q_id stringlengths 5 6 | title stringlengths 3 296 | selftext stringlengths 0 34k | document stringclasses 1
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171kbj | manti te'o's fake girlfriend | I don't follow sports at all, and people keep talking about this football player's dead girlfriend that turned out to be a hoax. Apparently that's a big deal. Can someone fill me in? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/171kbj/eli5_manti_teos_fake_girlfriend/ | {
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"Try the search engine. This question has been asked dozens of times."
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64zrsq | why does popping a knuckle/joint feel so good? | My coworker has a tendency to flick his wrist back to relieve pressure after using his computer mouse for so long. Before going to sleep at night, I put a little pressure on the inside of my knee and pop the knee-cap knuckle/joint. What causes that pressure buildup, what causes the pop sound, and why does it feel so go... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/64zrsq/eli5_why_does_popping_a_knucklejoint_feel_so_good/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"I'm not a doctor, but I believe it's air that gets trapped in the joints, and when you \"crack\" your knuckles it releases that air. \n\nI crack my knuckles multiple times a day and people have told me, my whole life, that it's bad for me, but I ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
9xm42b | why is it that when it is really cold outside, you can see steam coming from a vehicle's exhaust for several minutes, but then it becomes much less visible after the vehicle "warms up"? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9xm42b/eli5_why_is_it_that_when_it_is_really_cold/ | {
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75by2v | what makes up the vapor of electronic cigarettes? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/75by2v/eli5_what_makes_up_the_vapor_of_electronic/ | {
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"Electronic cigaretes contain a heating element, when this element gets hot, it makes the water inside the liquid boil and forms bubbles, the same way bubbles are formed when you blow in soapy water through a straw. When these bubbles burst, the l... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://youtu.be/lM9nvNOFqKU"
]
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17e20t | why did most soviet citizens not realize the terror occurring around them in the times before its collapse? | I've been learning about the U.S.S.R in English and geography this year and I know that Stalin used very strong propaganda, but how did they not realize, especially after his death? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/17e20t/eli5_why_did_most_soviet_citizens_not_realize_the/ | {
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"They did notice. They just assumed that all countries were like that, and kinda ignored it when they could.\n\nWhich seems weird and unrelatable. Until you remember that the United States of America sometimes tortures people... | [] | [] | [
[],
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] | |
30lxu7 | in youtube, why do i see a difference between the 720p setting and the 1440p setting even though i have a 720p monitor? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30lxu7/eli5_in_youtube_why_do_i_see_a_difference_between/ | {
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"Because youtube videos are heavily compressed, so the higher bitrate of the 1440p stream effectively leaves you with a *better* 720p st... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[],
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"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:420-progressive-still.png"
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aqe4oj | why is pizza so heavily marketed towards children in the usa? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aqe4oj/eli5_why_is_pizza_so_heavily_marketed_towards/ | {
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"text": [
"If children develop the taste for pizza, it is most likely that they're going to eat it their entire life, either if their parents bought it, either if they purchase it as they grown up; all resulting in great profit for the companies for an endl... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
45chrx | why does light pass through some thin solids? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/45chrx/eli5_why_does_light_pass_through_some_thin_solids/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Light passes through some thick solids, like glass.\n\nThe arrangement of atoms makes a substance opaque or transparent. Each type of atom or molecule absorbs some frequencies and not others. The wood in your house absorbs light (you can't see ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6excdk | why would a temperature shift of +2º c be so catastrophic? | I don't doubt the catastrophic effects of climate change, and I trust the scientific consensus, but personally I don't understand why a shift of 2 more degrees would result in the massive melting/flooding that scientists predict. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6excdk/eli5_why_would_a_temperature_shift_of_2º_c_be_so/ | {
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"It tips the balance between spring melt and snow pack at the poles. The ice ends up melt... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[],
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrate_gun_hypothesis"
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f81v8q | what exactly is an accrual ? what are contra asset accounts | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f81v8q/eli5_what_exactly_is_an_accrual_what_are_contra/ | {
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Accurals are when you are acknowledging the liability without actually making a payment. (Salaries Accrued).\n\nContra Asset are used to for reductions of assets so that net amount can be reported. (Accumulated depreciation)... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
sedsr | public sector pension reform **no politics please** | I'm wanting to move forward with understanding the stakes of pensions in the public sectors, and reforms that are being brought up to improve them. Are they, if so how come? If not, why not?
EDIT: No Politics Means no bashing each others opinions. Be cordial. Please. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/sedsr/public_sector_pension_reform_no_politics_please/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"You aren't going to get an explanation without politics, because politics are inextricably bound with this issue.\n\nPublic unions negotiate contracts with the government that provide for salary, benefits, and pensions. Sin... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
65iaps | why was indigo dropped from the rainbow representation in recent years? growing up, i always learned it as roy g biv. | Not to mention the 7 colors of the DC Lantern Corps. :) | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/65iaps/eli5_why_was_indigo_dropped_from_the_rainbow/ | {
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"text": [
"Indigo was invented to make up the number of colours to seven because Isaac Newton was very keen on its mystical power. Although indigo is a real colour, it has a very narrow frequency range and it wou... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://xkcd.com/color/rgb/"
],
[]
] | |
25s7h8 | how accurate are expiry dates? | How do they Determine expiry dates? How accurate are they? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/25s7h8/eli5how_accurate_are_expiry_dates/ | {
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"text": [
"Unless a product has been stored in extremes of temperature, pretty much everything is good to eat until the expiration date.\n\nKeep in mind that many fresh products (like meat an... | [] | [] | [
[],
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[],
[]
] | |
7mozub | why does music "motivate" people sometimes, but not always? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7mozub/eli5_why_does_music_motivate_people_sometimes_but/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Rhythm like a basic beat can give you a goal of trying to keep up with it \n\nYou start to notice that your steps are out of sync, and you internally say \"this wont do\" and try and match pace. \n\nStill takes will power but a good tune can help... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
eza3sy | the different units of radioactivity | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/eza3sy/eli5_the_different_units_of_radioactivity/ | {
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"text": [
"They all measure different but intercontected things. You use different ones depending on what exactly you want to know. \n\n\\* means non-SI units.\n\n & #x200B;\n\n* Becquerels measure the rate of decay. 1 Becquerel is 1 nuclei decaying per sec... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5rhvyb | what are vitamins b6 and b12 and what should they succeed in doing? | I see both of these vitamins in many energy supplements. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5rhvyb/eli5_what_are_vitamins_b6_and_b12_and_what_should/ | {
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"Many reactions take place in the body to give you energy and to make new body parts. If you remember chemistry, frequently reactions require a lot of heat to get started. The reason they can happen in your 98.6 degree body, ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
9jlka0 | how can you pull up an anchor? | If an anchor attached to the bottom of the sea is strong enough to keep the boat in place, how can the boat pull up the anchor without pulling itself down into the water? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9jlka0/eli5_how_can_you_pull_up_an_anchor/ | {
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"... | [] | [] | [
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464mvm | macros and micros (nutrition-wise) | I am just wondering about importance of them individually and what some examples are can one exist without the other or is it paramount they are consumed in unison? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/464mvm/eli5_macros_and_micros_nutritionwise/ | {
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"text": [
"**MACROS**: Extremely important.\n\n* Protein: The basic building block of all of your body's enzymes, and a major structural component of all cells. Protein is vitally important. For example, if a very obese person stops eating, they will most... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
dvuobt | how is life expectancy figured when someone is diagnosed with a condition or disease? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dvuobt/eli5_how_is_life_expectancy_figured_when_someone/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"It's based on general life expectancy from previous cases of that condition or disease combined with how far along and how severe that individuals case is. It's also part of why people sometimes outlive the predicted life ex... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1kafqe | why certain acids can burn through a body but do not burn through the plastic jug they are contained in. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1kafqe/eli5_why_certain_acids_can_burn_through_a_body/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Acids work by transferring protons from themselves to other molecules. Containers for acids are made from materials that do not have any \"room\" for extra protons to latch onto.",
"Nice try Pinkman... "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
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] | ||
9izjrk | why can we survive longer without food than without water? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9izjrk/eli5_why_can_we_survive_longer_without_food_than/ | {
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"text": [
"In a nutshell, your body without food will begin to eat it’s own fat and then muscle. So there’s time there before your body has nothing left to digest. Water though, like gasoline, makes everything run including the digest... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
6ariz1 | why does anesthesia make you nauseous? | When people have surgery and are put under using anesthesia, why when they wake up are they nauseous and have to be monitored afterwards? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6ariz1/eli5_why_does_anesthesia_make_you_nauseous/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"We're actually not 100% sure. The current model suggests that there isn't just one part of the brain responsible for nausea and vomiting - instead, there are a bunch of different areas spread throughout. \n\nThere's one zone in particular called ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2cjvw8 | why do some large, powerful nations squabble over their tiny neighbors or worthless disputed territories? | For example, why does Russia, arguably one of the most powerful and respected (if not exceptionally well-liked) nations in the world give two bits about Georgia? Why do India and Pakistan maintain costly troop presences at Siachen? For that matter, why does China care about what is essentially uninhabited mountains on ... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2cjvw8/eli5_why_do_some_large_powerful_nations_squabble/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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"text": [
"Because if you give up on one worthless chunk of land, then it makes you look weak and gives an excuse for other countries to come in and dispute over regions that *you actually want to keep*. \n\nAlthough generally, fighting over actually worthl... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2rz2ud | what's the significance of having an unrated movie? | I've seen a few advertisements for unrated movies. They always make a big deal of the fact that "ZOMG they are unrated!!" Is there any advantages or disadvantages to having a movie be unrated? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2rz2ud/eli5whats_the_significance_of_having_an_unrated/ | {
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"text": [
"The MPAA is an independent ratings board run by the movie industry, they rate all the movies that go to theaters in the US. An unrated version of a movie released in theaters typically contains scenes they had to cut to get ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
f38wkz | why is there a huge difference from 240p to 360p in the youtube video quality but then not really much of a difference from 360p to 720p? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f38wkz/eli5_why_is_there_a_huge_difference_from_240p_to/ | {
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"text": [
"It really depends on what you're looking at and how much definition it needs.\n\nIf an object cannot be distinguished with the little resolution available at 240p, but can at 360p,... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
dgoi6q | how does electrical "grounding" work? how is it there are different intensities of being grounded(grounding rods more strong? | Is it the gauge of wire, the number of power cords used? How is it done in apartments? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dgoi6q/eli5_how_does_electrical_grounding_work_how_is_it/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Electricity seeks the path of least resistance. If it is able to return to ground, it will; if not, it will attempt to energize anything it can reach. In the case of appliances, if it can’t use the grounding prong, it may try to go through the me... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2olz1f | why blackberry went from a leader in the cell phone market, to almost non existent? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2olz1f/eli5_why_blackberry_went_from_a_leader_in_the/ | {
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"http://m.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/the-inside-story-of-why-blackberry-is-failing/article14563602/?service=mobile"
... | ||
ao38r6 | how to tell the difference between different genres of ‘dance’ music. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ao38r6/eli5_how_to_tell_the_difference_between_different/ | {
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"text": [
"I’ll try my best to explain it simply.\n\nMany times genres blend into one another but there are some things that make it more one genre than the other.\n\nHouse music is more upbeat, usually has piano in it with more natural sounding drums and h... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://youtu.be/tN6FIac7Wwc",
"https://youtu.be/HhmwXpeledY",
"https://youtu.be/anQgfwdZUkE",
"https://youtu.be/rFQZndywOR4",
"https://youtu.be/Vmwx8pHB2Fw"
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] | ||
6gggs8 | difference between personality traits and psychological disorders | Things like ADD, autism, etc. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6gggs8/eli5_difference_between_personality_traits_and/ | {
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"I don't think there is a hard line. Basically a group of people who study these types of things decide on what is a psychological disorder and what the characteristics of it are.... | [] | [] | [
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[],
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits",
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"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYYJlNbV1OM"
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2qz4o9 | when really stuffed up, how swapping what side im laying on will free up one of my nostrils easily, but yet im unable to clear it completely when i blow my nose? and when i am somehow able to clear it, how is it possible for it to come back so fast? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2qz4o9/eli5_when_really_stuffed_up_how_swapping_what/ | {
"a_id": [
"cnawis4",
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"score": [
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11
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"text": [
"Hi. ENT here. We have bones covered with mucosa (membranes) in our nose called turbinates that are basically similar to erectile tissue. They swell and engorge themselves in response to allergies, infection, or in some case... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
4xopn2 | how brussels have so high muslim population? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4xopn2/eli5how_brussels_have_so_high_muslim_population/ | {
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"text": [
"\"Moroccan and Turkish immigrants began coming in large numbers to Belgium starting in the 1960s as guest workers. Though the guest-worker program was abolished in 1974, many immigrants stayed and brought their families using family reunification... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Belgium"
]
] | ||
8ohway | why is there so much controversy in what you call the republic of macedonia/fyrom? | Please can someone explain why there is so much tension in what you call it and how it came to this?
Thanks | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8ohway/eli5_why_is_there_so_much_controversy_in_what_you/ | {
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"text": [
"Very basically Greece has provinces with the name of Macedonia and Greece doesn’t like that FYROM uses the name of Macedonia as it may ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://imgur.com/a/lBoeLN9"
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] | |
75by5b | - how does castration (removal of testicals) increase the pitch of your voice? | Ive heard of musicians who do this to increase the pitch of their voice, but i have no idea if it is true. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/75by5b/eli5_how_does_castration_removal_of_testicals/ | {
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"text": [
"Old church would snip young boys in choir to keep angelic highpitch sounds. \n\nThe reason is testicles release testosterone which is a horomone in development through puberty tha... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
5nepwx | what is the advantage/point of having a fancy bank card (eg. centurion card)? | How is it any different to my regular bank card? I've read that a Centurion Card costs $10k to acquire and I just don't understand. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5nepwx/eli5_what_is_the_advantagepoint_of_having_a_fancy/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"A Centurion card isn't a bank card. It's a charge card. The money is not automatically withdrawn from your bank account, it's billed to you every month. It doesn't make that much of a difference since you have to pay that ca... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
1lz0sm | weird phone calls | sdfsdfsdfds | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1lz0sm/eli5_weird_phone_calls/ | {
"a_id": [
"cc45wb2",
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"score": [
2,
18,
2
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"text": [
"Some company/call center/creditor is data mining when you are available. It costs money to have a person wait 45 seconds for your answering machine. It costs nothing to have a computer do it then hang ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
5ie2sl | why are people so hateful on social media outlets and online video games? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ie2sl/eli5_why_are_people_so_hateful_on_social_media/ | {
"a_id": [
"db7g40v",
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"score": [
3,
2,
7
],
"text": [
"Kind of answered your own question there. If someone expresses their opinion IRL then they are far more likely to be embarrassed if someone disagrees with them. It's akin to 13 year old kids on Xbox liv... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
5ze9d5 | why are heavier elements found together in the same location? | I understand that the heavier elements (in particular the metals like Lead, Silver, Gold, Copper, etc.) are created in a supernova via neutron capture. But why are they frequently found together in clustered and clumps on earth? Is it the same everywhere on rockier planets like earth?
For clarification, I understand... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ze9d5/eli5why_are_heavier_elements_found_together_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"dhi1jmg",
"dexexv2"
],
"score": [
2,
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],
"text": [
"Answering a two month old question because the answers so far are a bit incomplete. The ELI5 is just this - why aren't things distributed evenly in the crust? Because geology happens! Yes, elements can be sorted by density, ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
1c0w5c | why does "platonic" mean an unromantic relationship? what does it have to do with plato? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1c0w5c/eli5_why_does_platonic_mean_an_unromantic/ | {
"a_id": [
"c9bxp2u",
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"score": [
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3
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"text": [
"It came from Plato's writings in *Symposium* about the interest Socrates took in young men. From that we derived \"platonic love\", or, love without sensual desire.",
"One night Socrates and some of his friends were ha... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
20mi9q | how instinctive knowledge and behaviour is passed through genes, as opposed to learnt behaviour. eg. a kitten is put into isolation from day one, yet still scuffs at the floor when pooping. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20mi9q/eli5_how_instinctive_knowledge_and_behaviour_is/ | {
"a_id": [
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"text": [
"Genes are split into two distinct types - encoding and regulatory.... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_action_pattern"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
5wpwnc | the purpose of the scrotum is to keep sperm at a lower temperature. but then sperm are expected to live up to a week inside a body with an elevated temperature during ovulation. what gives? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5wpwnc/eli5_the_purpose_of_the_scrotum_is_to_keep_sperm/ | {
"a_id": [
"dec1cck",
"dec1w6d"
],
"score": [
3,
11
],
"text": [
"Lower temps are optimal for sperm cell production, not absolutely needed for grown sperm lifecycle.",
"The *production* and ongoing survival of sperm are different biological processes. The testes are outside the body t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5eowip | how do stomach acids & enzymes break down foods exactly enough to be useful nutrients and amino acids, but not enough to break *those* down into unusable molecules and elements? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5eowip/eli5_how_do_stomach_acids_enzymes_break_down/ | {
"a_id": [
"dae1ecm",
"dae1j8j"
],
"score": [
2,
5
],
"text": [
"Because they can't realistically get any smaller than their useful variations. The stuff we use is basically the base building block of every biological organism or material. For example: We use iron in its smallest form, a ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
4kwsw2 | why aren't more smaller endangered species allowed to be bred and raised in captivity as pets? | California Desert Tortoises seem to be doing well... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4kwsw2/eli5_why_arent_more_smaller_endangered_species/ | {
"a_id": [
"d3ietvn",
"d3ifucg",
"d3ipzqt"
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"score": [
2,
5,
2
],
"text": [
"I'm pretty sure it is allowed - at least in America.\n\nPet axolotls are popular, even though they are very endangered. In fact, the pet trade and their value in laboratory use is pretty much the only r... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3cd3lf | why do people put batteries in the refrigerator? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3cd3lf/eli5_why_do_people_put_batteries_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"csuecjz",
"csuejrp"
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"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Batteries are cells that store chemical energy. They require a chemical reaction to move electrons around and power devices. \n \nAny chemical reaction will be slowed by colder temperatures. So keeping batteries in the r... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
2ryw3u | why are the french the butt of so many jokes? | I guess they lost a couple of wars or something...? I'm lost here. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ryw3u/eli5_why_are_the_french_the_butt_of_so_many_jokes/ | {
"a_id": [
"cnkjicf"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"It boils down to the fact that France and Britain used to be rivals that constantly fought to be the dominant power of Europe. Nowadays we can think of it as a kind of \"best friend\" relationship where they can jab at each other In good spirit. ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
yv95v | things that glow in the dark | How do they glow? And why is it green when it glows? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/yv95v/eli5_things_that_glow_in_the_dark/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5z5tuo"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"First, let's think of [Newton's cradle](_URL_0_), consisting entirely of two balls. One ball falls, transfer that energy to a second ball, which rises. It eventually falls too, and transfer that energy back to the first ball. The key concept here... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton%27s_cradle",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescence",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorescence"
]
] | |
386hyz | how can stress change your physical appearance so drastically? | People with stress free lives always look so much younger than people with stressful lives, so does stress make you "age" faster or something? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/386hyz/eli5_how_can_stress_change_your_physical/ | {
"a_id": [
"crsp0fa"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Stress can cause a lack of sleep which in turn gives you bags under your eyes. This is best treated by drinking copious amounts of water.\n\n "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
yf1k6 | why we have megabits and megabytes and why they haven't/can't be consolidated | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/yf1k6/eli5_why_we_have_megabits_and_megabytes_and_why/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5uyapt",
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"score": [
9,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"Because different things are important in different places.\n\nNetworks don't care about bytes. You could invent a completely new type of computer that had 10 bits to a byte, and your network would (mo... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1kii6k | with the approach for public/private key encryption, why do you need both public and private key? | I know you need both for that particular encryption approach to work but how did they come up with the idea to use both public and private key? Why not just create a system where you only have the private key?
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1kii6k/eli5_with_the_approach_for_publicprivate_key/ | {
"a_id": [
"cbp9rr1",
"cbpch2x"
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"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"They do have that system, it's just normal encryption. It requires transmitting the private key to others in some way, though, and that's a huge vulnerability or just a big hassle.\n\nWith the asymmetric system you can send ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3gf12r | why is it louder when you drive over a concrete highway compared to driving over an asphalt one? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3gf12r/eli5_why_is_it_louder_when_you_drive_over_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctxj9s5",
"ctxrt0v",
"ctxs4ll",
"ctxu8os"
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"score": [
17,
2,
4,
6
],
"text": [
"Concrete is a harder surface than asphalt. Asphalt is slightly bouncy and absorbs energy and muffles the sound. ",
"Looks like you have your answer already but just to add o... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipseal"
]
] | ||
7z6qft | nowadays we need to use toothpaste but what was past's toothpaste? and why animals don't need it | (Sorry for my English haha)
So now we need to brush our teeths constanlty but how did people do in the past? Did people use some kind of toothpaste in the past?
Like in 1500,1300,1200 and what about hominid?
And also, we need to wash our teeth but why animals don't? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7z6qft/eli5nowadays_we_need_to_use_toothpaste_but_what/ | {
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"dulpiw0",
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"score": [
5,
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2
],
"text": [
"First, pets need dental hygiene. You *should* be brushing your cat and dogs' teeth! \n\nWhen it comes to wild animals, well. Many don't *have* teeth. Many have different strategies... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvadora_persica"
],
[]
] | |
3covc3 | if the apples you buy at the store were picked an average of 14 months ago, why does fruit spoil so fast after you buy it? | I just heard from the podcast stuff you should know that the apples you buy at the store have been off the tree for an average of 14 months. If that is true, why does fruit (of all kinds) go bad so quickly after you buy it? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3covc3/eli5if_the_apples_you_buy_at_the_store_were/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
3614,
466,
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
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[],
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"http://apal.org.au/resources-media/fact-sheets/storing-apples/"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-Methylcyclopropene",
"http://postharvest.tfrec.wsu.edu/pages/PC2000F"
],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
ypidk | where does the money valued in stocks "come from"? | From what I understand, I can go to a stock broker and buy/sell shares of company according to the market price. What actually happens when I buy a share of Apple stock and sell it after it gains market value. Have I just generated a net profit out of thin air? Where does this "extra" money come from? Thanks! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ypidk/eli5_where_does_the_money_valued_in_stocks_come/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5xo29n"
],
"score": [
14
],
"text": [
"In order to buy stock, someone must have sold it to you. And in order to sell stock, you have to have a buyer. That's where the money comes from.\n\nLet's assume you buy a share of stock from X for $10. You hand $10 to X. Then, a year later,... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1mijpl | why is the sahara desert so large? how has the rain shadow from the atlas mountains affected such a huge area of land? | How have the Atlas Mountains affected such a huge area of land? They are not known to be as formidable as other mountain chains, yet seem to have created the third largest desert in the world. What geographical and meteorological factors are coming in to play here? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1mijpl/eli5_why_is_the_sahara_desert_so_large_how_has/ | {
"a_id": [
"cc9oiiu",
"cc9rmoo"
],
"score": [
30,
3
],
"text": [
"The Sahara isn't a matter of rainshadow effect, it's caused by [Hadley Cells](_URL_0_), which are large scale atmospheric circulation loops that take moisture from places along the longitude of the Sahara and American South... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadley_cell"
],
[]
] | |
1mlqjw | why do i randomly look at the clock at the exact same time(s) nearly every day? | Did some searches, didn't see anything similar.
For as long as I can remember, the time 11:11 (am or pm) has haunted me constantly. It's not something I'm thinking about during the day but I'll just happen to look at a clock and BAM, 11:11.
Is it like a biological rhythm thing? Does this happen to a lot of people o... | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1mlqjw/eli5_why_do_i_randomly_look_at_the_clock_at_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"ccaej6u",
"ccakotx",
"ccam7de"
],
"score": [
18,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Confirmation bias. You look at the watch and it's 11:05 and you think nothing of it and forget it. You look at the watch and it's 11:11 and you suddenly attach meaning to that, so you remember it. ",
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://lmgtfy.com/?q=11%3A11"
]
] | |
28bxgy | why are most sink faucets in public bathrooms designed in such a way that it is impossible to wash your hands without your hands hitting the back of the sink? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/28bxgy/eli5_why_are_most_sink_faucets_in_public/ | {
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"score": [
9,
21,
79,
17,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Public restrooms are often built/remodeled by the lowest bidder. Stupid little unusable faucets are apparently ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1gv1sc | what did snowden do exactly, and what are the arguments for and against why he should be tried as a traitor? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1gv1sc/what_did_snowden_do_exactly_and_what_are_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cao40s4",
"cao42ue",
"cao5py2"
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"score": [
2,
70,
11
],
"text": [
"He revealed secret information in the same way a foreign spy might. The laws about aiding the enemy aren't very lenient, considering he had other ways to bring his concerns to the attention of people ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
3dhcl3 | do people who are born blind have a concept of what they look like? do their minds have images like ours do? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3dhcl3/eli5_do_people_who_are_born_blind_have_a_concept/ | {
"a_id": [
"ct583aj",
"ct586o3"
],
"score": [
7,
23
],
"text": [
"The best way to imagine what it's like to have never have seen is to imagine waking up in a parrallel universe one day, one in which humans have an extra sense, imagine that this sense allows humans to communicate \"images\... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
7gjckf | how do wholesale power companies know at what time you use electricity? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7gjckf/eli5_how_do_wholesale_power_companies_know_at/ | {
"a_id": [
"dqjivci",
"dqjjh3s",
"dqjltfm",
"dqjsrk4"
],
"score": [
2,
4,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Why would they care? Only your meter, and the company that bills you, needs to know this.",
"Older electricity meters can't tell - but they've all been replaced, in most cases... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
1rr4bl | if you have a bunch of speakers all playing at the same volume, is the collective sound louder or the same volume as one of the speakers on its own? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1rr4bl/eli5_if_you_have_a_bunch_of_speakers_all_playing/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdq0kq7"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"sound is waves and waves add up, but if multiple speakers play the same sound, at certain spots waves can cancel each other, but mostly it will be louder."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
20bpih | how does russia occupying crimea or other parts of ukraine affect the us? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20bpih/eli5how_does_russia_occupying_crimea_or_other/ | {
"a_id": [
"cg1njx6"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"in several ways. some tangible, some not so much. in the tangible ways, there are various resources and factory areas in crimea that would be a good addition to russia infrastructure while being a loss to ukraine, who traditionally sides with the... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
35uaqp | why do humans need to use toilet paper but animals like dogs don't? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/35uaqp/eli5_why_do_humans_need_to_use_toilet_paper_but/ | {
"a_id": [
"cr7v4fd",
"cr7w3h6",
"cr7wedl",
"cr7wek0",
"cr7yc54",
"cr7yykd",
"cr80ozv"
],
"score": [
40,
3,
4,
95,
3,
19,
3
],
"text": [
"I would have to assume it's the butt cheeks. Most animals have anuses that are uncovered, whereas humans have a... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
5s4mp6 | how do nuclear defense systems work? wouldn't shooting down an icbm expel massive amounts of radiation into the atmosphere? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5s4mp6/eli5_how_do_nuclear_defense_systems_work_wouldnt/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddcb43z",
"ddcb71p",
"ddcbhpc",
"ddcbs9o"
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"score": [
2,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Not necessarily.\n\nHitting an incoming warhead with a kinetic kill vehicle would obliterate it pretty thoroughly. Spreading a few kilos of plutonium out at 70,000' AGL is a much s... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
l9o3t | how a compass always points north. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/l9o3t/eli5_how_a_compass_always_points_north/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2qwnu3",
"c2qwnu3"
],
"score": [
11,
11
],
"text": [
"I'm assuming you're talking about a basic magnetic compass.\n\nThe Earth has a intrinsic magnetic field that is generated by the motion of molten iron in its core. This magnetic field changes orientation slowly over time,... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
5xkyte | how did the 27th amendment become an amendment? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5xkyte/eli5_how_did_the_27th_amendment_become_an/ | {
"a_id": [
"deivlth",
"deivuxp"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"The 27th Amendment prevents Congress from voting for an increase to their own salaries. If there was just a normal law for that, then Congress could simply vote to repeal that law then vote to increase their salaries! Making... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
3hoxbr | why do we aglommerate three seperate words into one word like "nonetheless" and "nevertheless"? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3hoxbr/eli5_why_do_we_aglommerate_three_seperate_words/ | {
"a_id": [
"cu99cr2"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Compound words are a leftover of English's Germanic roots. In German, words are often combined to convey completely different meanings. \n\nFor example, one of the longest words across most languages is *\" Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsau... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://mentalfloss.com/article/54048/heres-how-crazy-long-german-words-are-made"
]
] | ||
1lec72 | what's the difference between hashish and marijuana? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1lec72/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_hashish_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"cbyd8gd",
"cbydxoi"
],
"score": [
9,
3
],
"text": [
"Marijuana is the flowering bud, dried and smoked. On that bud is trichromes. This contains the intoxicating chemical called THC. Hash is a concentrate either pressed from the trichs, or extracted using a high volume of the p... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
7j0zbv | why there no five star general rank in the united states military any more? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7j0zbv/eli5_why_there_no_five_star_general_rank_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"dr2ugde"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"The US has generally been very conservative about creating high-ranking military positions, so a lot of it is tradition.\n\nGeorge Washington's final rank in the US army was lieutenant general. The army didn't like the idea of someone outranking ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
axs7n7 | what are hydraulic presses made of that they don’t break under the pressure they put onto other objects? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/axs7n7/eli5_what_are_hydraulic_presses_made_of_that_they/ | {
"a_id": [
"ehvu7ay"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"The dies are usually some sort of tool steel, which is pretty hard when compared to most things you'd put in a press "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
5lrtar | we're told not to trust major news outlets because they're manipulated by money, as with facebook news and even reddit news, so where do people get "real" news? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5lrtar/eli5_were_told_not_to_trust_major_news_outlets/ | {
"a_id": [
"dbxxlb0",
"dbxz3x0"
],
"score": [
13,
5
],
"text": [
"From my experience it is about retrieving information from a range of sources. Reading and listening widely can vastly improve your understanding of a particular topic or event and broaden your whole approach. News outlets ... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.nytimes.com/pages/world/index.html",
"https://www.rt.com/"
],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability",
"Vox.com"
]
] | ||
3czq8i | why doesn't a fan forced oven need to be turned up as high as a conventional oven? | Recipes often say 200 degrees, 180 fan forced.
Surely if food needs to be cooked for an hour at 200 degrees, then 200 degrees is 200 degrees? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3czq8i/eli5_why_doesnt_a_fan_forced_oven_need_to_be/ | {
"a_id": [
"ct0gx28"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Cooking food is an endothermic reaction. The food takes in heat energy to cook.\n\nThe fan causes better circulation.\n\nThat means heat passes to the surface of the chicken much more efficiently, so it can absorb more units on energy per second.... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
9q9xzi | why do trees’ leaves move towards the red end of the spectrum why not the violet end? | Obviously this answer will have something to do with the original colour, green, which is interestingly in the middle of the light spectrum. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9q9xzi/eli5_why_do_trees_leaves_move_towards_the_red_end/ | {
"a_id": [
"e87vfqj",
"e87vruj",
"e896ppp"
],
"score": [
41,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"Chlorophyll is the green pigment that you see in leaves and it comes in two varieties: chlorophyll alpha and chlorophyll beta. Chlorophyll alpha absorbs more red light whereas chlorophyll beta absorbs ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
f4uvw9 | what is so difficult about curing the common cold and other recurring diseases? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/f4uvw9/eli5_what_is_so_difficult_about_curing_the_common/ | {
"a_id": [
"fhtul4f",
"fhtw81h"
],
"score": [
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Most colds are viruses, and (iirc) there are no cures for viruses, only treatments or vaccinations",
"The “common cold” is a group of many different viruses which have similar symptoms, but are different enough that a va... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
5q01g0 | why do the almonds in hershey's w/ almonds, taste unlike any other almonds? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5q01g0/eli5_why_do_the_almonds_in_hersheys_w_almonds/ | {
"a_id": [
"dcv6peb"
],
"score": [
10
],
"text": [
"They are toasted at 73 degrees fro 1.4 hours. Then processed through an acid like substance that dissolves much of the inner protection of the cell walls. Then sent through another heating process and coated with another layer of \"skin\" made f... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
80zomv | would there have been a possibility to save those who jumped off the wtc? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/80zomv/eli5_would_there_have_been_a_possibility_to_save/ | {
"a_id": [
"duzcrjs",
"duzct49",
"duzhonk"
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"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"In principle it is possible to stop someone falling at terminal velocity in a large net that slows their descent. The big issue in most disasters is that the equipment and expertise wasn't in place at t... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
4triln | why do the fire departments perform as paramedics in the u.s? | So this one has always confused me, originally I thought it was only in California but after seeing more and more photos, videos, etc from the U.S I've noticed that the fire departments act as paramedics.
Here in Australia paramedics and the fire brigade(s) are separate (however that could be somewhat altered in my s... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4triln/eli5why_do_the_fire_departments_perform_as/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
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2,
6,
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],
"text": [
"Firefighters must be available 24/7 and have all the equipment and preparation ready to get to a location as fast as possible. These abilities are important for not just fires, bu... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
52ps4z | why do some animals close their eyes when being pet? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/52ps4z/eli5_why_do_some_animals_close_their_eyes_when/ | {
"a_id": [
"d7m7qd5",
"d7m7sty",
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],
"score": [
3,
2,
17
],
"text": [
"Maybe the same way we close our eyes when being massaged?",
"How are they closing their eyes? I have a dog and she alone will close her eyes while being patted for two different reasons.\n\n1. You ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
89fus1 | what's the difference between gram + and gram - bacteria? and why are ones + and other -? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/89fus1/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_gram_and_gram/ | {
"a_id": [
"dwqmudh",
"dwqmvkr"
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"score": [
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9
],
"text": [
"Developed by a Hans Christian Gram a Danish bacteriologist a Crystal Violet Stain can be applied to bacteria. Those that retain the stain are Gram positive those that do not are Gram negative. It's used as a first step in id... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
10hccr | the csx ad claims its trains can move a ton of freight 500 miles on one gallon of fuel - 500 mpg. can this be true? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/10hccr/the_csx_ad_claims_its_trains_can_move_a_ton_of/ | {
"a_id": [
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"c6dhv5b",
"c6di0ea",
"c6dml9v"
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"score": [
9,
7,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"There's a bit of trickery involved in that, the train itself does not get 500 MPG but the one ton of freight does. When you have a single locomotive that pulls dozens or even upwar... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037722170701048X"
],
[]
] | ||
20v9vh | america's turning over control of the internet to an international authority | Republicans say that this could cause more authoritarian governments to exercise control over the internet. I tend to think it will make the internet more free. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20v9vh/eli5_americas_turning_over_control_of_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cg73ff6"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Ignoring some of the recent threats to net neutrality, the US has the strongest freedom of speech laws in the world. If we handed the power to an international authority, they will be influenced by many countries, not just the US. This means that... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
9nk67d | government interest rates | I’ve been reading a lot in the news about Interest Rates, and their role in combating inflation. Any explanation I’ve found regarding interest rates doesn’t seem to go into full detail about what they are applying interest on exactly, and how it actually functions. I get the idea of how an interest rate works with rega... | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9nk67d/eli5_government_interest_rates/ | {
"a_id": [
"e7mup7i",
"e7mus6d",
"e7mvj66"
],
"score": [
2,
8,
2
],
"text": [
"There are generally two rates people talk about. One is the federal funds rate. This is the rate the Federal Reserve sets for member banks who want to borrow money from each other (for example, so the m... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
1u9wr3 | why would the nfl blackout playoff games if the game isn't sold out? | _URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1u9wr3/eli5_why_would_the_nfl_blackout_playoff_games_if/ | {
"a_id": [
"cefx7zq",
"cefy9n5",
"cefzrj4"
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"score": [
9,
19,
2
],
"text": [
"The idea behind a blackout is to make sure that people still buy tickets for the game. The logic is that people might not buy tickets if they know it will be on TV so they won't let it be shown on TV ... | [] | [
"http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/10232840/2013-nfl-playoffs-cincinnati-bengals-green-bay-packers-indianapolis-colts-receive-ticket-sale-deadline-extensions"
] | [
[],
[
"http://www.sbnation.com/2013/12/18/5224796/fcc-tv-blackout-rules"
],
[]
] | |
84g9ac | why is that when a country has a disagreement with other country and wants to sanction it, one of the first moves is to expel its diplomats? wouldn't diplomats be more important than ever in these situations? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/84g9ac/eli5_why_is_that_when_a_country_has_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"dvpa3yw",
"dvpbpgm",
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"score": [
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4,
11,
2
],
"text": [
"They usually don't throw out the diplomat diplomats, like the ambassador. They throw out the administrator diplomats and marketing diplomats in hopes of throwing out some spy di... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2003/09/how_deep_is_cia_cover.html"
],
[]
] | ||
5n5o8e | if espresso is essentially concentrated coffee why is it less acidic? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5n5o8e/eli5_if_espresso_is_essentially_concentrated/ | {
"a_id": [
"dc8vcs4"
],
"score": [
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],
"text": [
"The resulting liquid has much less time to absorb any acidity from the grounds. Since you are sending pressurized steam through the grounds instead of just letting hot water drip through them, it results in a less acidic brew"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
m51b9 | why my cheerios work like magnets when i'm down to the last few in the bowl? | For starters, they are all the same polarity as my spoon apparently...this I assume is in relation to me moving the milk with my spoon's motion.
But why do they stick to each other in groups like magnets? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/m51b9/eli5_why_my_cheerios_work_like_magnets_when_im/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2y596e",
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"c2y596e",
"c2y59d2",
"c2y6pdj"
],
"score": [
89,
7,
15,
89,
7,
15
],
"text": [
"This is, awesomely, called the [Cheerios Effect](_URL_0_)! \n",
"Any wave that you make with your spoon will push the Cheerio a... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheerios_effect"
],
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheerios_effect"
],
[],
[]
] | |
2x9d5u | why vitamins have expiration dates. do vitamins and minerals degrade? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2x9d5u/eli5_why_vitamins_have_expiration_dates_do/ | {
"a_id": [
"coy27ju",
"coy291q",
"coyantm"
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"score": [
14,
4,
3
],
"text": [
"Many chemicals oxidize and lose their intended properties, just like food (which incidentally is made of chemicals :P). This means that free radicals (oxygen ions) attach to different parts of the vita... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
415esu | how exactly do electrons "behave like waves"? | My professors always say this in chemistry or physics but never really explain it. My impression is they move around in a wave like manner, but I suspect that's not really what they mean. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/415esu/eli5_how_exactly_do_electrons_behave_like_waves/ | {
"a_id": [
"cyzqwvx"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"We are in the weird part of physics now - quantum mechanics. It's not a \"physical weave\" we are accustomed with \n\nLook up [The Electron: Crash Course Chemistry#5](_URL_0_) or [Quantum Mechanics for Dummies](_URL_1_) (from around 3min) they ex... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcKilE9CdaA",
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP9KP-fwFhk"
]
] | |
45jy50 | if water is better at conducting electricity than air, why do static electricity shocks happen more often in dry air? | Every winter I get zapped with shocks by static electricity whenever I touch something metal, or another being. Why does this seem to only happen in the dry winter months and not in the humid summer months? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/45jy50/eli5_if_water_is_better_at_conducting_electricity/ | {
"a_id": [
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"score": [
34,
139,
3,
8,
2,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"Static electricity generally involves one item being at a higher electric charge than another (often one of the... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
a9c0vj | non-profit organizational | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a9c0vj/eli5_nonprofit_organizational/ | {
"a_id": [
"eci42ny",
"eci4aez",
"eci4h7c",
"eci6ogv"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Non-profit means that the organization does not make a profit from donations or whatever it sells, but that doesn’t mean that the owner, employees, etc. aren’t paid. They have sala... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://www.thebalancesmb.com/can-nonprofits-pay-staff-2501893"
],
[],
[]
] | ||
33sokk | why is it best to keep an injured limb elevated? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/33sokk/eli5why_is_it_best_to_keep_an_injured_limb/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqo1crx"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"It prevents blood pooling, and consequently swelling and pain. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4tes8h | why do we percieve certain colours as bright? | I don't know if I worded this well, but why do 'bright' things hurt our eyes if they are just colours? What is brightness? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4tes8h/eli5_why_do_we_percieve_certain_colours_as_bright/ | {
"a_id": [
"d5gplmj"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"If something is bright, that just means that a lot of photons bounce off of it instead of being absorbed by it. If too many photons go into your eye, the pain is your body realizing that all that light is too much for the receptors (rods, in this... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
au6h8x | the obsession and huge popularity of youtube personalities and twitch steamers. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/au6h8x/eli5_the_obsession_and_huge_popularity_of_youtube/ | {
"a_id": [
"eh5xor7"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"This is hard to simplify.\n\nHumans are social creatures, and the average person enjoys being in good social standing (i.e. popular).\n\nPeople who are popular are people who are in some way genuinely interesting to the average person. Maybe they... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
51hdxb | why did the apa took homosexuality out from the mental disorders? did they run a research? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/51hdxb/eli5why_did_the_apa_took_homosexuality_out_from/ | {
"a_id": [
"d7bygen",
"d7bymiu",
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"score": [
2,
3,
5,
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],
"text": [
"Yes, it is based on a lot of research, most notably Lisa Diamond's studies on lesbianism and female bisexuality.\n",
"The idea of mental disorders, and illness in general, req... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality:_An_Annotated_Bibliography"
],
[]
] | ||
r5zyw | primary delegates | Romney just won 54 out of the 69 available Illinois delegates. Why are only 54 offered? How come some states split the delegates between the winners and others don't? What is the history of the delegate? How are the remaining delegates distributed? Is a delegate a person? If so, how does one become a delegate? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/r5zyw/primary_delegates/ | {
"a_id": [
"c436q9m",
"c438y4g"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
" > How come some states split the delegates between the winners and others don't?\n\nWhile primaries are overseen by the government, the government does not set their rules. The states' parties set the rules. It goes back to... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
bc5ixe | what is the process by which rust can be removed and what is the most effective chemical(s) for doing so ? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bc5ixe/eli5_what_is_the_process_by_which_rust_can_be/ | {
"a_id": [
"eknzwt4"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Rust is iron oxide. The metal has chemically converted form a pure form of the metal to an oxide.\n\nIf you want to remove the rust, you're looking at sanding, grinding or sand blasting.\n\nIf you want to kill the rust, you can use [covert the ru... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust_converter"
]
] | ||
4ysglq | cold welding. two pieces of metal touch in a vacuum, why do they stick together? how strong is this weld? | Edit: Can't flair from mobile | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4ysglq/eli5_cold_welding_two_pieces_of_metal_touch_in_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"d6q44go",
"d6q4eop"
],
"score": [
3,
4
],
"text": [
"The idea is to take away ALL interferences (impurities). This way, you are left with say 2 pieces of silver. Since there is nothing except silver, when you press the 2 silver plates together, the atoms between the 2 objects ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5hx6du | what is the difference between cold sweats and normal sweating, if any? and what causes them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5hx6du/eli5what_is_the_difference_between_cold_sweats/ | {
"a_id": [
"db3ocd6",
"db3qevz",
"db3zrmn",
"db4ai7k"
],
"score": [
11,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"When you sweat normally its to cool down your body through evaporatiom of sweat. Cold sweat would be when your body reacts to an external chemical, as in case of an allergy or dru... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping-with-cancer/coping-physically/skin/managing/dealing-with-sweating"
],
[]
] | ||
7avzt0 | why does lacing our fingers the other way feel weird? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7avzt0/eli5_why_does_lacing_our_fingers_the_other_way/ | {
"a_id": [
"dpda8vp",
"dpdasur",
"dpdfjpi",
"dpdiao8",
"dpdifoq",
"dpdj9c8"
],
"score": [
4,
33,
2,
2,
9,
6
],
"text": [
"I have yet to meet one who writes with their right hand and crosses their hands with the right thumb on top of the left. I don't believ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
yzcwr | how exactly does open-source software work? | How are bugs/intentional griefing sorted out? How does the code submit process work? How do open-source programs like Chromium integrated into closed source programs like Chrome? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/yzcwr/eli5_how_exactly_does_opensource_software_work/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6080ld",
"c6085h7"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"In general, the more eyes you have looking at the code, the faster you're going to be able to find and fix bugs. There are a lot of smart people out there who, when they find a problem with a program, will be able to look at... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
80tnk5 | why does gigantism in ancient insects exist? | I understand that historically, oxygen percentage levels were higher + temperatures were hotter, but I don't understand why that would encourage larger sizes insects. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/80tnk5/eli5_why_does_gigantism_in_ancient_insects_exist/ | {
"a_id": [
"duy5a6i",
"duy5f21",
"duy6qev"
],
"score": [
3,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"Because they could. \n\nTo deal with lower oxygen and a big body, you need lungs or some other active breathing system. Insects do not have that.\n\nSo with higher oxygen, larger body insects could surv... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square%E2%80%93cube_law"
]
] | |
kj5eq | why celebrities such as snoop dogg can openly smoke weed, but the police do nothing. | Why do random people get busted for having weed, but these celebrities will have pictures and videos of them smoking a lot of it but the police don't search them. If it is a crime, shouldn't it be enforced? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/kj5eq/eli5_why_celebrities_such_as_snoop_dogg_can/ | {
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"c2krfm0",
"c2kry0w",
"c2ks1dh",
"c2knubd",
"c2knv77",
"c2knwk3",
"c... | [] | [] | [
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