q_id stringlengths 5 6 | title stringlengths 3 296 | selftext stringlengths 0 34k | document stringclasses 1
value | subreddit stringclasses 1
value | url stringlengths 4 110 | answers dict | title_urls list | selftext_urls list | answers_urls list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
38svbv | this morning i read that the universe is expanding at a rate of a billion miles an hour in every direction. does this include the space within in my own body? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/38svbv/eli5this_morning_i_read_that_the_universe_is/ | {
"a_id": [
"crxo2w5"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Imagine blowing up a balloon.\n\nThe balloon gets bigger, and two points far apart on the balloon get further apart very quickly. But two point which are close together move further apart only very slightly as the balloon inflates.\n\nThe univers... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2hzyps | why is there so many food products that 'may contain traces of nuts'? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2hzyps/eli5_why_is_there_so_many_food_products_that_may/ | {
"a_id": [
"ckximyb",
"ckxioxz",
"ckxitbl",
"ckxkvxw",
"ckxm714"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"It's because they're generally made in facilities that also process nuts and/or use nut products in their ingredients. ",
"Because they are made in the s... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1xk42j | if water is made out of hydrogen and oxygen why isn't it the perfect fuel? | I mean its all you need for a fire so why does it put fire out instead of make it gargantuan? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1xk42j/eli5_if_water_is_made_out_of_hydrogen_and_oxygen/ | {
"a_id": [
"cfc1vwf",
"cfc1xlf",
"cfc20kw",
"cfc7t1w",
"cfc8261",
"cfcdsfu"
],
"score": [
64,
5,
10,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because water is essentially the ash of combustion of hydrogen and oxygen. It's already had the energy extracted, and to convert it ba... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
c9med6 | why recipes say you need separate mixing bowls for ingredients, when in the end we mix all contents together? | I saw a vedio for making cookies, the chef put eggs and milk in one bowl. Then he put other ingredients in another bowel. He mixed contents of both bowls together. Why he didn't put all ingredients together from the start? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c9med6/eli5_why_recipes_say_you_need_separate_mixing/ | {
"a_id": [
"eszveon",
"eszwuak",
"et09q5s",
"et0kl44",
"et0uook"
],
"score": [
10,
101,
11,
18,
7
],
"text": [
"timing is extremely important in baking. You need the mixtures to be blended together really well before joining with completely different ingredients (e... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1m6pmd | when is a word officially recognized as a word? | Learned that anything is fair game. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1m6pmd/eli5_when_is_a_word_officially_recognized_as_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"cc69re4",
"cc69zc4"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"There is no such thing as \"official\" recognition of words. There is no central governing body that defines the English language.",
"The closest I can think of for an \"official\" word recognition organization would be... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miPjC69yUEo"
]
] | |
456d7e | what would actually happen if i swallowed (fluoride) toothpaste for a year and why is excess fluoride apparently bad? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/456d7e/eli5_what_would_actually_happen_if_i_swallowed/ | {
"a_id": [
"czvks22"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Excessive fluoride in your system causes fluorosis. Which causes a brown film to develop on your teeth. \n\n\nThe discovery of this is also how we found out that fluoride prevents cavities. A dentist in the early 1900's noticed that certain towns... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4gqjcj | why does the penis glans have mucous membrane instead of skin? | So the thing is, most of the 'openings' in our body have skin leading up to the actual hole, whereupon it changes into mucous membrane (for example, the nose). I'm wondering why our ding-dongs have that oh so sensitive mucous membrane on the outside. Does it have any functions? I mean, we have foreskin in order to prot... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4gqjcj/eli5_why_does_the_penis_glans_have_mucous/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2jvd3d"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Normally, there is skin before the mucus membrane. This skin is called the prepuce, and it normally covers the glans. However, humans commonly remove this part of the skin during circumcision, and thus leave an exposed mucus membrane. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
68dm60 | discourse according to foucault | I'm having trouble with understanding the term and answering a question based on it.
The question is: "Foucault applied his theories to the history of sexuality, the birth of the clinic and to Bentham’s Panopticon. Select any discourse, discursive configuration or institution linked to discourse which you are well ac... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/68dm60/eli5_discourse_according_to_foucault/ | {
"a_id": [
"dgxq6yp",
"dgyj6q5"
],
"score": [
6,
3
],
"text": [
"I'll give it a shot, but it's been a decade since I was in grad school.\n\nIt sounds like the professor is asking you to perform a Foucaultian analysis, wherein you look at a particular institution, analyzing it the same way... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2kdote | [uk] how would a political party go from having no influence whatsoever to eventually winning a general election? | What would have to happen? What would they need to do? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2kdote/eli5_uk_how_would_a_political_party_go_from/ | {
"a_id": [
"clk9z5t",
"clka3qp"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"They would need to appeal to voters and get votes, win some constituencies and be recognized as being able to handle a real government.\n\nCanada's NDP latched onto big issues of the day to get their initial supporters. Have... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2rxyko | historically speaking, what tactics have been effective in permanently eliminating a highly fanatic, violent group? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2rxyko/eli5historically_speaking_what_tactics_have_been/ | {
"a_id": [
"cnkbn8g",
"cnkcd94",
"cnkd4y9",
"cnkdixn",
"cnkdy4z",
"cnkf3jv"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
6,
4,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Killing almost everyone, destroying their homes, villages, and ways of life with horrible and methodical violence, then integrating and/... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
zphh9 | recursive programming | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/zphh9/eli5_recursive_programming/ | {
"a_id": [
"c66l9d2"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"I'm going to define a method called WALK. WALK is defined as follows:\n\n WALK = {\n\n If you can't move forward: EXIT;\n\n Else {\n Take a step forward;\n WALK;\n }\n }\n\nNotice that, when you c... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5lua15 | the uk miner strikes | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5lua15/eli5_the_uk_miner_strikes/ | {
"a_id": [
"dbyjev6"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"At the time, the coal mines were all owned by the UK government and ran at a loss overall so tax money covered the shortfall. The government was opposed to paying high subsidies to keep the loss-making coal industry running. Very little mechanisa... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1o7mkq | why is there usually a long delay between a conviction and sentencing when someone is found guilty of a crime? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1o7mkq/eli5_why_is_there_usually_a_long_delay_between_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"ccpiu36"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The focus of the Court proceedings has changed.\n\nAt trail our concern is 'are they guilty' at sentencing, we are asking 'What sentence best reflects the convicts cuplability for the actions they are found to have taken in breaking the law'.\n\n... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
386prw | what the hell has happened to shia labbeouf? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/386prw/eli5_what_the_hell_has_happened_to_shia_labbeouf/ | {
"a_id": [
"crsrdus",
"crsrt7t",
"crsu8cd",
"crsv9gv",
"crsvqig",
"crswe5y",
"crswen0",
"crswq2g",
"crswyny",
"crsxux0",
"crt14xx",
"crt1m6i"
],
"score": [
18,
177,
37,
38,
4,
9,
2,
68,
20,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-real-story-behind-shia-labeoufs-hilarious-120497282774.html"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
tw8o7 | why a fan blows cool air/why blowing fast give s cool air, but breathing slow gives hot air | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/tw8o7/eli5_why_a_fan_blows_cool_airwhy_blowing_fast/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4q933h"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"a fan feels cool because it pulls heat away from your skin, breathing air is already heated up inside your lungs and that's why it feels hot."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2ac3yy | why the eyesight is still bad viewing through a mirror? | If a person with far sight problems use a mirror, put it close to his face and then through the mirror looks at a distance object it still looks blurry. Why is that? I mean, the mirror is close to his face. It works with a camera but it doesn't with a mirror. Can somebody explain? Thanks. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ac3yy/eli5_why_the_eyesight_is_still_bad_viewing/ | {
"a_id": [
"citj3v4",
"citjrln"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"A camera has a lens that is focusing the incoming light onto a sensor to register an image. That image is then displayed on the screen, but that is new light - the source of the light is the screen.\n\nWhen you look in a (fl... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
4if9o0 | how do non optical finger print biometrics such as on the galaxy s7 differ from optical based ones? | Yes I've searched and seen the post about smart phone fingerprints being "faster" than traditional, but how is it actually imaging the print? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4if9o0/eli5_how_do_non_optical_finger_print_biometrics/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2xkire",
"d2xlmt5"
],
"score": [
4,
15
],
"text": [
"I think you might need to repost this with a clearer subject, as right now you're asking how optical scanners are different from optical scanners. \n\n**EDIT**: Oops! ",
"Optical scanners work by taking a picture of you... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
2t9wxi | why do some websites have a maximum limit of characters in a password, like 12 characters, while others dont have such a limit? | When making an account I have often wondered why sometimes it says like "must have 8-12 characters" for a password yet others sites only have a minimum limit.
Is this for the benifit of the user so they don't make too long complicated passwords that they will forget, or is it a data thing?
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2t9wxi/eli5_why_do_some_websites_have_a_maximum_limit_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"cnx288n",
"cnx2el1",
"cnx2l7z"
],
"score": [
20,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"Minimum number is just to ensure some level of security. Maximum number is usually to do with space reserved in the database for storing the password. It is sloppy coding of course. ",
"I someho... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1v4eby | when people say your body "attacks" a virus, what exactly does your body do. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1v4eby/eli5_when_people_say_your_body_attacks_a_virus/ | {
"a_id": [
"ceolfpb"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"It's very complex, and there are lots of different methods involved, so I'll just mention one of the more interesting ones.\n\nYour body produces proteins called \"antibodies\". They're kind of Y-shaped, and the \"top\" of the Y is such that var... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3skjgh | why does youtube keep recommending me content i've already watched? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3skjgh/eli5_why_does_youtube_keep_recommending_me/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwy14cb"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"It's because of money. Google fears if they suggest something you never seen before, you wont click on it, therefore you wont see any of the ads and Youtube looses money. So by recommending content you have already seen, or content that is highly... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1uybkt | why don't you see body builders in the mma/ufc? | There is this guy that goes to my gym. He looks like he was photoshopped in real life. It's completely ridiculous. It made me wonder why I don't see people like him in MMA or UFC fights. Body shots would be pretty much pointless. Chokes would be difficult or impossible considering the size of his neck. Hell he could li... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1uybkt/eli5_why_dont_you_see_body_builders_in_the_mmaufc/ | {
"a_id": [
"cemv1js",
"cemv1op",
"cemv2h4"
],
"score": [
5,
3,
6
],
"text": [
"Fast twitch/slow twitch muscles.\n\nBody building builds slow twitch muscles which are responsible for outright strength. However they are slow to respond and have poor stamina and that's why you don't ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3hzt9y | why do movie studios mix the audio on dvd's so that i have to turn up the volume to hear dialogue so much that action sequences almost blow out my speakers on my tv? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3hzt9y/eli5_why_do_movie_studios_mix_the_audio_on_dvds/ | {
"a_id": [
"cuc21hg",
"cuc2u71",
"cuc32pq",
"cuc32uq",
"cuc3ch7",
"cuc48p1",
"cuc4i09",
"cuc4l1d",
"cuc4ws2",
"cuc4xul",
"cuc521l",
"cuc54g7",
"cuc5e2y",
"cuc5mit",
"cuc5pbp",
"cuc5ryd",
"cuc5ulg",
"cuc5zgz",
"cuc6ga4",
"cuc6m6u",
"c... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://i.imgur.com/47YofMK.png"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://twit.tv/shows/home-theater-geeks/episodes/259?autostart=false"
],
[],
[
"http://imgur.com/j0eg4an"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[... | ||
1l8zql | eli: benghazi attack/scandal. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1l8zql/eli_benghazi_attackscandal/ | {
"a_id": [
"cbwwrw9"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Part 1: The GOP was angry that Obama didn't do more to protect the embassy when in reality it was one of the smallest embassies in Libya and didn't have much priority over the main ones like the one in Tripoli.\n\nPart 2: the GOP was pissed that ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1ziryo | to what extent do people actually get injured doing parkour, gymnastics, skateboarding etc. | Like how are there not more "fail videos" with really bad outcomes?
I understand that serious injuries would probably not be posted on youtube but googling for articles or videos on "parkour injuries" comes up with very few examples and some that I know are false (e.g. the guy falling on a table).
This really makes ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ziryo/eli5_to_what_extent_do_people_actually_get/ | {
"a_id": [
"cfu0rn5",
"cfu0xa1"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Most injuries are more like twisted ankles and broken bones than serious fatalities.\n\nAlmost all skateboarding deaths involve getting hit by cars, not fucking up tricks.\n\nMost people instinctively avoid throwing themselv... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
8wa0fi | glowing sand on the beach at night | Yesterday at night we were on the beach with friends, and when getting closer to the water, we noticed the sand would glow when we'd move it (like when waving our hand on the sand). It was like there were just some sand grain that would glow.
We tested it to see if it was just localized but it was everywhere on the be... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8wa0fi/eli5_glowing_sand_on_the_beach_at_night/ | {
"a_id": [
"e1ttn4x",
"e1ttnte",
"e1ttqbz"
],
"score": [
11,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"That'd be [Phosphorescent Plankton](_URL_0_). Tiny animals that glow in the dark, for some reason sometimes tend to glow more when disturbed. The link will have more information.",
"It’s caused by ... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://askabiologist.asu.edu/glow-dark-plankton"
],
[],
[]
] | |
3ev991 | babies take in nutrients through the umbilical cord, but what about the waste? don't tell me they...? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ev991/eli5_babies_take_in_nutrients_through_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctiptck",
"ctiptmq",
"ctipwcp",
"ctipwjp"
],
"score": [
3,
12,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"They pee into the amniotic fluid. Then I imagine the mother absorbs it, cleans it, and pees out the toxins. And the baby only ends up drinking a little bit of its own urine. It's ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meconium"
]
] | ||
6eo6be | why can't the un put sanctions on the us for not adopting climate change policies, given the disproportionate impact it will have on the rest of the world? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6eo6be/eli5_why_cant_the_un_put_sanctions_on_the_us_for/ | {
"a_id": [
"dibpq4d",
"dibpqyv",
"dibqos9",
"dibqt30",
"dibr844",
"dibrzms",
"dif5c2v"
],
"score": [
2,
5,
11,
3,
2,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"The UN could attempt to do so, but they would probably have to go through the highest decision making-body at the... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
c8vtys | if caffeine just blocks adenosine in the brain from making you feel sleepy, how is it a stimulant for the central nervous system? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c8vtys/eli5_if_caffeine_just_blocks_adenosine_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"esqiebb",
"esqn5pa",
"esspd19"
],
"score": [
4,
10,
2
],
"text": [
"Biological balancing in the body is usually a tug of war between several different factors all trying to pull things their way, so just imagine what happens in a tug of war when one side starts losing ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
k1el8 | mortgages and equity | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/k1el8/eli5_mortgages_and_equity/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2gskln",
"c2gsnfu",
"c2gskln",
"c2gsnfu"
],
"score": [
2,
5,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"* Mortgage: a loan used to purchase property, like to buy a house\n* Equity: The current market value of your house minus how much mortgage you have left to pay. This is the estima... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
2fbysk | how do atms always dispense the crispiest of bills? even if the bills are years old. | And the exact bills you deposit are never circulated to be available for withdraw by the same machine (at least it doesn't appear that way). It seems like ATMs have the ability to be self sufficient. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2fbysk/eli5_how_do_atms_always_dispense_the_crispiest_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"ck7sk7u",
"ck7sktn",
"ck7smaw",
"ck7sotg"
],
"score": [
2,
7,
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Every day, old bills are destroyed and new bills are created. Those really are just new or recently new bills",
"They can dispense nice-looking bills because that's what they a... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
4i2hvd | why is coffee so much hotter when you drink it from a straw? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4i2hvd/eli5_why_is_coffee_so_much_hotter_when_you_drink/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2uh6fi"
],
"score": [
11
],
"text": [
"The normal way to drink hot coffee (or hot anything) is in small sips that make a little slurping noise. The noise is from air rushing into your mouth as you sip. The incoming room temp air mixes with the hot liquid and helps cool it down slight... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
36sjzm | why speakers on stage (floor monitors) face the performer and not the audience | eg. _URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/36sjzm/eli5_why_speakers_on_stage_floor_monitors_face/ | {
"a_id": [
"crgozlf",
"crgp00i",
"crgp059",
"crgp1p6"
],
"score": [
7,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because it is crucial that performers on stage be able to hear themselves and each other. A typical live performance PA has two outputs: main, and monitor. The mains are for the au... | [] | [
"http://i.imgur.com/pcAOlF9.jpg"
] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
cow6lk | how do we reliably know how much co2 we put globally into the air? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cow6lk/eli5_how_do_we_reliably_know_how_much_co2_we_put/ | {
"a_id": [
"ewljjgl",
"ewlv8oq"
],
"score": [
8,
4
],
"text": [
"Satellite imagery can show up the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere _URL_0_",
"Besides measurements and statistical extrapolation, oil and coal production is pretty accurately accounted for as most fossil fuels enter publi... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/99/graphic-measuring-carbon-dioxide-from-space/"
],
[]
] | ||
bhwlz0 | how does dynamic/situational music in video games work? how is it able to seamlessly switch from fast paced for combat to slow for exploration at a moment's notice without sounding as if it was stitched up? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bhwlz0/eli5_how_does_dynamicsituational_music_in_video/ | {
"a_id": [
"elwct22"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Basically each part of the track is represented by a set of data called MIDI. It’s easy to bring in different instruments and alter tempo and feel when all of the music is nothing more than data.\n\nMost of the time it’s a question of speeding up... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3qtsya | why does microsoft want me to upgrade to windows 10? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qtsya/eli5_why_does_microsoft_want_me_to_upgrade_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwi916y",
"cwi91ln",
"cwi93tf",
"cwict6w",
"cwiixd4",
"cwijgvl",
"cwilhx7",
"cwilm3n",
"cwimjx3",
"cwinyh1",
"cwiqoul",
"cwisk7j",
"cwj670r"
],
"score": [
6,
255,
32,
6,
6,
3,
8,
14,
18,
2,
10,
3,
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1shayd | why are ww2 bombs still live nowadays? | Because both Nazis and Allies were using chemical long-term fuses, alright. But why?
Surely no one seriously expected to pick up the bomb again, once it had failed to explode?
Are modern bombs made in a way the the fuses disintegrate after a few months/years? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1shayd/eli5_why_are_ww2_bombs_still_live_nowadays/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdxkhpo"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The fuses aren't typically the problem. A lot of older explosives degrade with time into things that are much more unstable. So a bomb that was perfectly safe to handle 60 years ago may explode if tapped the wrong way today.\n\nModern explosives ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
cimmzz | why is western classical music perceived as stimulating and good for brain development but not other music? | What about chinese classical music? Or native american music? Is Western classical music inherently better in stimulating brains? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cimmzz/eli5_why_is_western_classical_music_perceived_as/ | {
"a_id": [
"ev7jpfh",
"ev8hanx"
],
"score": [
19,
4
],
"text": [
"Pretty sure this was disproven a long time ago, and it was the fact that, at one point, babies who were exposed to classical music had attentive, educated parents and the class advantage that derives from coming from an edu... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
cm86dz | how does travel insurance work? who pays a big hospital bill if you have an emergency while abroad? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cm86dz/eli5_how_does_travel_insurance_work_who_pays_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"ew0k9s6",
"ew0le66",
"ew0lgju"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"If it's going to be a big bill, you call up your insurance company and they'll give you the details to give to the healthcare provider. In theory the rest should (largely) get sorted out for you. It's i... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
acpfth | how do advil and tylenol help with headaches and general pain relief, and does taking more make it work faster, last longer, or do nothing? | . | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/acpfth/eli5_how_do_advil_and_tylenol_help_with_headaches/ | {
"a_id": [
"ed9qfoe",
"ed9u7qh",
"ed9vq0z"
],
"score": [
3,
3,
15
],
"text": [
"Commenting so I can check later. From what I read a while ago and recalling vaguely, they work differently. ",
"Advil is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drug) which, as the name implies,... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1d7n9j | why everyone is having trouble with youtube videos loading, and why my phone is able to play them just fine. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1d7n9j/eli5_why_everyone_is_having_trouble_with_youtube/ | {
"a_id": [
"c9npevm"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"YouTube has a couple of servers that serve low priority videos (i.e. every video without an advertisement before it) and are throttled. These servers are used with all videos from my understanding, so you get buffering and load issues even with a... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/13kmvd/have_time_warner_internet_but_can_barely_stream/",
"http://mitchribar.com/2013/02/how-to-stop-youtube-sucking-windows-guide/"
]
] | ||
4h39v9 | in an artificial vacuum container, what would the temperature be within the container? if there is nothing within the container, what gives it a certain temperature? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4h39v9/eli5_in_an_artificial_vacuum_container_what_would/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2n23lu",
"d2n2bmh"
],
"score": [
8,
3
],
"text": [
"Vacuum has no temperature. It wouldn't have any temperature except for any radiant energy passing through it.",
"There are several things that would be at work. Lets say for the sake of argument that you could get a perf... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1wcicm | why are college textbooks so expensive when other non-fiction authors - ie noam chomsky - release books on similar topics for substantially less? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1wcicm/eli5_why_are_college_textbooks_so_expensive_when/ | {
"a_id": [
"cf0pegi",
"cf0pos7"
],
"score": [
8,
2
],
"text": [
"The simple answer is, of course, because they can. Students are required to buy their books, so they can charge whatever they want for them.\n\nTo elaborate on some other points:\n\n* Noam Chomsky's books probably don't hav... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
8x99u6 | why can a candle be put out with fingers without pain but boiling water scold when a candle is a much higher temeperature than boiling water. | Edit: Thanks a lot guys for your answers really helped me there :) | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8x99u6/eli5_why_can_a_candle_be_put_out_with_fingers/ | {
"a_id": [
"e21pkat",
"e21pnnh",
"e21qlah"
],
"score": [
2,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Water takes much more energy to heat up one degree than candle wax, and there's much *much* more hot material in a pot of boiling water than a diffuse flame. ",
"All people do when putting a candle ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
6p5giy | what is the difference between the "toast" and "bake" settings on a toaster oven? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6p5giy/eli5_what_is_the_difference_between_the_toast_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"dkmqkg6",
"dkmqkwa"
],
"score": [
7,
2
],
"text": [
"Answer for this exact question 3 years ago.\n\n- Bake - Turns on top and bottom heating elements. Also turns on convection fan. Turns off and on as needed to maintain temperature.\n- Toast - Same as bake, but without the con... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
81p689 | which came first, the first egg laying being or the egg? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/81p689/eli5_which_came_first_the_first_egg_laying_being/ | {
"a_id": [
"dv45rrr",
"dv462vh"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"I am no expert, but I guess a way of simplifying it would be:\n\nthrough evolution creatures developed the ability to lay eggs millions of years ago, like how fish do and that sort. And through evolution these creatures have... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
2w3ei7 | what is isis's strategy? it seems like they're pissing off everyone who is then retaliating. do they have any allies? why are they trying to take on everyone at once? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2w3ei7/eli5_what_is_isiss_strategy_it_seems_like_theyre/ | {
"a_id": [
"con96b4",
"con9app",
"concsd2"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Someone [wrote a scholarly paper](_URL_0_) on terrorists' motives and strategies, and basically concluded that terrorists don't behave as they do because they thing that it is beneficial to their goals.... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://fsi.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/Abrahms_What_Terrorists_Really_Want.pdf"
],
[],
[]
] | ||
3xbzjy | how did scientists discover and prove that birds are able to see a fourth colour when humans can only see three? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3xbzjy/eli5_how_did_scientists_discover_and_prove_that/ | {
"a_id": [
"cy3as4k"
],
"score": [
18
],
"text": [
"Different types of cone cells in the eye are responsive to different parts of electromagnetic spectrum, aka. color. So you basically just slice open some eyes and see what kind of cells there are."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2v9ng5 | what is dark flow? | Just Google Dark Flow and it shows a definition, I just need that translated into five year old terms :p | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2v9ng5/eli5what_is_dark_flow/ | {
"a_id": [
"cofozeo"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Basically, it is the component of velocity we cannot account for in galaxy observational data. Theory predicts that galaxys should be moving in random directions. However, the data collected shows a uniform movement in a particular direction. Thu... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
bqotfg | why can some viruses/bacteria/germs only spread through certain methods? | HIV, for example, can only spread through body fluids or the like, while the common cold can travel through the air; salmonella can be transmitted through contact with food. What differences cause each virus to only be able to be transmitted in their respective forms? Why can't they all go airborne or the like? Why are... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bqotfg/eli5_why_can_some_virusesbacteriagerms_only/ | {
"a_id": [
"eo6evd3"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"It depends on what parts of the body a pathogen infects.\n\nHIV requires white blood cells to reproduce, which is why it only spreads through what we refer to as “blood fluids” which are things like blood (obviously), semen, and breast milk. The ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
29st2c | how does hunting (legally) benefit animals? particularly those that are endangered? | To start off I know absolutely nothing about hunting and my question isn't sarcastic I'm genuinely curious. I'm wondering about how hunting actually benefits animals (not overpopulated ones) but rather those that are close to extinction. I was reading this article about that girl Kendall Jones and the controversy about... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/29st2c/eli5_how_does_hunting_legally_benefit_animals/ | {
"a_id": [
"cio5yab",
"cio610w",
"cio61y3",
"cio622j",
"cioaalg",
"ciojuzk"
],
"score": [
8,
127,
3,
4,
22,
2
],
"text": [
"The only way to protect the animals from poachers is with money (buying security forces, fences). The nations in Africa tend to be v... | [] | [
"http://www.people.com/article/kendall-jones-texas-cheerleader-african-hunting-photos-controversy"
] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
6jkfp4 | do i share dna with all my ancestors, or just 2 branches? | Recently I did an ancestry test and it made me wonder how the passing of DNA happens.
I know that during conception half of the chromosones from each parents combine into a new set; and there will always be small mutations. My question is if there is a true meshup of the chromosones (further than dominant/recessive) a... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6jkfp4/eli5_do_i_share_dna_with_all_my_ancestors_or_just/ | {
"a_id": [
"djevzoe",
"djewqja"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"When most of your cells replicate, it undergoes a process called mitosis. The end result is 2 identical cells.\n\nHowever, when your germ cells replicate (sperm/eggs), they undergo a process called meiosis. One of the stages... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
fvkfav | how do faster moving molecules translate into heat? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fvkfav/eli5_how_do_faster_moving_molecules_translate/ | {
"a_id": [
"fmixffz"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"It's actually the opposite. Molecules are in constant motion, and the speed is determined by their heat. The colder they are, the slower they move. The hotter they are, the faster they move. You can create heat by adding motion from an external s... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
25xgjz | how do rainfall radars work? | I'm curious how images like this got generated:
_URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/25xgjz/eli5_how_do_rainfall_radars_work/ | {
"a_id": [
"chlnk50"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Radars send out radio waves and these waves then bounce off of objects and the radar receiver collects these returned waves and makes a picture. The frequency and wavelength of the radio waves determines how far the radar can see and how sensitiv... | [] | [
"http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/weather/ianfergusson/rainfall-radar-wed20jan-metoffice-0915.jpg"
] | [
[]
] | |
7p78do | why is it harder to swallow anything while laying down? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7p78do/elif_why_is_it_harder_to_swallow_anything_while/ | {
"a_id": [
"dseznoj"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Normally when you swallow, gravity assists your muscles in helping the food go down. When you lie on your back, gravity is no longer helping and it's just your muscles doing the work."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
40g74g | japan did horrible things to china, and we were at war with them during ww2. how is it flipped? | While Japan did atrocities to China before we joined in on WW2, how is it now that Japan is our ally while China is aligned with our opposites such as Russia/NK ? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/40g74g/eli5_japan_did_horrible_things_to_china_and_we/ | {
"a_id": [
"cytwq0t",
"cytwvos"
],
"score": [
7,
3
],
"text": [
"It's been seventy-five years since world war two. Pearl Harbour - when Japan attacked the US - occurred in 1941. That's a whole lot of water that's flowed under the bridge, and more than plenty of time for the leadership and... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
7biiie | why does fecal matter make you so ill if eaten? | In a nutshell, it comes from the body but is dangerous as all hell when it goes back in the body? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7biiie/eli5_why_does_fecal_matter_make_you_so_ill_if/ | {
"a_id": [
"dpiaip2",
"dpibzf2",
"dpii1gc"
],
"score": [
12,
2,
4
],
"text": [
"It follows the everything has a place and everything in its place. There are more bacteria in a square inch of your colon than people ever born, the bacteria serve a purpose there. You have different b... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
yl1hx | dating. | I think it's a US thing, and I'm not American. But what are the guidelines? Is it an excuse to try someone out? Can you try out several people at once?
If I have any romantic interest in someone, I would expect that relationship to be the only one currently in play. So how do you go for the occasional date? Does it n... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/yl1hx/dating/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5wj6kh",
"c5wk6if"
],
"score": [
7,
5
],
"text": [
"You can totally date lots of people at a time. You just can't exclusively date more than one person. You're not exclusive until you agree you are. Every date isn't an automatic commitment.",
"A \"date\" is a prearrang... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
9rg3kx | why does it take so much speed to go into outer space? could we just build a elevator out of steel cables and pull ourselves to space? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9rg3kx/eli5_why_does_it_take_so_much_speed_to_go_into/ | {
"a_id": [
"e8gmjey",
"e8gmjz1",
"e8gmmpp",
"e8gmnh8",
"e8gmp3d"
],
"score": [
2,
6,
2,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"The issue isnt just *getting* into space as much as it is *staying in space*. \n\nIf you hypothetically had an elevator that let you off at low earth orbit an... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
8358nb | how does that switch on my rearview mirror that helps dim headlights at night work? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8358nb/eli5_how_does_that_switch_on_my_rearview_mirror/ | {
"a_id": [
"dvf8nwv",
"dvfcry7",
"dvfp0dr",
"dvfqg5q",
"dvfvl8q"
],
"score": [
482,
16,
29,
13,
3
],
"text": [
"There's two types. The old style is positional; the new style is electronic.\n\nThe positional ones came first and have been around for decades. These ty... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBjQlD7E7QY"
],
[],
[
"http://www.edu.pe.ca/gray/class_pages/krcutcliffe/physics521/17reflection/definitions/rearview.bmp"
],
[]
] | ||
584y2r | why does depression make you unhappy but simultaneously unable to do anything to fix it? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/584y2r/eli5_why_does_depression_make_you_unhappy_but/ | {
"a_id": [
"d8xhdyg",
"d8xhpig",
"d8xjmt2",
"d8xkq04"
],
"score": [
7,
2,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Both have to do with chemical imbalances in the brain. \n\nWhat you're talking about has a clinical term called \"Anhedonia\" which is the inability to feel pleasure and is an actu... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3yh5tu | why do banks own our houses? i know mortgage is french and means death pledge. why do so few people own all of our homes. and why does it cost an unaffordable amount for a common man to own his home? | Shouldn't owning a home be a starting point in life and not an end goal? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3yh5tu/eli5_why_do_banks_own_our_houses_i_know_mortgage/ | {
"a_id": [
"cydfkjn",
"cydg3et",
"cydg504",
"cydglr7",
"cydhtoq",
"cydirzk",
"cydptqj",
"cydqhjj"
],
"score": [
27,
12,
4,
3,
2,
24,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"It would take 30 years to save up enough money for the average person to buy a house outr... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
j7v5e | li5: explain fashion / fashion shows to me please. | Do fashion shows really mandate trends worldwide? Do designers seriously put [this](_URL_1_) or [this](_URL_2_) on a catwalk and expect people to wear it? Even more important, do girls actually wear stuff like [this](_URL_0_) (NSFW) in public and where can I find them? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/j7v5e/li5_explain_fashion_fashion_shows_to_me_please/ | {
"a_id": [
"c29v2tl",
"c29x1w9",
"c29xtdi",
"c29v2tl",
"c29x1w9",
"c29xtdi"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
3,
3,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"That type of fashion is really just art. Nobody would actually wear it in real life. Many people see clothing as just another place to... | [] | [
"http://img.bollywoodsargam.com/albumsbolly/Greece_Fashion_Show/Greece_Fashion_Show_Hot_Beauty_0815_58_21.jpg",
"http://www.urdown.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/85198272_10.jpg",
"http://brenttrf.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/fashion1.jpg"
] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://www.target.com/Hailey-Jeans-Juniors-Sleeve-Jumper/dp/B004Q5SPI4/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&searchView=grid5&keywords=jumper&fromGsearch=true&sr=1-18&qid=1312410223&rh=&searchRank=target104545&id=Hailey%20Jeans%20Juniors%20Sleeve%20Jumper&node=1038576|1287991011... | |
4ihz61 | why can't you 'relax' your tongue? | If you let it lay at the bottom of your mouth, you still feel pressure or stress on it. Why can't you relax it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4ihz61/eli5_why_cant_you_relax_your_tongue/ | {
"a_id": [
"d2y8klj",
"d2yg1wf"
],
"score": [
8,
5
],
"text": [
"You can absolutely relax your tongue. It just happens to be anchored. That's like asking why you can't relax your hand, because even when you put it down on a table it doesn't roll up your arm. ",
"Damn you!\n\n[Relevant... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://xkcd.com/972/"
]
] | |
bbeff6 | why do the nhl and nba use a draft lottery and the mlb and nfl don't? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bbeff6/eli5_why_do_the_nhl_and_nba_use_a_draft_lottery/ | {
"a_id": [
"eki8kxk",
"eki8xqj",
"ekif9v3"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Some [other threads](_URL_0_).",
"Just some guesses here.\n\nThe lottery is designed to lessen the incentive to 'tank' - that is, to deliberately lose to get better draft position. When the worst re... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/search?q=NHL%20draft&restrict_sr=1&sort=new"
],
[],
[]
] | ||
3dwoso | why can't you beat the system in roulette? | I did my research and found answers that were either not answering my question or were just plain wrong.
My calculations using the martingale method: 1-1000(so effectively 1-512) bet range. 48.8something% chance of a given color. I loose every 0.00074something times 1023 dollars. That leaves me with a ~24% profit ove... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3dwoso/eli5_why_cant_you_beat_the_system_in_roulette/ | {
"a_id": [
"ct9ctlh",
"ct9ec52"
],
"score": [
2,
5
],
"text": [
" > OK but this is in a perfect world where I have infinte money and time\n\nThe catch is you don't have infinite money. You are as likely (a little more likely, actually) to have a losing streak that wipes out your stake t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
v8y45 | how do i use hashtags appropriately on twitter, and how do i use them to read trending news? | I suck at Twitter - big fail at my attempt to post anything. Never really understood the utility of hashtags, and don't understand how to use them to read trending news. Friend checked twitter the other day to check on the status of a crime happening in his neighbourhood. Please help me to understand! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/v8y45/eli5_how_do_i_use_hashtags_appropriately_on/ | {
"a_id": [
"c52d5n8",
"c52gp08"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"A hashtag looks like this: #euro2012\n\nYou use it by simply including it as part of your message. eg: \n\n > I think Spain will win again this year #euro2012\n\nTo find out what other people think about Euro 2012, put the ... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://twitter.com/#!/search/%23euro2012",
"http://search.twitter.com"
],
[]
] | |
epvayv | unlike juice and most mixed drinks, why does soda additives not separate from the water base? | Was wondering why I don’t have to “shake well before serving” for soda beverages. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/epvayv/eli5_unlike_juice_and_most_mixed_drinks_why_does/ | {
"a_id": [
"fem2xf7"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Most fruit drinks are ‘suspensions’ meaning that there are insoluble components (prime example: pulp) that rapidly settles out over short periods of time, so you need to shake to make the drink somewhat homogenous.\n\nMilks are emulsions which re... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
zrcit | why are front-lit screens better for the eyes than back-lit ones? | I'm about to buy an e-reader (for all sorts of reasons other than just lighting options) but I want to know why a front-lit screen is better for the eyes than than a back-lit screen. Isn't a photon a photon either way? What does bouncing light off a screen do to reduce eye strain that a brightly-glowing collection of p... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/zrcit/eli5_why_are_frontlit_screens_better_for_the_eyes/ | {
"a_id": [
"c672amr"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The term \"frontlit\" screen is somewhat of a misnomer....but I'll try to answer:\n\nSimply, a frontlit display is lit from in front of the display, as opposed to from behind. That sounds pretty straightforward, until you realize that the backlit... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1udryn | why do my dreams get so much nuttier the warmer i am? | If I'm hot, I have some cuckoo dreams. They are very vivid and real. I almost never dream if the room is chilled. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1udryn/eli5_why_do_my_dreams_get_so_much_nuttier_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"ceh180k"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"You only remember dreams when you are woken up abruptly, for example by a noise or somebody poking you (hi kids).\n\nOn a warm night, you are not fully comfortable and wake more often to move position as does your partner (if you have one) meanin... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
43v2n6 | how is it that in college, we only have class a couple of days a week, yet we learn just as much, if not more, than we did in high school with class every day? | I understand that teachers may just end up being better in college, but I just don't get how I can spend 4 hours in college in a class each week and earn the same amount of knowledge as I did in high school with much more time.
Edit: Thanks everyone for explaining it. It makes more sense since the college professor... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/43v2n6/eli5how_is_it_that_in_college_we_only_have_class/ | {
"a_id": [
"czl52wr",
"czl58wf",
"czl5d5f",
"czl5nx6"
],
"score": [
9,
6,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"It's a different approach. High school teachers need to teach at a level that the entire class can grasp the concepts. Lecturers don't really give a fuck if you understand it or no... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
4d10la | why is there a maximum size for a rocky planet. | I remember reading about a planet of a large size not likely to be rocky due to its size. Why is this, why could we not have a rocky planet the size of Jupiter for example? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4d10la/eli5_why_is_there_a_maximum_size_for_a_rocky/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1muv49",
"d1mux5f",
"d1mwhno",
"d1my14d",
"d1n4e3v",
"d1nfxm9"
],
"score": [
5,
183,
41,
8,
4,
3
],
"text": [
"In theory with a large enough metal planet, it would become a star. It would have to be many times the volume of the sun, but it's po... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://what-if.xkcd.com/138/"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1zsjvw | if walmart is evil, why do so many people shop there? | I've grown up in big city/metropolitan areas my whole life that don't have Walmarts, so I've never lived near one. I keep hearing how bad they are for the overall economy, how they destroy local business and underpay their employees, so why the hell does anyone shop there?
Honestly, I've only been there a few times... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1zsjvw/eli5_if_walmart_is_evil_why_do_so_many_people/ | {
"a_id": [
"cfwkbpj",
"cfwkcmh",
"cfwlfx6"
],
"score": [
2,
7,
3
],
"text": [
"Well I doubt the people that shop at Walmart think Walmart is evil",
"It's cheap and convenient.\n\nThat's really all there is to it.",
"Australian here: why exactly is it \"evil\"?"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
72dk08 | if plants draw nutrients and feed from the soil, how are the nutrients in the soil replenished? | I understand some of this is remedied by crop rotation and other things, but how do the essentials get replenished? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/72dk08/eli5_if_plants_draw_nutrients_and_feed_from_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"dnhnbhs",
"dnhniv2",
"dnhqmdu"
],
"score": [
2,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Different ways. One of them is decomposition of waste, like death animals or defecation. Another big source is surface and underground flow, which erode minerals from rocks and move them toward lower gr... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
g1q9wa | how come bacteria can't enter through our skin even though they are generally smaller than a skin pore? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/g1q9wa/eli5_how_come_bacteria_cant_enter_through_our/ | {
"a_id": [
"fngzyd8",
"fnh2xig"
],
"score": [
8,
3
],
"text": [
"The skin has a natural flora (collection) of bacteria on its surface, most are friendly bacteria.\n\nSkin pores do not have direct access through all layers of the skin to our blood stream.\n\nOnce the skin is broken (cut/la... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
219nlj | what a person with depression goes through on a daily basis | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/219nlj/eli5_what_a_person_with_depression_goes_through/ | {
"a_id": [
"cgaxmfp",
"cgaxmk9",
"cgay7rr",
"cgayhqv"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
6,
3
],
"text": [
"Depression varies from person to person, but for me it manifests itself as a lack of energy, mood swings (indifferent to really angry over nothing), and a general disinterest in th... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4ypove | how do people with artificial hearts deal with cardiovascular health? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4ypove/eli5_how_do_people_with_artificial_hearts_deal/ | {
"a_id": [
"d6pmkeu"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"I had one for about a year before I got a transplant. In my case, my heart continued to deteriorate ( it was a ventricular assist device, which relied on the other part of the heart to continue to work). During recovery, I was ate fly encouraged ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
dhwmlz | do animals with larger ears hear a greater range of frequencies or do they hear the same frequencies at a greater distance or is it some combination of the two? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dhwmlz/eli5_do_animals_with_larger_ears_hear_a_greater/ | {
"a_id": [
"f3rkgll"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Ear size doesn't seem to correlate to either range of frequencies or distance of hearing. Moths seem to have the best hearing of the entire animal kingdom, bats seem to have the highest frequency range. It's all about the inner ear and the folds ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
av66bu | what causes dirt to turn into sand (what even is dirt techinically)? what can be done to reverse the process? | Perhaps I should clarify what I mean. The question I was thinking of arised from desertification. How does a fertile land turn into desert and what is the process of turning it back. I knew I should not have simplified the question to what I thought was true. SMH me | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/av66bu/eli5_what_causes_dirt_to_turn_into_sand_what_even/ | {
"a_id": [
"ehcvg1l",
"ehcvi91",
"ehcvl9x"
],
"score": [
5,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"Dirt doesn’t turn into sand. Sand is only a small part of what makes up dirt.\n\nSand comes from rocks and minerals breaking down/eroding.\n\nDirt (soil) is a combination of water, sand, clay, silt and ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
20zeqr | what would a billiard ball's surface looks like if it was big as earth? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20zeqr/eli5_what_would_a_billiard_balls_surface_looks/ | {
"a_id": [
"cg85n6j"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"XKCD's what-if did something like this [but for a bowling ball](_URL_0_)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://what-if.xkcd.com/46/"
]
] | ||
bd6heb | what's an honors degree and how would it differ from my normal _url_0_ computer science degree? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bd6heb/eli5_whats_an_honors_degree_and_how_would_it/ | {
"a_id": [
"ekw3ezq",
"ekwjalv"
],
"score": [
2,
3
],
"text": [
"To get honors when you are getting your degree means you performed far higher than the minimum to earn the degree. Effectively you got straight A+ in your degree and often did extra projects for the honors program itself.",
... | [
"B.Sc"
] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
32prl1 | why does my phone screen not respond to pressing when my finger is wet? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32prl1/eli5_why_does_my_phone_screen_not_respond_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqdfz6h",
"cqdr075",
"cqdto6y"
],
"score": [
544,
7,
11
],
"text": [
"Phone touch screens work (well modern ones) based on capacitance. That is a build up of charge between two conductive materials with an insulator in between. So when you touch the glass with anything... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
bpkxpa | what causes "good days" and "bad days" when you run/exercise? | I get that lots of things are at play - nutrition, fatigue, mental state. But physiologically speaking, what's happening on the days when your legs feel like lead and you hit a pace that's markedly slower than the day before? What's happening when your feet feel surprisingly light, and you run faster and farther than y... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bpkxpa/eli5_what_causes_good_days_and_bad_days_when_you/ | {
"a_id": [
"env5swi"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Keep in mind there's a natural change of energy during the day while not exercising. If you sit on the train for an hour to get home from work, you probably feel very tired. If you talk to your friend about weekend plans, you probably get excited... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
6kuhbo | what is that static/feel good feeling we get in our back, when we are pleased? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6kuhbo/eli5_what_is_that_staticfeel_good_feeling_we_get/ | {
"a_id": [
"djov89n"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"ASMR? Is that what you are feeling?"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
egatl6 | if black doesn’t reflect any light, then why do black metals (such as the metals seen on cars) reflect light? | So basically what I’ve learned is that black is the absence of light, and that light doesn’t reflect on black materials. I was thinking about that today and realized that black cars actually reflect the most light, and that you can usually use them as almost a mirror, yet white cars don’t reflect nearly as much light. ... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/egatl6/eli5_if_black_doesnt_reflect_any_light_then_why/ | {
"a_id": [
"fc5arp9",
"fc5aw6y",
"fc5b05f"
],
"score": [
9,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"What we think of as \"black\" is far shy of true absolute black. Generally, car paint is a color coat with a glossy/reflective clear coat over it. The reflection you see is the relatively small amount o... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
2mt060 | can my red be your blue? | We all see colors. Is it possible that the colour I call red is also called red by you but it is in fact a different color? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2mt060/eli5can_my_red_be_your_blue/ | {
"a_id": [
"cm7asyj",
"cm7augw",
"cm7ba4o",
"cm7zu7n"
],
"score": [
4,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Super short answer: Yes. We all have different vision.\n\nGreat explanation by Vsauce. _URL_0_\n\nThink of it like colorblind vs normal vision. You see a picture with blue and red,... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://youtu.be/evQsOFQju08"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
297lni | what is it like to be autistic? | I'm just really curious as to how it would feel to be autistic and how my thought process would be different. Thanks. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/297lni/eli5_what_is_it_like_to_be_autistic/ | {
"a_id": [
"ciiavwq",
"cijye73"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Autism is really a lot of different things. Consistencies in cases of autism include over or under-sensitivity to certain stimuli (For example, I deal with oversensitivity to touching and a strong discomfort when I hear whis... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
69swax | why are firm mattresses recommended but sleeping on the floor isn't? | So I am almost 20 years old and have been diagnosed with scoliosis. While it is not severe at all, my lower back does hurt if I don't sleep in a good mattress. Today I started wondering about sleeping on the floor and a quick google search showed me that it CAN be beneficial! So my question is. Why isn't this recommend... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/69swax/eli5_why_are_firm_mattresses_recommended_but/ | {
"a_id": [
"dh96b7d",
"dh96khq",
"dh96uwo",
"dh98dxd",
"dh992n3",
"dh993gn",
"dh9b8aj",
"dh9gn8y",
"dh9jzo7",
"dh9mfsy",
"dh9o68g",
"dh9pc10",
"dh9r7zi",
"dh9zjmu",
"dha9ibl"
],
"score": [
121,
2,
10,
32,
3,
3,
3,
4,
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
46g6vd | how can loans from small credit unions have much lower interest rates than loans from large international banks? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/46g6vd/eli5_how_can_loans_from_small_credit_unions_have/ | {
"a_id": [
"d04t1up",
"d04z4t4",
"d054wok"
],
"score": [
45,
6,
3
],
"text": [
"Credit unions typically don't make a large profit and, for several reasons, they typically have lower operating costs/payroll. Because of this, they can give out lower rates and make less money.",
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
fn9swk | why haven't our fingers become super muscular? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fn9swk/eli5_why_havent_our_fingers_become_super_muscular/ | {
"a_id": [
"fl8ebd2",
"fl8cp1v",
"fl8d0k7",
"fl8dj6h"
],
"score": [
5,
48,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Go rock climbing and you’ll understand how you haven’t been using your fingers to the extent you thought haha",
"Because there aren't any muscles in your fingers.\n\nThe muscl... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
32n8q4 | given how selfies have become so popular, why aren't phone manufacturers making phones with front cameras as powerful as their back cameras? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32n8q4/eli5_given_how_selfies_have_become_so_popular_why/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqcsjaq",
"cqctv8x",
"cqcumj4"
],
"score": [
8,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"For the most part, the front cameras do not need to focus a large landscape or a lot of detail, because a selfie's main point of focus is the person's face. \n\nOn the other hand, the back camera has a ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_lumia_735-6639.php",
"http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_g3_vs_htc_one_m8-review-1094.php"
]
] | ||
4173be | - you know how you can flick a switch on a rearview mirror and it reduces glare while still being reflective? how does that work? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4173be/eli5_you_know_how_you_can_flick_a_switch_on_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"cz05fcc"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"There is a secondary mirror angled behind the main mirror. Go to a junk yard, and cut one in half to see."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
33o99c | as i am falling asleep, why do i see images and hear sounds that are almost like hallucinations, and how do they differ from normal dreaming? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/33o99c/eli5_as_i_am_falling_asleep_why_do_i_see_images/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqmtdvo"
],
"score": [
9
],
"text": [
"It's called hypnagogia. As you transition from awake to asleep, you pass through a weird bit where it is possible for bits of dream to get mixed in with external sensations, and/or for lingering bits of external sensations to get mixed into your ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
bbm419 | how do they determine the speed at which extinct animals used to walk? | I just saw this post about ancient human’s footprints in Australia and that they ran at great speeds.
I wanted to know how they determined the speed at which he used to run.
Link to post: _URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bbm419/eli5_how_do_they_determine_the_speed_at_which/ | {
"a_id": [
"ekjohw8"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"This was actually explained in the original post you linked to. It's determined by the depth of the prints across their length, and the distance between the prints.\n\nIf a print is deep, it means the impact was heavier; if there's a long distanc... | [] | [
"https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/bbhmq9/thats_crazy/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app"
] | [
[]
] | |
1isdnh | how do you derive the formula for the volume of a sphere? | I know the formula is (4πr^3 ) / 3, but what is the simplest way to derive this formula yourself?
Edit: mistyped formula, ha. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1isdnh/eli5_how_do_you_derive_the_formula_for_the_volume/ | {
"a_id": [
"cb7ktzt"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Here's a silent animation showing the process visually: _URL_2_\n\nYou'll probably need a little more explanation, so here's a video that gives the full algebraic derivation along with the animation and a verbal explanation: _URL_0_\n\nAlthough i... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuPl_8o_j7k",
"http://betterexplained.com/articles/surprising-uses-of-the-pythagorean-theorem/",
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeNv6YCoXTw"
]
] | |
adqfyk | why do our eyes change focus when looking at a screen vs reflections on that screen, even though it's the same surface? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/adqfyk/eli5why_do_our_eyes_change_focus_when_looking_at/ | {
"a_id": [
"edjetfg"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Go to a bathroom mirror and stick a small dot of stickynote or damp paper or tissue on its surface to make a \"model\" of a reflecting screen. Then back away from that mirror a bit, say, three feet, and line that dot up with your nose. Focus on t... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2sx6er | how does apple own the trademarks to a generic word? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2sx6er/eli5_how_does_apple_own_the_trademarks_to_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"cntp3sc"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"It doesn't.\n\nIt owns the trademark \"Apple\" when it relates to \"computers, computer software, computer peripherals, etc.\", according to [its own website](_URL_0_). It also owns the trademark on the Apple logo.\n\nThat means you can't, legall... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.apple.com/legal/intellectual-property/trademark/appletmlist.html"
]
] | ||
3b3urx | why is it that repeated coughing can quickly cause light-headedness and dizziness, but holding one's breath does not? | **Some clarification:**
Obviously, holding your breath for a long time can and will result in dizziness and eventual lack of consciousness. However, it seems to me that it takes half a minute or more before this occurs, even with expelling air in the lungs first. Conversely, it seems that coughing can ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3b3urx/eli5_why_is_it_that_repeated_coughing_can_quickly/ | {
"a_id": [
"csil4jm"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"Repeated coughing can cause [hyperventilation](_URL_0_), which can cause dizziness and light-headedness. \n\nHyperventilation is actually the result of getting *rid of* too much CO2.\n\nHolding your breath does the opposite, and causes [hypoventi... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperventilation",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoventilation"
]
] | |
34ok4f | why do police use numerical codes instead of saying what happened? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/34ok4f/eli5_why_do_police_use_numerical_codes_instead_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqwl9wb"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"They're standard- one officer might use different terms to describe a situation than another.\n\nThey're faster- saying a 3 digit code is quicker than describing a scene. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
798xmd | why aren't pictures allowed in court, and why can you not talking about the case if on jury? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/798xmd/eli5_why_arent_pictures_allowed_in_court_and_why/ | {
"a_id": [
"dp0495i"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Most judges do not allow photography in their courtroom to protect witnesses and jurors' privacy. It can also be disruptive. On the other hand, some judges let their court sessions be broadcast on TV. Each court sets its own rules. Because the se... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4m5xpk | how do nurses avoid illness when they're so often exposed to contagious viruses? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4m5xpk/eli5_how_do_nurses_avoid_illness_when_theyre_so/ | {
"a_id": [
"d3swdnv",
"d3sx56d",
"d3t1hlb",
"d3t8o8f"
],
"score": [
6,
4,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Short answer: They don't.\n\nLong answer: Hospitals tell employees to wash their hands constantly. There are often hand sanitizer dispensers outside every room (often signs tellin... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.