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8obttd | why do deciduous trees flip their leaves when rain is expected? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8obttd/eli5_why_do_deciduous_trees_flip_their_leaves/ | {
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"In actuality, they don't actually \"know\" and aren't actively doing anything in response to rain. A sudden increase in humidity can make the stems on the leaves of some trees (maples for example... the softer the stem of the leaf, the more likel... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
8c7dnf | what makes things grippy? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8c7dnf/eli5_what_makes_things_grippy/ | {
"a_id": [
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"In a word, friction. If you look closely at materials which are easy to grip you'll see they have, at some level, lots of detail/ridges/roughness and these details catching in tiny ways against your hands are what cause grippiness. As a climber I... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1fwava | i'm an american who does not understand the set up of oxford colleges. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1fwava/eli5_im_an_american_who_does_not_understand_the/ | {
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"caensrv"
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"text": [
"The collegiate system as used at several British universities (not just Oxford) works roughly like the United States of America's government. Just as you have a Federal government and then individual States' governments, with collegiate universit... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
80m9qa | why is part of russian federation north of poland and south of lithuania and two countries away from the rest of the country? | If you look on any map there is a small patch of land that's not attached from the rest of the Russian Federation. It's not an island and you can't reach it unless you cross two other countries.
How did that land come to exits? Does anyone live there? How is for the people living there? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/80m9qa/eli5_why_is_part_of_russian_federation_north_of/ | {
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"text": [
"It is called exclave. It was added to USSR after WWII and when USSR dismantled it remained part of Russia.",
"Russia took it after ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Prussia"
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f7n5ho | atoms' nuclei are depicted as being orbited by electrons from all directions. however, solar systems are depicted as the planets laying on a flat plane orbiting the sun. (image links below in case my explanation wasn't clear). why do the two orbit systems behave differently? | Atom picture: _URL_1_
Solar system: _URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f7n5ho/eli5_atoms_nuclei_are_depicted_as_being_orbited/ | {
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"fiiv38k",
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Take that image of an atom, and purge it from your mind forever. Seriously, it's totally incorrect. It's a simplistic way to teach how atoms work that's totally wrong and should never be used. Atoms ar... | [] | [
"https://images.app.goo.gl/3bhmN5HELHeZKX8K8",
"https://images.app.goo.gl/CvHFU6iUDz25yoez9"
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[],
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"https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f0/b1/cd/f0b1cd61b6902239bc2f55d8295ea801.jpg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty_principle",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauli_exclusion_principle",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_field_theory"
]
] | |
1rruvu | why bbc has better content and seems more successful than pbs? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1rruvu/eli5_why_bbc_has_better_content_and_seems_more/ | {
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"BBC.... | ||
2r72cr | is there any possible way to communicate with sentient extraterrestrial life given that, seemingly, every form of human communication is based on human interpretation? | Based on my understanding, it would be nearly impossible given the nearly infinite possibilities of forms of sentient life in the universe. On top of that, humans communicate in many ways that are intuitively and entirely human (pheromones, body language, etc.) as well as socially and globally produced (languge, binary... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2r72cr/eli5_is_there_any_possible_way_to_communicate/ | {
"a_id": [
"cnd22rr"
],
"score": [
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"text": [
"Well, that's just the difficulty isn't it? Wondering if extraterrestrial life, if it exists, will communicate with us via any mode of communication we even deem to be communication?\n\nThis is an excellent article someone shared on AskReddit a fe... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html"
]
] | |
2ix4mt | what is the purpose of an area code? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ix4mt/eli5_what_is_the_purpose_of_an_area_code/ | {
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"text": [
"Without area codes there'd be (in the US) no more than 10,000,000 possible phone numbers. Nowhere near enough.",
"It means that the telephone system doesn't need to keep track of every single number... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[]
] | ||
70f7pn | gas stations. why is one gas station more expensive than others? even if it is the same brand and just blocks from each other? i save 20 cents a gallon just by going a little bit further. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/70f7pn/eli5_gas_stations_why_is_one_gas_station_more/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Many gas stations are individually owned and operated. Most the time they will be completive, if they lose business they will adjust prices.\n\nSometimes you find some owners that don't change their price. I have lived in a couple places where so... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
94p21c | why does anything that touches my eye irritate it except the inside of my eyelid? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/94p21c/eli5_why_does_anything_that_touches_my_eye/ | {
"a_id": [
"e3moe27"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"The inside of your eyelid is incredibly well lubricated. Most other things aren't. Our bodies did this on purpose."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
678hc2 | could there be ancient frozen preserved animals, deep under antarctic ice. like the few animals found in siberian permafrost. | Albeit crushed I'd imagine, but perhaps in deep untouched caverns etc?
Edit: I guess this applies to Greenland too. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/678hc2/eli5_could_there_be_ancient_frozen_preserved/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"In most of Antarctica the ice grinds things to dust. But there are some islands and areas along the coast where animals could be preserved.\n\nI was with a group that found 5,000 year old moss in the silt where a glacier had recently receded. And... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2uxkmh | why can't i listen to music while reading, but doing math seems to be easier with some tunes playing? | I've noticed this for a while and have wondered why the two experiences are so different. Reading and Math both require a lot of focus, so why is the ambient music so inhibiting for one and not the other? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2uxkmh/eli5_why_cant_i_listen_to_music_while_reading_but/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Yes, but they require you to use different parts of your brain. Without going too much into different lobal regions of the brain and their functions, you process reading and music in the same brain regions, because they're both \"verbal\" proces... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
64fs3h | how are crocodiles "closer" to birds than lizards? | Wiki for reptiles: ["crocodiles are more closely related to birds than they are to lizards"](_URL_0_)
Crocs sure seem like big lizards to me, rather than some kind of water sparrows. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/64fs3h/eli5_how_are_crocodiles_closer_to_birds_than/ | {
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"text": [
"Imagine a family tree: With a lot of people on various branches. \n\nImagine that in this family tree you are more \"related\" to someone if you share more of their genes, you are more related to someone you share a grandpa ... | [] | [
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptile"
] | [
[],
[]
] | |
c51k68 | why are name brand foods usually better than store brands? or are we just suckers for marketing? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c51k68/eli5_why_are_name_brand_foods_usually_better_than/ | {
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"Sometimes the name brands use more expensive ingredients, proprietary recipes, or just have tighter quality control standards. Sometimes they're the exact s... | [] | [] | [
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amg3tw | how do you make beers/lagers alcohol-free? | How do you stop alcohol from naturally occurring during the process? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/amg3tw/eli5_how_do_you_make_beerslagers_alcoholfree/ | {
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"text": [
"Most non-alcoholic beers are made by taking the normal beer from the brewing process and removing alcohol before carbonation and packaging. There are two methods for this: the easiest is to boil off as much alcohol as possible by heating the fer... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1bllqz | modality in music | Question in title, really. I know how to play the Dorian, Phygian, Ionian, Mixalallalaaoalaoalatian scales and so on and that they're referred to as "modes", but not what modes are exactly. What distinguishes them from major/minor/seventh/augmented fourth scales? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1bllqz/eli5_modality_in_music/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Okay you're gonna love this. Modes are just scales that start on different notes. For example: Ionian in C is just you're C-major scale. Great, so as we move onto Dorian, you play the C-major scale, but you start and end on ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
1tlki9 | why is google making so many changes (forced account integration with youtube/google+, removing legal non-monetized gameplay videos) that is seems obvious people will hate, then standing by them when people hate them? | It seems like a really, really stupid business model. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1tlki9/eli5_why_is_google_making_so_many_changes_forced/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"The Google+ integration is just a way for them to say \"Hey look our G+ numbers are on the rise!\" while hoping some of those people actually use it. tl;dr they're trying to force it to grow in hopes it'll start to grow naturally.\n\nThe recent c... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
cjawoh | why are male children more likely to inherit or surpass the height of their parents over their female siblings? | Or are they? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cjawoh/eli5_why_are_male_children_more_likely_to_inherit/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Oestrogen closes your growth plates at the ends of your bones, so when girls hit puberty they stop growing shortly afterwards. Boys, who produce much less oestrogen keep growing for much longer and so can reach their full gr... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
6231f4 | can i buy my congressman's internet history now? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6231f4/eli5_can_i_buy_my_congressmans_internet_history/ | {
"a_id": [
"dfjb6hu"
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"text": [
"Sure. You need to make an offer to his/her internet service provider, and if they are willing to sell it to you, you can buy it."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6whs05 | why does walking backwards come so easy to us, when we almost never do it? | It takes a baby many months to learn how to walk upright, and yet for some reason, we are perfectly capable of walking backwards (which as far as i'm aware, is completely different physically). Why is that? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6whs05/eli5why_does_walking_backwards_come_so_easy_to_us/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"You might do it more often than you think, like when you open a door that opens towards you and lots of other situations you dont think about.",
"Your body has a sense called proprioception, which is what allows you to ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
6m2v82 | how do cells 'think'? | How are cells able to act and react to their surroundings? And more complicated - how can cells form more different cells at the right time and at the right place which will eventually make a human being? How is the 'DNA-Masterplan' executed? How does a cell know that is has to become a bone-cell but the one next to it... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6m2v82/eli5_how_do_cells_think/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"editing in an actual ELI5 **It's like an oragami puzzle. Your cells have some directions to follow, directions that have evolved over billions of years of evolution, and your cells 'know' what the next step is, but they don'... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
62oqqp | please explain unitarianism in the simplest way possible. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/62oqqp/eli5_please_explain_unitarianism_in_the_simplest/ | {
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"text": [
"Simplest? I'll do my best:\n\nThere is one God.\n\nJesus was a good human dude. Not god\n\nPeople are basically good, and they can choose their destiny, but can and do often choo... | [] | [] | [
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"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/qy8tg/eli5_unitarianism/",
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"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/16amkg/eli5_unitarian_universalism/"
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4elvhz | why do dogs love tearing apart the nice beds and pillows i buy them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4elvhz/eli5_why_do_dogs_love_tearing_apart_the_nice_beds/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"According to [this article](_URL_0_) they do it because they are anxious or bored, or because they instinctively tear up prey animals and are playing out this behavior on the nice easy-to-catch soft prey you've given them."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-training/dog-behavior/destructive.aspx"
]
] | ||
49qroh | u.s presidents don't earn that much, what do they usually do after they leave office? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/49qroh/eli5_us_presidents_dont_earn_that_much_what_do/ | {
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"text": [
"Every single president has been independently wealthy befor they ran. \n\nNone the less the former president ca... | [] | [] | [
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"http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0768854.html"
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5wfxlx | why is the temperature of a cpu proportional to the amount of work it's doing? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5wfxlx/eli5_why_is_the_temperature_of_a_cpu_proportional/ | {
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"text": [
"CPUs process data by transferring electrical packets internally & externally. The less processing, the less electricity is flowing within the processor. Thus by Ohms law, the less resistance & less heat. The more processing, the more electric... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
71pef6 | why is the catalan separatist movement not a bigger news story? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/71pef6/eli5_why_is_the_catalan_separatist_movement_not_a/ | {
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"text": [
"It's pretty big news here in Europe, but it's not a new thing, so everyone's already pretty familiar with the story. There are a few protests, but tourists are still flocking to Ba... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
2quuid | what did de blasio do, that is making nyc cops turn on him? | 8============3~ | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2quuid/eli5_what_did_de_blasio_do_that_is_making_nyc/ | {
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... | [] | [] | [
[],
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"http://observer.com/2014/12/for-police-unions-a-history-of-warring-with-city-hall/"
],
[],
[],
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"http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-union-conract-talks-positive-start-article-1.1721196",
"http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/10/8554469/city-hall-sergeants-un... | |
a9x37l | why some animals have knees that bend forward and others thar bend backwards? | What is the anatomical/mechanical advantage or disadvantage of having each? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a9x37l/eli5_why_some_animals_have_knees_that_bend/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"The backward bending \"knees\" are ankles.",
"The majority of animals are all using similar bone structures. \nThe length of them varies a lot though! \n[If we look at a picture of canine anatomy]... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://www.assisianimalhealth.com/files/cache/32586ca227569d671da934a44029b51f_f147.jpg"
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4t732u | why is nevada a desert? | Like what are the climatic/geographic reasons that explain why Nevada is so dry compared to let's say, California? I remember learning this in a geography class but I forgot and it bugs me that I don't know. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4t732u/eli5_why_is_nevada_a_desert/ | {
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"text": [
"If you look at a [prevailing winds](_URL_1_) map, you can see that the general air currents over North America travel from west to east. Since the west coast of the US contains a lot of mountainous terrain, this also means that the air is forced... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_shadow",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_wind_patterns#/media/File:Map_prevailing_winds_on_earth.png"
]
] | |
3d6zp8 | how does a movie trailer get leaked before its intended release and why does it happen fairly often? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3d6zp8/eli5_how_does_a_movie_trailer_get_leaked_before/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
4,
2
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"text": [
"Every phone has a video camera built into it, so it is very easy for someone to discretely whip theirs out, film the shit and splooge it all over the Internet. ",
"Studios release that stuff to create buzz. They make i... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
3h7r9b | why do a lot of countries have zero problems killing soldiers and civilians in war, but have huge oppositions to killing hardcore criminals? | C | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3h7r9b/eli5_why_do_a_lot_of_countries_have_zero_problems/ | {
"a_id": [
"cu4znju",
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"score": [
18,
2
],
"text": [
"War is considered to be on a different level from civil crimes. If you asked me personally, they shouldn't be, but they are. \n\nThe reason for this is largely due to scale and reasons for conflict. In a war, the enemy's go... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
1pywgo | why can bicyclists ride on the road well under the speed limit but walking on the road is illegal when sidewalks are present? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1pywgo/eli5_why_can_bicyclists_ride_on_the_road_well/ | {
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"text": [
"The posted speed limit is a maximum, not a minimum. There sometimes is a minimum, for example freeways usually have a minimum of 45 mph, and bicycles aren't allowed there. They ride on the road becaus... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
95ebos | what in your body causes that emotional void that takes place when people get depressed? why does that happen? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/95ebos/eli5_what_in_your_body_causes_that_emotional_void/ | {
"a_id": [
"e3s11e6"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"You're going to get a lot of responses about dopamine/neurons/chemicals but the TRUE answer is that nobody actually knows for certain. \n\nThe brain, consciousness, feelings, emotions, and sense of being are true mysteries even today. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
371npd | how come when i stream a live feed of something to my computer, it's often a couple minutes behind what i would see if watched it on the tv? | Why is the internet slower? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/371npd/eli5_how_come_when_i_stream_a_live_feed_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"criwt9x",
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"score": [
5,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Mainly because your cable connection is a more direct link to the content. When viewed over the Internet, it has to go through many servers from possibly the other side of the country to get to your PC... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
rbzyc | the difference between netbooks, notebooks, and ultrabooks | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/rbzyc/eli5_the_difference_between_netbooks_notebooks/ | {
"a_id": [
"c44kxqe",
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"score": [
4,
6,
3
],
"text": [
"They're really just vague marketing terms, with no definition other than what they're used for.\n \nNetbook tends to mean small, cheap and not particularly powerful/lacking features. They're intended to... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
2x4vua | why doesn't the federal government's preferential treatment of women, minorities, and veterans in hiring break discrimination laws when this practice discriminates against men, whites, and non veterans? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2x4vua/eli5_why_doesnt_the_federal_governments/ | {
"a_id": [
"coww9sr",
"cowy0iw"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"It could be? Decades of ongoing legal battles are still sorting that one out. Some courts rule one way, some courts rule the other. The Supreme Court has ruled on this very question in several cases, with arguably contradict... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
3zamrw | how are knives and other sharp objects dulled by weak, soft materials like paper, etc | We have scissors and knives and my wife is always telling me not to cut paper with the "good" scissors because they'll dull faster, literally making me feel like a 5 year-old.
Disclaimer: she's not treating me like I'm five, I just feel that way because I've heard it since I was a kid. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3zamrw/eli5_how_are_knives_and_other_sharp_objects/ | {
"a_id": [
"cykimro",
"cyknmdo",
"cykqppc"
],
"score": [
31,
38,
2
],
"text": [
"Paper is actually not weak. It is very strong for how thin it is. Think about tin foil. Similar thinness but much easier to break and bend and tear, and that's metal!",
"Take a stainless steel ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2nuddm | why are urinals not common in residential apartments and private houses? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2nuddm/eli5_why_are_urinals_not_common_in_residential/ | {
"a_id": [
"cmgxr5r",
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"cmgy36h",
"cmgy6ta",
"cmgydpq"
],
"score": [
27,
8,
3,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"They take up too much space and are impractical for a house. The reason they have them in public toilets is they're more efficient when lots of people need t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
6nwljv | why do doctors not vacuum/suction clean cysts and abscesses, and instead squeeze them empty? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6nwljv/eli5why_do_doctors_not_vacuumsuction_clean_cysts/ | {
"a_id": [
"dkcs723",
"dkcskzj"
],
"score": [
3,
18
],
"text": [
"Because we don't know what is at the base that could be vacuumed out. There might be nerves, arteries, or other structures that could injure or kill the patient if they got vacuumed. If we can see it, we aren't going to bli... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
915vx1 | why is it that wind farms stop their turbines from spinning? | I understand that they will be stopped for maintenance reasons, but I feel like I see more turbines stopped then spinning, and I’m wondering why that is. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/915vx1/eli5_why_is_it_that_wind_farms_stop_their/ | {
"a_id": [
"e2vm5o7",
"e2vm7l2",
"e2vnepu"
],
"score": [
4,
16,
9
],
"text": [
"They need to match the electricity output to demand, if there is not enough then that energy will go to waste, or even cause surges that could damage the grid.\n\nThis is a problem a lot of people are ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1em59c | what is the difference between two, let's say alkaline, batteries from two different companies, like energizer and duracell? | I was still kind of confused after reading this post:
_URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1em59c/eli5_what_is_the_difference_between_two_lets_say/ | {
"a_id": [
"ca1mdn5"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"They are basically the same. Same chemical, pretty much the same battery, there might be small insignificant differences in performance among brand, but not enough to care what brand you buy.\n\nWhat the post was referring to, is that there are ... | [] | [
"http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1elxky/eli5_how_are_different_brands_of_batteries/"
] | [
[]
] | |
2ygeun | why is gambling is considered a dangerous vice? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ygeun/eli5_why_is_gambling_is_considered_a_dangerous/ | {
"a_id": [
"cp992rw"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Okay, you're asking two questions here.\n\n1. Why is gambling considered a dangerous vice? Because some people have the tendency to become addicted to gambling and it can engulf their entire life. They will spend every last dime to chase that fee... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3jufl6 | what is it about audio from the 50s-60s that makes it so unique? | For example: if you played audio of someone talking from a show like "I Love Lucy" how come anyone can immediately tell it was recorded in that time period? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3jufl6/eli5_what_is_it_about_audio_from_the_50s60s_that/ | {
"a_id": [
"cusdciz",
"cusgorf",
"cusqlv5"
],
"score": [
2,
6,
4
],
"text": [
"More often than not, the audio you hear has to do with the quality of the recording and playback equipment from the same time period. It's that same reason why many audiophiles will go great lengths to ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
9qzosh | why a person can’t survive upside down (head down - legs up) for a long time? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9qzosh/eli5_why_a_person_cant_survive_upside_down_head/ | {
"a_id": [
"e8cwdv0",
"e8cwipe",
"e8cx2pt",
"e8d999t"
],
"score": [
9,
27,
4,
5
],
"text": [
"Your body has two types of arteries, \n\nThe ones going \"up\" have valves to keep the blood from flowing down with gravity.\n\nTurn everything 180 degrees and your valves cannot ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
69ml0l | do smarter brains use more energy or do they just use it better? how? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/69ml0l/eli5_do_smarter_brains_use_more_energy_or_do_they/ | {
"a_id": [
"dh7rsym"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Some studies have found that when people are not very good at a particular task, they exert more mental effort and use more glucose and that, likewise, the more skilled you are, the more efficient your brain is and the less glucose you need. Comp... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5vjmno | how do nature documentaries get such good sound? do they use foley artists? | There's always a whole lot of behind-the-scenes fascination behind how nature documentaries get the "perfect shot", but none ever really address how they isolate the sound of whatever they're filming. Given that they typically use zoom lenses from long distances, in environments with lots of ambient noise, it seems lik... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5vjmno/eli5_how_do_nature_documentaries_get_such_good/ | {
"a_id": [
"de2jxnt",
"de2lil5",
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"de2ng4l",
"de2od84",
"de2vjkt"
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"score": [
12,
4,
21,
8,
2,
4
],
"text": [
"I can't remember where I saw it but I remember reading that the sounds are usually recorded using captive animals and played on top of... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
703n1b | why do crypto-currencies have (any) value? | Hi! Can someone explain, why cryptocurrencies have any value at all? I understand an IPO (Initial public offering), where you get a share of ownership for your investment, I understand Crowdfunding, where the initiator usually promises each investor a product, but when a company does an ICO (Initial coin offering), wha... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/703n1b/eli5_why_do_cryptocurrencies_have_any_value/ | {
"a_id": [
"dn03tys",
"dn04r7b",
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"dn03tys",
"dn04r7b",
"dn0laal",
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"dn16ukj",
"dn0x17d",
"dn16ukj"
],
"score": [
4,
20,
2,
4,
20,
2,
3,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Because people believe others will continue to... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1zfhcd | why are student loans almost necessary to attend college? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1zfhcd/eli5_why_are_student_loans_almost_necessary_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"cft60wa",
"cft6290",
"cft6b7h"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
5
],
"text": [
"They aren't, if you have the cash lying around. Most people don't have that kinda cash, so they need to use loans to pay for it.",
"it's expensive. some people do not have 20k+ a year to pay for it.... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
5tkn3d | what is the time processing of newspaper printing and delivering? | So I work nights and BBC news is on all night. When I went to the shop on my way home today at 7:30am the newspapers are there displaying news I saw only a few hours ago. How do they get everything written, printed and delivered so quickly? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5tkn3d/eli5_what_is_the_time_processing_of_newspaper/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddn8pxd"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"I work for a local newspaper in Germany. We can write our articels till around 22.30, depending on the page they will be on. Most newspapers consist of different \"books\". These are the parts that are folded together. Most newspapers print the p... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
8cg6ai | how did napoleon win almost all of his battles and what was his strategy? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8cg6ai/eli5_how_did_napoleon_win_almost_all_of_his/ | {
"a_id": [
"dxeoaw6",
"dxeuu8l"
],
"score": [
28,
2
],
"text": [
"The short answer is that, unlike his opponents, Napoleon used artillery en masse, and had his armies organized into corps which allowed for greater command, control, and maneuver.\n\nMassed artillery, with dozens of cannons... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
4ctwqx | deleting surveillance "warrant canary" in transparency report. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4ctwqx/eli5_deleting_surveillance_warrant_canary_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1lf2h1"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"The paragraph, when it was there, told users reddit had not been ordered to turn over user information.\n\nNow, or any time when the paragraph is gone, users know that reddit has been ordered to turn over user information.\n\nThe reason for the d... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
j4aej | can anyone explain the tides? (like i'm five, or bill o'reilly) | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/j4aej/can_anyone_explain_the_tides_like_im_five_or_bill/ | {
"a_id": [
"c290m8g",
"c290n7f"
],
"score": [
4,
9
],
"text": [
"What happens when you bring two magnets near each other? They attract or repel, right? Gravity is like what happens between magnets, except it only attracts and it's a lot weaker. \n\nNow, think about the Earth and Moon as t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
3fjyeu | why do milk cartons have that circular indent in them? | To me they seem to be one of those things in life that most of us saw but never questioned and we all just went with it. Now I must have the answer. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3fjyeu/eli5_why_do_milk_cartons_have_that_circular/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctpb8e8",
"ctpcqt0"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"The reason plastic milk containers have those circular indentations is to give the vessel added strength. They redirect stresses along several different smaller surfaces, making the walls of the jug more rigid.\n",
"In a... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
fcg72r | why can we track moving objects smoothly with our eyes, but we can’t smoothly trace lines on stationary objects with our eyes? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fcg72r/eli5_why_can_we_track_moving_objects_smoothly/ | {
"a_id": [
"fjagszx",
"fjajmba"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Humans are predatory hunters. If you see something that is moving (like an antelope), it's easiest to keep track of it if your eyes smoothly follow it. If you aren't tracking something that's moving, your eyes snap along bec... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
189gfn | why is this not worth as much as a picasso? is there really a difference in quality? is there really "good" art? | _URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/189gfn/why_is_this_not_worth_as_much_as_a_picasso_is/ | {
"a_id": [
"c8csszz"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Most art value- when you're talking about something more than 20 years old, at least- comes from historical value. People don't buy Picasso just because they like Picasso, and in fact, there's probably a lot of people who own Picasso paintings an... | [] | [
"http://imgur.com/a/WhMIu#6"
] | [
[]
] | |
uisbf | what makes higher quality restaurants better for you than fast food, assuming they are similar food items? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/uisbf/what_makes_higher_quality_restaurants_better_for/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4vqln1"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Fast food is cheap. This is because a lot of the \"food\" contains fillers. McDonald's chicken nuggets not only contain white meat but a certain percentage of ground up \"stuff\" from other parts of the chicken. Taco Bell \"meat\" is an extremely... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5g6bao | if twins have different fingerprints because their experiences in the world affect them, wouldn't my fingerprints change throughout my life? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5g6bao/eli5_if_twins_have_different_fingerprints_because/ | {
"a_id": [
"daptaqv"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Twins have different fingerprints because of differences in cell division during the development in the womb, 'experiences in the world' don't factor into it.\n\nSo, no."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4q4xz8 | why do we love and why does it take such a strain on us when it ends? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4q4xz8/eli5why_do_we_love_and_why_does_it_take_such_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"d4q7lfk"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"There's a hormone in your body called [oxytocin](_URL_0_). (Note: despite the spelling, oxytocin has nothing to do with the painkiller oxycontin). Oxytocin is a bonding hormone - it increases your feelings of trust and empathy, and makes you mo... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytocin"
]
] | |
4gn75b | what's the difference between fainting and sleeping? do they both amount to the same thing after we've lost conciousness? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4gn75b/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_fainting_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2j1pym"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"There are some notable things that differentiate fainting and sleeping, but I'll stick to one main point here.\n\nObviously, sleep is a natural thing which occurs when the body is resting, yadda, yadda yadda... The body becomes tired/exhausted, d... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5648e3 | if i practice normal motor skills with my non-dominant hand, will it ever be as good as my dominant is naturally? | How much does my brain function limit the ceiling of my non-dominant hand? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5648e3/eli5_if_i_practice_normal_motor_skills_with_my/ | {
"a_id": [
"d8g6dep",
"d8g6vd7"
],
"score": [
4,
6
],
"text": [
"Everyone has different a potential, but there's no hard neurological limit to the dexterity you can learn to inherit with your non-dom hand. \n\nThere will likely always be some innate preference; flinching and protective st... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2yc1zc | how do terrorist groups get their weapons? | Its not like people are donating to them. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2yc1zc/eli5_how_do_terrorist_groups_get_their_weapons/ | {
"a_id": [
"cp8428u",
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"cp8abxe",
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"score": [
7,
19,
2,
3,
8,
3,
6
],
"text": [
"Governments often donate or sell weapons to terrorist groups. The AK-47 is now synonymous with terrorism and it w... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sidney_Street",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenian_dynamite_campaign",
"http://articles.latimes.com/2000/nov/01/news/mn-45188",
"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/foiled-arms-drop-has-india-puzzled-1527443.html"
]
] | |
2hcvbh | why is your bottom lip insides have dot like things? | If you bite your bottom lip you can feel little dot like things that pop out. Not the lip exactly but below it beside your teeth. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2hcvbh/eli5_why_is_your_bottom_lip_insides_have_dot_like/ | {
"a_id": [
"cks07mo"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"I just did it now and you're right lol I've noticed this before I discovered reddit\nbut forgot "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
7ti5yr | why does the body feel sharp pains differently (or less tolerant) in the distal parts of the body like hands and feet? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7ti5yr/eli5_why_does_the_body_feel_sharp_pains/ | {
"a_id": [
"dtcpycj",
"dtd2k2w"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"The body feels pain because every time you touch the skin, it sends a signal to your brain that you are being touched. These signals can tell your brain if it's light touch, vibration or pain. Different parts of your skin se... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
u9h2r | why people say a two-party political system is bad? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/u9h2r/eli5_why_people_say_a_twoparty_political_system/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4tglxc",
"c4themg"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Let's assume that you have poeple offering you lego blocks. In the two-party system, only two offers are on the table, blue or red. If you want either (does not matter which) there's no problem since at least one of the cand... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
qat06 | the american federal bureaucracy | Also, what exactly is a bureaucrat by definition?
Is it a specific occupation? Or just a title given to someone who does a certain thing?
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/qat06/eli5_the_american_federal_bureaucracy/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3w4ldm"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Every government has people to check that things are being done properly: that food is safe to eat, that drugs do what they say, that airliners and trains are safe to ride in, that vendors don't charge more than they're supposed to. And every go... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3lnd13 | why do people cut cocaine with "baby laxatives" | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3lnd13/eli5why_do_people_cut_cocaine_with_baby_laxatives/ | {
"a_id": [
"cv7oi0m",
"cv7ot3k",
"cv7otxy"
],
"score": [
3,
4,
7
],
"text": [
"I've never heard of this, but coke makes you have to shit sometimes if it's really good, so maybe they are trying to fool the buyer. ",
"Don't know this specific practice, but people will cut drugs ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannitol"
]
] | ||
eerwpr | what's the difference between cognitive science/neuroscience/psychology? | I'm reading about all these majors at universities and I can't really distinguish between them. They all seem like the same thing written in different ways to me (moreso cognitive science and neuroscience). What's the difference? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/eerwpr/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_cognitive/ | {
"a_id": [
"fbw7is8"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"\nThey do overlap a lot so I understand your confusion.\nNeuroscience and neuropsychology is mainly focused on the biology of the brain including the two half of the brain, the different areas, white and grey matter, neurons, axons, synapses etc ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2rsqwq | why does tv shoot in 16:9 and movies shoot in 2.39:1 | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2rsqwq/eli5_why_does_tv_shoot_in_169_and_movies_shoot_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"cniz5xp",
"cnizpkw",
"cnj2lcj",
"cnj32vo"
],
"score": [
5,
8,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"Movies used to be shot in a 4:3 aspect, which is the same dimensions as standard 35mm film frame. After WWII, television became more popular, so film studios starting rolling out m... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
36k2kx | if period blood is just uterine lining, why do women have issues with excessive blood loss during their periods? | I understand that most women lose so little blood during their periods that they don't experience any negative effects, however I've also known several women with extremely heavy periods who do have health issues. This includes anemia as well as a friend who had to be hospitalized and given a blood transfusion during h... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/36k2kx/eli5_if_period_blood_is_just_uterine_lining_why/ | {
"a_id": [
"cremotm"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Because the uterine lining (Endometrium) is filled with lots of little arteries that have blood in them.\n\nWhen it is shed, the blood comes out along with the lining.\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
k5ng3 | "a theory of justice" by john rawls | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/k5ng3/elif_a_theory_of_justice_by_john_rawls/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2hoyq4",
"c2hpb8n",
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"c2hoyq4",
"c2hpb8n",
"c2hptvn"
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"score": [
11,
4,
3,
11,
4,
3
],
"text": [
"Lot's of people have been writing about how to set up society and divide money, but a common criticism is that the people who supporte... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1h8v5m | what to do after i get into a car accident? | I've had my license for a few years now and after a friend got in a minor accident I realized I have no idea what to do if a situation like such would arise. Should I call the cops and report the accident even if the accident is a mere scratch? Is it better to settle out of court without the police and insurance compa... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1h8v5m/eli5_what_to_do_after_i_get_into_a_car_accident/ | {
"a_id": [
"cary9jm",
"cas0yix",
"cas12et",
"cas22mu"
],
"score": [
3,
11,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Can't talk about New Jersey law, but general advice:\n\nIf it was only your car that was damaged, you can just leave it at that. But first make sure, that you have really not dama... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
4kvl6d | how come we store excess calories as "fat" and what that actually means? specifically how is protein literally "turned into fat" or is that just an incorrect common misconception? | Basically after you factor in your TDEE and BMR with quite a bit of other factors you reach you ideal caloric intake for an average day, and adjust it accordingly depending on your specific workout that day or macronutrient ratio. That being said I always hear people using the term "any excess calories become fat" and ... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4kvl6d/eli5_how_come_we_store_excess_calories_as_fat_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"d3i3y0a",
"d3i7fjj"
],
"score": [
11,
3
],
"text": [
"Proteins are first broken down to amino acids as said, these amino acids are then deaminated in the liver (producing urea which is excreted) forming alpha-keto acids such as pyruvic acid. There is then a complicated metabol... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5s5pnh | why does hugging/touching someone trying not to cry make them cry? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5s5pnh/eli5_why_does_huggingtouching_someone_trying_not/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddckvdp"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Somebody trying not to cry does do that to not show vulnerable to the others. However, if somebody else goes in a protective stance for them they are not vulnerable anymore and can safely release their tears."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2jhg4r | when airplanes taxi, do they propel themselves like cars, or do they use their propellers? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2jhg4r/eli5_when_airplanes_taxi_do_they_propel/ | {
"a_id": [
"clbrolg",
"clbs020"
],
"score": [
15,
3
],
"text": [
"They use their propellers (or turbine engines, for jet aircraft). The wheels are not powered as in a car.",
"The wheels are just wheels. Their only source of acceleration is their engines/propellers."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
dpzd0t | why do spiders curl up and die when you splash water on them? | Commonly seen by anyone who has found spiders in their sink or bathtub. You pour water on them and their legs instantly curl into their bodies, and that's how you know they're dead. How does this happen, and why do they die this way? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dpzd0t/eli5_why_do_spiders_curl_up_and_die_when_you/ | {
"a_id": [
"f5zr2x8",
"f5ztd1r"
],
"score": [
11,
2
],
"text": [
"Spiders' legs' natural position is curled up. They actually use a sort of \"hydraulic system\" that's powered by their blood pressure to extend their legs out. When they die, this hydraulic system fails, and their legs curl... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2no946 | what do transport companies that say "logistics" actually do? | I see this very often on large trucks here in the U.S. and in Europe. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2no946/eli5_what_do_transport_companies_that_say/ | {
"a_id": [
"cmfbti3",
"cmfbv7u",
"cmfdigl"
],
"score": [
8,
11,
2
],
"text": [
"Delivery is when you need to get a package from A to B.\n\nLogistics is when you need a plan to get a hundred packages from hundred A's to a hundred B's, and need to do that every month indefinitely.",... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2a1z96 | why are there valleys, gorges in mountains? | Assuming the mountains were created by two tectonic plates colliding, why isn't there just one high mountain range along the line of the plates' contact? Why are there peaks all over the place separated by valleys?
To be specific, I am at the Austrian Alps. There are really wide valleys stretching for tens of kilomet... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2a1z96/eli5_why_are_there_valleys_gorges_in_mountains/ | {
"a_id": [
"ciqor5y",
"ciqos0t",
"ciqr9fm"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Water erodes the softer sediments down hill. The stuff left at the top is harder and thereforeore difficult to break down with rain.\n",
" > I think this couldn't be the result of a river digging i... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
5oknop | will tv screen resolutions keep increasing every few years? at what point do more pixels no longer matter? | It took 10 years to go from the intro of 720p HD to affordable 4K TVs. At what point are the number of pixels adequate so that we no longer obsess over delivering higher resolution TVs and content? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5oknop/eli5_will_tv_screen_resolutions_keep_increasing/ | {
"a_id": [
"dck0lr2",
"dck2db2",
"dck2jfj"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"They said that HD was the end all be all but we know that's not true. They said the \"retina display\" on the iPhone was better than the eye could see and we know that's not true. As long as people keep... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://clarkvision.com/articles/eye-resolution.html"
]
] | |
1ltlin | my seven-year-old son just asked me when you cut something - a piece of paper, for example - what happens to the part that gets cut? (where does it go?) help me reddit - thx! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ltlin/eli5_my_sevenyearold_son_just_asked_me_when_you/ | {
"a_id": [
"cc2lj48",
"cc2lx7a",
"cc2lyxv",
"cc2lzis",
"cc2mrbk",
"cc2nbob",
"cc2nbu6",
"cc2tsmv",
"cc2xihg"
],
"score": [
34,
6,
2,
22,
4,
2,
3,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"When you cut paper you don't actually destroy any of the paper, it's... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
bv1wtz | how do we get electricity/energy out of a battery? a battery is just made of metal and liquid right? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bv1wtz/eli5_how_do_we_get_electricityenergy_out_of_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"epk8t5z",
"epkaoeq",
"epkflba",
"epkgh4l"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Imaging having a long tube filled with water placed horizontally, if you were asked to make current, a smart way to do it is by raising one side of the tube so that it flows to the... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1k13y1 | why do people have such naturally fragile feet (requiring shoes) when other animals do not. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1k13y1/eli5_why_do_people_have_such_naturally_fragile/ | {
"a_id": [
"cbk9xxj",
"cbk9zt4",
"cbkag9t"
],
"score": [
12,
18,
3
],
"text": [
"We've essentially conditioned our feet to be fragile because we're always protecting them. Our feet would become calloused and much, much tougher if one day we decided to stop wearing shoes altogether... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
7u24fo | why we don't feel like being social after we have been actively social for a certain (longer) period of time? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7u24fo/eli5_why_we_dont_feel_like_being_social_after_we/ | {
"a_id": [
"dtgxkwf"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"This is probably different for different people. You just might lean more towards introversion where you gain energy by being alone (in general). "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6wu0j3 | - what happens if you put a vacuum inside a vacuum? | From my understanding (which is very basic) we say a chamber on Earth with a lower pressure than the atmosphere around it is a vacuum (so to say).
If you put a vacuumed chamber inside a chamber with the same amount of negative pressure relative to Earth's atmosphere, does the innermost vacuum get more negatively pres... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6wu0j3/eli5_what_happens_if_you_put_a_vacuum_inside_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"dmar2gi"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"If you take a jar and pump out all the air, you have air on the outside and no air on the inside. If you take that jar and put it in a chamber and pump out all the air, you have air on the outside, no air in the chamber and no air in the jar. I... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
jitqj | narcissism, nihilism, and cynicism. | I've heard of these three ideas, but have no idea what they actually mean. If it's too difficult to explain like I'm 5, try like I'm 12. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/jitqj/eli5_narcissism_nihilism_and_cynicism/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2ch8lj",
"c2cha1z",
"c2ch8lj",
"c2cha1z"
],
"score": [
2,
5,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"Narcissism is loving yourself, believing you are perfect-- basically, you're full of yourself. (Think snotty actresses)\n\nNihilism is thinking life is pointless, you exist just fo... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
66gmld | why do cellphones use accelerometers instead of gyroscopes to know their yaw, pitch and roll? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/66gmld/eli5why_do_cellphones_use_accelerometers_instead/ | {
"a_id": [
"dgiccw5"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"They use both in conjunction, alongside a magnetometer.\n\nGyroscopes can detect angular velocity around a fixed axis. If you place three gyroscopes perpendicular to one another, you can get three rotations around three orthogonal axes.\n\nHowev... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1brdsm | why are the swedish/nordic governments considered better than other western governments? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1brdsm/eli5_why_are_the_swedishnordic_governments/ | {
"a_id": [
"c99bam9",
"c99bt2v",
"c99c0fv"
],
"score": [
4,
2,
4
],
"text": [
"In some Scandinavian countries, a different form of society exists. Taxes are much higher (you might pay 60%-70% of the money you make from each paycheck to the government), but more public services ar... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
2q5vxz | how do people get shot or seriously injured without knowing until afterwards? | I've read many stories of people describing near-death experiences.
For example, one might say "As he started shooting I ran for cover behind the wall. I then looked down at my stomach and saw blood pouring out. I was shot".
Or after a car accident: "After the car stopped rolling, I looked around for a second. Sudde... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2q5vxz/eli5_how_do_people_get_shot_or_seriously_injured/ | {
"a_id": [
"cn369yt"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Basicly, pain is a way your body has to tell you \"Hey, whatever you are doing, stop it\" or \"Hey, here is something wrong, fix it\" there is not source of pain outside of your body, shoving your hand into molten iron doesn't have to hurt, but y... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
e6igs2 | why are our ears shaped the way they are with all their weird ridges? why aren't they more simply shaped like a funnel? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/e6igs2/eli5_why_are_our_ears_shaped_the_way_they_are/ | {
"a_id": [
"f9qdq57",
"f9qe001",
"f9qfaah",
"f9qim5y",
"f9r7aba",
"f9skclp",
"f9sp1ct"
],
"score": [
11,
229,
26,
6,
5,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Ears not only have to funnel sound into the ear, but their shape helps us determine from which direction the s... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dtgkp3/eli5_how_do_we_percieve_the_direction_in_which_a/f6wnun6/",
"https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bill_Kapralos/publication/257764036/figure/fig2/AS:297648201453572@1447976269745/Cone-of-confusion-A-sound-source-positioned-on-any-poin... | ||
192uv8 | why does airmail take weeks (or months) to ship from hong kong to europe/america? | ..when the flight is only 10 or so hours? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/192uv8/why_does_airmail_take_weeks_or_months_to_ship/ | {
"a_id": [
"c8ka82a"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"It doesn't, look at Hong Kong mails actual performance data and you will see the average length to send a letter from Hong Kong to Europe/America is 2 days off peak and 4 during peak times. Which is perfectly reasonable, if it is consistently tak... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.hongkongpost.hk/eng/pledge/detail8/index.htm"
]
] | |
5wjqqj | what are the contents of a "hot hands" pouch and how do they generate so much heat almost instantly? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5wjqqj/eli5_what_are_the_contents_of_a_hot_hands_pouch/ | {
"a_id": [
"deao07m"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"They oxidize iron when exposed to air to produce the heat; basically they speed up the rusting of iron which is an exothermic reaction. Powdered iron and salt seem to be the main components along with water to allow the reaction to take place, ch... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3t7ztk | how dvrs exist it it's illegal to make a copy of copyrighted material. | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3t7ztk/eli5_how_dvrs_exist_it_its_illegal_to_make_a_copy/ | {
"a_id": [
"cx3vqfl"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"Basically, around the time the VCR came to prominence, ~~Congress~~ the courts determined that it was perfectly legal to use the VCR to record programing and watch it later, so long as it was for personal usage.\n\nDVR is just the new version of ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
6q099q | what's the jeff sessions controversy? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6q099q/eli5_whats_the_jeff_sessions_controversy/ | {
"a_id": [
"dktksbd"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Trump appointed Sessions, then a sitting Senator from Alabama (and one of his earliest and most vocal supporters in the Senate) to be Attorney General. During the confirmation process, it came out that Sessions had met with Russian officials duri... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4aezbc | why isn't the big mac destroyed when molten copper is poured over it? | This is in reference to the video that has arisen on the internet recently
_URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4aezbc/eli5_why_isnt_the_big_mac_destroyed_when_molten/ | {
"a_id": [
"d0zsdxa"
],
"score": [
20
],
"text": [
"Because the burger has a high water content, and that water instantly boils into steam which creates a layer of steam insulating the burger from the molten metal. It's not too different from [this demonstration](_URL_0_) of the old trick of dip... | [] | [
"http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/what-happens-when-you-pour-molten-copper-on-a-big-mac-is-horrifying--b1iS0F_O1Z"
] | [
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTOCAd2QhGg"
]
] | |
3ov1hm | if we needed to for whatever reason, how easily could we destroy another nearby planet, like mars for instance? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ov1hm/eli5_if_we_needed_to_for_whatever_reason_how/ | {
"a_id": [
"cw0nq6m",
"cw0nuc3",
"cw0o7kh"
],
"score": [
14,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"It depends upon your definition of \"destroy\" and what sort of consequences you're willing to put up with.\n\nIf you mean \"vaporize\", then we haven't got enough power or technology on Earth to do th... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
rbz48 | why is it that when the same show is on another channel, the two feeds are off by ~1 second? | What accounts for this? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/rbz48/eli5_why_is_it_that_when_the_same_show_is_on/ | {
"a_id": [
"c44lnb8",
"c44mezt"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"There are a million reasons. Type of equipment at each station, how they are receiving the feed (assuming it is a live event, can't think of another situation where two channels would be running the same taped show). For exa... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
301m82 | why is the average savings account annual percentage yield 0.06%, when it was as high as 11% in the 1980's. | It's almost worthless to put money in savings account these days. What happened since 1980 to push the APY well below 1%?
_URL_1_
_URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/301m82/eli5_why_is_the_average_savings_account_annual/ | {
"a_id": [
"cpo8x7g",
"cpo8y76",
"cpobww3"
],
"score": [
6,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Because interest rates are lower overall. Yes, you could get a lot higher rates in your savings account in 1981. But also, your home mortgage interest rate was about 18%, instead of the 4% or so you'd p... | [] | [
"http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/01/pf/savings-account-yields/",
"http://www.bankrate.com/finance/cd-rates-history-0112.aspx"
] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_funds_rate",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_funds_rate#/media/File:Federal_Funds_Rate_1954_thru_2009_effective.svg"
]
] | |
2vyaup | why do i sometimes have hunger pains after i waking up | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2vyaup/eli5_why_do_i_sometimes_have_hunger_pains_after_i/ | {
"a_id": [
"colycwu"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Because you have been fasting all night so when you wake up you really want to break the fast (breakfast)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
58f2gq | why did settlers choose to found their city in a specific place? | For example, why are New York, London, and Rome in the exact places they are and not one hundred kilometers in any other direction? Why did they choose that exact spot? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/58f2gq/eli5_why_did_settlers_choose_to_found_their_city/ | {
"a_id": [
"d8zx6x4",
"d8zx9d9",
"d8zyi5k",
"d8zyz76",
"d8zznez"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
10,
2,
7
],
"text": [
"Near good bays for ships to harbor in. Also easier to defend from enemies. Near rivers for fresh water to drink and to allow boats to travel up stream.",
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
77q1ls | why do people try to avoid giving out bank details like routing and account number on checks but give checks to people with the same info on it anyway? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/77q1ls/eli5_why_do_people_try_to_avoid_giving_out_bank/ | {
"a_id": [
"donumws"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"People generally are giving the check to a credible place of business. Usually they aren't taking a cellphone picture of one and texting it to the dude on Craigslist they are buying a washing machine from. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
g2a3v8 | how can someone take a picture of a solar system 50 million light years away, but not a coin sized rock on the surface of the moon. | I recently saw a photo somebody posted of a galaxy 50 million light years away. I have always wondered, why doesn’t he point it at the moon or even a planet 10 light years away and see the surface up close? We might see water or certain organisms. I have yet to see a picture like that in my lifetime. Thanks in advance ... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/g2a3v8/eli5_how_can_someone_take_a_picture_of_a_solar/ | {
"a_id": [
"fnkbxxs",
"fnkcisg",
"fnkd7re",
"fnkfj1a",
"fnkkl0j",
"fnklnn8",
"fnkzl8d",
"fnlcxdz",
"fnlyl0o"
],
"score": [
24,
2,
10,
18,
17,
3,
3,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"a) the star is actively sending out light, it is shining while the... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_4697",
"https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/moon-hoax-why-not-use-telescopes-to-look-at-the-landers",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_diameter",
"https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0612/m31abtpmoon.jpg"
],
[],
[],
[
"https:/... |
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