like a blank canvas that way" ] }
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[ [] ]
c29iwl
how does lane assist in cars work?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c29iwl/eli5_how_does_lane_assist_in_cars_work/
{ "a_id": [ "eriloyw" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "The car has a camera that points towards the front of the car (at the road). It scans for the markings on the road that show where the lane is, and then if it notices that the car is shifting to an angle where the markings don't line up, it does ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
79b6uw
how did hydrocarbon lakes (oil and gas) form on titan if earths formed from broken down biological material?
Titan is one of Saturn's moons. There are more hydrocarbons on Titan than there is on the earth. All of ours (or so I believe) formed from broken down biological material. How did Titan come to be with so much hydrocarbon material present without ever having life?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/79b6uw/eli5_how_did_hydrocarbon_lakes_oil_and_gas_form/
{ "a_id": [ "dp0jpfy", "dp0jvur", "dp190td" ], "score": [ 19, 5, 4 ], "text": [ "Hydrocarbons, especially the simpler ones prevalent on Titan (methane, ethane), can be produced geologically as well. Titan also has a lot of nitrogen in its atmosphere (most of it is nitrogen), and t...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
6eagt4
why can't broken glass be recycled in most town/city curbside pickups?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6eagt4/eli5_why_cant_broken_glass_be_recycled_in_most/
{ "a_id": [ "di8ugdu" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "The risk of broken glass/ injuries to the workers is too high, plus glass costs way more to haul than it will ever be worth as a recycled product. So it's a money loser." ] }
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[ [] ]
2djo1z
why do our eyes determine when we sleep?
Like, is there a reason that the eyes were made to determine our sleeping time?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2djo1z/eli5_why_do_our_eyes_determine_when_we_sleep/
{ "a_id": [ "cjqss5a" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Our eyes are not the ones that determine when we sleep but it may often appear so. In fact, our brains are the ones that tell the rest of our body that we need to rest. The reason that our eyes seem to let us know when we need sleep is because th...
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[]
[ [] ]
1ubcfr
how can one web browser be faster than another?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ubcfr/eli5_how_can_one_web_browser_be_faster_than/
{ "a_id": [ "cegbvyf", "cegbw4x", "cegdlh6", "cegemv6", "cegfruk", "cegh6fl", "cegjbtx" ], "score": [ 8, 3, 2, 3, 4, 42, 2 ], "text": [ "Generally speaking, there is almost certainly always a way to make a software run faster, through code optimizati...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "http://www.quora.com/Web-Browsers/What-makes-one-web-browser-faster-than-another#step=5" ], [], [], [], [] ]
396jvc
the different raid settings on computer hardware.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/396jvc/eli5_the_different_raid_settings_on_computer/
{ "a_id": [ "cs0sljg", "cs0srxh" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Your data is the most important, most valuable part of your computer. You don't know how important it is until you've lost it all. You should always have several layers of redundancy and backup to protect your most valuable ...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
51tf7w
why is there a hole in the bottom of mcdonald's french fries package?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/51tf7w/eli5_why_is_there_a_hole_in_the_bottom_of/
{ "a_id": [ "d7epx0i" ], "score": [ 9 ], "text": [ "[The boxes are shipped to the store flat](_URL_0_) so they take up less space in the delivery truck & store room. They're then folded out into a box before filling them with french fries. Since fries are larger than the holes, this design is ...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4143/4860783428_c917da6f29.jpg" ] ]
5h5v2l
what is the difference between universal basic income and the usual benefits, except it gets paid to rich people, too? isn't it kinda redundant?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5h5v2l/eli5_what_is_the_difference_between_universal/
{ "a_id": [ "daxndt9", "daxnefs", "daxqctt" ], "score": [ 3, 6, 2 ], "text": [ "It's administratively easier and cheaper to pay some benefits to all and to recover - in one way or another - from taxation. Far, far cheaper.", "Another key difference is that the government does n...
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[]
[ [], [], [] ]
5elzmx
why do tuna & salmon have such a distinct taste?
Most whitefish tastes pretty much the same, except maybe catfish. Honestly I highly doubt without labels I could tell tilapia, basa, cod, pollock apart. Tuna - canned tuna, not sashimi tuna - is super distinctive in flavor. If someone made you a tuna sandwich and secretly substituted cooked & flaked tilapia you woul...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5elzmx/eli5_why_do_tuna_salmon_have_such_a_distinct_taste/
{ "a_id": [ "dadlqm5" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "I think you're a bit wrong about white fishes : some white fishes have very distinctive taste and/or texture, like ray or flounder, for instance. I think the reason we find some white fishes indistinguishable is because of the way we eat them : b...
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[ [] ]
6qhlxe
how did a mix of fruit, dairy, veggies, grains, and meat/fish end up being the recommended "ideal" diet for humans when historically that seems like a difficult menu to consistently have access to?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6qhlxe/eli5_how_did_a_mix_of_fruit_dairy_veggies_grains/
{ "a_id": [ "dkxbfzv", "dkxbmja" ], "score": [ 3, 7 ], "text": [ "Well malnutrition has been extremely prevalent through human history, and nutritional science is fairly new. Once we had the science to try to determine the ideal we did, up until then a lot of people got sick for nutritiona...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
3z2qgc
how can people demand constitutional carry yet not be a member of a well regulated militia?
The Second Amendment states (in full): "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." People are demanding constitutional carry (mainly in Texas), but few if any of them are part of a militia like that State or National...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3z2qgc/eli5_how_can_people_demand_constitutional_carry/
{ "a_id": [ "cyirhyw", "cyirmw5", "cyirn2u", "cyirr0a", "cyisvaq", "cyiycwf", "cyizjf4", "cyj1hc6" ], "score": [ 45, 28, 11, 7, 4, 9, 6, 3 ], "text": [ "The stated reason is a militia, but it is the right of *the people* to bear arms. The rig...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution#District_of_Columbia_v._Heller" ], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_v._Heller" ], [], [], [], [] ]
8jwdie
why do f1 cars and other true race cars generally have relatively thick profile tires with a small diameter rim while almost any sports car you can buy has low profile tires?
Why is this? This occurred to me when I was admiring and old school sports car with thicker profile tires. I like that look and thought, wait a sec, F1 cars have tires just like that! I’d love to know the reason. Looks aside, low profile tires would seem to make more logical sense in racing to me.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8jwdie/eli5_why_do_f1_cars_and_other_true_race_cars/
{ "a_id": [ "dz2xwjx", "dz2xzp2", "dz2ydmq", "dz38ga8" ], "score": [ 2, 11, 2, 10 ], "text": [ "Wear during an actual race is different from a street car. The composition is also different because you want a street cards tires to last. A race cars tires are expendable.", ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw3LE78gwhg" ], [ "https://cdn-9.motorsport.com/images/amp/2GmO3mr6/s6/formula-e-formula-e-2018-2019-car-presentation-2018-formula-e-2018-2019-car-7394301.jpg" ] ]
2qbcnr
why is html color coded in hexadecimal(base 16) instead of decimal(base 10)? wouldn't it be much easier to understand?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2qbcnr/eli5_why_is_html_color_coded_in_hexadecimalbase/
{ "a_id": [ "cn4juie", "cn4jvok", "cn4jzis", "cn4m82j" ], "score": [ 3, 3, 7, 2 ], "text": [ "When I learned hexadecimal for colors, I figured it was due to its relationship with how data is stored in binary.\n\nNow I realize that there is more data stored in hexadecimal th...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://www.w3schools.com/cssref/css_colors_legal.asp" ], [ "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/color" ], [] ]
3rhb91
why is it often said that facial expressions play a vital role in communication yet many people have zero problems talking on the phone?
Where you cant see anything
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3rhb91/eli5why_is_it_often_said_that_facial_expressions/
{ "a_id": [ "cwo1h86", "cwo1zcy" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "You may not have any problems talking on the phone, but there is a greater chance of misunderstanding. Even more so with texting, which takes away one more means of communication, tone.", "We've learned to guess what peo...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
3tcoqt
why canadians are known for being good samaritans?
PS: I'm not American.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3tcoqt/eli5_why_canadians_are_known_for_being_good/
{ "a_id": [ "cx53t3m" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Canadians are generally just kind to one another. For the most part, people are companionate and generally care about one another. I've never heard of black Fridays in Canada where people are fighting over tv sets. It's in our general attitude to...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
3spk2o
how a stronger us dollar benefits foreign companies that do a lot of business in the u.s.?
and vice versa how it hurts U.S. companies that do a lot of business overseas.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3spk2o/eli5_how_a_stronger_us_dollar_benefits_foreign/
{ "a_id": [ "cwzbqsg" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "A strong dollar means that it takes few dollars to buy the same amount of product in their own currency. This causes sales to go up. \n\nFor example, lets say you make widgets and sell them for 100 Euros each, and sell lots in the US. If the US d...
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[ [] ]
c8rjk5
why iran doesn't know how to build a nuke. hasn't the technology been around for a while and isn't it public knowledge?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c8rjk5/eli5_why_iran_doesnt_know_how_to_build_a_nuke/
{ "a_id": [ "esp2xg1", "esp42vn", "esp5uf9", "espcfqe", "espehad" ], "score": [ 20, 10, 6, 7, 2 ], "text": [ "Its not for lack knowledge but of rescources. Fissionable materials are SUPER rare and SUPER controlled. You can buy them in small amounts but enough to bui...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
x3cmy
why i don't feel hot or sweat in the shower
I guess I can't be sure I don't sweat, but I certainly don't feel hot; in fact, a hot shower tends to be a nice relief on a hot day.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/x3cmy/eli5_why_i_dont_feel_hot_or_sweat_in_the_shower/
{ "a_id": [ "c5it457" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Go stand outside on an average day. How do you feel? Warm? Cool? Good. Now I'm going to dump a bucket of water over your head.\n\n**Sploosh**!\n\nNow how do you feel? Pretty cold, I would guess.\n\nThe same thing happens in the shower. Since y...
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[]
[ [] ]
23vqeu
when does a country go from a developing nation to a developed nation and when was this first coined?
You may hear nations like Sweden, United States, and Germany as developed nations, but China is many times called a developing nation even when they have much of what the former countries have. So what separates a developed from a developing nation?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/23vqeu/eli5_when_does_a_country_go_from_a_developing/
{ "a_id": [ "ch15a64" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "There's technically no clear-cut definition and thus no 'true' answer to what makes a nation developed and not developing. Definition may differ and may have different ideological content attached to it. Hence the fact that developed and not deve...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=6326", "http://www.princeton.edu/~mgilens/Gilens%20homepage%20materials/Gilens%20and%20Page/Gilens%20and%20Page%202014-Testing%20Theories%203-7-14.pdf" ] ]
27ftrl
what do professional nba coaches do for their teams that elevates the talented players they have?
Look at Heat, Spurs or Thunder. Some players have plenty of experience and ability. They all seem to be pretty movtivated. is it just seeing areas to improve since they are external and coaching players on that? Seems like these coaches would need to be top of their field too.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/27ftrl/eli5_what_do_professional_nba_coaches_do_for/
{ "a_id": [ "ci0ealv" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "While it's not as obvious in basketball as it is in football, there are formations, patterns, and plays in basketball. The coach has to develop those, see which his or her team is better at, what makes sense at what point in the game.\n\nAlso, th...
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[ [] ]
7p7h95
how do banks choose what interest rates to allow their customers to earn on their savings accounts?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7p7h95/eli5how_do_banks_choose_what_interest_rates_to/
{ "a_id": [ "dsf23be", "dsfek81" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "When you hear the news talk about the Fed raising/lowering interest rates, that is just one rate they set... but other banks, mortgage lenders, etc. use it as a baseline to which other rates are pegged. They will set their v...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
2u1g8p
how are half-lifes so mathematically consistent (universally accurate
I just would like to know the math and history behind the half life formulas. I just don't get how so many drugs have a consistent half life across all humans. I understand there is some variation in the amount of time a drug stays in one system, but it seems very consistent overall. The formula/equation fits so perfec...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2u1g8p/eli5_how_are_halflifes_so_mathematically/
{ "a_id": [ "co4a155" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "The formula was designed to fit the data obtained from testing and experimentation. *THAT* is the reason the formula fits." ] }
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[ [] ]
3aw8fb
why do testicles sag? they seem inconveniently located...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3aw8fb/eli5_why_do_testicles_sag_they_seem/
{ "a_id": [ "csgj81x" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "They sag because they are very sensitive to temperature. Heat and cold can both kill sperm. Too hot? They can sag more and move away from your body to cool off. Too cold? They can shrink up and hug your body to keep warm." ] }
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[ [] ]
3xkawk
what would happen if we just voted on bills directly and didn't elect people to do it for us?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3xkawk/eli5_what_would_happen_if_we_just_voted_on_bills/
{ "a_id": [ "cy5d8dy", "cy5dc7s", "cy5dwtx", "cy5e8t6", "cy5etl4", "cy5htwe", "cy5ibvr", "cy5itcd", "cy5jfp6", "cy5k088", "cy5knaq", "cy5lb7u" ], "score": [ 147, 2, 4, 31, 20, 23, 4, 4, 16, 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ ...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/statistics" ], [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/search?restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all&q=vote%20directly" ], [], [], [], [], [] ]
9sd2o4
why do so many native american reservations have a big problem with poverty, and crime that has afflicted these places for so long?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9sd2o4/eli5_why_do_so_many_native_american_reservations/
{ "a_id": [ "e8nt8i9", "e8ntebc", "e8nuqjg", "e8nxnk2", "e8nxwtu" ], "score": [ 3, 18, 3, 4, 6 ], "text": [ "im pretty sure it has something to do with the lack of rich people. its basically the same problem the ghettos have in the rest of the country. no rich peopl...
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[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
70r9ku
how do water guns work?
If possible, can one explain different types; the cheap water pistols (a trigger pull), stuff like Super Soakers, etc? And is there anyway to make it automatic?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/70r9ku/eli5_how_do_water_guns_work/
{ "a_id": [ "dn5c0u4" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ " > the cheap water pistols (a trigger pull)\n\nThis kind of water gun works simply by using the trigger pull as power for a simple water pump, basically a plunger to force a small amount of water out the narrow nozzle.\n\n > stuff like Super So...
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1gu5qy
why does the air smell like smoke at night in during summer?
Maybe it's just my local stoners blazing up in the cover of darkness every night now that they're out of school, but whenever it's a clear night there's always a distinct smell that I can only describe as smokey, and I have no idea where it would come from. It happens camping, in rural areas, and even in my suburb.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1gu5qy/eli5_why_does_the_air_smell_like_smoke_at_night/
{ "a_id": [ "canub8u", "canuiqs" ], "score": [ 10, 3 ], "text": [ "Campfires, firepits, and BBQs. ", "Temperature inversions. Ordinarily, as you go up in altitude, the temperature drops (it gets more complicated at the *really* high altitudes, but never mind). Smoke is warmer than th...
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[ [], [] ]
60zb1k
the history/meaning behind the saying "break a leg" said for good luck.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/60zb1k/eli5_the_historymeaning_behind_the_saying_break_a/
{ "a_id": [ "dfaiagw", "dfajspd", "dfaruom" ], "score": [ 3, 14, 3 ], "text": [ "In theater, it's sort of a custom or common belief that if you wish someone good luck, you're actually sort of jinxing it. Like, now that they said it, they'll have more nerves and feel more pressure i...
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[ [], [], [] ]
6eqsjk
why do mma fighters cut weight in such a short amount of time? why not slowly decrease weight during training?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6eqsjk/eli5why_do_mma_fighters_cut_weight_in_such_a/
{ "a_id": [ "diccnfi", "did5vli" ], "score": [ 5, 2 ], "text": [ "When fighters Cut weight - particularly for a weigh in, they are dropping water weight to make the required weight class limit. After the weigh in they can re-hydrate and put the weight back on.", "I can't talk for MMA ...
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[ [], [] ]
1jxsiv
what is it about gravity that we don't understand?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1jxsiv/what_is_it_about_gravity_that_we_dont_understand/
{ "a_id": [ "cbjbxg3", "cbjcck3" ], "score": [ 2, 3 ], "text": [ "This is where we get into the difference between scientific theories and laws, a difference that many people don't really understand. A scientific law is an observation about the world that holds true in every case we've see...
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[ [], [] ]
1vdofj
how does poop that floats flush down a toilet, say on the the third floor
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vdofj/eli5_how_does_poop_that_floats_flush_down_a/
{ "a_id": [ "cer76uc" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "The toilet has a [trap](_URL_0_) just behind the hole at the bottom. When flushing, water pushes the contents of the toilet past the trap.\n\nBut the other side of the trap is not filled with water. It's an empty pipe that the waste water (and ...
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[ [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trap_%28plumbing%29" ] ]
42ahrw
why do humans like looking at twinkling lights (like christmas lights, lights of a city, fireworks)?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/42ahrw/eli5_why_do_humans_like_looking_at_twinkling/
{ "a_id": [ "cz91a6d" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Actually it is pretty interesting why. Apparently humans are attracted to shiny things like that because back in the day thousands of years ago we found water sources by seeing the shining glare coming off of lakes and such" ] }
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1muvtu
what comes first, the lyrics or the music? how are songs made?
It seems like it would be really hard to create music around existing lyrics.. but it also seems like it would be hard to write lyrics that match up with music. What is the typical process for creating music?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1muvtu/eli5_what_comes_first_the_lyrics_or_the_music_how/
{ "a_id": [ "ccctdvs", "cccwlgl" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Depends almost entirely on the preferences of who's writing it, and even then it varies on a song-by-song basis. Sometimes a melody comes to you and you write out the song then come up with lyrics to fit it, and sometimes th...
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1hgvt0
why so many people hate nuclear and why it took so long to come back?
Title!
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1hgvt0/eli5_why_so_many_people_hate_nuclear_and_why_it/
{ "a_id": [ "cau734v", "cau7nnw" ], "score": [ 8, 13 ], "text": [ "People are afraid of what they don't understand. And there are a lot of fearmongers who are very vocal and convincing to the masses.\n\nIt's difficult to make people understand Chernobyl and Three Mile Island in context and...
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[ [], [ "http://nuclearsecrecy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/CEREA-chernobyl.jpg" ] ]
767nb1
how much control does a potus have over the cia?
From what I know, officially, the CIA "doesn't operate within the United States" or something like that. How much control does a President have over the CIA? Who is the person at the top of the CIA chain of command? And how does that person get that job? (I searched, this hasn't been answered here, unless I'm searchi...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/767nb1/eli5_how_much_control_does_a_potus_have_over_the/
{ "a_id": [ "dobwq22" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "The president can direct the CIA in certain areas and generally give approval for certain activities. Overall, the agency reports to congress for civilian oversight.\n\nIts headed by the Director of Central Intelligence. Generally a person would ...
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[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Director_of_Central_Intelligence" ] ]
5y9v5b
hash functions.
What's the point? Thank you!
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5y9v5b/eli5_hash_functions/
{ "a_id": [ "dep6g8u" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Another important use is for implementing a data structure called hash map, which is basically a key-value structure that can be accessed in constant time. This jewel is used a lot in programming. \n\nThe way they work, is you hash the key and yo...
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7t60n8
what are neutrinos?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7t60n8/eli5_what_are_neutrinos/
{ "a_id": [ "dta4q4h", "dtald2l", "dtamx1u", "dtanto8" ], "score": [ 207, 20, 2, 8 ], "text": [ "Neutrinos are nearly-massless particles, which only interact with gravity and the weak nuclear force. They don't react to electromagnetism, and they have such a small mass that...
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[ [], [], [], [] ]
2h3rw8
if my spaceship could withstand the pressures of jupiter, what would a trip through the planet be like?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2h3rw8/eli5_if_my_spaceship_could_withstand_the/
{ "a_id": [ "ckp4fyw" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Read the novel \"2010\" by Arthur C. Clarke. There's a chapter that explains this far better than I could." ] }
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dw6fsw
how is cholestrol tested just from a blood test?
As far as I understand, cholestrol is the accumulation of fat in your veins and other areas in your body. How can doctors determine your LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides just from drawing blood?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dw6fsw/eli5_how_is_cholestrol_tested_just_from_a_blood/
{ "a_id": [ "f7gvdib" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ " > cholestrol is the accumulation of fat in your veins and other areas in your body.\n\nNo, cholesterol is a substance, a lipid which is present across the body. It can accumulate in veins and other areas of the body but the amount being tested ...
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6aiiii
why is it that downloading through steam slows my internet, but watching youtube doesn't?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6aiiii/eli5_why_is_it_that_downloading_through_steam/
{ "a_id": [ "dhetl45" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "When you watch a video it only needs to send the video as fast as it needs to in order to play it back. When you download a large file from Steam it attempts to get you the file as quickly as possible." ] }
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3325j5
what are the main political points that will be fought over in the upcoming election and why?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3325j5/eli5_what_are_the_main_political_points_that_will/
{ "a_id": [ "cqgsl66", "cqh45dr", "cqh6clq" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "EU: Should the UK be in, our or should there be a referendum about it?\n\nImmigration: How many people should be coming in every year?\n\nHousing: What needs to be done to make housing more affordable?\...
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[ [], [], [] ]
3i0iqn
the effects of smoking hookah
A lot of people who bash on hookah don't realize it's been around for hundreds and hundreds of years and is a part of most Middle Eastern cultures. I've seen some studies that totally abuse the control apsect and in the end they claim it is worse than smoking cigarettes, however an average bowl of shisha is 20-25 gram...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3i0iqn/eli5_the_effects_of_smoking_hookah/
{ "a_id": [ "cuc7fgi" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "Long time hookah smoker here who has quit. The most simple answer is that smoking is bad regardless of which form it takes. Most people who smoke hookah don't do so as often as cigarettes but a session of hookah can last anywhere from 30 minutes ...
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8jxa7e
how did france come to be so highly regarded in the culinary world?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8jxa7e/eli5_how_did_france_come_to_be_so_highly_regarded/
{ "a_id": [ "dz36o9u", "dz378dn", "dz3jztv", "dz4529b", "dz4lkm4", "dz4of6w" ], "score": [ 6, 133, 47, 4, 8, 2 ], "text": [ "There's a legend that the French culinary legacy all stems from Catherine De Medici bringing Italian chefs with her to Paris when she...
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[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
73zcbn
why are bodies able to create an entire body with it's own lifetime supply of regenetive cells, but is itself unable to prevent gradual decay over a lifetime?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/73zcbn/eli5_why_are_bodies_able_to_create_an_entire_body/
{ "a_id": [ "dnuapmg", "dnufive", "dnukn2m", "dnuktp6", "dnv2pfi", "dnv3jkb", "dnvg671" ], "score": [ 16, 42, 6, 6, 3, 2, 6 ], "text": [ "Because as cells duplicate, they lose a little bit of DNA on the top and bottom. The first few times it doesn`t ...
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[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0014821", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telomerase" ] ]
73b5wl
why do babies love kisses?
How do young babies (4 months) know this is showing love and affection? How do they know to be happy about this?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/73b5wl/eli5_why_do_babies_love_kisses/
{ "a_id": [ "dnozgxf" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Babies are born with an instinct to recognize faces and smiles, and have learned in the womb to recognize the sound of a human voice. And they like physical contact in general. So that's a lot of good stuff to start with." ] }
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[ [] ]
9gp6xh
the origin of the term “booby trap”
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9gp6xh/eli5_the_origin_of_the_term_booby_trap/
{ "a_id": [ "e65tbym" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "1590, booby meant slow or stupid person. From the Spanish word bobo (stupid, slow). This gave birth to the term booby trap because only a slow/unintelligent person would get caught in it but was only used by schoolboys and grew a more dangerous ...
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2tj78d
is it possible to blind yourself permanently by just staring at the sun? if so how long would it take?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2tj78d/eli5is_it_possible_to_blind_yourself_permanently/
{ "a_id": [ "cnziwsn", "cnzjmsg", "cnzjof8", "cnzk4ne", "cnzk820" ], "score": [ 8, 9, 21, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "Definitely. Noon at the equator? I'd guess less that 5 minutes.\n\nEdit: may take longer. Here is a link. _URL_0_", "Funfact, this is not actually p...
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[ [ "http://gizmodo.com/5926497/what-happens-when-you-stare-at-the-sun" ], [], [], [], [] ]
8rmupu
how do engineers prevent rocket fuel sloshing around in a partially full tank from effecting a rocket launch?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8rmupu/eli5_how_do_engineers_prevent_rocket_fuel/
{ "a_id": [ "e0skovz" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "There are baffles, some tanks for later maneuvers have pressurized bladders, and there's a few other antisloshing mechanisms. These actually become important in microgravity you don't have gravity to pull your fuel into your chamber. Instead you ...
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8l1cd1
how does corrosion actually work?
[deleted]
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8l1cd1/eli5how_does_corrosion_actually_work/
{ "a_id": [ "dzc1xkn" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Corrosion is a reaction at the surface of a material, between the material and the environment. Rust, for example, is the iron in steel reacting with oxygen and forming [iron oxides](_URL_1_). Corrosion can happen if the material comes in conta...
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[ [ "https://www.quora.com/Why-is-copper-oxide-green", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_oxide" ] ]
1ncgll
how my flash drive can speed up my computer
There is an option for using my flash drive to speed up my computer. Does it use it as RAM? If 1GB can make my computer faster, why doesn't it use the 800GBs already in the hard drive?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ncgll/eli5_how_my_flash_drive_can_speed_up_my_computer/
{ "a_id": [ "cchbclb", "cchgu5i" ], "score": [ 10, 3 ], "text": [ "The flash drive will be used as a cache for the hard drive, not as ram. That means, some data that windows thinks will be used in near future, is copied onto the drive when the hdd isn't used. Because flash drives have a mu...
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[ [], [] ]
z91qv
why doesn't my bike go backwards when i peddle backwards?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/z91qv/eli5_why_doesnt_my_bike_go_backwards_when_i/
{ "a_id": [ "c62jmph" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "It's built into the bikes design, if they didn't do this you wouldn't be able to coast with a bike. Also, when you are pedaling in smaller gears going backwards could cause the chain to come off. " ] }
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