q_id stringlengths 5 6 | title stringlengths 3 296 | selftext stringlengths 0 34k | document stringclasses 1
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4u670v | why is it that ice slows down swelling but when in the cold, our skin turns red from blood flow? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4u670v/eli5_why_is_it_that_ice_slows_down_swelling_but/ | {
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"Cold just really slows down molecules down from their natural fast moving state to another state where things aren’t moving much at all. This works well and fine for things that don’t live and die like a pool of water that can just freeze withou... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2do5h1 | how did israel developed from rand rock desert into oecd equivalent progressive nation. | Israel has GDP per capita better than some messed up Eastern European nations. In terms of literacy rate, education level, human right and freedom etc they second to none in Middle East. Not to mention they had 4+ times war and constant clashes with its neighbors (which most of the time they achieved victory). They cer... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2do5h1/eli5_how_did_israel_developed_from_rand_rock/ | {
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"It was built by first world people, at first educated by first world institutions, until they created their own.\n\n\nAnd they get funded by first world jews all over the world. Jews have always priorit... | [] | [] | [
[],
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4vtj6d | what's going on inside those box things on laptop chargers? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4vtj6d/eli5_whats_going_on_inside_those_box_things_on/ | {
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"text": [
"Those \"box things\" are known as bricks and they are essentially used to convert the AC current to DC current. \n\nDC current is more expensive to transport than AC current henc... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
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] | ||
1wbmm9 | why can't nuclear power plants use their own generated power for cooling? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1wbmm9/eli5_why_cant_nuclear_power_plants_use_their_own/ | {
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"I think what the OP is referring to is why nuclear electric plants have a secondary electrical supply to power cooling systems. They need to have a secondary power source in case something goes wrong w... | [] | [] | [
[],
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26j36t | why do scientists assume an alien species would use the same math system as us. | Like I hear stuff about our space crafts showing prime numbers on them incase they ran into an alien species and other stuff I'm too lazy to look up.
But how do they know they don't count in sets of 7 instead of 10. I figured the only reason we did that cause we have 10 fingers. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/26j36t/eli5why_do_scientists_assume_an_alien_species/ | {
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"If the aliens cant figure out different bases chances are they dont even know how to get t... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[],
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"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok-Oz7huWFw"
],
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29fikz | how did popcorn become a standard movie "meal"? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/29fikz/eli5how_did_popcorn_become_a_standard_movie_meal/ | {
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"http://www.oscars.org/features/movie-munchies/popcorn-origin.html",
"Oscar.com",
"http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/the-science-and-history-of-popcorn-the-snack-that-saved-the-movies/",
"http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-do-we-eat-popcorn-at-the-movies-475063/?no-ist"
],
... | ||
560804 | how is it that disposable lighters have lighter fluid inside and it comes out as gas? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/560804/eli5_how_is_it_that_disposable_lighters_have/ | {
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"When it is compressed it turns to a liquid, the valve lets the fluid out slowly so turn back to a gas when it's u... | [] | [] | [
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n9ubn | megaupload | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/n9ubn/eli5_megaupload/ | {
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"text": [
"Megaupload is a file hosting service, meaning everyone and their dog can use it to upload files to be hosted on the internet, where anyone can download them. This is a legitimate service, even if it is abused by people lo... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111209/14234917026/universal-music-issues-questionable-takedown-megaupload-video-that-featured-their-artists.shtml"
],
[
"http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111209/14234917026/universal-music-issues-questionable-takedown-megaupload-video-that-featured-their-artists.... | ||
1h1fki | why has the supreme court declared section 4 of the voting rights act unconstitutional? | I have read section 4 and I'm not sure what part makes it unconstitutional? I haven't read a good break down of it yet either so, ELI5. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1h1fki/eli5_why_has_the_supreme_court_declared_section_4/ | {
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"Basically, it said that certain areas of the country must go through extra steps if they want to change **any** process related to voting. For example, even closing an expensive o... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/supreme-court-ruling.html?_r=0",
"http://www.supremecourt.gov"
],
[]
] | |
sspui | horizontal drilling: how do they steer? | I see [these things](_URL_0_) frequently being used to lay conduit for fiber optics but can not figure out how they have any control over the direction while underground. How does it work? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/sspui/eli5_horizontal_drilling_how_do_they_steer/ | {
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"text": [
"The answer of \"They don't\" is wrong. Dead wrong. I'm a Directional Driller in the Oil and Gas business with 11 years of experience, so let me see if I can break it down, Mr. Potato head style.\n\nDownhole while drilling in a wellbore, you hav... | [] | [
"http://img.directindustry.com/images_di/photo-g/horizontal-directional-drilling-rig-389325.jpg"
] | [
[]
] | |
1171dw | what is the problem between greece and germany? | I really don't understand the Problem. What kind of money flows where? Why are people burning Nazi flags at a visit of Merkel in Athens?
If someone could put this whole mess in an easy explanation, I would be very thankful.
Edit: Thank you guys for all the answers. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1171dw/what_is_the_problem_between_greece_and_germany/ | {
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"text": [
"Germany don't want to have to pay for the e... | [] | [] | [
[],
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2awckr | why is going to the dmv always such a clusterfuck? | Why does it take so long to handle any business at the Department of Motor Vehicles? I've been at my local DMV for several hours and I'm still nowhere near being helped. There's probably several hundred people in here waiting for the same shit too. Not even going to describe the parking catastrophe outside.
Is there a... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2awckr/eli5_why_is_going_to_the_dmv_always_such_a/ | {
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"text": [
"They don't have enough staff, the staff they do have works slow and it's a government agency so they have no incentive to work faster or harder because they'd have to rape a baby in front of the President to lose their job."... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
467t92 | why is it harder to concentrate when you're sick or in pain, e.g. when you have a cold or a headache? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/467t92/eli5_why_is_it_harder_to_concentrate_when_youre/ | {
"a_id": [
"d0329ye"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"For the same reason it's hard to concentrate when it's noisy or there's a bright light in your face: Your brain is distracted by all the other stimuli it's being exposed to (in this case, the stimulus of feeling like shit)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1v12yo | how does somebody like aaron swartz face 50 years prison for hacking, but people on trial for murder only face 15-25 years? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1v12yo/eli5_how_does_somebody_like_aaron_swartz_face_50/ | {
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"http://www.popehat.com/2013/03/26/cloudy-with-a-chance-of-shitty-journalism/",
"http://... | ||
2883wt | why do some people think it's bad to drink bottled water after it has been opened and sitting out for a few hours? | I've always heard about this, but never knew why. I hope this isn't too vague of a question. I just want to find out if it's bad for me or not and why. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2883wt/eli5_why_do_some_people_think_its_bad_to_drink/ | {
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"text": [
"It might be due to whatever can come into the water (dust, bacteria, etc.) if it's exposed.",
"There was a myth that plastic bottles, when left in the sun... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[],
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4hudrw | what is dynamic braking as why is it always prohibited? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4hudrw/eli5_what_is_dynamic_braking_as_why_is_it_always/ | {
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"text": [
"When you slow down, you create friction within your brakes. Dynamic Braking is a system that allows you to use your engine to brake for you. So when you release the gas, the engine... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compression_release_engine_brake"
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[],
[]
] | ||
1eb7e3 | when i microwave a dry muffin, it get's moist (and tasty). where did the water come from? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1eb7e3/eli5_when_i_microwave_a_dry_muffin_it_gets_moist/ | {
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... | [] | [] | [
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2ofwwd | why does pubic hair only grow to a certain length | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ofwwd/eli5_why_does_pubic_hair_only_grow_to_a_certain/ | {
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"text": [
"When it gets to a certain length it just falls out. It doesn't stop growing"
]
} | [] | [] | [
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4it8nv | why did commanders throughout history fight in the front lines? | Wouldn't that make it easier for the enemy to kill them? I know boosting morale is important but how could you ever risk your leader? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4it8nv/eli5_why_did_commanders_throughout_history_fight/ | {
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"It depends what you mean by \"front lines.\" A commander or king probably wouldn't lead the charge into the enemy's forces because it's an undue risk to their own life.\n\nThat sa... | [] | [] | [
[],
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2fhg5x | from a business standpoint, in terms of monitary gain, how does the history channel profit from running 18 hours a day of pawn stars? | To elaborate, and this is understanding the show makes money. But socially, the pendulum must swing, correct? It's gotten so far from anything resembling education or history in general that it's difficult to watch | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2fhg5x/eli5_from_a_business_standpoint_in_terms_of/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Discovery Channel, TLC, The History Channel, they started out as niche channels...inexpensive programming aimed at a specific audience it was easier to target ads for.\n\nThen came *Mythbusters*, a big hit that appealed to a broader audience. So... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2dj52t | what is the police command and accountability structure in the us? | Reading about the Ferguson events got me curious about the way the US police system is organized. Since I'm from Europe, I only have a very broad idea of the way it works, and the [wikipedia article](_URL_0_) lists a number of different agencies and institutions.
I know that the FBI works independently from the other... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2dj52t/eli5_what_is_the_police_command_and/ | {
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"text": [
"US citizen here, St. Louis area, but with no law enforcement experience. As far as I can tell, different executive entities cover their jurisdiction, and usually only step into a lower level if asked or needed. For instance,... | [] | [
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_in_the_United_States"
] | [
[],
[
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Administrative_divisions_of_Germany.svg/1024px-Administrative_divisions_of_Germany.svg.png"
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a84dn7 | how does meat left at room temperature spoil so quickly? more importantly, where do these harmful bacteria exist before they get in the meat? are they just hanging around in the air waiting for something to infect? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a84dn7/eli5_how_does_meat_left_at_room_temperature_spoil/ | {
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"A few hang around in the air. Many more are on things. Your hands, cutlery, plates, chopping boards etc. ",
"Often they are already ... | [] | [] | [
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1cu7pc | how did "chips" in the uk get to be known as "french fries" in the states? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1cu7pc/eli5how_did_chips_in_the_uk_get_to_be_known_as/ | {
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"text": [
"Frying strips of potato originated in neither countries, it's likely that both countries adopted the recipe independently thus named them independently. \n\nThomas Jefferson wrote in 1802 of \"potatoes served in the French m... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
2ie4or | can i make a citizen's arrest on a police officer? | I would like this question to answer on duty police. Would this become a felony for assaulting a police officer? I would assume that making a citizen's arrest on an off duty officer would be the same a citizen's arrest on a non-officer. Please don't give me any crap about common sense, I'm looking for legal answers and... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ie4or/eli5can_i_make_a_citizens_arrest_on_a_police/ | {
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"text": [
"Police officers aren't above the law, they just enforce it. So yes (but I imagine it'd be harder to prove it was justified).",
"It depends.\n\nIf they a... | [] | [] | [
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2m131c | the us involvement in middle east wars "for oil" theory | Now, I take it as sacrosanct fact that the US pretty much has a business/oil/military-industrial complex interest in war making.
But, to be honest (and this is somewhat embarrassing) besides weapons makers and politicians/military getting a cut from war expenditures, I do not see how this seemingly unending meddling ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2m131c/eli5_the_us_involvement_in_middle_east_wars_for/ | {
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"text": [
"A common misconception is that the US wants to import oil. In reality the US has enough oil reserves to last for a hundred years. It is therefore more likely that they want control... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://jah.oxfordjournals.org/content/99/1/208.full"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
da5ygb | how do fire extinguishers work? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/da5ygb/eli5_how_do_fire_extinguishers_work/ | {
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"Depends on the type of extinguisher.\n\nFire needs three things to work - heat, fuel and oxygen. Since fuel can't really be altered, you can stop a fire by either reducing the heat or removing the oxyg... | [] | [] | [
[],
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54y0ma | how are broken ribs mended without surgery? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/54y0ma/eli5_how_are_broken_ribs_mended_without_surgery/ | {
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"They don't tend to wander so the torso is just bandaged to stay mostly straight and the two ends will naturally heal together. Most of the time a rib is broken but the break is just a crack which remains set already."
]
} | [] | [] | [
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9oaen5 | what's the science and psychology behind superhuman strength? e.g. mothers lifting cars to save children etc. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9oaen5/eli5_whats_the_science_and_psychology_behind/ | {
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"There is no science that really backs it. What little science that has been done pretty much shows there may be a very slight increase as fear or adrenaline ramps up, but as it get... | [] | [] | [
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"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2439523/",
"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1195705"
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61s7qk | why do people hold each other at gunpoint standoffs for so long? if a bullet travels literally faster than sound a human should have no chance to react, so it would be just whoever fires first right? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/61s7qk/eli5_why_do_people_hold_each_other_at_gunpoint/ | {
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"Most people when put in an instant state of shock, such as being shot, have many of the muscles in their body contract. Therefore there is a very high probability that they will shoot you after being shot in such a scenario ... | [] | [] | [
[],
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] | ||
cc5yoh | what causes animals to die of old age? | Like why would an otherwise healthy being just die all the sudden? Is death of “natural causes” an actual thing or is it a catchall term for more specific things that just tend to happen as animals get older? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cc5yoh/eli5_what_causes_animals_to_die_of_old_age/ | {
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"text": [
"The cells in your body are constantly replicating themselves and then dying off. Your hair and nails are made of these dead cells (and that's why your hair and nails grow).\n\nHowever, every time a ce... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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] | |
2zbmn2 | why can women have an abortion but the father be forced to play child support | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2zbmn2/eli5_why_can_women_have_an_abortion_but_the/ | {
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"This very problem is a concern that is only just now getting the attention it deserves. There are a growing number of cases where men a... | [] | [] | [
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2bl4hk | why does my phone show no reception but when i call someone it appears? | My phone constantly shows "no signal" in the corner but when I try to make a phonecall my reception magically appears and the call connects. Although the call connects, text messages do not send. How is this possible? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2bl4hk/eli5_why_does_my_phone_show_no_reception_but_when/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"There are a bunch of possible reasons\n\n- The software in your phone is badly programmed.\n\n- The measuring mechanism that tells the phone how many bars to display for signal strength is not calibrated to match how much signal strength you actu... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
4p69b5 | what are the tiny specks/hairs that can sometimes be seen when closing one's eyes? | Is this just dust on the surface of our eye? Why can we see these if our eyes are closed?
EDIT: I'm referring to tiny specks or hairs that can be "seen" floating. Not specks of light. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4p69b5/eli5_what_are_the_tiny_speckshairs_that_can/ | {
"a_id": [
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"If you mean the specks of light you can sometimes see when you close your eyes (particularly when pressing or rubbing the eyes), it's called phosphene and is basically the result of the brain being tricked into thinking it's... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
9s5ijb | why is processed meat cheaper than non-processed meat? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9s5ijb/eli5_why_is_processed_meat_cheaper_than/ | {
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"text": [
"They can use all the garbage bits. Remainders and the like. All the meat that's left when you take all the good cuts out.",
"Proce... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[],
[],
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[]
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60i3kg | does oxidation make oxygen disappear? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/60i3kg/eli5_does_oxidation_make_oxygen_disappear/ | {
"a_id": [
"df6jvrj"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Yes and no. In oxidation oxygen reacts with the metal. The oxygen would bond with the metal. So yes in the end you would have less gaseous oxygen, but none of the oxygen atoms would actually disappear. Oxygen only would change the for it is in."
... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2w48n7 | why are a large number of video games, particularly role-playing games, set in medieval setting? | History is full of different time periods, such as ancient civilization, the age of exploration, the revolutionary period, the wild west, etc.
Why are the middle ages the setting for a disproportionate number of video games? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2w48n7/eli5_why_are_a_large_number_of_video_games/ | {
"a_id": [
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"People tend to go with what they're familiar with, and what they grew up with. The earliest popular roleplaying games were tabletops like Dungeons & Dragons, with a smaller percentage set in space and... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
5q63v2 | how exactly is recycling good for the environment when it almost always requires a source of fuel to break down and re-purpose the materials(in turn creating more air pollution and also requires the excavation of more fossil fuel)? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5q63v2/eli5_how_exactly_is_recycling_good_for_the/ | {
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"text": [
"It is less harmful than excavating new material deposits, by far. It's also the fact that if you just throw it out, it has to go to a landfill, which uses up... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
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"http://www.no-burn.org/",
"https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-02-18/chinas-green-fence-cleaning-americas-dirty-recycling",
"https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/145346/1/16039.pdf",
"http://www.cewep.eu/m_1073"
]
] | |
3hge3b | if big pharmaceutical companies make all these negative effect drugs, they can obviously make ones with excellent side affects. is there any types of medicines that are like this? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3hge3b/eli5if_big_pharmaceutical_companies_make_all/ | {
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"text": [
"I think you have a very distorted view of pharmaceutical companies. The vast majority of drugs have side effects less bad than the disease they treat, especially when you consider ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4tnzqm | if all wavelengths of light travel at the same speed, what causes them to rainbow after exiting a glass prism? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4tnzqm/eli5_if_all_wavelengths_of_light_travel_at_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"d5it848",
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"text": [
"A prism causes light to refract, which is described by the *refractive index* of the material. The refractive index is different for different waves of light, so that rays of different wave-lengths get... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispersion_\\(optics\\)"
],
[]
] | ||
dzolh2 | how does skin hold in moisture? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dzolh2/eli5_how_does_skin_hold_in_moisture/ | {
"a_id": [
"f8ab5yw"
],
"score": [
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],
"text": [
"Your skin has several layers which serve multiple purposes. Remember that your skin is an organ so keeing that in mind it has a specialized goal , one of which is retaining a level amount of moisture it does this through tiny pores and epithelial... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3p1kxk | every time people breathe, why don't they naturally take in the maximum lung capacity, which would be more efficient? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3p1kxk/eli5_every_time_people_breathe_why_dont_they/ | {
"a_id": [
"cw2crlo",
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"score": [
14,
9,
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"text": [
"What makes you think it's more efficient? ",
"Actually, it has to do with differences in the matching of air flow and blood flow to different areas of your lung, called ventilation and perfusion, r... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
bl0tb9 | why do formula 1 cars look the way they do? | F1 cars are known as the "ultimate racing cars". i wonder why, the further up on the racing leagues you go, cars don't look anything like traditional cars at all, and especially why they all look the same at that.
i understand the details of aerodynamic wings etc are changed over the years, but why are all of the cars... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bl0tb9/eli5_why_do_formula_1_cars_look_the_way_they_do/ | {
"a_id": [
"emkrncl",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"F1 and other racing leagues have a lot of rules to ensure safety and competitiveness. That tends to lead to the cars eventually all being very similar as there is rarely more than one general body-form ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
334me0 | why do we accept plastic surgery in entertainment, but not steroids in organized professional athletics when it's essentially entertainment? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/334me0/eli5_why_do_we_accept_plastic_surgery_in/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"In a word... Gambling. No one bets on the outcome of a movie. Steroids are an unknown... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
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6iwc0j | credit reports | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6iwc0j/eli5_credit_reports/ | {
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"text": [
"A credit report is a list of all accounts you have and the monthly reporting from those account isuers that you've paid/are in good standing, etc. A credit sc... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[],
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2lpwrt | what happened to myanmar(burma) throughout the 20th century after british rule? how did it go from an emerging nation to one of the most isolated countries in asia? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2lpwrt/eli5_what_happened_to_myanmarburma_throughout_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"clx1z2s"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Essentially the military seized power, formed a junta and viciously suppressed democracy, leading to diplomatic isolation and trade embargoes.\n\nThey have also engaged in long-running and extremely violent repression of minorities, most notably... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2x2x7s | how to "dry wipe" and why it's preferred in your country than using a bidet. | Five seems to be the perfect age to learn this skill.
Anyway, I live in a country where using a bidet or using a bucket + hands is more preferred than using toilet paper when it comes to cleaning the butt.
I always feel uncomfortable every time I use toilet paper. I also seem to use a lot of toilet paper in the proc... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2x2x7s/eli5_how_to_dry_wipe_and_why_its_preferred_in/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Whatever method you grew up with will always feel better and like it gets you cleaner.\n\nYou just wipe until there's not poop on the paper anymore, then you give it one more for ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
eokca7 | how do you make money from a currency that's depreciating by exchanging currency. | I was watching a show, spice and Wolf if anyone has seen it understands. Where they use old style silver and gold to make currency. Now the scenario is one country is subtlety decreasing how much silver they put into the coin, so they're currency is becoming weaker, but no one has noticed yet, but in the end the main c... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/eokca7/eli5_how_do_you_make_money_from_a_currency_thats/ | {
"a_id": [
"fedaavs"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"If he's trading new for old, he'd be trading it for face value but gaining money in raw silver. \n\nWhen nobody notices he can do it easily, but once they realize old currency will technically be worth more because of the silver content.\n\nSince... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
11e2xk | if energy is neither created nor destroyed, what happens when light is pulled into a black hole? | I know that black holes are really dense, and that their density is so great it can pull in light, making it black... but what happens to all this energy when it is pulled into the black hole? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/11e2xk/if_energy_is_neither_created_nor_destroyed_what/ | {
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"text": [
"It sits in the black hole.",
"The energy increases the mass of the black hole, via E=mc^(2). A photon of visible light (at a wavelength of 555 nm), would increase the mass... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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] | |
6dfcsu | how is it that i'm occasionally able to hear sounds miles off in the distance (e.g. trains, motorways) as if they were up close? | I live about three or four miles away from a railway line. I very seldom hear anything, but very occasionally (and usually in the morning) I'll hear a heavy freight train clacking down the tracks as if it's right outside my window. What causes this? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6dfcsu/eli5_how_is_it_that_im_occasionally_able_to_hear/ | {
"a_id": [
"di29ldc"
],
"score": [
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],
"text": [
"The time of day is relevant. \n\nSound is a pressure wave, think of it like a ripple in a lake. The source of the sound is the rock being thrown into the lake, and the ripples are the sound waves. They spread outward and get weaker the further ou... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3trl8g | why do people fight to prohibit publicly funded research into gun violence*, despite funding research into tobacco, food safety, etc? (see comments) | If the NRA is right that guns don't kill people, but people kill people, then why did they lobby against proving them right? (*My understanding is that the stipulation in the Dickey Amendment was added by the NRA lobby, and that yes, technically you can research it, but you cannot take action on that research... so the... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3trl8g/eli5_why_do_people_fight_to_prohibit_publicly/ | {
"a_id": [
"cx8ly2b",
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"score": [
16,
3
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"text": [
"The problem is that the Executive branch and Justice Department wanted the Centers for Disease Control to try to make a criminal justice issue a health issue.\n\nThe FBI already maintains and provides extensive data about g... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
20v761 | what is happening under the hood my car that makes it "go" when i press the gas pedal? | Sorry if that's confusing. I'm basically looking for a simple explanation of how an automobile works. How does putting gas in the gas tank, turning the ignition and pressing the accelerate pedal make the car actually "go" forward, in an explanation for someone who knows nothing about cars? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20v761/eli5_what_is_happening_under_the_hood_my_car_that/ | {
"a_id": [
"cg71o0b",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Basically controlled explosions. Each car had a certain amount of cylinders ( v6 v8 4 banger etc) that's what people mean when they say that. In each cylinder their is a piston connected to a shaft (crank shaft). Fuel and a... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
audphf | how do astronomers calculate distance through redshift? | So Hubbles Law. I get that observing light from distant stars seen though a spectroscopy can detect a redshift (or blueshift) to indicate if an object is moving towards or away from us. What I cant seem to wrap my head around is how an astronomer can say “the redshift indicates the star is X lightyears away”. What calc... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/audphf/eli5_how_do_astronomers_calculate_distance/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Redshift does not directly indicate the distance but only the relative velocity. Basically, you can calculate what light a star should be sending, based on its mass and you know what you received. The difference in the wavel... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3ut5ke | how did whaling work in the age of sail? why couldn't the whales easily escape? | It seems like the whalers could only see where the whale is if it was close to the surface. Whales are pretty smart - why couldn't they just dive and swim in a random direction? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ut5ke/eli5_how_did_whaling_work_in_the_age_of_sail_why/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Whales were much more numerous, for starters. Spotting a whale wasn't a rare occurrence. They traveled in great huge pods and were unafraid of men, so it was easier to harpoon one than you might imagine. Later, whaling ships... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
10p8cm | why is dog "man's best friend?" | My dog means the world to me and every dog-owner I know feels the same way. Even people without dogs love to pet and play with them. What is it about dogs that makes us as humans so compatible with them? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/10p8cm/eli5_why_is_dog_mans_best_friend/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6ffl6u"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Dogs were really the first animal that man domesticated. Before cattle and other animals for food and work, we domesticated the wolf to be hunting partners! Since we've been selecting which wolves we like best for their depositions for such an ex... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2o9hg5 | why do i love sleeping so damn much? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2o9hg5/eli5_why_do_i_love_sleeping_so_damn_much/ | {
"a_id": [
"cmkzqn4",
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"score": [
6,
3
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"text": [
"It's possible that you're not sleeping enough, or that you're experiencing low-quality sleep.\n\nNormal stages of sleep: _URL_0_\n\nIf any of these stages are interrupted in any way, you may wake up feeling listless or physi... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-101"
],
[]
] | ||
6oha7a | why do some english professions have variations for both genders such as "actor/actress" but most don't? | Actor/Actress; Steward/Stewardess
Doctor; Nurse; Teacher; Driver; etc.
I tried looking up origins for doctor and actor but both come from latin.
Does it have to do something with the fact that females weren't, for instance, doctors in past? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6oha7a/eli5_why_do_some_english_professions_have/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"A lot of it depends on when it opened up to allow women (or men) to work the job. But this is not a hard set rule as there are few hard set rules in language. \n\nActing opened up to women in the 1600s.... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.websters1913.com/words/Doctoress"
],
[]
] | |
1krztv | lebanon and hezbollah? pakistan and taliban? how these political situations work and how they came to be like this? (other examples?) | Hi there,
my deepest apologies if this indeed turned out to be a repost, I looked through the search bar for ELI5 explanations to both of these situations however I could not find answers to either of them.
So basically I am curious as to how the Lebanese and Pakistani governments are able to co-exist with groups su... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1krztv/eli5_lebanon_and_hezbollah_pakistan_and_taliban/ | {
"a_id": [
"cbs0uas",
"cbs45bc"
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"score": [
5,
3
],
"text": [
"Lets start off with Lebanon, because I *know* how that works.\n\nHezbollah is a political party in Lebanon. Lebanon has a parliamentary system that isn't like the American one. They literally do share some portion of the p... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Lebanon",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_system"
],
[]
] | |
lpxdi | body temperature | I was thinking, why do we need and have a body temperature? And why is it subject to just being 98.6? Why couldn't we have something higher or lower? This just popped into my head one day and I couldn't help but wonder about it. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/lpxdi/eli5_body_temperature/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2unwub",
"c2unwub"
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"score": [
5,
5
],
"text": [
"The specific temperature naturally evolved this way.\n\nThe higher the temperature, the faster we can move/the faster we can burn calories to do tasks/the better we can fight infections/the more energy we have.\n\nAt the sam... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
e1lbv2 | why is it easier to keep balance (while standing on one foot f.e.), when you focus on a specific point? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/e1lbv2/eli5_why_is_it_easier_to_keep_balance_while/ | {
"a_id": [
"f8q21uz",
"f8q7k41"
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"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Your brain collects information from multiple sources to maintain balance. One of those sources is what you see with your eyes, this is why closing your eyes makes it harder to balance. \n\nWhen you focus in a static object... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
mn5ar | if i eat way more chile peppers, and build a tolerance, will i also have lower sensitivity to pepper spray? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/mn5ar/eli5_if_i_eat_way_more_chile_peppers_and_build_a/ | {
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"score": [
2,
3,
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"text": [
"No. The way \"hot\" or \"spicy\" for foods specifically peppers is the scoville scale. Most peppers will be between 0-100,000 scovilles. Common ones are Banana peppers at 100, j... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1mksuj | how does fiji water justify their inflated price? | (And why do people buy it?) | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1mksuj/eli5_how_does_fiji_water_justify_their_inflated/ | {
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7,
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"text": [
"The second question answers your first. And people buy it because people are dumb. My only question is why you'... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3t5e0u | what's the reasoning behind the "pause" and "play" symbols as we know them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3t5e0u/eli5_whats_the_reasoning_behind_the_pause_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"cx37daz",
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61,
5
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"text": [
"Their origin is not clear but I think the \"play\" symbol was supposed to be an arrow that indicates the direction tape was moving in old reel-to-reel tapes, which would explain why the fast forward symbol is a double arrow... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
c7o6gx | does the breakdown of carbon life forms add mass to the earth? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c7o6gx/eli5_does_the_breakdown_of_carbon_life_forms_add/ | {
"a_id": [
"esgktyf",
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"score": [
4,
2,
2
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"text": [
"No, or yes. It depends on how you define the Earth.\n\nIf you are talking about everything from the atmosphere down, then no mass is added since the mass from the lifeforms is already accounted for.\n\n... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1s7nf2 | why does america still have a farm bill? | ELI5:Why does America still have a Farm bill? I've had a quick look at it, and for a free market economy it seems to impose the complete opposite.
If someone can provide a more details explanation of what it is and why it continues to be that'd be great. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1s7nf2/eli5why_does_america_still_have_a_farm_bill/ | {
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"Well, the United States *doesn't* have a completely free economy. It's more free than many other countries, but there are still a lot of protectionist industries, with the notable ones being Steel and various Agriculture pro... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
54815k | howcome no matter how much we brace ourselves for something startling (loud noise, etc...), we always still jump at it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/54815k/eli5_howcome_no_matter_how_much_we_brace/ | {
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"text": [
"People have different reactions to startling events with some on the extreme end being people you can literally scare out of their seat with a \"BOO!\" every time, literally every time. Other people can train their reactions better, but it depend... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
16p2rt | can someone write a dumbed down version of the "23 gun laws" that obama has came up with? | Incase I am incorrect of what is going on, here is what I am talking about.
_URL_0_
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/16p2rt/can_someone_write_a_dumbed_down_version_of_the_23/ | {
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"The White House Press Secretary put ou... | [] | [
"http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/01/16/list-obamas-23-executive-actions-on-gun-violence/"
] | [
[
"http://www.suntimes.com/csp/cms/sites/STM/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=W480DYNQoWmjWtPssH2PiW08KPqTQGj1bVIjXWhRUINygAgzGeHJ7JG3mDPF39SK4Aw$6wU9GSUcqtd9hs3TFeZCn0vq69IZViKeqDZhqNLziaXiKG0K_ms4C2keQo54&CONTENTTYPE=application/pdf&CONTENTDISPOSITION=obama-CST-011713.pdf"
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6jtp6m | why can't the body differentiate from a real threat vs second-hand anxiety symptoms? | i.e when your hands get sweaty when you're watching someone else do flips on a skyscraper | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6jtp6m/eli5_why_cant_the_body_differentiate_from_a_real/ | {
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"We are social and empathetic creatures. We may not be experiencing it for ourselves, but our brain knows that it would be a bad idea so it triggers an anxious response in most people so they won't want to do it. It doesn't work all the time, obvi... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
29h64u | how can you see through something that's physically there, like plastic wrap or glass? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/29h64u/eli5_how_can_you_see_through_something_thats/ | {
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"text": [
"Light consists of waves(ish). When it hits an object, depending on the size of the crystals in the object and the chemical makeup, different wavelengths of light are reflected/scattered/absorbed. Plasti... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://youtu.be/Omr0JNyDBI0"
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] | ||
6t8fsf | what happens to the water used to make concrete? | Can the concrete degrade, until the water escapes? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6t8fsf/eli5_what_happens_to_the_water_used_to_make/ | {
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"text": [
"Concrete setting is a complicated process and depends on the materials used. But part of the process is the hydration of the ingredients. The water actually becomes part of the in... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[],
[]
] | |
1kmegf | how do photographers get cameras in animal dens or hives? | You always see wide shots of the insides of bee hives or of an animal sleeping in a tiny den. How do they do that? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1kmegf/eli5_how_do_photographers_get_cameras_in_animal/ | {
"a_id": [
"cbqfc2b"
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"text": [
"I've seen cameramen literally just elbow their way into rabbit holes and such. or they can use lightweight camera's on sticks basically. or sometimes there's a lot more room in there underground already, when a small animal has made a den in an e... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
7bd9oj | difference between necessary and sufficient conditions | Philosophy major here. I some how managed to get a distinction in informal reasoning, and yet I never managed to grasp the distinction between a necessary condition, and a sufficient condition. I'd appreciate an ELI5 on how to tell the difference between them, and a definition of each. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7bd9oj/eli5difference_between_necessary_and_sufficient/ | {
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"text": [
"A is a necessary condition for B if it's always true whenever B is true. In other words, B implies A.\n\nA is a sufficient condition for B if whenever it's true, B is true. In other words, A implies ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3idq8e | was the economic stimulus act of 2008 at all effective in helping the recessed economy? | Did the $158 billion dollars invested in the economy end up doing what lawmakers thought it would? Did the government see any returns on this investment? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3idq8e/eli5_was_the_economic_stimulus_act_of_2008_at_all/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
" > Did the $158 billion dollars invested in the economy end up doing what lawmakers thought it would?\n\n[Yes](_URL_0_) it raised consumption and increased consumer spending.\n\n > Did the government see any returns on this investment?\n\nThe g... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.voxeu.org/article/did-2008-us-tax-rebates-work"
]
] | |
33h2pu | in academia, why is communism still seen as a viable option while fascism is viewed as the biggest evil of all time? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/33h2pu/eli5_in_academia_why_is_communism_still_seen_as_a/ | {
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"text": [
"No, that's not a \"No true Scotsman\", because USSR and PRC weren't in fact, communism. \n\nAlso, more importantly the parts of the USSR and PRC that were \"... | [] | [] | [
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1cq9ok | why do some people get sweaty hands? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1cq9ok/eli5_why_do_some_people_get_sweaty_hands/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"In addition to the posts you will get about why the body produces sweat (like to cool off the body, or our body's response to fear/stress) I will tell you this bit of information. \n\nMy girlfriend has hyperhydrosis. The body normally produces sw... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2r8ev1 | why do prices of goods so often end in a nine, rather than a multiple of ten? | In America, at least, the title seems to be true, and it doesn't make sense. I remember when I was young I asked my mom (I think it was mom) why prices were that way, and she told me it was for tax purposes, though in more words and possibly with an alcohol-induced slur, and that sounds like a bullcrap, be-quiet-annoyi... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2r8ev1/eli5_why_do_prices_of_goods_so_often_end_in_a/ | {
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"text": [
"People are much more likely to buy something for $9.99 instead of $10.00.\n\nSource:\n_URL_0_",
"Often times, it's a psychological thing. Statistically, people are more likely... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_pricing"
],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_pricing"
],
[]
] | |
1x7zgt | why is i go #2 before i shower, and wipe thoroughly, there's always a burning & itchy sensation in my my rear, which causes me to re-wipe an hour later, and i end up with tp coated with dookie? | Ok, I will wake up, take my morning dump and wipe my heart out(using wet and dry toilet paper), until I get a clean piece of white TP. An hour or so later, I will get a burny/itchy sensation between my cheeks and would go to the bathroom at work and wipe; lo and behold, there's crap there. I have not farted or had any ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1x7zgt/eli5_why_is_i_go_2_before_i_shower_and_wipe/ | {
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"text": [
"Only wonder this once a day..."
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} | [] | [] | [
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20nbfo | why don't creationists believe that evolution and their god could work hand in hand? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20nbfo/eli5_why_dont_creationists_believe_that_evolution/ | {
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"text": [
"Many do. The Catholic Church, for instance:\n\n > in the 1950 encyclical Humani generis, Pope Pius XII confirmed that there is no intrinsic conflict between Christianity and the theory of evolution, pro... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
3v75ha | on moon, where does the height of mountains "begin", when there is no sea level? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3v75ha/eli5_on_moon_where_does_the_height_of_mountains/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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9
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"text": [
"Even on earth, the sea level isn't perfectly level. It's a little higher at the equator than it is at the poles. What is called sea level is often really above mean sea level. So in some places, the mean sea level is actuall... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
2yw9m9 | how do sites like ez tv and kick ass torrents not easily get shut down? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2yw9m9/eli5_how_do_sites_like_ez_tv_and_kick_ass/ | {
"a_id": [
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2
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"text": [
"It's difficult to shut down torrent hosting sites because they don't technically host any pirated content. EZTV doesn't even host any torrent files, it only links to other sites that do host torrent files, which is one more ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"Kickass.to"
]
] | ||
6u8v88 | dropshipping | I know there have been few posts about dropshipping here but most of them didn't really answer what I was kinda thinking.
So i understand that the concept of it is that you dont deal with the goods yourself, but you provide your customers the goods through a distributor that you have and up the price that you bought i... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6u8v88/eli5dropshipping/ | {
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3,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Well dropshipping is profitable, but not as buying wholesale, since you aren't buying large quantities of the product.\nPeople don't buy from the distributor, because often they ar... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
6aby9e | why does microsoft care so much about people using edge? | I understand pushing Bing over Google due to revenue from advertisements, but what benefit does Microsoft gain from people using Edge over chrome? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6aby9e/eli5_why_does_microsoft_care_so_much_about_people/ | {
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"score": [
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8,
4
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"text": [
"Your user data is a valuable advertising tool, directed ads are *worth money*.\n\nYou may recall that a law was passed saying your isp gets to sell your browsing data.. **Google has been collecting tha... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3u1iq3 | why are ceiling fans worthless if there's no one in the room? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3u1iq3/eli5_why_are_ceiling_fans_worthless_if_theres_no/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Ceiling fans mostly make you feel cool because the warmest air is pulled up and the cooler air moves below at person level. However, the temperature in the room doesn't actually get any lower--it only helps cool down someone on who the air is cur... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2ejwa4 | how time works? | I don't really understand this. How can they say the universe for example is roughly about ~14 billion years old when time is skewed based on how long it takes light to reach an object? When they observe really far away galaxies and stars it's like looking into the past since that star might already be long gone before... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ejwa4/eli5_how_time_works/ | {
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"score": [
12,
5,
4
],
"text": [
"The time dilation that occurs from gravity and speed according to relativity is fairly insignificant in most places in the universe, and \"~14 billion years old\" gives enough wiggle room to account fo... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.space.com/24054-how-old-is-the-universe.html"
],
[]
] | |
c2t0n2 | i've heard many times that honey is actually a superb home remedy for burns. how true is this, if at all? what's the science and chemistry behind it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c2t0n2/eli5_ive_heard_many_times_that_honey_is_actually/ | {
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"ermf8zn"
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"score": [
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],
"text": [
"It's at most *maybe* true. There was a metastudy conducted in India on whether honey was useful for healing burns, and its findings were that honey can be effective for improving the healing of minor, surface burns; its effectiveness was not prov... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6aewyf | why do news websites insist on using terrible video players when it would be easier and more user friendly to embed youtube videos? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6aewyf/eli5_why_do_news_websites_insist_on_using/ | {
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... | [] | [] | [
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8mf1fs | how do modern vehicles prevent wireless keys from being locked inside? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8mf1fs/eli5_how_do_modern_vehicles_prevent_wireless_keys/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"They generally have key sensors both inside and outside the vehicle. If there's a key inside, they'll warn the driver and won't lock.",
"As a person that’s worked at a Car rental place. They really... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2j9h1n | why have the planets in the solar system assumed relatively perfect circular orbits? | Many other objects in the solar system have eccentric orbits. Dwarf planets like Pluto and Sedna, and comets all have very eccentric orbits. Asteroids can also have odd orbits. The planets supposedly formed when asteroids smashed into each other to create a large object in the violence of the early solar system. Yet no... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2j9h1n/eli5_why_have_the_planets_in_the_solar_system/ | {
"a_id": [
"cl9m51s",
"cl9mfzw"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"The planets have elliptical orbits. They are close to circular, but they're not perfect circles. And anyway, a circle is just a specialized ellipse with the centers in the same place.",
"Both the tilt and the orbit are i... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5eqz40 | when did tobacco companies start adding to cigarettes all of the carcinogenic properties we know about today? were cigarettes ever safe? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5eqz40/eli5_when_did_tobacco_companies_start_adding_to/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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3
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"text": [
"Tobacco smoke contains most of those carcinogens naturally (there are such things as cigarette additives but they're mostly flavorants and they're regulated)\n\nTurns out burning a dried leaf and inhaling the smoke is bad fo... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
5ps1jn | why are trick plays in american football so rare? | They seem to work profoundly well if done correctly. I thought the whole point of football offensive strategy was to creatively devise a plan (or a play as they are called) to get the the touchdown by catching the defense off guard. Trick plays are just really creative plans. Also it would sell a lot more tickets would... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ps1jn/eli5_why_are_trick_plays_in_american_football_so/ | {
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2,
2,
2
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"text": [
"Trick plays do not have a terribly high chance of success, and usually put the team in a bad position if the play fails. So they are pretty rarely used and mo... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
asxnfx | is it built in to the genetic code of a virus to make its host sneeze or cough in order to further spread itself and ‘grow’? or is it just the body making an effort to expel the bad stuff? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/asxnfx/eli5_is_it_built_in_to_the_genetic_code_of_a/ | {
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2,
4,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Some viruses and bacteria use our body functions against us, to aid in their spread. Cholera is a bacteria, it injects a toxin into the causes the body to inj... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
532d6o | what makes liquid "bounce" when falling? | Like if you were to spit off a platform and it hits a wall and then seems to bounce and go in another direction. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/532d6o/eli5what_makes_liquid_bounce_when_falling/ | {
"a_id": [
"d7peo5g"
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"score": [
3
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"text": [
"Most liquids you're likely to encounter are going to be comprised heavily of water. Water is a polar molecule, which means one side of it is slightly negatively charged, and the other side is slightly positively charged. Because of this structure... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
whma2 | intel core i7 processor | From what I have read, the processor claims to have "virtual cores"? I can't comprehend this. Also, what is the difference between the "northbridge" "ivy bridge" and "sandy bridge" etc.? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/whma2/eli5_intel_core_i7_processor/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5def0d",
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"score": [
3,
2
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"text": [
"Basically, the \"virtual cores\" you're talking about are a feature called \"HyperThreading\". Hyperthreading can increase the performance of your computer if the following points are true:\n\n* The program you're running is... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5r1bg1 | why do .gifv files play so much better than .gif files if they have the same content? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5r1bg1/eli5_why_do_gifv_files_play_so_much_better_than/ | {
"a_id": [
"dd3mlg5"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"The Graphic Interchange Format, usually indicated with file extension `.gif`, supports multiple frames that can be played in sequence. This allows it to support simple animations, and is the reason that most browsers by default will loop GIF anim... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
7lyyol | why are some acids such as hydrofluoric acid and hcl so good at dissolving solids on contact? what causes this? | I have basic Chem 1 knowledge behind me but I still don’t see how a solution can simply eat through something on contact. What is happening here? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7lyyol/eli5_why_are_some_acids_such_as_hydrofluoric_acid/ | {
"a_id": [
"drqal2p"
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"score": [
2
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"text": [
"Most of the time, the behavior of acids depends on two things: the strength of the acid and what the anion of the acid is (as an example, the anion in HCl is Cl^- because dissolving HCl will give H3O^+ ions and Cl^- ion).\n\nHydrofluoric acid is ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
fa9fv1 | why does it feels sometimes that by laying down on your back will help to relief a hiccup ? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fa9fv1/eli5_why_does_it_feels_sometimes_that_by_laying/ | {
"a_id": [
"fiwp8s6"
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"score": [
3
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"text": [
"Hiccups are the result of a irritation of the diaphragm, Its a membrane/muscle below your lungs which causes air pressure in the area around the lungs to rise and decrease by moving, causing your lungs to take in and push out air. \n\nby lying do... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
8icuuq | why does classical music have such an effect on us? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8icuuq/eli5_why_does_classical_music_have_such_an_effect/ | {
"a_id": [
"dyqryu7",
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"score": [
4,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"Modern day music is made to sell, classical music is made to experience. But to get realy into it youtube 432hz classic music. Believe or not thats up to you. Yes its a conspiracy, no i don't believe a... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4b7uph | what do websites have to gain by making their visitors annoyed (from excessive popups/poor formatting/etc) to the point that they leave and never come back? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4b7uph/eli5_what_do_websites_have_to_gain_by_making/ | {
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],
"text": [
"They can't attribute the lost visits to the ads. They're not trying to make a site that produces value. They're focused on \"making money.\" \n\nI work in tech. Far too few people understand that you can't make money if you ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
29uxcs | in animated shows, why is the object that the character is about to interact with look different than the background objects? | When I was younger and watched a lot more animated cartoons, I could always tell what object the character was about to interact with next, even before they were in-frame, because that particular object was normally a different (oftentimes brighter) shade of color than the background objects. This difference could even... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/29uxcs/eli5_in_animated_shows_why_is_the_object_that_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"ciopxgg",
"cioupzc"
],
"score": [
10,
2
],
"text": [
"Because rather than re-animate the background for every frame, the foreground objects are animated separately and placed on the stationary background. \n\nThat's why you can always see what Bugs Bunny is about to do to Daff... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
9g7up8 | how come newer phones only have hybrid sim (sim+sim or sim+sd card) when old phpnes were able to have 2 sim slots and a micro sd slot? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9g7up8/eli5_how_come_newer_phones_only_have_hybrid_sim/ | {
"a_id": [
"e624ti7"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Space is at an ultra premium in newer generations of phones, the less they have to deal with for stuff like this, the better they can design the phone. Adding more slots and sizes and places a user needs to interact with the external portion of ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2blhzo | stephen hawking's theory of imaginary time | I've read that imaginary time can be imagined as an axis perpendicular to the axis of real time, but I have no idea what that means. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2blhzo/eli5_stephen_hawkings_theory_of_imaginary_time/ | {
"a_id": [
"cj6hc0x",
"cj6jrf5"
],
"score": [
3,
7
],
"text": [
"LI5: In a black hole and the Big Bang, everything is squished down to zero size. But this doesn't make sense and makes it impossible for physicists to work out what is going on in that situation. Imaginary time is a way of g... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
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