q_id stringlengths 5 6 | title stringlengths 3 301 | selftext stringlengths 0 39.2k | document stringclasses 1
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bibh8o | how does the 20 questions electronic game work? | It’s able to guess so many different things with the most basic question, how is it so consistent? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bibh8o/eli5_how_does_the_20_questions_electronic_game/ | {
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"It's basically a \"binary search\". Let's look at guessing a number between 1 and 100.\n\nYou pick a number in the middle (50) and *that rules out half the questions*. If the number you want is higher or lower, you repea... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"http://20q.net/"
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6a8r03 | Why was the Avro Arrow destroyed? | I've heard varying stories on why Avro cancelled the CF-105 Arrow.
On one hand, the conspiracy is that large american defense contractors and aeronautical corporations told off the American government, who then intimidated Prime Minister Diefenbaker into axing the Arrow and Iroquois programs.
On the other, Avro was ... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6a8r03/why_was_the_avro_arrow_destroyed/ | {
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"During the late 50’s the threat perceived to radiate from the soviets was changing.\nIt is argued that the Canadian Government was operating in an information vacuum with regards to this threat.\n\nAs a reaction to the detonation of the Soviet Hy... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/norad-overview.htm",
"http://cradpdf.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/PDFS/unc120/p536662_A1b.pdf"
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anirql | Has there been a time in Western culture when muscular men were not considered sexy/attractive? | The cultural standards by which a woman's weight and shape have determined her sexiness have changed dramatically over time in Western/European societies. For example large, curvy "rubenesque" women were deemed sexy for much of the 17th and 18th centuries whereas today, thinness is praised > curves.
I'm wondering if... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/anirql/has_there_been_a_time_in_western_culture_when/ | {
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" > The cultural standards by which a woman's weight and shape have determined her sexiness have changed dramatically over time in Western/European societies. For example large, curvy \"rubenesque\" women were deemed sexy for much of the 17th and ... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4e8c52/did_heavier_men_and_women_used_to_be_considered/"
]
] | |
24og33 | how is chewing bones good for dogs teeth, and can it benefit humans? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/24og33/eli5_how_is_chewing_bones_good_for_dogs_teeth_and/ | {
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"text": [
"Their teeth are specifically designed to crush softer bones like ribs and vertebrae unlike our teeth. When dogs eat lots of softer foods like commercial dog food their teeth can't get tartar build up on it just like our teeth; gnawing on bones w... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
avisrz | how do audio recordings that are stored in binary code on devices get re-converted to the sound that comes out of my phone’s speakers? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/avisrz/eli5_how_do_audio_recordings_that_are_stored_in/ | {
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"It is covered thanks to a device called a DAC (digital to analogue converter).\n\nWhen audio is traveling in a speaker wire, it is just an electrical impulse - it has a voltage and a frequency based on what the sound is. That voltage and frequen... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
14094l | [Meta] Book List Meta Thread | This might be the best place to put suggestions about the list, as it won't get buried by suggestions *for* the list. Recommendations on list formatting and categorization are particularly welcome. A few notes:
* I will be removing the topic pleas when I feel they have been satisfied. So if you want to wash the shame ... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/14094l/meta_book_list_meta_thread/ | {
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"General question (as in every sources thread): What about non-English language sources? Yay/Nay? Only for country specific topics? ...?",
"^^I ^^did ^^not... | [] | [] | [
[],
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14c61l | Is it possible to make 3D contact lenses similar to 3D glasses given out at Movie Screenings? | I'm wondering if this is possible, or has been developed, cause I'd love to just pop some contacts in instead of buying 3D glasses every damn time. | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/14c61l/is_it_possible_to_make_3d_contact_lenses_similar/ | {
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"I think it's a great idea, and I see no reason it shouldn't be doable. Indeed, polarized contact lenses have already been [patented](_URL_0_). And whereas linearly polarized contact lenses to reduce glare like polarized sunglasses would be imprac... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.invention.net/dudai.htm"
]
] | |
42tx06 | how can a 60hz monitor have a response time of 5ms when 1/60hz = 16.7 ms? | Shouldn't the "real" response time be 16.7ms, since if you give an input exactly after a frame, you will only see it 16.7ms later? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/42tx06/eli5_how_can_a_60hz_monitor_have_a_response_time/ | {
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"text": [
"The response time is usually the time it takes a pixel to change from black to white, or some predetermined gray to another gray value to estimate the average real usage. This will determine the amount of time it takes the average pixel to change... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
4rs845 | what is the root cause of what appears to be unequal treatment of minorities by police? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4rs845/eli5_what_is_the_root_cause_of_what_appears_to_be/ | {
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"text": [
"From my point of view as a late 20s black male. The root cause is cultural conditioning, and that is something that will never go away which is why I strongly believe it's a problem that will never be solved. Now if you don'... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
6cvu5t | do animals get sick from licking another of the same animal it's wounds/blood? | Is this possible to happen if it ever happens that is? Or do animals know this and never do it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6cvu5t/eli5_do_animals_get_sick_from_licking_another_of/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Whenever an animal hunts other animals and eats meat, they're eating some of their blood. Their stomachs just pulverize everything. Same for if they were to lick another of the same species. Same for humans, too, pretty much. Something like a blo... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
50t450 | why can't a human be frozen while still alive, and jumpstart and come back to life when they thaw out (like avatar)? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/50t450/eli5_why_cant_a_human_be_frozen_while_still_alive/ | {
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"text": [
"Someone with more knowledge can come by with more info, but the primary reason is that our cells cannot withstand the ice crystals that form when they are frozen. When our cells freeze they rupture and die. If all of our cells freeze, they all di... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
21njka | What did Stalin do the first week of Barbarossa? | Stalin was slow to react to the invasion before he addressed his people and really respond. What was he doing during that first week? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/21njka/what_did_stalin_do_the_first_week_of_barbarossa/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Stalin chose to let secretary of State Molotov announce the German invasion to the citizens of the USSR. According to Molotov's own words: \"[Stalin] didn't want to be the first to speak. He needed a clear picture. He couldn't respond like an au... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
5ng3cs | how do radio stations broadcast album art? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ng3cs/eli5_how_do_radio_stations_broadcast_album_art/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Radio stations have extra radio bandwidth that they don't need for the audio alone. They can use this bandwidth to send additional data to your radio such as the station name, song title, artist, or I guess the album art. It's essentially sendi... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
9yp7fi | What determines what wavelength of light is reflected from object? | If i have a green apple, shined on by light from sun. The apple appears green. Because all wavelengths of light are absorbed except for some that appear green to us. But what determines the color of the apple? Is it the size of the molecules on the apple surface? | askscience | https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/9yp7fi/what_determines_what_wavelength_of_light_is/ | {
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3
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"text": [
"The transmission/reflection spectrum of a material is a function of the [electronic structure](_URL_1_) of the molecules composing it. You can imagine an electron as a charge on a harmonic potential; the electric field in pa... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.photonics.com/images/Web/Articles/2009/3/8/InfraredSpectralSelection_FLIR_Figure1.jpg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_band_structure",
"https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-007-electromagnetic-energy-from-motors-to-lasers-spring-2011/lectur... | |
5gush7 | the us is known as the "no vacation nation", the only developed nation without mandatory pto. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5gush7/eli5_the_us_is_known_as_the_no_vacation_nation/ | {
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1ci7j1 | Mathematically speaking, if a given game of Sudoku, in its initial state, has only one possible outcome, will it always solvable without having to resort to guessing a cell's value? | I have long felt this must be the case, but my limited mathematical skills prevent me from proving this | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1ci7j1/mathematically_speaking_if_a_given_game_of_sudoku/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Sure, if it has a unique solution, it's \"solvable\" by giving that unique solution. Whether it's solvable by some particular algorithm is going to be very dependent on the details of that algorithm.",
"Unless the person... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
7oam2x | How can I find a certain persons coat of arms from the 1000s? | I’m trying to find Robert “the admiral” Le Blount’s coat of arms. He was a companion of King William the conqueror.
How would I go about finding his coat of arms? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7oam2x/how_can_i_find_a_certain_persons_coat_of_arms/ | {
"a_id": [
"ds8hnfb"
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"text": [
"You almost certainly won't find it at all. Formal heraldry, in which each individual possesses a unique, identifying coat of arms based on symbols inherited from the father and mother, did not develop until the 13th century. It's likely that 11th... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
16f8mj | What happened to all the Aquatic Dinosaurs? | I'm curious as to why the aquatic dinosaurs disappeared. I know there are a lot of theories and hypothesis as to why the land dinosaurs were wiped out, but it seems that sea life has been left out of this discussion.
For example, the asteroid. How did that affect the ocean? | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/16f8mj/what_happened_to_all_the_aquatic_dinosaurs/ | {
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"For some of the part, lots of sea creatures survived. Look at sharks, they've been around for a very very long time. An asteroid strike would have also affected the water, it woul... | [] | [] | [
[],
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a7gt32 | when i’m driving, the wind can blow my car all over the road. when i’m parked, the wind can’t move my car one inch. why? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a7gt32/eli5_when_im_driving_the_wind_can_blow_my_car_all/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"But it does move your car. If you're driving down the road and a gust of wind hits the side of your car it's going to push it off to the side until you correct it. That's because your car is already in motion but it's shifted slightly to the side... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
4dl2of | why do the us elections need donations? what for? what would happen if that was not allowed? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4dl2of/eli5_why_do_the_us_elections_need_donations_what/ | {
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"text": [
"Funding for the various candidates does not come from the Government in the US save for a very small pool of funds used to get things started. So the money that the candidates use has to either come from their own personal savings, come from part... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2feqql | Why are 6- (and sometimes 5-) membered rings far more prevalent in chemical compounds than rings with 4 or 3 members? | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2feqql/why_are_6_and_sometimes_5_membered_rings_far_more/ | {
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"text": [
"3 and 4 membered rings have high energy bond angles that are strained and unstable. 5 and 6 membered rings allow the bond angles to relax and that allows the compound to be more stable and energetically... | [] | [] | [
[],
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192srr | If it was possible to look at from close, what would the ignition of a star look like ? | Would it be "on fire" before it ignites ? Does it basicly creates a huge explosion sending a shockwave out ?
Thanks in advance
edit: Also, i suppose close is a relative term here. I'm saying close enough for a global view of the sun in good details. | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/192srr/if_it_was_possible_to_look_at_from_close_what/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"It wouldn't be easily perceivable. Externally, it's actually a gradual process. Most people don't appreciate that stars begin their lives hot even before fusion starts. This is due to the energy of gravitational contraction. When you compress so... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1otyor | How did attacking a city generally work in the 11th/12th-ish centuries? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1otyor/how_did_attacking_a_city_generally_work_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"I will assume that you mean Europe, and specifically Western Europe.\n\nA walled city was a very tough nut to crack for any attacking force. A walled city would have the local militia, and quite likely at least a small garrison of professional so... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Rhodes_(1480)"
]
] | ||
3lai0z | basic bonsai tree care. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3lai0z/eli5_basic_bonsai_tree_care/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Bonsai are trees that are deliberately grown in a way to dwarf them, and are often sculpted into specific shapes. So you start with the standard \"give it the right amount of water, food, pot space and light\" that applies to almost all houseplan... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/bonsai-care"
]
] | ||
1us9jm | gold trading and how it's used to "back" currency and the like | The gold standard and so forth. If this has been asked before I wouldn't know because the search isn't working. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1us9jm/eli5_gold_trading_and_how_its_used_to_back/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Gold was money, used in trade, made into coins or bullion, sometimes by governments, most often by gold specialists.\n\nCurrency is a substitute for the real money (though not only gold was used as money). Currency was usually a paper substitute ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
5xo4jx | why does the speed of a car seem slower when i'm inside it rather than outside? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5xo4jx/eli5_why_does_the_speed_of_a_car_seem_slower_when/ | {
"a_id": [
"dejnh9s"
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"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"Relativity!!!\nwhen you are in a car you are in car's frame (in other words you are moving with speed of car) and when you look from window all objects have a speed equals to object's speed minus car's speed (vector addition) which slows down eve... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
7ch067 | how does the body correctly sort food and fluid (especially when you eat and drink together)? | For example I have seen some eating contests where the participants eat huge quantities of food and drink water to held them “down” it quickly.
When it gets down your food pipes* how does the stomach and bladder get their individual shares of what’s been consumed??
*forgot the sciency name. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7ch067/eli5_how_does_the_body_correctly_sort_food_and/ | {
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"text": [
"The bladder is not directly connected to the digestive system, so there's no \"sorting\" involved. The small intestine extracts water and nutrients from the food in to the blood, with the help of friendly bacteria, and you ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
25mzw4 | Why were there fewer African American soldiers in Vietnam than in other American-waged wars? | I recently learned that 3.14% of our military was African American during Vietnam - and thought the number seemed quite low.
EDIT: thank you u/KNHaw for kindly showing me the correct percentage (12.6%). Sorry for the misinfo! | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/25mzw4/why_were_there_fewer_african_american_soldiers_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"chirlo3"
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"text": [
"It does seem unusually low. Where did you get that statistic? [This site](_URL_0_) claims (my emphasis):\n\n > The Vietnam War saw the *highest proportion* of blacks ever to serve in an American war. During the height of the U.S. involvement,... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/s_z/stevens/africanamer.htm"
]
] | |
b8i8i9 | why are germs so difficult to wash off, and yet so easy to spread? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b8i8i9/eli5_why_are_germs_so_difficult_to_wash_off_and/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Because even a tiny bit that gets off or that remains can then apread to cover the whole surface in a relatively small timeframe, since when bacteria multiplies, its population size basically just straight up doubles."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2c87p1 | why can some people only twist their tongues in one direction? | I thought since there is just one brain, one tongue, and one whatever else is inside people's heads that affects tongue twisting (muscles), that everything should be symmetrical. However, I, and I'm sure others, can only twist my tongue in one direction (clockwise). Why would this be if everything's supposed to be symm... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2c87p1/eli5_why_can_some_people_only_twist_their_tongues/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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2,
2
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"text": [
"I can't twist my tongue at all. I just tried.",
"It is a purely genetic trait akin to having a widow's peak.",
"Whoa just realized that I can't twist my tongue two ways.\n\nWell it sort of works... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1cnk4d | Is there any facts to back up the claim that before the Vikings came, North American Indians had a homogeneous culture that covered a large portion of the Continent but due to foreign diseases brought along by the Vikings most of them died out? | I forget where but I remember reading this. I remember it more of a theory than a claim. To clarify when I say north American I don't mean Aztec I mean what we would today call the US and Canada. | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cnk4d/is_there_any_facts_to_back_up_the_claim_that/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"You're kind of mixing up two different claims. And it's a little difficult to disentangle them in a short answer. You might start with the popular questions page topics about [Native Americans and European Diseases](_URL_0_)... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/nativeamerican#wiki_native_americans_and_.28european.29_diseases"
],
[
"http://www.american-indians.net/cultures.htm"
]
] | |
2s0eqr | Can we tell the exact moment a subject begins to fall asleep by looking at the brain activity? Or is it a more gradual process? | Can we use electrodes or MRI's to pinpoint that moment where consciousness fades away? Like the last moment I remember before I fall asleep? If so, in which parts of the brain are most of the changes observed? Can we say that those parts are the seat of consciousness? | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2s0eqr/can_we_tell_the_exact_moment_a_subject_begins_to/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"The clear definition of sleep onset is not yet clear (mainly because people can report being awake, even though there are clear behavioral changes that can indicate the presence of sleep). There are various measures that can be used however to m... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KbxyDTc4x8"
]
] | |
2rtjk5 | why is the "peace sign/victory sign" with two fingers used with positive connotation, if it was first used by winston churchill, a british man, and the "v-sign" is an offensive hand gesture there? | During the second world war, Sir Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister used his index and middle fingers to form a "v-sign", which was then used as a symbol for victory and has that connotation throughout Western Culture; in England, a country fighting on the same side of the war, sees the same gesture as an ob... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2rtjk5/eli5_why_is_the_peace_signvictory_sign_with_two/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Sorry I only have time for a small part of an answer, but take a careful look at the position of the palms when people make these signs: v-sign with palm out means \"victory\" or \"peace\", v-sign with palm in means \"the fi... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
10vygi | Why was the Ashanti "Sika 'dwa" translated as "Golden Stool", not called the "Golden Throne"? | Is it because of the colonialism at the time it was first translated, because the African cultures were looked upon as being primitive? "Throne" would better convey the meaning and purpose of this item. ([More info about the Golden Stool on Wikipidia here](_URL_1_)) Basically I'm looking for a knowledgeable person to s... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/10vygi/why_was_the_ashanti_sika_dwa_translated_as_golden/ | {
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"I think, you kinda answered the question yourself: it is a stool- not a throne (nor a chair).",
"Slightly unrelated: stools were also given as grave goods in some Bronze Age burial mounds and Iron A... | [] | [
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] | [
[],
[
"http://m.seehuhn.de/images/aachen6-0600.jpg"
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[]
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4a0nb7 | when hearing a very loud noise, that blowing sound/feeling in your ears | Things like cement saws and angle grinders | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4a0nb7/eli5_when_hearing_a_very_loud_noise_that_blowing/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Sound is vibrations in the air. Loud sounds = stronger vibrations. If the sound is loud enough, you can feel the vibrations in your ear. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1g60bl | Did Libraries face the same issues as Digital Media currently experiences? | In modern times there is much debate about the effects and legality of file sharing, resale of digital media, and piracy of the same. It occurred to me however that in many ways a traditional book Library is essentially the same thing. They provide free access to printed media to a great many people, without so much as... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1g60bl/did_libraries_face_the_same_issues_as_digital/ | {
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"text": [
"Copyright law is quite recent. \n\nYou probably ought to ask u/caffarelli about this matter, as it is her specialism.\n\nI published a brief case note on this issue late 2011, however, translated roughl... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Libraries_in_the_Medieval_and_Renaissance_Periods_Figure_4.jpg"
],
[
"http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130215/16442522003/bestselling-author-childrens-books-accuses-public-libraries-stealing-his-paychecks.shtml",
"http://www.stanfordlawreview.org/online/k... | |
3dhcic | what and how are hot jupiters formed, and what does this mean about the creation of our own solar system? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3dhcic/eli5_what_and_how_are_hot_jupiters_formed_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"ct5aj3p"
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"text": [
"Hot Jupiters are basically gas giants that orbit very close to it's star. Usually at half earth distance or closer (less than 0.5 AU), usually towards the closer end. As a result they get very hot, to the point of glowing from the heat.\n\nThe to... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2crjck | the difference between a fee antivirus software like avg, and a paid antivirus software like norton 360? | Title | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2crjck/eli5_the_difference_between_a_fee_antivirus/ | {
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"text": [
"Computer science major here so I know a bit about this stuff, I could drag this out but to try to explain simply, a number like 98% of viruses are just evolu... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
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] | |
62sz94 | why peanuts without shells are way cheaper than peanuts with shells if it takes labor to shell them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/62sz94/eli5_why_peanuts_without_shells_are_way_cheaper/ | {
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"Could be a matter of scale / volume. I would imagine nearly all of the peanuts consumed... | [] | [] | [
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14d419 | Why is it that all macroscopic organisms (that I know of, anyway) are left-right symmetric? | Even a lot of multi-celled microscopic organisms are symmetric - not just left-right but also rotational and circular symmetry. Why?
Are there any non-symmetric macroscopic organisms that I just don't know about? | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/14d419/why_is_it_that_all_macroscopic_organisms_that_i/ | {
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"score": [
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29,
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"text": [
"starfish have radial symmetry",
"Generally, locomotion requires two equal sides to be most efficient. On land, feet come in pairs, ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.260.5105.216"
],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymmetry#In_organisms",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddler_crab"
],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribrachidium"
],
[]
] | |
2uoij1 | what's going on with the fcc? six months ago all i saw were how corrupt the fcc is. over the past month though i've seen a lot of positive articles about the fcc shifting towards public opinion. what's really going on? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2uoij1/eli5_whats_going_on_with_the_fcc_six_months_ago/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"The FCC has a long history of holding \"hearings\" and \"information sessions\" about decisions and then deciding based on what the incumbent telecoms want. Basically the process of public consultation was a farce to cover... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://economixcomix.com/home/net-neutrality"
]
] | ||
7ey3t3 | why sms messages cannot come in bold/italic/underlined, etc | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7ey3t3/eli5_why_sms_messages_cannot_come_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"dq898l2"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Technically, they can. \nBut the support for such formatting has to be widespread and unified between phone hardware manufacturers for it to be useful, which is obviously not the case now.\nAlso, the SMS protocol has been designed with a limited... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
31gjfu | How did illiterate conquistadors transact business with the Spanish crown? | Was there an institutionalized system to accommodate illiterate petitioners? Did this extend to the overseas discoveries?
Were there professional or freelance scribes/secretaries who serviced the illiterate population in general or would they typically get their close confidantes to prepare their legal documents and c... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/31gjfu/how_did_illiterate_conquistadors_transact/ | {
"a_id": [
"cq1cp8v"
],
"score": [
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],
"text": [
"Illiteracy is a spectrum, not an absolute. More importantly, conquistadors were usually members of the 'middling' class, including artisans, craftsmen, and professionals (like lawyers and scribes). Most conquistadors probably could read some and ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1syb9v | why does nasa go to such extreme measures to remove bacteria before traveling in space? | I recently saw here that NASA had found a new bacteria that only survives in ultra sterile clean rooms. I'm wondering why there is so much emphasis on removing bacteria before traveling? I realize the obvious is to eliminate the potential that our bacteria would interact with other bacteria, but wouldn't we want to a... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1syb9v/eli5why_does_nasa_go_to_such_extreme_measures_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"ce2frv3",
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"score": [
2,
10
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"text": [
" > wouldn't we want to allow life to form on planets where we have found none?\n\nNot if we're trying to study them as they are! In particular, if we're looking for life on Mars, we don't want to contaminate the surface wi... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
18co7q | How did societies without any "currency" survive and do business? | What are some examples of societies that did not have any type of currency or money as we know it, and how did they function? Were trades done in basic goods?
I have heard that Ancient Sparta did not have a currency, and citizens were banned from holding any type of coins as they were seen as barbaric and morally wro... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/18co7q/how_did_societies_without_any_currency_survive/ | {
"a_id": [
"c8dslg9",
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"score": [
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3
],
"text": [
"The Aztecs had a barter system with a strict court in place to judge disputes between traders. There was no 'currency' but there were widely accepted consistent values attached to specific items--in the capitol city of Tenoc... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.academia.edu/885136/The_Inca_as_a_nonmarket_economy_Supply_on_command_versus_supply_and_demand",
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/16wstu/has_any_society_in_the_last_1000_years_ever/"
]
] | |
7aoke6 | why are interest rates so low for me if i deposit money, but so high for students who lend it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7aoke6/eli5_why_are_interest_rates_so_low_for_me_if_i/ | {
"a_id": [
"dpbnnvg",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"I think you mean high for students to borrow...\n\nHere's the deal - generally, banks make money by holding on to some people's money and then lending it out to other people. Their profit is based on the difference in the in... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
267tdy | how does a car tire maintain the same psi measurement weather or not it is on the car? | I don't understand it. How can a car tire with 35 Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) of air pressure in it by itself still have that same 35 PSI under the weight of the car.
Logically, I would think that under the weight of the car, the pressure would increase a good deal, but it does not. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/267tdy/eli5_how_does_a_car_tire_maintain_the_same_psi/ | {
"a_id": [
"chohylx"
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"text": [
"Disregarding changes due to temperature for the moment:\n\nWhile you're right that the weight of the car influences the pressure, it only causes an increase in pressure in proportion to how much the weight of the car deforms the tire and causes a... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyle%27s_law"
]
] | |
do278g | South Africa | In school, we're learning about South Africa, and the Apartheid, in the 1800 - 1970 ish year range. I read something in our packet that really confused me:
"Many Afrikaners were poor and living in cities. They wanted to be distinguished politically and socially from blacks and wanted job protection." (time was 1948)
... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/do278g/south_africa/ | {
"a_id": [
"f5nuyxc"
],
"score": [
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],
"text": [
"Following the Second Anglo-Boer War, the Transvaal and Orange Free State were barren. Scorched earth tactics from the British had left farmland ruined, and the concentration of the Boer population in camps had lead to a huge depopulation, with ar... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1aiwaf | what is the purpose of using gpa instead of a percent average? | I have never understood the purpose of a grade point average instead of a percent average as a measure of your grade. It is confusing, and inconsistent. It seems that every school uses a different scale when calculating GPA. Why not just use a percent grade? I think it makes more sense as a better standard. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1aiwaf/eli5_what_is_the_purpose_of_using_gpa_instead_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"c8xvkmm",
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"score": [
6,
3
],
"text": [
"GPA is an easier way for people to tell at a glance, what grades you got more often at school:\n\n4 is A\n\n3 is B\n\n2 is C\n\n1 is D\n\nand anything lower than that, you fail at life.",
"Could someone possibly explain ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
bakrge | how can clouds can get in the way of the sun, but don't block out the light? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bakrge/eli5_how_can_clouds_can_get_in_the_way_of_the_sun/ | {
"a_id": [
"ekc7n25"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Clouds do not block the sun, they change the speed of the light and defuse the light coming though them from the sun. This is why the tops of thunderclouds look like they are glowing while the bottom are dark, the light has slowed so far down i... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6dx076 | what is fiber-optics? how does it differ from traditional sources of internet? | Does it take a different kind of modem to connect to fiber? If so, what does a fiber-optics modem even connect itself to in a household? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6dx076/eli5_what_is_fiberoptics_how_does_it_differ_from/ | {
"a_id": [
"di60ca2",
"di60gfr",
"di66sat"
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"score": [
5,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"It's basically a laser fired down a hair-thin glass cable. It travels at the speed of light, has very little signal degradation due to interference, and by using different freq of light multiple signal... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
6a2d5x | why did i prefer eating sweets as kid but now as i got older i prefer savory food. | For example on Thanksgiving. I get more excited for the main meal than dessert. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6a2d5x/eli5_why_did_i_prefer_eating_sweets_as_kid_but/ | {
"a_id": [
"dhb6tkm",
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"score": [
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3
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"text": [
"Children prefer sweet foods because, as a general rule, sweet foods contain more energy and children need more calories in relation to their body weight. Children also have more tastebuds and dislike bitter tastes because th... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
ow5ji | I know probiotics have been discussed before, but on the question of "recolonizing the gut" with good bacteria- is this even possible without a fecal transplant? | I've read that for instance the [probiotics in yogurt have been proven to improve some of the functioning of existing bacteria by for example breaking down carbohydrates](_URL_0_), but as soon as the person stopped eating yogurt the effect subsided. With the exception of fecal swapping is it possible to change the comp... | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/ow5ji/i_know_probiotics_have_been_discussed_before_but/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3kke5y",
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"score": [
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"The best data I can find on this concerns using probiotics as a theraputic treatment for diseases such as inflammatory bowl disease. These types of diseases are caused and/or worsened by gut flora. Its ... | [] | [
"http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111026/full/news.2011.614.html"
] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
65xz0c | why does sex, for most people, feel good. i understand the release of hormones but why are they released. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/65xz0c/eli5_why_does_sex_for_most_people_feel_good_i/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
3,
10
],
"text": [
"Evolution reinforces the genetic traits that cause an animal to reproduce more often. If there was no incentive or reward for a species to mate, it would quickly die out. It'd be outbred and starved of resources by species ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
bsv8il | What did Roman provincial aristocracy and wealthy citizens do for fun? | Going to the Colosseum or Circus Maximus would not be a (regular) option for upper-class and wealthy provincials living in Britain, Spain, North Africa, etc. What kind of entertainments did people who were geographically remote from Rome but still able to afford leisure time enjoy, during the Roman Empire? Obviously it... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/bsv8il/what_did_roman_provincial_aristocracy_and_wealthy/ | {
"a_id": [
"eorf97f"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"Believe it or not, they engaged in the same types of leisure as their counterparts back at Rome: they went to the horse races in the circus, they saw animal hunts, they watched gladiators, they went to the theater, and they went to their country ... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://cdn.getyourguide.com/img/tour_img-687398-148.jpg"
]
] | |
9wg2kt | First King or Queen of England | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/9wg2kt/first_king_or_queen_of_england/ | {
"a_id": [
"e9kckxo"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"We have no particular idea who the first person to call himself a king in what's now England; the word in various forms (*cyning, kyningas, cyningas, cyninges, king*) goes back to Old English. But if you're asking about the first person to be kin... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4ci0pf/who_was_the_first_king_of_england_to_call_himself/"
]
] | ||
s0e0z | the difference between a turtle and a tortoise. | Beyond tortoises being bigger. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/s0e0z/eli5_the_difference_between_a_turtle_and_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4a3193"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"Turtles are aquatic. They mostly live in water and have webbed front feet. Tortoises are land animals; they have regular feet. I think that's the main difference. Besides that, I am sure they in live different parts of the world, have differe... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
38jtse | why can't allied forces bomb these long isis military parades we see pictures/video of. | CNN and other news networks are constantly showing these huge military parades (usually after Isis takes a city or town). Why can't we just send some military jets over there and Bomb them? They are out in the open and it looks like they are on a large road... Seems like they would be sitting ducks. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/38jtse/eli5_why_cant_allied_forces_bomb_these_long_isis/ | {
"a_id": [
"crvkoeq",
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"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"They just keep forgetting to apply for the permits, so there is no way of knowing where the next parade will be held, whether it will be large enough to warrant bombing or just strafing. Damn terrorists.",
"You would hav... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
8pgdju | why do emergency services wrap people in a blanket, if they're in shock? what does this do? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8pgdju/eli5_why_do_emergency_services_wrap_people_in_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"e0b1bmo"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Preventing hypothermia, and psychological comfort. Avast ye! Yer not alone in askin', and kind strangers have explained:\n\n1. [ELI5:Why is it after a person is saved from a fire, they are wrapped in a blanket afterwards? ](_URL_0_) ^(_66 comment... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1poc1u/eli5why_is_it_after_a_person_is_saved_from_a_fire/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ot85u/eli5_why_is_it_that_people_are_given_the_grey/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4poxra/eli5_how_do_shock_bl... | |
35kjox | How do bacterial vaccines (like whooping cough vaccination) work? I was always told growing up only viruses could be vaccinated against. | Recently while listening to SciShow on YouTube they discussed the history of the whooping cough vaccine. This of course made me curious, growing up I'd always been told you can only vaccinate against viruses, but whooping cough was a bacterial vaccine. Do the two types work off the same principle? Can it be done for al... | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/35kjox/how_do_bacterial_vaccines_like_whooping_cough/ | {
"a_id": [
"cr5hs5t",
"cr5qhk8"
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"score": [
2,
6
],
"text": [
"So yep, they work based on the same principle. \n\nProteins specific to the bacteria you are vaccinating against are contained within the vaccine. Your body reacts to these proteins to create protective antibodies against ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
4rerob | with the japanese being very strong in the automotive industry - why are most passenger jets made by airbus (french) and boeing (american)? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4rerob/eli5_with_the_japanese_being_very_strong_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"d50hrkj",
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"score": [
15,
8,
3
],
"text": [
"From _URL_0_\n\n > Now, to the two nations you specifically mentioned in your question. First, Japan provides significant airframe components used in the production of Boeing airliners -- Mitsubishi He... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.quora.com/Why-are-only-Airbus-and-Boeing-making-large-commercial-airplanes-Why-arent-there-any-Russians-or-Japanese-in-this-space"
],
[],
[]
] | ||
extuhx | how can geese be so intimidating to bigger animals? would a human be able to do the same? | It is pretty easy to find videos of geese standing their ground or even straight up attacking bigger animals, usually cows. Why does it work?
As far as I know, geese don't have bright colors indicating venom, or big fangs, big talons, super lound cries. Where does this intimidation come from? Why do animals avoid t... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/extuhx/eli5_how_can_geese_be_so_intimidating_to_bigger/ | {
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"fgfj460"
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"score": [
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2,
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30,
5,
3,
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3,
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"text": [
"I'm no animal behavior expert, but no animal wa... | [] | [
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyc580u5elc"
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[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
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99dgqt | Who are the mysterious invaders who ended the Bronze Age? Why have I never heard this before. | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/99dgqt/who_are_the_mysterious_invaders_who_ended_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"e4ms03g"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Not to forestall further (in-depth comprehensive) answers, but you are likely thinking of the 'Sea Peoples', and there's been a bunch of discussion of that topic in this subreddit! There's [a section of our Frequently Asked Questions page about ... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2zde5t/ama_bronze_age_archaeology_and_history/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2uw1dc/who_were_the_sea_people_that_invaded_egypt_in/coc89qp/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8suna3/what_do_we_know_about_the_socalled_... | ||
b3q8m5 | why does stropping a blade with leather make it sharper? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b3q8m5/eli5_why_does_stropping_a_blade_with_leather_make/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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11,
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"text": [
"If you look at a metal blade under strong magnification you'll see \"burrs\" that look like saw teeth. They alternate in direction. After repeated use they get out of line and man... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com/"
],
[
"https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/what-does-stropping-do/"
],
[]
] | ||
3st6pk | why did/do the mafia get involved in industries such as waste management and construction? | Why are/were these industries in particular ripe for exploitation? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3st6pk/eli5why_diddo_the_mafia_get_involved_in/ | {
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"text": [
"It's easier to launder money through a legitimate business, especially one with extremely variable costs",
"Waste management is a good way to dump some bodies....\n\nConstruc... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3wwxp8 | why is fresh food considered better than packaged food? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3wwxp8/eli5_why_is_fresh_food_considered_better_than/ | {
"a_id": [
"cxzji8r"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"Packaged food is usually filled with preservatives that allow it to be packaged and stored for a while. These preservatives aren't particularly tasty or good for you, so fresh food is valued more. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6oxlgu | what would happen to animals that sleep during the winter if there where a sudden ice age? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6oxlgu/eli5_what_would_happen_to_animals_that_sleep/ | {
"a_id": [
"dkkzkan",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"They'd quite possibly die from the unusual weather conditions, as would many animals that don't hibernate. A 'sudden ice age' would be a very traumatic event for any and all ecosystems. ",
"Wait, ar... | [] | [] | [
[],
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7i6343 | How did scientists discover that mars had a magnetic field? | I was wondering about how exactly they discovered it and what methods they used. When i search I mostly find that mars HAD a magnetic field (or in part still has) but not how they know or became to know. Thank you for your help. Im asking out of curiosity by the way. | askscience | https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/7i6343/how_did_scientists_discover_that_mars_had_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"dqwm6nt",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"The Mars Global Surveyor was a probe sent to Mars with the purpose of detecting its magnetic field. It had a magnetometer on board that mapped the entire magnetic field of Mars from orbit. \nAnother way is by observing the ... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/doc.cfm?fobjectid=36750",
"http://sci.esa.int/mars-express/58554-mars-ionosphere-shaped-by-crustal-magnetic-fields/",
"https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=5256",
"https://mgs-mager.gsfc.nasa.gov/"
],
[]
] | |
10xqrn | how do capacitors work? why do they explode? | I work in hvac. I'm just curious about capacitors. Everything I read about them is way to complex for me. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/10xqrn/how_do_capacitors_work_why_do_they_explode/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"The simplest capacitor is two metal plates separated from each other by something that doesn't conduct electricity (a dielectric). They store charge because when a voltage is put across them, this causes some of the electrons on the positive pla... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
7q1m47 | How did taking ships as prizes actually work? | Once the Corsairs/Privateers have beaten their opponent and taken the ship... what then? I have read that they were required to go through a trial to confirm that they had the right to take the ship (to distinguish them from pirates) and only after do they get prize money. My big questions are:
How did they get the ca... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7q1m47/how_did_taking_ships_as_prizes_actually_work/ | {
"a_id": [
"dsn121x"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"(1/2)\n\nThe procedures surrounding this varied a lot by country and time and place but typically in the 17th-18th centuries there wasn't much of a rigid legal procedure that was followed. \n\nThe mid-17th century Caribbean was famous for the to... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7d0rnq/did_any_pirates_ever_set_up_a_protection_racket/dq15x6p/"
]
] | |
91gjet | Did France ever consider intervening in the English Civil War? If not, why not? | Given that Queen Henrietta Maria was the sister of Louis XIII, did Charles I ever request French aid? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/91gjet/did_france_ever_consider_intervening_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"e2zv8em"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"[This answer](_URL_0_) from /u/ETFox explains the limited involvement of the continent."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4xn84b/the_english_civil_wars_of_the_17th_century_didnt/"
]
] | |
1vijov | how does the human body/mind know to growing when your young? and when to stop? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vijov/eli5_how_does_the_human_bodymind_know_to_growing/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"**Hormones** and **DNA** regulate when and how our bodies grow and age.\n\nDNA encodes all of the information on the physical structure of our bodies, from the overarching human form to the microscopic insides of our cells. ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
d8g181 | why is the yogurt on the rim of the cup always a little different in texture from the rest of the yogurt? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d8g181/eli5_why_is_the_yogurt_on_the_rim_of_the_cup/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"You mean the stuff that's seperate from the rest right? It's a smaller quantity and is exposed to the bit of air inside the container so it dries out.\n\nIt's a little thicker because of a lower moisture content."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1bnjew | Can children eat rare or med rare steak? | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1bnjew/can_children_eat_rare_or_med_rare_steak/ | {
"a_id": [
"c98aclx"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"None that I can think of. The inside of a piece of uncut meat(beef) is sterile. Make sure that the meat isn't mechanically tenderized or injected with a brine solution. \n\nThe problem arises when meat is ground because then the potentially conta... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
874awz | why summer night air has that discinct "peaceful" smell? | I really can't describe it but hopefully someone gets what I mean!
Edit: forgot to search before I posted, and now i found a similar post. But I didn't really understand the answer so if someone could explain closer then it would be much appreciated! | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/874awz/eli5_why_summer_night_air_has_that_discinct/ | {
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"text": [
"**TL;DR:** *Dust mostly is gone because the wind dies, air is moister and cooler and so conducts smells better, there's not as many \"bad smells\" that you get from a hot sun, ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
36i14i | Birds such as pigeons and sea gulls are extremely successful in urban environments, why don't we see proportional numbers of predatory birds in cities as well? | I live in London and can see no reason that would stop birds like peregrine falcons from being extremely successful in an environment with so much prey. Is there a factor that keeps predators out of cities but encourages pigeons/gulls? | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/36i14i/birds_such_as_pigeons_and_sea_gulls_are_extremely/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Peregrine falcons were actually quite common in cities [for at least two centuries.](_URL_1_) What happened was that people started spraying DDT and the falcons saw their populations collapse as it moves up the food chain.\n\nNot that DDT is bann... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.terrain.org/articles/6/rowland.htm",
"http://rcin.org.pl/Content/42911/WA058_60498_P257-T30_Acta-Ornith-Nr-1-8.pdf"
]
] | |
oxuaz | caffeine jitters | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/oxuaz/eli5_caffeine_jitters/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3kwhw6"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Caffeine like all chemicals, can change the way your body functions. Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glads, producing adrenalin. Your body literally is chemically tricked into thinking it's a in a fight or flight situation. \n\nThis can eventuall... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3y0k28 | If space is expanding, why has the Big Crunch been discredited? | askscience | https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3y0k28/if_space_is_expanding_why_has_the_big_crunch_been/ | {
"a_id": [
"cy9gg69",
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"score": [
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2
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"text": [
"Because we have an accelerating expansion, meaning that there must be a dark energy or similar component. \n\nDark energy accelerates the expansion while matter slows it down. Moreover, the expansion itself dilutes matter an... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
582s4y | Are new archaeological discoveries still being made in Egyptology? | Or has "everything been excavated" in terms of artifacts and it's mostly analysis and comparison of what has already been found? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/582s4y/are_new_archaeological_discoveries_still_being/ | {
"a_id": [
"d8x7n55"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"The Egyptian civilization lasted for thousands of years from the pre-dynastic period (5500 B.C.E) to The Roman Period (30 B.C.E-~300 C.E). (1) There is a wealth of information still to be discovered. There are archaeologists in the deserts now st... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.archaeologica.org/NewsPage.htm"
]
] | |
1stape | how a company changes when it is acquired by another company | When company A buys company B, what are the changes that company B experiences. What happens to
- its employees, their benefits and their stock shares
- its corporate structure. Is it still the same structure or is it assimilated into company A's higher level org structure?
- its marketing and advertising. Is it se... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1stape/eli5_how_a_company_changes_when_it_is_acquired_by/ | {
"a_id": [
"ce10le1",
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"score": [
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2,
2
],
"text": [
"Every merger or acquisition is different. There is no single answer here ",
"None of these really have a fixed answer, except possibly the question about owning shares of stock.\n\nIf company A buys... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
25n6mr | Does Jupiter's "spot" move around like a hurricane, or is it a stationary storm? | Since the storm has been going for at least as long as we've been looking through telescopes, has it moved around, or is it always in the same spot? | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/25n6mr/does_jupiters_spot_move_around_like_a_hurricane/ | {
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"text": [
"The spot stays almost stationary in latitude (North/South) but it moves longitudinally (is that even a word? > . > ). Because Jupiter is so large, the distance and speed it t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/images/content/388629main_jupiter_skyflat.gif",
"http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/multimedia/largest/EduVideoGallery.html",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Orbit_and_rotation",
"http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/images/content/388625main_Jupite... | |
2w2h8o | Is the Earth orbiting the sun in a straight line? | If I understand General Relativety correctly. Earth is travelling in a straight line, wherein that straight line is warped by the suns mass.
Is that correct? Or am I misinterpreting something? | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/2w2h8o/is_the_earth_orbiting_the_sun_in_a_straight_line/ | {
"a_id": [
"con0cbf",
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"score": [
28,
5,
3
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"text": [
"Kinda. Freely-falling objects follow [geodesics in spacetime](_URL_1_). Whether or not these are straight lines is probably a matter of semantics. \n\nAs a simpler example, consider whether you might c... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://i.stack.imgur.com/LgBvZ.png",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geodesics_in_general_relativity"
],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdC0QN6f3G4"
],
[]
] | |
7y3d9v | how do criminals crack 3-4-5 digit codes on safes,locks etc? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7y3d9v/eli5_how_do_criminals_crack_345_digit_codes_on/ | {
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"text": [
"Not a criminal, average joe.\n\nI really don't know on physical safes, but on PC, normally a Brute Forcing software will do the trick. What a Brute forcing Software does is try a T... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
9ocpzk | inside the brain, how do a bunch of neurons translate to a piece of information? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9ocpzk/eli5_inside_the_brain_how_do_a_bunch_of_neurons/ | {
"a_id": [
"e7t62e9"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"This is an interesting question. The answer is I don't know, no one knows, and if you figure it out, can I get an invite to your Nobel acceptance.\n\nCertain neurons are activated when we do certain things. Let's use vision as an example. When we... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
9kxesk | why are jet engines so much faster and powerful than propeller engines | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9kxesk/eli5_why_are_jet_engines_so_much_faster_and/ | {
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"text": [
"Propeller engines have a limit to how fast they can spin because ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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[
"https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/UEET/StudentSite/engines.html"
],
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[]
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2km778 | how do laser rangefinders work? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2km778/eli5_how_do_laser_rangefinders_work/ | {
"a_id": [
"clmntnr",
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"text": [
"The rangefinder measures how long it takes for a laser beam to travel there and back, and then uses that data to calculate distance.\n\n",
"A LASER rangefinder consists of a LASER, and a receiver tuned to the LASER's fre... | [] | [] | [
[],
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1u9rdn | How did family members find out if a relative died during WWII? | This is question asking how people found out about a relative dying during WWII and from what I've seen in movies it shows a soldier turning up at the door to tell the mother or wife. How was this done in the UK? If a ship went down would this be broadcast in a paper or on a newsreel or would this be kept secret in cas... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1u9rdn/how_did_family_members_find_out_if_a_relative/ | {
"a_id": [
"cegbdxp"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"As with most countries, by telegram. Typically they would inform the family that the relative was missing, e.g.: _URL_3_\n\nAs noted, a letter (usually from the CO) would follow.\n\nOf course, some of the missing turned up, I believe the Red Cros... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/66211000/jpg/_66211180_telegram.jpg",
"http://media.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2006/may/nagorski/telegram200-s6-c30.jpg",
"http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/biopicsprince/summersgill/TELEGRAM3.jpg",
"http://213squadronassociation.homestead.com... | |
1s2716 | why if i slowly submerge an oreo in milk will it completely sink in less than a minute but if i simply drop it in, it seems to float forever? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1s2716/eli5_why_if_i_slowly_submerge_an_oreo_in_milk/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdt6fas",
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"score": [
3,
3
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"text": [
"The surface tension of the milk holds it up. \n\nIf you look at water, you will see that the surface is like a thin rubber skin. This keeps the cookie afloat. Also, since most of it is above the liquid, it does not soak up a... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
59a90j | Did the Soviet Union have competitive entrance examinations for Universities? If yes, how did they differ from the ones in Europe and US? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/59a90j/did_the_soviet_union_have_competitive_entrance/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
124,
78,
2
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"text": [
"As a follow up question to OP's question, how common was it for Soviet universities to increase the difficulty of the entrance exams for, so-called, \"undesirables\"?\n\n[This article](_URL_0_) highl... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://arxiv.org/pdf/1110.1556.pdf"
],
[],
[]
] | ||
7wwrph | How good were the Confederacy's other generals in regards to Robert E Lee? Or the Northern generals for that matter? Were they second-rate, or just as good as Lee himself? | The second part of my title is a bit misleading, my bad. I mean the other generals, such as Stonewall Jackson or Nathan Bedford Forrest, compared to Northern generals. | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7wwrph/how_good_were_the_confederacys_other_generals_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"du53fh1"
],
"score": [
10
],
"text": [
"It might be best to start on a discussion of Lee just to clear up what we're looking at in terms of a measuring stick. OP's question presupposes that Robert E. Lee was one of, if not THE best general of the American Civil War. By \"best\" I assu... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
74q2kq | what led to the creation of the knights templar and what was their mo? | Why did they even exist after the church regained power? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/74q2kq/eli5what_led_to_the_creation_of_the_knights/ | {
"a_id": [
"do0c8u8",
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"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"During the Crusades, the Church controlled Jerusalem for a time, and this attracted pilgrimages to go see the holy land. The trip from Western Europe to the Levant was rough and dangerous. The Knights Templar were formed a... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
1b3tco | why we flinch | For example:
If I look at the toaster when the bread pops up it makes me jump.
Why is this? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1b3tco/eli5_why_we_flinch/ | {
"a_id": [
"c93bhvo",
"c93ebxv"
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"score": [
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2
],
"text": [
"Fight or flight instinct. When surprised, your body/brain makes itself ready to defend itself, or run for the hills...",
"Also, moving away from a collision when it happens dampens the overall effect or damage. Kind of ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
523jlk | what will happen if we try to land on a gas gaint, like jupiter? will we come out from the other end, never being able to land? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/523jlk/eli5_what_will_happen_if_we_try_to_land_on_a_gas/ | {
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"text": [
"No, as you enter the gas giant the pressure would increase and the interior gases would buoy your ship because their density would be ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
60wd7u | How long did soldiers have to stand in the landing crafts during D-Day? | I was curious to try and find out how fatigued the soldiers involved in D-Day may have been before they landed. I've tried looking on the internet and cant seem to find a result for how long the soldiers had to stand in the Landing Crafts before and en-route to the landing zones. | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/60wd7u/how_long_did_soldiers_have_to_stand_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"df9wckd"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The convoys carrying troops departed from ports in southern England on the afternoon of June 5, 1944 and proceeded slowly across the channel with heavy air cover. They dropped anchor in their designated transport areas 23,000 yards offshore at ro... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-XChannel/index.html",
"http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-A-Omaha/index.html"
]
] | |
2bwp3h | What is the origin and historical context of so called, "honor killings?" | So, threads like [this one](_URL_0_) crop up from time to time, basically describing a victim (almost invariably female) being killed or injured for being sexually assaulted. These are described as honor killings, and appear to be occurring because of perceived shame brought upon the family of the victim as a result o... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2bwp3h/what_is_the_origin_and_historical_context_of_so/ | {
"a_id": [
"cj9so9s"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"hi! if you don't get responses here (or even if you do), it might be worth x-posting this question to /r/AskSocialScience and/or /r/AskAnthropology for their perspective"
]
} | [] | [
"http://www.reddit.com/r/TrueReddit/comments/2bvp1r/struggling_to_keep_afghan_girl_safe_after_a/"
] | [
[]
] | |
4keecy | Would the night sky have appeared much brighter in the time of the dinosaurs? | Given that the universe is expanding, and that apparent brightness of celestial bodies is governed by the inverse square law, would there have been a noticeable difference in the brightness of the night sky during, say, the early Jurassic Period? | askscience | https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/4keecy/would_the_night_sky_have_appeared_much_brighter/ | {
"a_id": [
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56,
6,
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"text": [
"The universe is expanding, but gravity keeps small-scale (relatively speaking!) structures like galaxies - and even groups of galaxies - together. The volume of space containing all the stars we can se... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/gallery/galaxy-location.html",
"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galaxy_rotation_wave.ogv",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density_wave_theory"
]
] | |
3ggsuw | why there are lions in india, but no tigers in africa? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ggsuw/eli5_why_there_are_lions_in_india_but_no_tigers/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctxz537"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
" > Lions, leopards and tigers are all part of the Felidae family of cats, which originated in Africa and share a common ancestor. At some point, probably around 2 million years ago, one offshoot of Felidae migrated east toward Asia, and those ca... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
20tvap | Why do larger land animals seemingly tend to have fewer legs (among those that have them)? | Mammals tend to have 4 legs max, birds have 2, lizards and dinosaurs have 4, and so on. On the other hand, insects, centipedes, and arachnids (which are mostly, but not always, quite small) have a bunch more legs.
Intuitively, it would seem as if having more to rest on would be helpful to counteract the square-cube la... | askscience | http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/20tvap/why_do_larger_land_animals_seemingly_tend_to_have/ | {
"a_id": [
"cg6qvif",
"cg6rb8g",
"cg6vupg"
],
"score": [
2,
4,
6
],
"text": [
"Interesting question, I think the distinction might not be between small animals and large ones, but rather between invertebrates and vertebrates. \n\nMy speculation is that there is a tradeoff betwee... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexapod_(robotics)"
],
[]
] | |
apo0tx | From my understanding hundreds of years ago when a country would steal land to absorb into their empire, they’d invade and forcibly take the land they wanted. Now when countries want land they negotiate, buy and sell it, when did that change occur? | Basically to clarify when did countries stop invading each other to get land and start selling it to one another? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/apo0tx/from_my_understanding_hundreds_of_years_ago_when/ | {
"a_id": [
"ega6pvr"
],
"score": [
12
],
"text": [
"Your understanding is pretty much incorrect. \n\n\nFirst off, the entire idea of land being firmly and incontrovertibly owned by a particular sovereignty, with concrete territorial boundaries marked off, is roughly speaking a modern idea associ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
5rttns | why do spinning objects seem to stay in the air longer? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5rttns/eli5_why_do_spinning_objects_seem_to_stay_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"dda2az5"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Spinning stabilizes the object so that it doesn't wobble or flip over. This enables it to continue moving through the air smoothly. By itself this doesn't make it stay up any longer, just travel farther. \n\nHowever, if the object is also shaped ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
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