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w15x5
what's the difference between /r/askreddit and /r/answers?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/w15x5/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_raskreddit_and/
{ "a_id": [ "c59c83w", "c59d5x8" ], "score": [ 6, 7 ], "text": [ "_Ask Reddit_ is a general discussion, mostly about social issues and peoples' experiences. Think of it as _Ask Redditors_ if that helps. _Answers_ actually (tries to) provides answers to simple questions of fact.", "* /r...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2ei5ga
why do we lose our balance and/or cause injury if we slightly misjudge our footsteps?
Usually on stairs/steps, and often only by a couple inches. How does that short distance take such a toll on your feet, ankles, knees, etc....
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ei5ga/eli5why_do_we_lose_our_balance_andor_cause_injury/
{ "a_id": [ "cjzqdqm" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Take the example of stairs. A couple of inches is the difference between your whole foot and half of you foot landing on the step. A lot of the injuries come into play when your body overreacts to the situation." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2lky5b
how do the anti-lock brakes in your car know when your car is slipping?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2lky5b/eli5_how_do_the_antilock_brakes_in_your_car_know/
{ "a_id": [ "clvqdlf" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "There are sensors on the wheel that detect the wheel's rotation. One method is for the car's ABS controller looks for abnormal deceleration in the wheels. If a wheel is noticed to be decelerating at a rate that has it on track to stop rotating ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
4dnp4z
did public opinion change on oj simpson's non-guilty murder verdict after the trial, and, if so, how?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4dnp4z/eli5_did_public_opinion_change_on_oj_simpsons/
{ "a_id": [ "d1smyei" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "I don't think it changed much. For the most part we all knew he is guilty and at the same time would probably be found innocent because of his wealth and fame. So yeah...everything pretty much happened as expected I would say." ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
92yhwj
who takes care of the animals driven over on the roads?
Title
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/92yhwj/eli5_who_takes_care_of_the_animals_driven_over_on/
{ "a_id": [ "e39bq3f" ], "score": [ 8 ], "text": [ "In the US, if it’s not inside city limits the county road department does it. They come out with a truck and shovel and clean it up. If it’s large game that’s been struck by a vehicle and there’s still useable meat, the game warden will take it t...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
1rtalm
why the dalai lama was exiled?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1rtalm/eli5_why_the_dalai_lama_was_exiled/
{ "a_id": [ "cdqpih5", "cdqptbs" ], "score": [ 3, 4 ], "text": [ "The Dalai Lama left Tibet after that territory was incorporated into the People's Republic of China. The Dalai Lama is considered an enemy by the Chinese government because of the Lama's pursuit of a Tibet independent from C...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1959_Tibetan_uprising", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_sovereignty_debate" ] ]
3hj0yu
why is the caste system in indian and/or other parts of the world are still held strongly in belief?
_URL_0_ a pity, such talent is wasted due to the caste system
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3hj0yu/eli5why_is_the_caste_system_in_indian_andor_other/
{ "a_id": [ "cu7sdxv" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Mostly because of the local religion. In India specifically they believe you are put into your caste position based on your previous life's karma. This means that they can consider people untouchable because it was \"deserved\" and now by doing t...
[]
[ "http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33859315" ]
[ [] ]
drrhxg
what is red tide? and what causes it.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/drrhxg/eli5_what_is_red_tide_and_what_causes_it/
{ "a_id": [ "f6knd2e", "f6knohz" ], "score": [ 5, 2 ], "text": [ "It is a bloom of a toxic red algae. This red algae grows and pulls oxygen from the water and kills the marine life that encounters it.", "It is a form of algae bloom. We see it here in the PNW sometimes. Storms, quakes,...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
cbldcc
why do people always cut their hands in movies when they need to draw blood? it seems like a terrible place.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cbldcc/eli5_why_do_people_always_cut_their_hands_in/
{ "a_id": [ "etgcpjh", "etgcux2", "etggzbv" ], "score": [ 4, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "Ima say that it's probably because it's something the viewers can relate to. Most of us don't know what it's like to get shot or stabbed in the stomach. But we know what a paper cut feels like and how a...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
av9tj4
why is cbt used so much more than dbt (dialectical behavioral therapy)?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/av9tj4/eli5_why_is_cbt_used_so_much_more_than_dbt/
{ "a_id": [ "ehdlx3t" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "DBT was specifically devloped to fit the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder. CBT is a more general type of therapy. BPD is not as common of a diagnosed issue as anxiety, depression, etc. \n\nHowever, most therapy programs considered \"in...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
ellcbz
how do animals (whales, turtles, etc) end up stranded on the beach?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ellcbz/eli5_how_do_animals_whales_turtles_etc_end_up/
{ "a_id": [ "fdisvqy" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "While waves and storms are some of the more common effects that drive marine life to be stranded, changes in tide can trap unwary marine life before they notice the water level is dropping, junk like old fishing nets, ropes, etc, can ensnare mari...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
21u8wl
why is it that what's considered "good nutrition" seem to change so much?
It seems that every nutrition and diet oriented person I talk to has a different opinion about what's good for you and what studies are absolute rubbish. Not just that but general consensus on a good diet seems to change every other month. Is it because we don't really know what's going on? Also I imagine it has a lo...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/21u8wl/eli5_why_is_it_that_whats_considered_good/
{ "a_id": [ "cggjwp9", "cggkcvz", "cggkg07" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "First, that's the way science works. We're always learning and adjusting our current knowledge. \n\nSecond, I think a lot of it is the media reporting study results before they've been fully vetted via ...
[]
[]
[ [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Pollan" ], [] ]
4gm3yk
what are the short term/long term effects of insomnia and how do you treat it?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4gm3yk/eli5_what_are_the_short_termlong_term_effects_of/
{ "a_id": [ "d2ircxi", "d2isuga" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Please someone answer this. Took a sleeping tablet at 20:00. Took another two at 2 am. It's now 3:22 am.\n\nLuckily it's a public holiday in my country tomorrow.\n\nHave to sleep. Why can't I sleep?", "I struggled with i...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
lu33r
how and why we have dandruff
Been using Head and Shoulders for two years now and while it has significantly decreased the white stuff I'm just wondering, why is it when I itch my head I have that flaky stuff come out and stick to my nails? (Sorry for grossness)
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/lu33r/eli5_how_and_why_we_have_dandruff/
{ "a_id": [ "c2vm1s9", "c2vmcvy", "c2vmfwc", "c2vmmoe", "c2vnmh5", "c2vo5gq", "c2vm1s9", "c2vmcvy", "c2vmfwc", "c2vmmoe", "c2vnmh5", "c2vo5gq" ], "score": [ 8, 4, 25, 20, 3, 2, 8, 4, 25, 20, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandruff#Causes" ], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/lu33r/eli5_how_and_why_we_have_dandruff/c2vmfwc" ], [], [], [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dandruff#Causes" ], [ "http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfi...
1vhh3r
why do people scratch their heads when they don't understand something?
It seems like a general gesture of confusion or misunderstanding when someone scratches their head... Why do people do that? Does it have an interesting origin?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vhh3r/eli5_why_do_people_scratch_their_heads_when_they/
{ "a_id": [ "cesas9s" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "It is something you do subconsciously; it has nothing to do with what you are thinking about. There is a myth in Greek that a certain God wanted to be very knowledgeable so he went to a wizard who gave him some sort of potion to rub on his head. ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
4az07s
why does the government tax income much more heavily than spending?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4az07s/eli5_why_does_the_government_tax_income_much_more/
{ "a_id": [ "d14nk3a", "d14nkb8", "d14olgf", "d14opvf", "d14orl8", "d14p7wo", "d14pqs1" ], "score": [ 3, 3, 3, 3, 10, 20, 2 ], "text": [ "Some governments do take this approach. The US state of Texas, for example, has no state income tax and the sal...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
2a1ris
how is weather forcasted 2+ weeks out?
Some websites (_URL_0_, _URL_1_) have weather forcasts that go out as far as 2 weeks. I can see how you can estimate weather a couple days out simply by looking at wind/weather pattern across the nation...but at 2 weeks it seems like it would be a crap shoot.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2a1ris/eli5how_is_weather_forcasted_2_weeks_out/
{ "a_id": [ "ciqmrfi", "ciqstgz" ], "score": [ 5, 5 ], "text": [ "Very, very badly.", "It's done by running \"mathematical models\". They are basically a set of highly sophisticated algorithms which process all input data. We're talking about a lot of data; every single measurable prop...
[]
[ "accuweather.com", "weather.com" ]
[ [], [] ]
9cfqkj
how do blogs, clickbait, and"fake news" sites actually make money from ads?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9cfqkj/eli5_how_do_blogs_clickbait_andfake_news_sites/
{ "a_id": [ "e5acp73" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "There are three kinds of ad revenue.\n\nThe first is as you suggest. It's called affiliate marketing, and they get paid when you click a link and buy something. That's actually fairly lucrative, as people who do end up clicking almost always buy ...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
8fo0b9
how are large rivers, such as the mississippi river, able to hold such a large volume of water without running out?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8fo0b9/eli5_how_are_large_rivers_such_as_the_mississippi/
{ "a_id": [ "dy525d7", "dy54unm", "dy5bszw" ], "score": [ 30, 4, 4 ], "text": [ "The Mississippi river is gathering up all the rain from a vast area of the US.\n\nIt may not be raining directly over the river, but it's always raining somewhere in [the Mississippi basin](_URL_0_).\n...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/marb_600x395.jpg" ], [], [] ]
2yliap
- how we know the leaked nsa and snowden documents aren't fake? i mean, can't anyone just make a powerpoint?
I've always wondered about this. How does one fact-check a document that reveals a conspiracy or secret operations with just a few PowerPoint slides that were given to journalists? I'm not necessarily doubting what the NSA has been doing, but I'm just curious how exactly does presenting a stack of papers outlining vari...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2yliap/eli5_how_we_know_the_leaked_nsa_and_snowden/
{ "a_id": [ "cpanf29" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "If when you do it you get your passports revoked and have to hide in Russia to avoid being put into prison I am fairly certain you aren't just making stuff up. " ] }
[]
[]
[ [] ]
y9esd
the "white light" and euphoric sensation people experience when they're about to die.
I'm an atheist so I'm not into the whole "the white light is heaven" belief and am looking for more of a scientific explanation that's easy to understand on why this occurs. I know this doesn't happen in all cases, but I know for some they do see a white light and they feel euphoric as they are dying.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/y9esd/eli5_the_white_light_and_euphoric_sensation/
{ "a_id": [ "c5ti22u", "c5tr0hu" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "The_Rainbow_Butt has a [nice theory](_URL_0_) about why your life flashes before your eyes. Slate has [an article with some theories](_URL_1_), but basically we don't really know. Maybe because of a lack of test subjects, ma...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://ww.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/xwjvd/whats_the_saddest_fact_you_know_that_most_people/", "http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2002/10/whats_the_deal_with_the_bright_light_you_see_before_dying.html" ], [] ]
263i19
onions
Why do onions make you eyes water. I know it has something to do with the juice but I don't know everything about it.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/263i19/eli5_onions/
{ "a_id": [ "chnaqex", "chnbcyo" ], "score": [ 10, 2 ], "text": [ "Onions absorb sulfur from the soil they grow in.\n\nWhen you cut them they release an organic molecule into the air called an amino acid sulfoxide. The relevant thing to note there is the fact that it's an acid. The reactio...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
9pzbc2
when you squish spiders, why do their legs curl up inward?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9pzbc2/eli5_when_you_squish_spiders_why_do_their_legs/
{ "a_id": [ "e85e64e" ], "score": [ 12 ], "text": [ "A spider's eight legs have flexor muscles to retract their legs and bring them inwards. But some of their legs lack muscles to extend and stretch back out again. Instead of these muscles, spiders use the blood pressure spike from their heartbeat...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
120hf2
how come we use the words "how come" interchangeably with "why do/does?"
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/120hf2/eli5_how_come_we_use_the_words_how_come/
{ "a_id": [ "c6r404z", "c6r5w0r", "c6r6fkq", "c6r6khg", "c6r74ia", "c6r7dw7", "c6r8mll" ], "score": [ 123, 8, 15, 3, 6, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "How come is short for 'how does it come about, that...'", "reminds me of 'lets' ~ let us. \n\nI've made the...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
9nqwu5
most carbonated drinks are available in a can, or a glass or plastic bottle. but generally non-carbonated beverages like water sport drinks, and juice are not available in cans and only in bottles. why?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9nqwu5/eli5_most_carbonated_drinks_are_available_in_a/
{ "a_id": [ "e7ocyjy", "e7od4sx" ], "score": [ 4, 29 ], "text": [ "Cans are only needed for beverages under high pressure. Club soda for instance is carbonated water. Cans are definitely more expensive to make than plastic bottles, so this is a big part of the reason why most brands don’t...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
1jhsc6
the differences between (mandarin) chinese, japanese, and korean languages
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1jhsc6/eli5_the_differences_between_mandarin_chinese/
{ "a_id": [ "cbesfia", "cbf039z" ], "score": [ 6, 2 ], "text": [ "Chinese word order is Subject-Verb-Object like English. Chinese languages are tonal. In Mandarin, there are [four tones](_URL_0_). So based on how you say the word \"ma\" - it could mean \"horse\" or it could mean \"mother\"...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://mandarin.about.com/od/pronunciation/a/tones.htm", "http://ryanestradadotcom.tumblr.com/post/20461267965/learn-to-read-korean-in-15-minutes" ], [] ]
30m69o
all of the european and international leagues, cups, and competitions in soccer
First of all, sorry for being an ignorant American about this. I haven't really been into soccer/football, but after watching the world cup this summer I've been trying to get into it more. The amount of competitions and teams really has me confused though, especially since there's no easy way to watch a league. How d...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30m69o/eli5_all_of_the_european_and_international/
{ "a_id": [ "cptoscc", "cptq9zt", "cptr91q", "cptr9ob" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Biggest ones are the ones in Europe since they have the most money. Every region has what's called a Champions League. Then there's usually a domestic league which is just between ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [ "http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2016/standings/", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_AFC_Asian_Cup", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Africa_Cup_of_Nations" ] ]
8slzpb
how come a large, inflatable ball which weighs no more than three pounds can knock an adult man flying five feet through the air?
We've all seen the videos. An inflatable ball, usually about two feet across, and full of nothing but air, hits a person at speed. Logically, the ball should bounce off harmlessly. Instead, the person gets fucking DECKED like he just ate a shotgun slug. Why? How?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8slzpb/eli5_how_come_a_large_inflatable_ball_which/
{ "a_id": [ "e10gsjd", "e10gvkn", "e10h3r6", "e10hk66" ], "score": [ 9, 17, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "Air has mass and the ball can pick up a lot of kinetic energy and momentum. If the ball can hold a lot of pressure, that means that the air is even more massive than air at STP."...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
65xac7
why is it that sometimes water "goes down the wrong pipe?"
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/65xac7/eli5_why_is_it_that_sometimes_water_goes_down_the/
{ "a_id": [ "dgdvq5g" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "You actually do have two pipes. One leads to your lungs, the other to your stomach.\n\nUsually the lung pipe (the trachea) closes when eating or drinking, but if you're talking or breathing it can stay open and allow food or water in.\n\nIf fore...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
2jn3tb
how the hell is robert mugabe still in power of zimbabwe, even though it is pretty obvious how corrupt and evil he is.
How the hell is Robert Mugabe Still in power of Zimbabwe, Even though it is pretty obvious how corrupt and evil he is. Why doesn't the west care about all these horrible dictators in africa yet they do about the ones in the middle east and are happy to arrange coups and so on.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2jn3tb/eli5_how_the_hell_is_robert_mugabe_still_in_power/
{ "a_id": [ "cld83cp", "cld8sm0" ], "score": [ 3, 7 ], "text": [ "When you control a countries' military, you can stay in power as long as you want.", "African despots are unlikely to cause a problem for the West or it's allies. Robert Mugabe is essentially a Bond villain with no money...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
dm6xlj
how did certain animals "learn" to mimic other animals or objects (leaves, sticks, etc)? how do their cells "know" what other animals/objects look like?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dm6xlj/eli5_how_did_certain_animals_learn_to_mimic_other/
{ "a_id": [ "f4xxyww", "f4xxz67", "f4y00ag" ], "score": [ 6, 6, 5 ], "text": [ "Camouflage isn't a learned behavior; it's the result of billions of years of evolution. Insects looking like sticks started as a random mutation, one just happened to be longer/skinnier and because of ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
1rhuzt
why do silent letters exist? why do a combo of two words make one sound example 'gh' in laugh, ph in phone.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1rhuzt/why_do_silent_letters_exist_why_do_a_combo_of_two/
{ "a_id": [ "cdne2cq" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Various reasons.\n\nSilent letters can happen because the way people spoke a word changed and the way it was spelled didn't (if you think about how hard it was, in older times, to make new copies of all the existing books, you can probably apprec...
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[]
[ [] ]
3d3y4i
why do many people understand and remember material much better 3 months after studying it than 3 days after studying it?
Every time I learn a new subject, whether it is math, history or programming, I understand it OK at the first few days later, but if I return to it a few months later after not practicing it at all, I'll be really good at it. Many of my friends say it's like that for them as well - after a few months that they learn s...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3d3y4i/eli5_why_do_many_people_understand_and_remember/
{ "a_id": [ "ct1kfxp" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "So, here's a fun fact from the psychological community: we really don't understand a lot about how memory works. However, we do have a few ideas about it.\n\nOne thing that could be coming into play for your friends who remember things better th...
[]
[]
[ [] ]
45xi07
when light passes through a medium of refractive index greater than one, we say that light is travelling that much times faster in vacuum. how can light travel slower?
So I was checking [this](_URL_0_) out, and in the third sentence I saw this. How is this possible? I thought the speed of light was always constant.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/45xi07/eli5_when_light_passes_through_a_medium_of/
{ "a_id": [ "d00ttub" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "This is a common misconception. The speed of light *in a vacuum* is constant. Light may travel at different speeds in other media. This is also key in some particle physics experiments, which rely on [Cherenkov Radiation](_URL_1_); this is rad...
[]
[ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractive_index" ]
[ [ "http://www.ps.uci.edu/~superk/images/sk_inside_small.jpg", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherenkov_radiation" ] ]
27atn6
what was the thought process on the creation of cigarettes?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/27atn6/eli5_what_was_the_thought_process_on_the_creation/
{ "a_id": [ "chz01fl", "chz1o7o" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "People used to do it by hand but then it was easier to simply just buy it premade. Eventually they used chemicals to keep the paper from burning too fast.", "Cigarettes were first created by the poor people who couldn't ...
[]
[]
[ [], [] ]
2qt19e
why do americans spell words ending with -re differently (-er), but not similarly pronounced words ending with -le?
In American English, words like 'centre' and 'theatre' are spelled 'center' and 'theater', but similarly pronounced words, such as 'candle' and 'cradle' are left as such. Wouldn't it be more consistent to spell them 'candel' and 'cradel'?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2qt19e/eli5_why_do_americans_spell_words_ending_with_re/
{ "a_id": [ "cn98eiu", "cn98f7p", "cn98g3c" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "This particular spelling discrepancy comes from Noah Webster, the noted lexicographer, author, and dude with a dictionary named after him. However in general these sort of inconsistencies occurred becau...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
1euss7
why do pictures/videos i have "deleted" remain on my phone?
I have taken plenty of pictures or videos with my phone (Samsung Nexus S) and I had previously thought they were deleted, but after trying to upload some files to my laptop today I have found many of them still exist somewhere in there. Any way to permanently delete these files?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1euss7/eli5_why_do_picturesvideos_i_have_deleted_remain/
{ "a_id": [ "ca3yoyc", "ca3yoyl", "ca40bgy" ], "score": [ 2, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "There may be an exact answer relating to problems with your phone's design, but one possibility I think is this. Often when something is \"deleted\" from a phone or computer, it doesn't literally erase ...
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[]
[ [], [], [] ]
65zdqb
why does hawaii have a british flag in it's flag, even though it was never conquered by the british, only america.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/65zdqb/eli5_why_does_hawaii_have_a_british_flag_in_its/
{ "a_id": [ "dgecx6t" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "[story here in detail](_URL_0_)\n\nDue to an alliance with Britain, for a while Hawaii flew a British flag (they didn't apparently realize this would be wildly inappropriate in European culture). Once they allied with the USA, they created a hybr...
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[ [ "http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2008/10/21/is_that_the_flag" ] ]
306p79
why cant i feel all the processes occuring within my body?
Why can't we as humans feel everything going on in our bodies? Like our brain with all its transactions, and digesting food through our stomachs and intestines or liquids going through our liver/kidneys, etc.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/306p79/eli5_why_cant_i_feel_all_the_processes_occuring/
{ "a_id": [ "cppn2o0" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "You *are* feeling them. You're just used to how they feel. I guarantee if they suddenly stopped, you'd feel the difference.\n\n[_URL_0_](_URL_0_)" ] }
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[]
[ [ "http://i.imgur.com/o0ovHBa.gif" ] ]
awunka
stick drivers, why is it that your car dies whenever you didn't press enough gas or release the clutch too early?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/awunka/eli5_stick_drivers_why_is_it_that_your_car_dies/
{ "a_id": [ "ehp902j", "ehpbnb9" ], "score": [ 18, 3 ], "text": [ "Because gas powered engines have very weak power output at low RPM. \n\nYou have to apply gas and let the engine spin up for the engine to be generating enough power for you to be able to pull away, so if you pull the clutc...
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[ [], [] ]
3efllx
what is nasa trying to achieve by discovering new earth like planets?
Just saw that NASA dicovered kepler-452b, which is a planet that is very similar to earth. We will obviously never reach it What's exactly are they trying to achieve? Are they looking for extraterrestrial life? For a planet to move the human race to when our earth crumbles? Or for what?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3efllx/eli5_what_is_nasa_trying_to_achieve_by/
{ "a_id": [ "cteg2nk", "cteg34r", "cteg4nq" ], "score": [ 2, 4, 2 ], "text": [ "In order to understand the formation of the solar system and other solar systems, and ultimately the galaxy, we need to observe many other examples to find out what processes are involved and what is co...
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[ [], [], [] ]
6kcbv9
if musical sounds can have any pitch on an infinite continuum, why do we only use 12 notes?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6kcbv9/eli5_if_musical_sounds_can_have_any_pitch_on_an/
{ "a_id": [ "djkydi1" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Because when you double the frequency of a note, it sounds the same! It's called an octave. So those 12 notes repeat indefinitely. " ] }
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[ [] ]
3o5ayk
how do a hawkes eyes work?
*Hawk's eyes I know they are sharper and can focus better than ours, but do they zoom when they are flying so high? It seems like no matter how sharp their focus is that they would still have to zoom to spot rodents so far below.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3o5ayk/eli5_how_do_a_hawkes_eyes_work/
{ "a_id": [ "cvu6394" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "They don't \"zoom\" per se, like a camera lens would. They just have extremely good vision and can see small objects even from high up. \n\nTheir ciliary muscles allow them to change the shape of the lens in their eye extremely rapidly. This al...
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[ [] ]
1h5df0
why aren't the windshields of newer cars tinted at the top?
Ever car from the 90s Ive been in has had a blue/green tint at the top. I know this was to reduce glare from the sun..but why has this been discontinued in newer cars?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1h5df0/eli5_why_arent_the_windshields_of_newer_cars/
{ "a_id": [ "caqzk84", "car62cy", "carbuw4" ], "score": [ 7, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "It's ineffective, increases the cost of making the windshield, and the car looks better without it.", "From what I've seen, the tinting is more common in replacement windscreens. Whenever we've had ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [] ]
2kufsv
do pets understand the concept of babies and the young?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2kufsv/eli5_do_pets_understand_the_concept_of_babies_and/
{ "a_id": [ "clot6c5", "clota58", "clotcdv", "clovees", "clovejb" ], "score": [ 3, 7, 3, 4, 7 ], "text": [ "My doberman definitely plays more gently with puppies than other fully grown dogs.", "My dog has no patience for any adult but takes so much abuse from my...
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[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
8fwpoq
how does a tv show episode get on air?
After seeing South Park portray events that had only happened about a week ago, I got curious. I know South Park has a fairly simple production, but what is all entailed between beginning creating an episode to having it air on TV?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8fwpoq/eli5_how_does_a_tv_show_episode_get_on_air/
{ "a_id": [ "dy72vcl", "dy72w7k" ], "score": [ 7, 3 ], "text": [ "There was actually a [documentary that filmed the creation of a South Park episode.](_URL_0_)\n\nOne thing to note is that South Park is very unusual in this way. Most animated shows take months of production before airing."...
[]
[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6_Days_to_Air" ], [] ]
1x25cc
why do youtube videos that make the front page have such a low number of views when so many people up voted or commented on them?
It's just something that never made sense to me. I can understand up voting something for sounding cool, but the number of comments on a video post very frequently outnumber the number of views on the actual video. Does youtube only register full viewings?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1x25cc/eli5why_do_youtube_videos_that_make_the_front/
{ "a_id": [ "cf7ga3t", "cf7h1bi" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Vsauce has a great video explaining this phenomenon. I can't link it at the moment though, maybe someone else could?", "YouTube doesn't update the view counts in real time." ] }
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[ [], [] ]
1nzlva
how come we can see the contrails of planes when they are high up but not when they are low down?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1nzlva/eli5_how_come_we_can_see_the_contrails_of_planes/
{ "a_id": [ "ccnhp2v", "ccnhw4n" ], "score": [ 3, 3 ], "text": [ "The same reason you can't see your breath on a warm day. Cold air cools down your breath, or in this case the jet exhaust, and allows the water vapour to condense into water droplets which are then visible. ", "Higher ...
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[ [], [] ]
61angg
what happens when you mix hydrogen with anti-hydrogen (antimatter from hydrogen)?
I know that you should have a big release of energy. What kind of energy? Is it a big boom? A shockwave with nothing in it? Do we just end up with nothing else?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/61angg/eli5_what_happens_when_you_mix_hydrogen_with/
{ "a_id": [ "dfd1b48", "dfd1qyw" ], "score": [ 9, 5 ], "text": [ "When matter and antimatter collide, they go trough a process of annihilation. During that, you can observe some mass changing into energy. It depends on the particles colliding but most of the time you will get a few very hi...
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[ [], [] ]
2mheh0
why couldn't we use nuclear bombs as a energy source in space?
So my question is interesting but insightful. In Star Trek (yes it's a show but give me a second to explain) Spok dies after having to fix the engine and dying from radiation. Which leads me to my question. Why are we not harassing the power of nuclear explosions as an energy source for deep space? Using rocket fuel is...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2mheh0/eli5_why_couldnt_we_use_nuclear_bombs_as_a_energy/
{ "a_id": [ "cm47e9n", "cm47hn3", "cm47iy7", "cm48wu2", "cm4lqtf" ], "score": [ 3, 2, 6, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "alot of the satellites we send out use a Radioisotope thermoelectric generator. nuclear decay charges electricity. \n\n\nproblem is need more than just ene...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQCrPNEsQaY", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orion_%28nuclear_propulsion%29" ], [] ]
6i3k0n
why do bass tones create more vibrations than high pitch tones?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6i3k0n/eli5_why_do_bass_tones_create_more_vibrations/
{ "a_id": [ "dj3awni" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Lower pitched notes have longer wave lengths than higher pitched notes. They also have larger amplitudes, so the sound waves are both longer and they are larger. This means that more energy is transferred to something like a table or your body th...
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[ [] ]
ajbwts
- what are these “polls” in the news?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ajbwts/eli5_what_are_these_polls_in_the_news/
{ "a_id": [ "eeu7q7d", "eeudb6a" ], "score": [ 5, 2 ], "text": [ "Typically only about 1000 people are asked, but that's enough to get a pretty good idea. Great minds think alike. Yarr! Yer not alone in askin', and kind strangers have explained:\n\n1. [ELI5: political polls and how partici...
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[]
[ [ "https://np.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3jve3v/eli5_who_is_getting_polled_and_how/", "https://np.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4w88iu/eli5how_do_the_poll_surveys_with_just_1000_people/", "https://np.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9pp7zt/eli5_how_do_polls_work_whats_the_s...
7hegl9
why do people get angry over fur and animal fashion items but not meat?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7hegl9/eli5why_do_people_get_angry_over_fur_and_animal/
{ "a_id": [ "dqqcqwt" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Those people understand that meat offers key nutrients people need to survive, and that things like fur coats are completely superficial and serve no benefit to anyone. " ] }
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[ [] ]
6ol6vt
why do we feel energized after shower?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6ol6vt/eli5_why_do_we_feel_energized_after_shower/
{ "a_id": [ "dki87aq", "dkia50w", "dkicbbv" ], "score": [ 87, 20, 3 ], "text": [ "Hot showers relaxes muscles and releases oxytocin -which eases stress-. Cold showers, on the other hand, put the brain on an alert state, thus \"waking\" or \"energizing\" -as you said- the body. \n\n...
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[ [], [], [] ]
60q363
what do all the letters and numbers on airport runways mean?
I've done A LOT of flying lately and I'm just a bit intrigued. I know it's going to be something simple and obvious but I'd love someone to enlighten me.
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/60q363/eli5_what_do_all_the_letters_and_numbers_on/
{ "a_id": [ "df8dj69", "df8ds6j" ], "score": [ 3, 5 ], "text": [ "Add a 0 to the number and you will get\n the approximate compass heading. For example runway 9 is at a 90 degree\n\n heading. The possible range is 1-36, with 36 being due North.", "The numbers go from 1 to 36. There's 3...
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[ [], [] ]
6rgd7c
can you explain me how works internet ? (thinking about servers, ports, cookies and that kind of stuff) thank you
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6rgd7c/eli5_can_you_explain_me_how_works_internet/
{ "a_id": [ "dl4u1tt" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Many layers of technologies and protocols built up - so much so that your question is *nearly* unanswerable in that form.\n\n\n***A network;***\n\n\n*The Internet*, at its most basic form, is just a network between two or more computers. This 'ne...
[]
[]
[ [ "http://www.google.com" ] ]
3jn4dn
mecca, and the stone
I know that for many Muslums, making a pilgrimage to Mecca is a obligation to be fulfilled at least once in their life. What is this big black stone thing that always has hundreds of people walking around it, and what is the meteorite that is kept inside? Whats it all about?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3jn4dn/eli5_mecca_and_the_stone/
{ "a_id": [ "cuqnwdo" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "The Kaaba (the stone structure you're referring to) predates Islam. The Mosque it is part of used to be dedicated to numerous different gods in pre-Islamic Arabia.\n\nMohammad then recognized it as also being a holy site of Islam. After Muslims w...
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[ [] ]
8s11vb
why does medicine have unnecessarily large packaging?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8s11vb/eli5_why_does_medicine_have_unnecessarily_large/
{ "a_id": [ "e0vnxy9", "e0vqfmq", "e0vqips", "e123k31" ], "score": [ 15, 3, 6, 2 ], "text": [ "1. It's expensive which gives people a motivation to try to steal it. And it's small which makes it easy to hide in a purse or pocket. Big packaging reduces theft.\n2. More surfac...
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[ [], [], [], [] ]
f326ri
what is a leveraged share buyback, and why are they booming in the united states?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f326ri/eli5_what_is_a_leveraged_share_buyback_and_why/
{ "a_id": [ "fhggqg1" ], "score": [ 8 ], "text": [ "A share buyback is when a company purchases shares of the company's stock on the open market and retires the shares. This has the effect of lowering the number of shares outstanding, which increases the value of each share.\n\nA leveraged buyback...
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[ [] ]
6ebddp
how exactly are wages for jobs decided and why can the wages for similar jobs differ so much across different companies?
Is there a law that states a basic amount for every type of profession or is it entirely up to the employer? While looking for jobs I noticed that in many cases the same or similar jobs would have different wages depending on which company I chose to work for. ie, one place that needed a truck driver was offering $17/h...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6ebddp/eli5_how_exactly_are_wages_for_jobs_decided_and/
{ "a_id": [ "di91u41", "di977yo" ], "score": [ 11, 2 ], "text": [ "Honestly, a standard pay for different types of jobs would be really hard to implement. There is just so much variety even within the same group.\n\nTake teachers for example. Can you really compare a high school and an ele...
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[]
[ [], [] ]
2st4aa
what is happening to my body when i get high while simultaneously being drunk?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2st4aa/eli5_what_is_happening_to_my_body_when_i_get_high/
{ "a_id": [ "cnsmc4b" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "It sounds like the problem originates in the brain, which ultimately controls the vomiting reflex. Since both alcohol and vegetable-based hallucinogens scramble the neurons' normal functions, somewhere the decision is taken to park the tiger." ...
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[ [] ]
3qt74c
what's he purpose of building larger hadron colliders to smash particles at even faster speeds? what will it yield?
Just saw this on hot page and I was really wondering _URL_0_ Also, is there a chance that we get any particles that are more fundamental than Higg's boson?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qt74c/eli5_whats_he_purpose_of_building_larger_hadron/
{ "a_id": [ "cwi558t", "cwi5fxt", "cwi61h2" ], "score": [ 7, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Yes and no. We still don't know a lot about the Higgs-boson. Even with all the power of the LHC, Higgs-bosons are hard to get. A more powerful collider should give us more chances to study it.\n\nThe...
[]
[ "http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-29/china-to-start-work-on-underground-super-collider-by-2020/6897258" ]
[ [], [], [] ]
7ec6yu
why is math (statistics, calculus, etc) so important for a strong programmer?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7ec6yu/eli5_why_is_math_statistics_calculus_etc_so/
{ "a_id": [ "dq3xy0p", "dq3yekz", "dq3yxnp", "dq3zdhn", "dq3zhev", "dq40fah", "dq41kld", "dq4av8q", "dq4jt1a" ], "score": [ 2, 251, 40, 6, 3, 27, 3, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "Programs use math, a lot. Sure, there is logic, if's and loop's, ...
[]
[]
[ [], [], [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelling_salesman_problem" ], [], [], [], [] ]
cj5358
rainbow like waves on cellphone screens while using sunglasses
Hello! I recently bought a sunglasses and on the next day I noticed these multicolored waves on the screens of some devices (not all) while wearing it. I would like someone to explain this to me, if possible. It may even be with more complex explanations if you will. Is it "proof" of the bad quality of the lenses? ...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cj5358/eli5_rainbow_like_waves_on_cellphone_screens/
{ "a_id": [ "evb6ybb" ], "score": [ 6 ], "text": [ "ah so this is probably more suited to r/askscience, but I'll take my best guess as a former optical physicist.\n\nYour sunglasses have polarized lenses, which means only light that waves a certain way can get through them. But your screen also re...
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[ "https://i.imgur.com/IpmCbIh.jpg", "https://i.imgur.com/TShuxQO.jpg" ]
[ [] ]
7cknz9
why is it that people like celebrities can admit to committing crimes in autobiographies but not be penalized?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7cknz9/eli5_why_is_it_that_people_like_celebrities_can/
{ "a_id": [ "dpqngnc", "dpqofsf", "dpqolu0" ], "score": [ 6, 2, 3 ], "text": [ "Same way people can talk about crime in a song, etc. It's not a confessional testifying under oath, so as far as anyone is concerned, it's fiction.", "You can only punish someone for a crime if you ...
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[ [], [], [] ]
cqrq7j
why do humans like miniature things, like trinkets?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cqrq7j/eli5_why_do_humans_like_miniature_things_like/
{ "a_id": [ "ewywgfi" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "I like making myself fried eggs from quail eggs, then Ill have breakfast in bed and pretend the duvet is rolling hills and I am a giant.\n\n(Its because they are aesthetically pleasing and novel. It takes skill and craftsmanship for something to ...
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[]
[ [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_miniature" ] ]
5e8665
what's going on with kanye right now?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5e8665/eli5_whats_going_on_with_kanye_right_now/
{ "a_id": [ "daafqoi" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "He announced he didn't vote but would have voted for Trump if he did, so that angered many of his fans. \n \nSecondly, he went on another rant about Jay Z and Beyoncé, likely about how being true friends, he said in the last one that they never...
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[ [] ]
2uxjmo
why don't we make all drugs legal like cigarettes to eliminate illegal drug trade?
Cigarettes are already legal to anyone over 18, why don't we just make all drugs legal to anyone over 18. We all know the consequences of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. If somebody wants to ruin their life. Why not just make it easier on everyone by just allowing it to be sold? It would stop drug dealers, drug trade, car...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2uxjmo/eli5_why_dont_we_make_all_drugs_legal_like/
{ "a_id": [ "cocl6sw", "cocm8rw", "cocqel7", "cocrmpx" ], "score": [ 20, 2, 10, 2 ], "text": [ "Because too much money is being made by the \"war on drugs.\"", "Because there is a severe stigma evolved with having legal drugs in the US, maybe as other countries move to ...
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[ [], [], [], [] ]
3252s6
how do molds take over my sandwich? is the mold bacteria already in my sandwich in the first place and just waiting for my sandwich to lose its freshness before taking over?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3252s6/eli5_how_do_molds_take_over_my_sandwich_is_the/
{ "a_id": [ "cq7xvuc", "cq7y1l5" ], "score": [ 2, 3 ], "text": [ "Microorganisms are all around us all the time just waiting for the right conditions to multiply and thrive.", "Mold isn't a bacteria, it's a fungus, but yes, mold spores are in the air all the time. " ] }
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[ [], [] ]
bzw1oc
why do customers at stores or restaurants seem to come in waves?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bzw1oc/eli5_why_do_customers_at_stores_or_restaurants/
{ "a_id": [ "eqxn0jl", "eqxpyib" ], "score": [ 6, 2 ], "text": [ "Could it be tied to non-traditional job shift changes (like say, a factory or hospital), schools getting out or some other regular occasion that isn't tied to 9-5 schedule? Are these mostly locals, or could it be people trav...
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[ [], [] ]
4f8n94
why does antarctica get barely any precipitation?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4f8n94/eli5_why_does_antarctica_get_barely_any/
{ "a_id": [ "d26spdu" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Water evaporates most when it's warm. There is always *some* evaporation from evaporative cooling, but way more when it's warm. As well, when the air is very cold, the water precipitates out faster. That's why warm air is usually more humid th...
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[ [] ]
2kssbk
why does my old handheld hiking gps require nothing at all, but my phone's gps require a service provider and data?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2kssbk/eli5_why_does_my_old_handheld_hiking_gps_require/
{ "a_id": [ "clocmf9", "clocrdh", "clog95n", "clogou9", "clok8eq", "clom64f" ], "score": [ 32, 6, 11, 3, 2, 2 ], "text": [ "In all likelihood, your old GPS had the map saved in its memory, while your phone is picking up the map as it needs it. There are ...
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[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
1zem2u
why do tv channels sometimes restart ~30 seconds back?
Is this a syncing problem or is someone messing up?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1zem2u/why_do_tv_channels_sometimes_restart_30_seconds/
{ "a_id": [ "cft0nji" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "And on that note, how are programs played, then commercials in such quick succession? I've always imagined a DVD or cassette player with the show and commercials pre-mixed and just played when the time came. " ] }
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[ [] ]
221beq
how reddits controversial filter works
I've just never known.. How are comments and posts filtered as controversial?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/221beq/eli5_how_reddits_controversial_filter_works/
{ "a_id": [ "cgidwgk" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "Controversial means it has both a lot of upvotes AND a lot of downvotes." ] }
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[ [] ]
290es7
why you can't use a hard disk as the ram memory?
I was watching TV with my brother and they were talking about PCs and their parts, after the show my brother asked me why a hard drive can't work as a RAM. I just answered because a HDD depends on SATA cables and it's way more slow than a RAM, but is that the only reason? EDIT: I'm not talking about virtual memory.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/290es7/eli5_why_you_cant_use_a_hard_disk_as_the_ram/
{ "a_id": [ "cig8be8", "cig8cjf" ], "score": [ 2, 6 ], "text": [ "Speed is the main issue. RAM can do thousands of read/write operations in the time it takes the platter in the HDD to complete a single revolutions. In theory you could just use the HDD, but it's designed for long term stora...
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[ [], [] ]
e73ajc
how do scam calls make money?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/e73ajc/eli5_how_do_scam_calls_make_money/
{ "a_id": [ "f9v1o7c" ], "score": [ 5 ], "text": [ "Scammers make money on a shotgun approach.\n\nIf they call a million people, and only 1% of them fall for the scam, they still scammed 10000 people out of some amount of money.\n\nDifferent scams work in different ways, but generally they dupe th...
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40qtsz
why do your eyes tear up when laying on your side?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/40qtsz/eli5_why_do_your_eyes_tear_up_when_laying_on_your/
{ "a_id": [ "cywdjuu", "cywe1iu", "cywf22n", "cywg4ig", "cywgpze", "cywgzin", "cywhw3s", "cywhzfl", "cywhzpd", "cywlgro" ], "score": [ 79, 23, 22, 63, 5, 14, 6, 3, 3, 6 ], "text": [ "Mine dont? Am i an alien?", "Your eyes ...
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[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://goo.gl/kstJbT", "http://goo.gl/qNBzb1" ], [], [], [] ]
yvohc
why back rubs feel so good.
I love them!!!
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/yvohc/eli5_why_back_rubs_feel_so_good/
{ "a_id": [ "c5z8omo" ], "score": [ 4 ], "text": [ "Back rubs satisfy a number of primal human drives. We are social creatures, meaning that we do very well when we are among others who understand, or empathize with us. We have developed various methods of reinforcing social behaviors, and one o...
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3ftkf4
why can't the u.s. government stop foreign investors from buying housing to help fix the housing market?
I live in the bay area and it seems that many potential American homeowners get outbid by cash foreign investors which then turn around and rent the property for a ridiculous price. If the government stopped this type of investing wouldn't it let the middle class have a shot at securing some sort of reasonable housing...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ftkf4/eli5why_cant_the_us_government_stop_foreign/
{ "a_id": [ "ctruwf2", "ctrxxiy" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "It's probably more accurate that they have no interest in doing so. Foreigners buying American property is \"good\" in the same way that foreigners buying American products is: it stimulates the economy by bringing money int...
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aznjui
how come the handle of a steel pan doesn't get hot when it is on the stove?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aznjui/eli5_how_come_the_handle_of_a_steel_pan_doesnt/
{ "a_id": [ "ei8zvpb", "ei9fnnw" ], "score": [ 3, 2 ], "text": [ "It is not positioned in direct contact with the heat source. However, the heat will eventually be transmitted to all parts of the metal body, so it will slowly heat up", "I’ve noticed that pots and pans with cladding up ...
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19ksxj
current and voltage. and how can a phase difference happen between them.
If an electric current is a flow of electric charge through an electrical conductor and Voltage is the difference in electric potential energy of a unit test charge transported between two points. How does in ac current there can be a phase difference between them?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/19ksxj/eli5_current_and_voltage_and_how_can_a_phase/
{ "a_id": [ "c8ox8h2", "c8oxql8" ], "score": [ 7, 2 ], "text": [ "[This image](\n_URL_0_) pretty succinctly demonstrates what potential, current and resistance are. Using the image as a reference, the simple answer to your question is that for any curent to move (eg, through the tube and ...
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[ [ "http://gsuryalss.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/volt-amp-ohm.jpg?w=604" ], [] ]
c3vr15
. gasoline pricing
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c3vr15/eli5_gasoline_pricing/
{ "a_id": [ "ertix82" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "It’s called [psychological pricing](_URL_0_). Basically, it’s an attempt to take advantage of the fact that we tend to perceive prices that end in .9 or .99 as being slightly lower than they actually are. \n\nA gas station could end the price wit...
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[ [ "https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_pricing" ] ]
2ngz9u
why should i care about google collecting my data?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ngz9u/eli5_why_should_i_care_about_google_collecting_my/
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[ [], [], [], [], [ "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-person_effect", "https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0" ], [ "http://np.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/1fv4r6/i_believe_the_government_should_be_allowed_to/cd89cqr" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], []...
2e7dga
how can i shed so much hair in my brush each day and not go bald? it seems like after washing and brushing, the handfuls of hair would leave me with nothing left.
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2e7dga/eli5_how_can_i_shed_so_much_hair_in_my_brush_each/
{ "a_id": [ "cjwqp58", "cjwqr4d", "cjws6ms" ], "score": [ 2, 3, 3 ], "text": [ "You are constantly growing new hairs.", "You notice it more when its long, but everyone's hair is constantly falling out and \"re growing\" ", "Because this is asking about a condition you suffe...
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2c77r0
what is the purpose of having so many bones in our wrists/ankles?
ELI5: What is the **benefit** of having so many bones in our wrists/ankles? Is there an advantage over one big ball and socket joint? Edit: Word choice
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2c77r0/eli5_what_is_the_purpose_of_having_so_many_bones/
{ "a_id": [ "cjclz59", "cjcnayx" ], "score": [ 5, 3 ], "text": [ "fluidity of movement. Your wrist and ankles have to turn in all kinds of directions, way more than say your knees or elbows, so we sacrificed strength in those areas for dexterity. ", "Ball and socket joints are meant mo...
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2lmevc
[interstellar] time moves faster is some places in space than others.
I just finished watching interstellar and in one part the crew find that one hour on one of the planets they visit (millers planet), is equivalent to 7 years on earth. ELI5?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2lmevc/eli5interstellar_time_moves_faster_is_some_places/
{ "a_id": [ "clw5ahf", "cly0uwc" ], "score": [ 2, 3 ], "text": [ "Relevant speeds are based on the motions of objects in each location (including people and planets).\n\nSo, if you are moving at speed x, and I am moving at speed x+y, for me, relative to you, I will be aging slower. Relat...
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4sxj68
why is it bad if you have an erection lasting longer than four hours?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4sxj68/eli5_why_is_it_bad_if_you_have_an_erection/
{ "a_id": [ "d5cyd47", "d5d0t4j" ], "score": [ 26, 5 ], "text": [ "other than the fact that its an inconvenience - having blood remain in the penis for such a long time (blood rushes to the penis during an erection) causes blood to become deprived of oxygen because its not being circulated...
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chp938
why does an object get heavier as it goes faster?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/chp938/eli5_why_does_an_object_get_heavier_as_it_goes/
{ "a_id": [ "euw3m8p" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "They don't! Sort of. But they kind of act like they do.\n\nAlright, back to Newton's laws. Force = mass X acceleration. So if you want accelerate a heavier object, you need a bigger force.\n\nEinstein found that energy and mass have an equivalenc...
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yc7gz
what secrets did julian assange reveal through wikileaks that made world governments so angry?
I know there's been a slew of Julian Assange posts and news recently, but I still feel like I missed the boat on why he is so internationally wanted. I know the sex scandal thing, but that is obviously a front to get him for what he really did, which is what I don't know. I guess what I'm asking is what are the highl...
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/yc7gz/eli5_what_secrets_did_julian_assange_reveal/
{ "a_id": [ "c5u9m8c", "c5ub0cy" ], "score": [ 2, 2 ], "text": [ "Julian is the lightning rod of WikiLeaks, a site devoted to whistle blowing. Lets say I am in the army (under the United States) and am ordered to torture someone, or i see torture happening. I can provide proof of this to W...
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1meucp
why do i close my eyes and clench by buthole when i'm scared?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1meucp/eli5why_do_i_close_my_eyes_and_clench_by_buthole/
{ "a_id": [ "cc8iz59" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Your brain tries to keep the threath away by deleting the image of it. Since it's not possible for it to simply forger about it, it makes you close your eyes. This way, your brain has no more images of the threath to deal with. Your butthole get ...
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9k7g3y
why can we immunise against some infections like mmr but not others such as stis etc?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9k7g3y/eli5_why_can_we_immunise_against_some_infections/
{ "a_id": [ "e6wzome" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Short answer: We can! But it depends on what causes the infection (what's called the \"pathogen\"). Sorry if this is a bit long, but I want it to be clear and thorough! Feel free to ask questions. EDIT: /u/RhynoD 's reply focused on the \"what/wh...
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clmk56
how does your eyesight get worse?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/clmk56/eli5_how_does_your_eyesight_get_worse/
{ "a_id": [ "evwda0w", "evwdyyc", "evwdz91", "evwedsi", "evwgq3g", "evwhgt1", "evwhplv", "evwiumk", "evwkk5s", "evwt17v", "evwywgp", "evx2gh3", "evxobim", "evxt3o0", "evxtiud", "evy1ol2" ], "score": [ 2365, 30, 14, 146, 1360, ...
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[ [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/eyeforum/atlas/pages/Corneal-Astig-WTR/index.htm", "https://www.bausch.com/Portals/69/-/m/BL/United%20States/Images/Eye%20Concerns/Vision%20Correction/farsightedness.png", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-sightedness#/media/File:Myopia.g...
1vevkw
why does alcohol "burn" while drinking it?
What makes it "burn" while you drink it and also causes your stomach to become warm? Why?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vevkw/eli5_why_does_alcohol_burn_while_drinking_it/
{ "a_id": [ "cerkk0o" ], "score": [ 46 ], "text": [ "It pulls water from the cells lining the skin, causing them to dry out somewhat, and they signal that stress as a burning sensation. It makes you feel warm because, when inside the body, acting as a drug, it dilates (makes expand) blood vessels,...
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5lcb18
why do most places/countries celebrate new year's with fireworks? where does that tradition come from?
The topic just came up at the dinner table for tonight's New Year's Eve celebration. My neighbours are going mental with fireworks, and that reminded me of the NYE fireworks in London and other major cities. Why do most places celebrate the change of year with fireworks? What gave rise to that common practice?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5lcb18/eli5_why_do_most_placescountries_celebrate_new/
{ "a_id": [ "dbulln8" ], "score": [ 2 ], "text": [ "Well, the tradition started with just simple noise to drive away the evil gosts in order to start a happy new year. Fireworks are the most loud and intense way to drive them away possible ;) ." ] }
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jbfl3
why are the republicans called the gop?
Canadian here. I understand it stands for Grand Old Party or something along those lines according to google but why not just call them the Reps or something similar?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/jbfl3/eli5_why_are_the_republicans_called_the_gop/
{ "a_id": [ "c2aqc3k", "c2aqh1d", "c2aqc3k", "c2aqh1d" ], "score": [ 5, 3, 5, 3 ], "text": [ "Because of tradition. The republicans had gotten the name of Grand Old Party and people started calling them that. It's as if you call a doll or toy \"Jimmy\" for all your life and...
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82zjw7
why does a cold virus affect different parts at different stages?
So when you first feel a cold, often it's in the back of your throat. It then hits your nose, becoming blocked or runny, before ending in your chest as a cough. Is this because the location of the virus literally moves to these places, or is it because the different stages of fighting it affect different areas in diff...
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/82zjw7/eli5_why_does_a_cold_virus_affect_different_parts/
{ "a_id": [ "dve8tfp" ], "score": [ 3 ], "text": [ "I am not sure about the cold hitting the throat part but I do know that once it's hits the runny nose part some of the mucus is draining from the nasal area and going into lungs. Which starts the coughing and hacking up of phlegm and almost getti...
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a9lx6c
why do some bigger folk have little to no stretch marks while other people of the same size have excessive amounts?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a9lx6c/eli5_why_do_some_bigger_folk_have_little_to_no/
{ "a_id": [ "eckjfxk", "eckjltl" ], "score": [ 3, 4 ], "text": [ "Sometimes it could have something to do with how fast or slowly you gained the weight. I slowly gained 40pounds over the course of 4 years and i dont have stretch marks on my stomach or thighs where i carry most of my weight...
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3z303l
why is reading books considered such a good thing? what is the difference cognitively between someone who reads books for entertainment, and someone who watches documentaries yet never reads at all?
This may seem like a silly question, but I really have no answer to exactly *why* reading is considered so important for a persons cognitive health. Why aren't other means of absorbing knowledge on the same level as reading a thick book?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3z303l/eli5_why_is_reading_books_considered_such_a_good/
{ "a_id": [ "cyitqh5", "cyiu785", "cyiv18i", "cyiv9ot", "cyivrhd", "cyix52d", "cyixoc8", "cyj2alw", "cyj2qmw", "cyj6nep", "cykfren", "cykyor3" ], "score": [ 43, 54, 6, 5, 4, 4, 7, 3, 6, 2, 3, 2 ], "text": [ "We...
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[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2014/01/16/15611/new-brain-research-suggesting-tv-watching-produces/", "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/04/binge-watching-tv-harmful-to-your-health_n_5732082.html" ], [], [], [] ]
3kt9g0
why are rest breaks and maximum shifts mandated for truck drivers but not for e.g. doctors?
I spoke to an anaesthesiologist in a hospital and he told me he was nearing the end of an 18 hour shift. Given that the laws for truck drivers were put in place for safety reasons, why don't we have similar rules for things like medical professionals who can (and do) also make mistakes that kill people?
explainlikeimfive
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3kt9g0/eli5_why_are_rest_breaks_and_maximum_shifts/
{ "a_id": [ "cv09q7z" ], "score": [ 7 ], "text": [ "Because a truck driver can pull over in the middle of a run safely. A doctor can't always do that.\n\n\"Well, I am halfway through this operation, but I've hit my max. I will be back in 12 hours.\"" ] }
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2ejk4g
why so many current pop songs seems to have an obligatory rap verse?
explainlikeimfive
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ejk4g/eli5why_so_many_current_pop_songs_seems_to_have/
{ "a_id": [ "ck04ctg" ], "score": [ 10 ], "text": [ "Rap is popular.\n\nSome people have compared the guest rap verse to the guitar solo of previous decades. It's just a convention people expect in certain kinds of songs." ] }
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