q_id stringlengths 5 6 | title stringlengths 3 296 | selftext stringlengths 0 34k | document stringclasses 1
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value | url stringlengths 4 110 | answers dict | title_urls list | selftext_urls list | answers_urls list |
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4kjw76 | why do some materials, like tinfoil or chip bags, make so much noise when crinkled. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4kjw76/elif_why_do_some_materials_like_tinfoil_or_chip/ | {
"a_id": [
"d3fyzh8"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"So some materials, such as cellophane, have a specific force at which they actually and suddenly bend. Any less force than this and they only flex. The difference is basically that on the bend side the thing actually assumes a new shape, while i... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
8cm47u | how do buildings deteriorate? | If they can withstand the weather when people live in them, why not when they're empty?
What starts to deteriorate first once it's abandoned?
Do American buildings become ruins faster than European ones, since they are built faster?
Is there a point at which it stops degrading, or speeds up?
Edit: thanks for your a... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8cm47u/eli5_how_do_buildings_deteriorate/ | {
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"text": [
"They deteriorate from lack of maintenance. There's typically at least some maintenance if someone lives in it. The rest depends on way too many factors.",
"It depends on what t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
6jee6k | what's the differences between sharia law and fundamentalist christian law? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6jee6k/eli5_whats_the_differences_between_sharia_law_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"djdlib9"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"This is a loaded question and honestly, I'm gonna say that I'm not gonna give a well-researched answer.\n\nFundamentally, I see no difference. They're both based on a theocratic mindset of enforcing a very authoritarian controlling view and mind... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
11zatx | the "tulip mania" craze in the 1600s in netherlands and why it was important | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/11zatx/eli5_the_tulip_mania_craze_in_the_1600s_in/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Eh, probs your best bet is to listen to this podcast from [Stuff You Missed In History Class](_URL_0_). Feb. 11 2011 episode. \n\nSecond question first: It's important because it's the first example we know of an asset bubbl... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stuff-you-missed-in-history/id283605519"
],
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] | ||
3lobnp | why do buzzfeed and similar articles make you click next to see the next paragraph? | It's such an inconvenient design, there must be some gimmick behind it. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3lobnp/eli5_why_do_buzzfeed_and_similar_articles_make/ | {
"a_id": [
"cv7vhf5",
"cv7vj2a"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"For each new page, they have more ad view, thus more money. Technically inclined sites may also use it to measure the popularity of each articles since bored reader won't click past the first page. ",
"Advertising. Money... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3gn9v3 | why can't my 10 year old notebook play youtube videos (in 480p) without heavily lagging anymore? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3gn9v3/eli5why_cant_my_10_year_old_notebook_play_youtube/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctzodv2",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Because of bloated updates. Every software developer assumes you're going to constantly update your hardware and connection, so they keep putting unneccessary (I know that's subjective) stuff in their software that means you... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
8oq7ki | how does google keep their map updated? | They always seem to have all the roads and construction updated immediately. How? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8oq7ki/eli5_how_does_google_keep_their_map_updated/ | {
"a_id": [
"e059qbq"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"There are a lot of sources that Google can pull from, and obviously they don't really disclose all of them. They own Waze so a lot of the closure data is sourced from the users submitting real time info there. Users running Maps on mobile devic... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32704566"
]
] | |
e5eubz | how come some diseases can be curable when it's in its early stages, but uncurable when it's at its later stages? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/e5eubz/eli5_how_come_some_diseases_can_be_curable_when/ | {
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"text": [
"In Rabies, the most terrifying disease known to humankind, the turningpoint in being able to treat it is basically the moment that you show symptoms. This is ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
aw857w | how does alien hand syndrome work. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aw857w/eli5_how_does_alien_hand_syndrome_work/ | {
"a_id": [
"ehkzwya"
],
"score": [
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],
"text": [
"It’s a symptom of brain damage where your hand moves without your conscious control. \n\nIt’s thought to when the various parts of the brain that are in control of movement are disconnected. For example your unconscious brain decides it needs to ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
7dg45x | why do we get tempted and where does this burning urge to do something originate? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7dg45x/eli5_why_do_we_get_tempted_and_where_does_this/ | {
"a_id": [
"dpy11h1"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"I don't have an answer, just trying to help: if your question is personal, and you're having unstoppable burning urges to do things over and over, especially if they're dangerous things, you should talk with a psychiatrist about obsessive-compuls... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml"
]
] | ||
2z0ljt | the difference between warm and cold sound in music. | I'm buying myself an audio card now and I don't know whether I should go for colder or warmer sound. I don't know what does that mean. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2z0ljt/eli5_the_difference_between_warm_and_cold_sound/ | {
"a_id": [
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],
"score": [
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"text": [
"The way most people describe audio quality is just an approximation - a shortcut to describe either technical or subjective differences in the way speakers, sound cards, media or compression techniques sound to the listener. Some terms most peopl... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1lepna | why, in statistics, you would use standard deviations instead of average deviations | I don't know much about statistics but to me it seems like an averaging the deviations would be more accurate than using the root mean square. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1lepna/eli5_why_in_statistics_you_would_use_standard/ | {
"a_id": [
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],
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"text": [
"The average of deviations would always be zero, for one.\n\nYou *could* take the absolute value of the deviation.\n\nProbably the best answer is that a normal distribution is easier to write with the root-mean-square deviation as a parameter vs. ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
5qn7cc | why do car batteries have a positive and negative side which need jumper cables to charge, rather than a simple plug system like most other batteries? | A plug would make charging, and jump-starting a lot easier | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5qn7cc/eli5_why_do_car_batteries_have_a_positive_and/ | {
"a_id": [
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],
"score": [
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"text": [
"Battery posts have been standardized for ages now, so companies would have to add an inbuilt plug ontop of the terminals. More cost for little less user effort i guess?",
"Batteries all have a positive and a negative sid... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2391dn | how are product activation codes produced? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2391dn/eli5_how_are_product_activation_codes_produced/ | {
"a_id": [
"cgunr13"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"Product activation codes are produced by an algorithm by the company that makes software. You know the tickets they sell for raffles? The tickets come in pairs and have the same number on them. The same for product activation codes. They are all ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
7tnm3z | if good feelings are caused by dopamine and serotonin, why do various things like happiness, pleasure, satisfaction and enjoyment feel so different? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7tnm3z/eli5_if_good_feelings_are_caused_by_dopamine_and/ | {
"a_id": [
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],
"score": [
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],
"text": [
"A common mis-understood aspect is that Dopamine (DA) and Serotonin (5-HT) are the 'feel good' neurotransmitters, and while that is true it is only partially true. Your brain is efficient and is not going to make 1,00000 different kinds of transm... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6xgyan | why is it that when in an airplane, if the plane rolls for a turn, you don't really feel those effects of gravity inside the cabin. i imagine it has something to do with the pressurized cabin? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6xgyan/eli5_why_is_it_that_when_in_an_airplane_if_the/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"You do feel the \"gravity\" effects in the form on increased G's although, commercial flights usually minimize the effects with more gentle turns.\nThe more \"co-ordinated\" a turn is, the more the perceived motion is minimi... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1r7id6 | how is it that large food chains are allowed to keep their secret ingredients legally kept from the public at the risk of allergies or religious considerations? | Even if it's not a large food chain, if you wanted to keep the ingredients to a dish secret, are they allowed to keep it a secret legally? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1r7id6/eli5_how_is_it_that_large_food_chains_are_allowed/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdkdd01"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"They are protected by trade secret laws. If a consumer is concerned about allergies, then they should stay away from the food. It is public knowledge that there is a trade secret. It's just not public knowledge what the ingredients are."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1ydnle | what are the rules of curling? how does one win it? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ydnle/eli5_what_are_the_rules_of_curling_how_does_one/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Whoever gets their rock closest to the centre scores on that round. They get a point for each rock that is closer to the centre than the closest opponent rock. \n\nThere are other subtleties as to who gets to throw last in each round, but the sco... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4prro3 | why is lamb and duck so expensive in the united states? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4prro3/eli5_why_is_lamb_and_duck_so_expensive_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Re Lamb, the US Sheep industry is (according to [this] (_URL_0_)) 1/10 the size it was in the 1940s. The linked article has a good explanation of why this happened: changing tastes after WW2. The Lamb you see in stores is pr... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://harvestpublicmedia.org/article/long-slow-decline-us-sheep-industry"
],
[]
] | |
2z3oio | please explain why pedophelia was/is such a huge thing among uk gov. officials. | I keep hearing all these stories about "abuse parties" and whatnot. Wtf is up with all of this? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2z3oio/eli5_please_explain_why_pedophelia_wasis_such_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"cpfeczk"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"Even though pedophilia as such refers only to attraction to *prepubescent* children( < 13, usually < 11), it is commonly used to describe any sexual activity with a minor( < 18). So it's very easy to \"catch\" a lot of people that way.\n\nAs to ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
4vp647 | if we are omnivores why are so many people uncomfortable at the idea of killing an animal or seeing a dead one. | This isn't some kind of vegan Checkmate carnivore thing. I was just wondering why So many people are disgusted by seeing a dead animal or put off of the idea of killing for food.
If this is a learned behavior Shouldn't our instincts trump that?
if the answer is fear of rot shouldn't our instinct to at least be to in... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4vp647/eli5_if_we_are_omnivores_why_are_so_many_people/ | {
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"score": [
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6,
2,
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"text": [
"Many people in the modern world never need to kill and prepare an animal, and only associate with animals in benign fashions, or already prepared. So the act of killing and prepar... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3uv1j5 | why do we get interesting discussions on reddit, a community of strangers, but on facebook people who know each other seem to never say anything? | I see people start facebook groups, post interesting articles about different subjects on their walls, etc but most people just punch the like button and share boring memes. Someone suggested that most people view facebook on their phones and it is too hard to type whereas most reddit users are using laptops but I am n... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3uv1j5/eli5_why_do_we_get_interesting_discussions_on/ | {
"a_id": [
"cxhykvy",
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"score": [
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17,
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"text": [
"Sheer volume, your friend group may be 100 people if you are popular, but reddit had millions of people with varying ideas",
"anonymity helps people express themselves freely without judgement - F... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
66s991 | what is it about light and shadows that help humans determine whether it's sunrise or sunset? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/66s991/eli5_what_is_it_about_light_and_shadows_that_help/ | {
"a_id": [
"dgkyyh2"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"Several things help you distinguish between sunrise and sunset:\n\n* Mornings usually have the colder night air, compared to evenings that may still have the warm air from the day, so even if the sun is the same distance from the horizon and appe... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
fmvdj4 | why is it uncommon for men to moan during sex? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fmvdj4/eli5_why_is_it_uncommon_for_men_to_moan_during_sex/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"We train ourselves to be silent while masturbating in our early teens. It carries over later in life. It CAN be untrained, however, with a vocal and receptive partner.",
"Men are usually the more a... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
8n1kll | does nutritional research vary so much because our species is evolving to counteract our diets or do we just know so little about nutrition? | Honestly feel like everyone is bs'ing because there are so many conflicting opinions on nutrition as a whole. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8n1kll/eli5_does_nutritional_research_vary_so_much/ | {
"a_id": [
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2,
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"text": [
"We know very little about nutrition. It is a remarkably complicated subject with some really advanced chemistry.\n\nAlmost all of our advice is empirical, people tried it and it worked, they figured ou... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2m88c4 | why do pupils dilate while on certain drugs and why does this not affect vision? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2m88c4/eli5_why_do_pupils_dilate_while_on_certain_drugs/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
27,
2
],
"text": [
"**Edit** The use of the word \"hormone\" in the explanation below is inaccurate. As /u/Eulers_ID pointed out, pupil dilation is a neurological response, not a hormonal one.\n\nPupils dilate for several reasons, and it reall... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
2m7km1 | why haven't gas giants like jupiter and saturn collapsed into rocky planets like venus or earth? | I get that planets are left over star dust that collapsed into smaller bodies after the star formed. If I understand correctly, over billions of years, the accumulated star stuff formed the planets, and while some planets were small and rocky, other planets were huge and gaseous. Even though Jupiter is many many times ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2m7km1/eli5why_havent_gas_giants_like_jupiter_and_saturn/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Because there is a difference between a solid and a gas. Rocky planets are composed of solid matter like dust particles, rocks, asteroids, comets, etc. Gas planets are compose of just that: gas. The thing about compressin... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
55gnd2 | why do some companies file bankruptcy but keep operating, while others dont? | They always say in the news that a company filed for chapter x bankruptcy, but what do they mean? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/55gnd2/eli5_why_do_some_companies_file_bankruptcy_but/ | {
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"text": [
"The act of filing bankruptcy serves many purposes, including protection from debtors. The \"default position\" is that the company is going under, but then the argument goes th... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[]
] | |
6r0fy9 | - the 2nd ingredient in beef jerky is water. how can that be? isn't beef jerky just dried meat? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6r0fy9/eli5_the_2nd_ingredient_in_beef_jerky_is_water/ | {
"a_id": [
"dl1dp4f",
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],
"score": [
11,
10
],
"text": [
"It's marinated before they dry it. The water provides a medium for the spices to soak in. It appears they are not correcting for the fact that the water has evaporated.",
"The jerkey is not totally void of water after ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1zmfkh | the children's crusade | I have heard the name and I know what a crusade is, but I don't what took place in this one. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1zmfkh/eli5_the_childrens_crusade/ | {
"a_id": [
"cfuy38h",
"cfuy7vt"
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"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"the man organising it was seen to be a complete fool and was arrested by the king of England at the time as he was collecting children from all over Europe (I think I remember correctly)",
"(you'll get a much better answ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
aylz4m | what does a psychiatrist do that a therapist does not? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aylz4m/eli5_what_does_a_psychiatrist_do_that_a_therapist/ | {
"a_id": [
"ei1r3oq"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"A psychiatrist is a physician, a medical doctor, and thus has the ability to diagnose and prescribe meds. A therapist can be a PhD but is rarely an MD, and thus cannot prescribe."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3e7rxv | why don't hospitals and other medical companies get in trouble for gouging their prices? | When there is a natural disaster, like a hurricane, gas companies aren't legally allowed to charge $7/gal just because they know people will still have to buy their gas. Why aren't hospitals treated the same way? I saw a post on reddit earlier about how one person was charged $12 for a paper cup and $200 for a teddy be... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3e7rxv/eli5_why_dont_hospitals_and_other_medical/ | {
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2,
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2
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"text": [
"Price gouging refers to preferential charging (aka, charging someone more than someone else because you can) or taking advantage of a s... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3115mg/eli5_why_are_hospitals_so_ridiculously_expensive/cpxn1du"
],
[],
[],
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] | |
1umsuo | how can we "freeze" semen and eggs? | I was under the impression that when you freeze organic material, the water in the cells expands, puncturing the cell membrane and rendering the cell dead. I thought that cryogenics has been decidedly impossible because of that.
What am I missing? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1umsuo/eli5_how_can_we_freeze_semen_and_eggs/ | {
"a_id": [
"cejpo6l"
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"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"You're correct in your thought that freezing living cells (especially animal cells) would result in their death due due to the formation of water crystals. Even if you put the cells directly in liquid nitrogen, the formation of ice crystals woul... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
l0pno | us monetary system | I am trying to understand how the FED works but unfortunately the Wiki article is going right over my head. I think I may need some sort of terminology lesson or something before I can begin understanding this. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/l0pno/eli5_us_monetary_system/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2ow4na",
"c2ow4na"
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"score": [
8,
8
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"text": [
"In classical macroeconomics the shortterm state of the economy is believed to be the result of a balance on two different markets. \n\n\n**The Goods Market**\nThe Goods Market is in equilibrium when everything that is produc... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3qhag1 | what is a conflict of interest in business? can you give me an example of a famous one? | In Mad Men they keep saying that having two airlines would be a conflict. They bring this up again with fast food, cosmetics, and cars. What does this mean? Why can't a company like theirs have two clients in the same business? Is there a famous example of this in real life? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qhag1/eli5_what_is_a_conflict_of_interest_in_business/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwf5ltd",
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"score": [
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2
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"text": [
"A conflict of interest is when one relationship obligates you to do one thing but another obligates you to do something else.\n\nIn Mad Men, they're an advertising firm, right? If they had two clients who were airlines, runn... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
33ngfs | why do bad things happen when we humans or animals eat food from our species? aka cannibalization | Ive heard stories of people who have lived off human meat start getting uncontrollable shakes, animals getting sickness even when the "meat" is cooked. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/33ngfs/eli5_why_do_bad_things_happen_when_we_humans_or/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"None of the replies in here really address the issue.\n\nYes, bacteria, parasites, viruses, fungus and prions can be spread through cannibalism, but that isn't unique to cannibalism. Those can be sp... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
37kp0f | what happens in war games? when countries are war gaming, how do casualties and fatalities occur? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/37kp0f/eli5_what_happens_in_war_games_when_countries_are/ | {
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"It depends on the exercise. Many war games are simply simulations; a warship might run a program on their own machines that simulates an enemy attack on radar/sonar, to train the ... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_Integrated_Laser_Engagement_System"
],
[],
[],
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5kjize | why when someone tells you not to think of something, it's all you think about? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5kjize/eli5_why_when_someone_tells_you_not_to_think_of/ | {
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"text": [
"I saw this on a \"quit cigarette's\" website once. \n\nThe way you brain processes information is something like this. If you say \"It is not raining\" your brain will subconsciou... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/rev/101/1/34/",
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WVjUTqKQd0",
"http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/53/1/5/",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironic_process_theory"
],
[]
] | |
3e770i | why has socialism been mostly unsuccessful? | I study political science so I'm not exactly uneducated on these things. Nearly every single political scientist and economist agree with socialism being a better social/economic system then capitalism.
No one can deny that capitalism doesn't work but why haven't socialist countries faired better? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3e770i/eli5why_has_socialism_been_mostly_unsuccessful/ | {
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"text": [
"Switzerland. The Netherlands. Pretty much all of Scandinavia. All of these are socialist countries that are very successful. They have great economic policies, the citizens self-report being happier, education and Healthcar... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
4bfgh5 | why isn't google fiber expanding faster? is it not performing? are people not switching service as fast as they anticipated? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4bfgh5/eli5_why_isnt_google_fiber_expanding_faster_is_it/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Laying down fiber is expensive. Unlike at & t or comcast, Google can't rely on an existi... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
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[],
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75v6jr | why are directors considered the "owners" of a movie and not considered a team effort? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/75v6jr/eli5_why_are_directors_considered_the_owners_of_a/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Creative disputes are inevitable on any creative project. When a project is directed by a group of people, it's called \"design by committee\" and the results have historically been very bad. The artwor... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
20ea62 | why does my eyesight become worse even though i have glasses? | It sounds like a stupid question but I'm genuinely curious. I've had around 5 pairs of glasses and each time they have to give me a stronger lens. Why is my vision not staying the same? Am I eventually going to go blind? |: | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20ea62/eli5_why_does_my_eyesight_become_worse_even/ | {
"a_id": [
"cg2du3a",
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"score": [
5,
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"text": [
"As we grow and age our eyes change shape slightly. For most people they will eventually stabilize, but until then adapting the prescription is standard practice.",
"Focusing problems mainly come about because of a mismat... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_power"
]
] | |
1niafp | why does my dog pee everywhere? what does "marking your territory" accomplish? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1niafp/eli5_why_does_my_dog_pee_everywhere_what_does/ | {
"a_id": [
"ccivnqw"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"dogs transmit alot of information about themselves to other dogs via the scent of their urine. \n\nits also part of their psychological needs. dogs are territorial. so are humans actually. we don't mark with urine because our sense of smell is we... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3xxz31 | why don't viruses make us stronger? | Not sure if this is ridiculously stupid but...
If a virus' goal is to survive, as is for any "being", then why do they fuck humans up? By being "fuck-uppers" to the body, any smart being will try to remove them with other methods (medicine etc.), thus eradicate them through which they cannot reproduce.
If there is a ... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3xxz31/eli5_why_dont_viruses_make_us_stronger/ | {
"a_id": [
"cy8s4ue",
"cy8t83k"
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"score": [
3,
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],
"text": [
"Generally speaking viruses only become deadly when they cross species. All that sneezing, coughing, sweating, vomiting, and shitting they cause is just a transmission mechanism to infect others.",
"It is not stupid.\n\nA... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
bkzf67 | where does the idea of rabbits love carrots come from? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bkzf67/eli5_where_does_the_idea_of_rabbits_love_carrots/ | {
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126,
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"text": [
"Have you ever seen a rabbit eat a carrot?\n\nThey love that shit",
"Carrots are not really a natural food source for rabbits and isn't really healthy for them. At least n... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://youtu.be/Wcrth90C3D4"
],
[]
] | ||
1cqjv9 | how is money made for the publishers from borrowing library books when they are borrowed for free? | I mean, the authors could be selling far more books if all people that wished to read it were forced to buy their works instead of simply borrowing them for free.
Don't misunderstand me, I love public libraries. Viva la bibliotheque, I just don't really understand :) | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1cqjv9/how_is_money_made_for_the_publishers_from/ | {
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nzlhu | clock speeds and/vs cores in computers | Clock speed as in 2.0GHz and cores as in dual core, quad core, etc.
What do they mean? What is better? Why?
Ex. What's better, an i3 2.3GHz or i7 1.6GHz? Or a Dual core 3.4GHz or i7 1.6GHz? Feel free to use analogies, they help.
Bonus question: What does "multi-thread" or "threading" mean?
ELI5, please and thank yo... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/nzlhu/eli5_clock_speeds_andvs_cores_in_computers/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3d7olo",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"First post in this subreddit so hopefully my answer is comprehensible/simple enough. I'm a recently graduated Computer Science student.\n\nThe first thing to understand is that your computer is always running a bunch of dif... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3s6blu | why do large animals often get frightened by smaller ones? examples: elephants and mice, dogs and kittens. | Is it some kind of maternal/paternal instinct when they're confronted with a tiny animal? Inspired by [this post](_URL_0_) | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3s6blu/eli5why_do_large_animals_often_get_frightened_by/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwuhuay",
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"score": [
2,
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"text": [
"I know that elephants fear mice due to the fact that they could run up their trunk causing damage that way. And I don't feel too great either when I pull my sheets back to see a spider. I guess that whi... | [] | [
"http://i.imgur.com/Eb3JxpC.jpg"
] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
35jc6j | is there a downside to loan forgiveness? | Long story short, my sister just got off the phone with one of the loan forgiveness centers. She owes $13,000~ in federal loans, and was told all she needs to do is make 5 payments of $199 then wait 20 years (300 months) to have her loans forgiven. This...seems a little too good to be true. Are there any apparent downs... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/35jc6j/eli5_is_there_a_downside_to_loan_forgiveness/ | {
"a_id": [
"cr4xcmi"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"it SERIOUSLY trashes your credit. she is going to have an outstanding loan with no payments being made on it for 20 years, so essentially every month is going to show as a late payment. This is REALLY bad for your FICO score. And when the 20 year... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
7n6i0g | what’s stopping us from creating a battery that has a large capacity, doesn’t degrade, and is small enough to fit in a phone or computer? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7n6i0g/eli5_whats_stopping_us_from_creating_a_battery/ | {
"a_id": [
"drzfpz3"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Materials and design. We ask a lot out of rechargeable batteries, and there aren't too many materials that can do what we want (rechargeable, high energy density, safe, etc). Lithium ion battery variants are pretty much the best we have, an... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
39d3h7 | why does the sound of water relax us? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/39d3h7/eli5_why_does_the_sound_of_water_relax_us/ | {
"a_id": [
"cs2hce5",
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"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Looking around the internet I find a lot of conjecture but nothing solid. There are guesses that it is relaxing because we are evolved to live near water, another person suggested that it is an example of evidence against in... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Hypnosis/Chapters/Methods#Sound",
"http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/1920068/science_proves_what_we_all_know_nature_is_good_for_your_health.html"
],
[]
] | ||
5tcip9 | recruitment agencies how they work and how they profit. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5tcip9/eli5_recruitment_agencies_how_they_work_and_how/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddlv0qu"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"the recruiter that successfully places a candidate will get a finders fee, usually equiv to 1 month of the candidate's negotiated salary. so recruiters typically try to negotiate a higher salary rate on behalf of the candidate. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
8fiobq | how did we create non biodegradable things like plastic from what i'd assume is biodegradable materials? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8fiobq/eli5_how_did_we_create_non_biodegradable_things/ | {
"a_id": [
"dy3vkpy",
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"score": [
13,
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9
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"text": [
"Theoretically, almost all things can broken down to its elements. But human intervention made it a lot harder for things to naturally degrade overtime as there are no organic living thing on earth tha... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
31fxtv | why do led lightbulbs use **additional** leds to get more lumens, rather than just use **larger** leds? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/31fxtv/eli5_why_do_led_lightbulbs_use_additional_leds_to/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
39,
3,
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],
"text": [
"It's probably cheaper and more reliable. If you have standardized LEDs that are getting mass produced for really fucking cheap, it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend time and ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
r3czs | mao's infamously catastrophic "great leap forward" | I understand that it ended in famine and mass deaths when he wanted the opposite, but I've never been an economics guy and don't quite get what happened in the late 1950s. How could it have gone so wrong? Why did it continue for so many years? How did it end? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/r3czs/eli5_maos_infamously_catastrophic_great_leap/ | {
"a_id": [
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17,
15,
6,
15,
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"text": [
"I'm not a student of communism or Marxism or any of the flavors of communism that emerged in the first half of the 20th century.\n\nB... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2xofnp | why do so many people support bernie sanders? what makes him different from all those presidents that said one thing before they were elected and did the opposite when they were elected? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2xofnp/eli5_why_do_so_many_people_support_bernie_sanders/ | {
"a_id": [
"cp1web7",
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"score": [
2,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Sanders is a real, honest-to-God (heh) socialist, the only one in Congress who openly admits it (though he caucuses with the Democrats). As such, many liberals see him as a \"legi... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1249tp | math concepts of computer science | First off, let me start by saying theres no reason I'm using my "throwaway" it has actually just turned into my account that I use for random stuff. Secondly, I am a second year computer science major, and I feel like I half assed my way in school. I understand the concept but I am horrible with complexities (finding t... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1249tp/eli5_math_concepts_of_computer_science/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6s0qw3"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"/r/askscience or /r/askmath or /r/AskComputerScience "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3hsywe | why is most of the windshield of a car clear but the very top tinted blue? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3hsywe/eli5_why_is_most_of_the_windshield_of_a_car_clear/ | {
"a_id": [
"cuaa8ff"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"It's tinted to provide some protection against the sun glaring into your eyes and causing a wreck. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5m6kba | why isn't american cheese called cheese, and instead called cheese product? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5m6kba/eli5_why_isnt_american_cheese_called_cheese_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"dc150nl",
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"score": [
11,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because it's not (authentic) Cheese. It's made out of at least two different kinds of cheese and processed, therefor making it a cheese product.",
"American cheese processed and not natural, typica... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
6ga66m | how are underwater rivers formed and is the water in them any different than the regular ocean/lake water? | I've always wondered about this. I've just seen very cool and interesting pictures so it peaked my interest. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6ga66m/eli5_how_are_underwater_rivers_formed_and_is_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"dionv8c",
"diotpan"
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"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"its just a difference in the content of the water. if you have very salt dense water it will sit on the bottom, where as the more pure water will sit on top. Very similar concept to vinaigrette dressing in a bottle. the lay... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5hid9x | why are certain numbers in computer programs capped at 99 or 999? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5hid9x/eli5why_are_certain_numbers_in_computer_programs/ | {
"a_id": [
"db0fmwt"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Because the author limits the display to just 2 or 3 digits. Usually to conform to some screen display constraint. Spacing the digits display so there's enough room to the left of it for something else"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
fz29hl | how do netflix servers output the same video files to a huge number of people without any delay? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fz29hl/eli5_how_do_netflix_servers_output_the_same_video/ | {
"a_id": [
"fn2u678",
"fn31juf",
"fn380ex"
],
"score": [
96,
11,
78
],
"text": [
"There is a technology called CDN (content delivery network). The videos will be stored in each of network providers in your country and delivered through you. That's why the video won't lag while you... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
wqudz | why can't we have honest politicians? is there any way to have true transparency? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/wqudz/why_cant_we_have_honest_politicians_is_there_any/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5fnaqh",
"c5fnkoe"
],
"score": [
3,
4
],
"text": [
"full transparency may be impossible to achieve. By nature, people try to hide their screwups and things they've done wrong. When those people have political power, it becomes easier. Think of it like a family: It's a lot ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
64ri3i | why, in sugar drinks like soda, does sugar not separate and fall to the bottom of the bottle, can, etc.? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/64ri3i/eli5_why_in_sugar_drinks_like_soda_does_sugar_not/ | {
"a_id": [
"dg4epj3",
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"score": [
10,
3
],
"text": [
"...Because it isn't a supersaturated solution of sugar, not even close. If you dissolve sugar in water, and don't let the water evaporate, you'd see that the sugar stays dissolved. Of course, in real life, the water evapora... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
4bs76q | why do musical notes only range from between a-g? | Is it possible to have other notes (other than majors and minors), and why is there not an infinite number of possible sounds? I'm just waiting out here for a "H" note... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4bs76q/eli5_why_do_musical_notes_only_range_from_between/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1bwp0g",
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"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"We named the notes based on our major and minor scales - those scales are made up of seven specific tones (notes), rising through an octave, so we built a musical system that named those 7 tones, and repeated every octave.\n... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
6uung9 | even in very multiracial areas, why is online dating so white? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6uung9/eli5_even_in_very_multiracial_areas_why_is_online/ | {
"a_id": [
"dlvjr9k"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"So not to be too controversial, a lot of this is coming from friends explanations (they are from a variety of Asian nations: China, Korea, Indonesia, etc. and some Nigerian and Ethiopian natives), a lot of very tradition-oriented individuals have... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
6rh0sr | what is the smelliest substance in the world and how bad is it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6rh0sr/eli5_what_is_the_smelliest_substance_in_the_world/ | {
"a_id": [
"dl4yc2a",
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"dl4zp18",
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"score": [
8,
6,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"I don't know what scale you want to use, but ethanethiol, commonly known as ethyl mercaptan, is the substance they put in natural gas to make it smell. This is a substance that hu... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thioacetone"
],
[]
] | ||
2gy2mj | how is u.k. such a powerful country but is small compared to other powerful countries? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2gy2mj/eli5how_is_uk_such_a_powerful_country_but_is/ | {
"a_id": [
"cknjqd0",
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"score": [
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11,
3,
5,
30,
2,
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],
"text": [
"The power of a country is roughly equal to its economic output. The more more money you ha... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_power"
],
[]
] | ||
3ibh3e | asia's richest person lost $5 billion in market turmoil. where is that money now, physically? | Edit: Just want to correct that the headline says $3.6 billion now. Thanks for all the good answers! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ibh3e/eli5_asias_richest_person_lost_5_billion_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"cuexkny",
"cuez90o",
"cuf2mha"
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"score": [
82,
3,
5
],
"text": [
"Nowhere. That money never physically existed.\n\nImagine you own a painting you think is very valuable. You even have it appraised, and the guy appraising it said 'yeah, this is worth a million dollars... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
4eez45 | solving rubic's cube blindfolded. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4eez45/eli5_solving_rubics_cube_blindfolded/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1zk8gj",
"d1zsen3",
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"score": [
212,
11,
3
],
"text": [
"Hey, Finally a question I can answer!\n\nWhile I'm not the fastest blindfolded solver in the world, I can still do it in about 1 minute and 30 seconds including memorization time. For regular solves ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4p6sju | how do reverse phone number lookups know who a phone number belongs to? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4p6sju/eli5_how_do_reverse_phone_number_lookups_know_who/ | {
"a_id": [
"d4ihii6"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"There is few ways company collect data\n\n1) They buy phone to person mapping databases from carriers. \n2) They scan all social networks/use their apis to get data\n\nAfter they collect the data and its all merged, it is simple lookup in db to ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2k53k7 | why are most skyscrapers gray or blue and not other colors? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2k53k7/eli5_why_are_most_skyscrapers_gray_or_blue_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"clhzx2u"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Well, skyscrapers are covered by glass on the outside. Glass is light, resistant and allows you to have great views. If the sky is blue, the building will look blue. If the sky is cloudy then it will look gray. Look at a skyscraper when the sunse... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
fsnq5v | how does end-to-end encryption work, and what would happen if the us government bans it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fsnq5v/eli5_how_does_endtoend_encryption_work_and_what/ | {
"a_id": [
"fm2gv5r"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"End-to-end encryption means that only the end-points in the communication can decipher the encryption.\n\nThis is different from an encrypted session towards the provider because in that case the provider is the end-point and they are decrypting ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2tv9w7 | why so often does someone who commits murder soon after commit suicide? | I find this odd. But murder/suicides seem so commonplace, so I assume there should be a logical explanation. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2tv9w7/eli5_why_so_often_does_someone_who_commits_murder/ | {
"a_id": [
"co2mc7m",
"co2mnct",
"co2mngf",
"co2uth7"
],
"score": [
9,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"No expert, but its probably just the apex of \"If I cant have something nice, neither can you\" syndrom i.e., If I dont want to go on living, neither should you. \n\nSelfishness. "... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3s07uh | how do companies determine how many shares their company is made up of? | My knowledge of this rusty at best, so please feel free to correct any mistakes on my part. I've often heard the term 'X owns 10 shares in company Y'. How do companies determine how many shares their company is made up of? Is this something the company agrees on, or is this something standardized by governments? Like, ... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3s07uh/eli5how_do_companies_determine_how_many_shares/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwsum4u",
"cwsvn9b",
"cwt1tsx",
"cwt2rhh"
],
"score": [
3,
16,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"Good question. If you are talking about stock ownership, it is arbitrary. In a 1 owner company, only 1 share is necessary but company could issue more to the sole stockholder if... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-theory/11/how-an-ipo-is-valued.asp"
]
] | |
6vfbq7 | why is fire used to make land fertile? wouldn't the heat from the flames cause a dust bowl effect? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6vfbq7/eli5_why_is_fire_used_to_make_land_fertile/ | {
"a_id": [
"dlzst67",
"dlzt1rc",
"dlzwb3s"
],
"score": [
2,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Living things have a lot of nutrients needed to grow living things. When you burn them the nutrients dont go away they just fall to the earth in the form of ash. The ash gets mixed into the soil and boo... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1r91b5 | why can't you set a maximum decibel level when watching movies on stereo systems so action scenes or commercials aren't ridiculously louder than the rest of the show/film? | I could imagine that it'd be a little weird to balance and stuff or something idk
EDIT: Apparently these do exist, my bad | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1r91b5/eli5_why_cant_you_set_a_maximum_decibel_level/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdkssn7"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
" > ELI5 is for requests for easy-to-follow explanations of **complex concepts and subjects.**\n\n_URL_0_\n\nThis feature is also on many TVs and stereo receivers."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.amazon.com/Gefen-GTV-VOLCONT-Gefentv-Volume-Stabilizer/dp/B0035233NG"
]
] | |
37dvy6 | what makes us interested in something? | I mean, what happens in our body that makes us enjoy things we are interested in? And why is it that I can be interested in one thing but someone else wont be? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/37dvy6/eli5what_makes_us_interested_in_something/ | {
"a_id": [
"crm0ija",
"crm0lzf",
"crm0py3",
"crm0xgr",
"crm14rj",
"crm1683",
"crm2pdu",
"crm7fup",
"crmhtjz",
"crmi6x4"
],
"score": [
484,
5,
4,
5,
143,
10,
4,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"We develop interests through nature and nur... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Reward_signals#Pure_Reward_Signals_in_Dopamine_Neurons"
],
[
"http://eqi.org/needs.htm",
"http://allpsych.com/psychology101/motivation/#.VWVTJs9VhHw",
"http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/motivation/motivate.html",
... | |
u1xoi | why is greece so angry at the eurozone and germany. don't greece's problem stem from the countries ability to live within their means? (apologies for ignorance) | ELI5: Why is Greece so angry at the Eurozone and Germany. **Doesn't** Greece's problem stem from the countries ability to live within their means? (apologies for ignorance)
I apologize if this is a sensitive issue and my question wasn't delivered right. For someone who has a very casual interest in financial issues I'... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/u1xoi/eli5_why_is_greece_so_angry_at_the_eurozone_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4rniqv",
"c4rnllh",
"c4rvtwk"
],
"score": [
4,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"I'll give it a go but this might get beyond ELI5.\n\nImagine a husband and wife. They both share money and bank accounts and what one buys, the other uses. If the husband loses his job, the wife can s... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2d2arw | commonwealth of nations, and what happens if one country is attacked? | Let's say, USA attacks Canada. What is the most likely scenario? What kind of response would that get from the [Commonwealth of Nations](_URL_0_)? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2d2arw/eli5commonwealth_of_nations_and_what_happens_if/ | {
"a_id": [
"cjlcwjy",
"cjld6dy"
],
"score": [
6,
8
],
"text": [
"Botswana and Fiji would launch some kind of shock and awe campaign most likely. ",
"The Commonwealth of Nations is not a military alliance, so the other countries would be under no obligation to do anything. I think Comm... | [] | [
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations#Current_members"
] | [
[],
[]
] | |
207bdn | eli: 5 why do i lose my eye sight when i get a head rush? | Whenever I get up too quickly and get a head rush it seems like I go temporarily blind. Even if it's light outside, everything will go black and I get dizzy. Why does this happen every time? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/207bdn/eli_5_why_do_i_lose_my_eye_sight_when_i_get_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"cg0gdjp"
],
"score": [
9
],
"text": [
"That \"head rush\" is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure. It takes a moment for your circulatory system to adjust to having your blood redistributed more to your legs when you stand, and sometimes it can't keep up quickly enough.\n\nThe l... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2v9ir2 | why does waiting to save a file make it download faster? | Recently, when I downloaded Louis CK's new album from his website, I noticed that after I clicked "Download", and the box popped w/ the place on my computer to download it to, if I waited to press "Save", it had already downloaded a substantial portion of the file. I've experimented with other large size media files an... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2v9ir2/eli5_why_does_waiting_to_save_a_file_make_it/ | {
"a_id": [
"cofnqg1"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The browser has already started downloading the file when it displays the \"save as\" dialog. It's continuing to download it in the background to your temporary folder while it's waiting for you to respond. You're not actually gaining any speed. ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1v82vp | how are the time / date correct on my computer, even after unplugging both the power and the hdd? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1v82vp/eli5_how_are_the_time_date_correct_on_my_computer/ | {
"a_id": [
"cepm2ir",
"cepm2sp",
"cepm2wo",
"cepm61y"
],
"score": [
8,
2,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Your computer has a small battery in it (like a watch battery) that helps keep time.\n\nAlso, many newer operating systems reach out to a time server every time you boot the system... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4byb8z | why the highest quality of an .mp3 file is (or usually is) 320 kbps? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4byb8z/eli5_why_the_highest_quality_of_an_mp3_file_is_or/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1dj87t"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Because that's what was decided. If you are using .mp3, maximum quality isn't your main concern, as you would pay extra for .flac files. \n \nWhen using 320Kbps MP3 (or 256Kbps AAC), you really can't tell the difference with a 1400Kbps CD file ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5ivpmy | if we/matter consist of mostly empty space, why do light reflecting of us, make us seem solid? | If the entire human can fit in a sugat cube, if we remove the empty space between us, that must mean we are just dust strung together by forces.
Why can't we see between this particles of dust/atoms? But see all matter as a solid? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ivpmy/eli5_if_wematter_consist_of_mostly_empty_space/ | {
"a_id": [
"dbbc77s"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"This is a BIG topic which is pretty hard to break down into a few sentences or paragraphs, but I'll try to do it ;)\n\nBefore I talk about atomic forces, I'll talk about magnets.\n\nImagine you have two very strong magnets. You can push as hard a... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
36w2a2 | who do these algae take the shape of the bottom of the pool? | I was at a zoo today, there was a dirty pool where the alligators live. I saw that the algae showed the shape of the stones on the bottom of the pool, even though the water is about 30cm (a foot) deep.
I honestly don't understand how this can be, can anyone explain this to me?
_URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/36w2a2/eli5_who_do_these_algae_take_the_shape_of_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"crhjpmd"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"First, let's assume you're not seeing a reflection of some overhead tiles on the surface, and further assume the algae isn't a little bit transparent and you're actually seeing the bottom lines through it.\n\nIf both of these things are the case,... | [] | [
"http://imgur.com/YOsxzOM"
] | [
[]
] | |
6olh1b | how can we go from painfully full to ready to eat again in just a matter of time without having any bowel movements? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6olh1b/eli5_how_can_we_go_from_painfully_full_to_ready/ | {
"a_id": [
"dkia3en"
],
"score": [
24
],
"text": [
"We are a very outdated model of human being. The last meaningful evolution of our species occurred tens of thousands of years ago when we were hunter gathers who spent a ton of calories during our daily struggle/search for food. \n\nYour food ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
dtfhw4 | why are bones super strong yet lightweight? | I recently got a Bca test in the gym. I saw that my mineral(bone) mass was 3.76kg. I was shocked to see that they are so strong and support my heavy weight with ease. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dtfhw4/eli5_why_are_bones_super_strong_yet_lightweight/ | {
"a_id": [
"f6w9eyj",
"f6w9vdr",
"f6wh5h5"
],
"score": [
21,
10,
3
],
"text": [
"The bones have a honeycomb like structure inside which enables great strength to come with using minimal material a bit like how bridges have metal structures with gaps in them maintaining a strong s... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://youtu.be/A7FbhslPKpk"
],
[
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Wooden_trestle.jpg",
"https://c8.alamy.com/comp/BYJ88N/cross-section-view-of-a-human-femur-bone-showing-trabecula-BYJ88N.jpg",
"https://tampasteel.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/difference-between-h-beam-i... | |
16i0xe | what exactly did aaron swartz do that would've caused him to owe $1mil in fines and get jail time? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/16i0xe/what_exactly_did_aaron_swartz_do_that_wouldve/ | {
"a_id": [
"c7wb6l1"
],
"score": [
11
],
"text": [
"Scientists do experiments, and to show these results to the world, they publish them journals (kinda like a magazine with very complicated articles). There are tons of these journals, usually for specific subsets of science (biology, psychology... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/duplicates/16ifuw/aaron_swartz_died_innocent_here_is_the_evidence/",
"http://io9.com/5975592/aaron-swartz-died-innocent-++-here-is-the-evidence"
]
] | ||
1t071m | whyyyyy do we hear a ringing sound in our ears when it's quiet and is the pitch of it the same for everyboyd? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1t071m/eli5whyyyyy_do_we_hear_a_ringing_sound_in_our/ | {
"a_id": [
"ce2zrxx",
"ce2zxmy",
"ce330v8"
],
"score": [
4,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"You may have tinnitus",
"neha_is_sitting_down pointed out that a loud ringing can be abnormal. It's called tinnitus and it has a lot of causes--especially damaged cochlear nerves.\n\nHowever, a mild... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
9bc9zz | how do we know that electrons are elementary particles, while proton and neutron are not? | How did we figure out that they're made up of quarks while electron is not? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9bc9zz/eli5_how_do_we_know_that_electrons_are_elementary/ | {
"a_id": [
"e51xazr",
"e51yaqj"
],
"score": [
7,
16
],
"text": [
"When you shoot an electron into a proton or neutron, it bounces off in such a way to indicate an internal structure. Internal structure means internal parts means those guys aren't fundamental particles.\n\nIt is not unlik... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_inelastic_scattering"
]
] | |
2ibrhk | at concerts, why do i sometimes "feel" the music inside my body, and is it harmful? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ibrhk/eli5_at_concerts_why_do_i_sometimes_feel_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cl0p48e",
"cl0qric"
],
"score": [
10,
6
],
"text": [
"That just means it's so loud it's causing your whole body to reverberate. It's not harmful, but I certainly hope you have some kind of ear protection. ",
"Sound travels through the air by forcing air to move back and fo... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
6kcd7e | where does the gum go when teeth grow in ? | Does it stretch and takes its usual form ? (asking because of some wisdom teeth shenanigans) | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6kcd7e/eli5_where_does_the_gum_go_when_teeth_grow_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"djl0dt2"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Pressure from the erupting tooth causes the gum to break down. After the tooth has emerged, the gum tissue recedes down the tooth until it is in the proper place. Tissue recession in this case means essentially that it shrinks."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3mgyz0 | how come there aren't more 'unethical' experiments? | I, personally, would happily sign a waver declaring that I am ok with any risks an experiment could give as long as I'm paid, and I'm certain there are other people that feel this way, so how come people can't agree to progress science regardless of 'ethics'? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3mgyz0/eli5_how_come_there_arent_more_unethical/ | {
"a_id": [
"cveuqlc"
],
"score": [
11
],
"text": [
"If a scientist violates ethical guidelines, the consequences include:\n\n* Being ostracized by other scientists\n* Being fired from their job\n* Publishers refusing to touch the research\n* Professional licenses being revoked\n\n\nThe primary re... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
6huwpz | when a worm gets split in two, how do both halves remain alive and seemingly react to things? | I was fishing today (using nightcrawlers as bait) and the question came to mind. Sorry if it's worded poorly. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6huwpz/eli5_when_a_worm_gets_split_in_two_how_do_both/ | {
"a_id": [
"dj1a5a8",
"dj1ahgf"
],
"score": [
6,
28
],
"text": [
"To be frank, only one end actually survives. It's the end with the head. The other end will keep moving for a while due to the fact that it's not controlled anymore and will stop moving as soon as it is \"out of energy\". \... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.livescience.com/38371-two-worms-worm-cut-in-half.html"
],
[]
] | |
8vo1op | why are judges, particularly those in the scotus, able to have biases or leanings? how does this equal a fair trial? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8vo1op/eli5_why_are_judges_particularly_those_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"e1oyahp"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"Supreme Court justices do not preside over trials. They consider disputed legal issues and make decisions which set binding precedent for lower judges, like the ones which *do* preside over trials.\n\nFor example, the Second Amendment tells us th... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1h6beg | why do we not mind when google reads our emails to show us ads, but get furious when the govt. does it to keep us safe? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1h6beg/eli5_why_do_we_not_mind_when_google_reads_our/ | {
"a_id": [
"car912v",
"car95qm"
],
"score": [
12,
5
],
"text": [
"There's a couple of points at play here:\n\n1. The gov't is capable of a lot more than Google is. Google can't mobilize the police, the military, the FBI and the CIA against you, for example.\n\n2. That Google (and other co... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1efnml | why is the actual prize for lotteries lower than the advertised price? | I.E. The next powerball is $475 million, but you'll only get $300 million and we're not even counting taxes yet. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1efnml/eli5_why_is_the_actual_prize_for_lotteries_lower/ | {
"a_id": [
"c9zr2gb",
"c9zrhk4"
],
"score": [
4,
5
],
"text": [
"When you win the jackpot, you're in fact given a choice: a lump sum now or the entire payout spread out over years. This lump sum can be thought of as an alternative offered to you rather than the real prize in the second op... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
4qhocs | are the circadian rhythms of icelanders (and other people living in either the extreme north or south) messed up? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4qhocs/eli5_are_the_circadian_rhythms_of_icelanders_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"d4t37nj",
"d4t3wci"
],
"score": [
5,
6
],
"text": [
"The definition of a the circadian rhythm is that it is on a 24 hour cycle _independent of sunlight_. If it were connected to sun then it wouldn't qualify as circadian because within this definition is that things following ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5q77MQzU2Q"
]
] | ||
vgcj5 | what is going on with the healthcare law and the supreme court and what will happen if the strike it down aspects of the law? what aspects would get done away with? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vgcj5/eli5_what_is_going_on_with_the_healthcare_law_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"c54ajgt",
"c54lxoy"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"The aspect of the law that the Supreme Court is focusing on is the individual mandate. That part of the law states that all citizens must purchase private health insurance. The idea is that this is necessary because the law ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
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