query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Why is binary code considered universal? | [
"At their most basic, computers are just a means to manipulate massive collections of switches. Those switches have two positions, on and off (1 and 0; true or false; you get the idea). Everything in computing, in the end, is down to these simple switches. What makes computers powerful is how *fast* they can perfor... | [
"Your question doesn't quite make sense. Are you referring to something specific? What makes you think that a computer is built for a specific programming language?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What Does Install Shield Do? | [
"InstallShield is a tool to build installers. It's not the only way to build installers, but it's a pretty common one. Saying \"why do programs need it\" is like saying \"why do people need Chrome\" -- they don't, but it's quite convenient and so is fairly popular."
] | [
"Funny you should ask. Roni Jacobson wrote an article that covers a lot of what you ask in this Tuesday's *New York Times*: [\"60: Behind Every Second, Millenniums of History\"] (_URL_0_)."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
How do countries that drive their cars on the left side connect roads with bordering countries that drive their cars on the right side? | [
"Generally, left-driving countries are isolated from right-driving countries by water, mountains, desert, or large stretches of deep forest. While this provides for relatively little traffic crossover between the two mode, there are still numerous roads (about 86 or so, according to this KMZ file) where the issue o... | [
"when you're in a country with right-side driving, you'd want the driver to be seated to the left so that they can negotiate those left turns more safely, able to see oncoming traffic from the opposite side if other turning vehicles on the opposite side of the road are partially obscuring the view f the intersectio... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do we perceive "Shadows Moving" | [
"I recall seeing a documentary once about a supposed miracle where a statue of Mary was observed to move. The investigators concluded that it was an optical illusion. It was caused by looking intently at an object for a long time, and the tiny motions your head makes—which you generally don’t notice—cause the image... | [
"Because then we would also have to add * Communism/socialism/Marxism * The speed of light * Black holes * How computers work * Monty Hall problem"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do commercials, TV shows, and movies use fake Phone/Computer programs instead of real ones? | [
"It does occasionally happen. You vastly underestimate how hard it is to get real software to *look* like it's doing the exact thing you want it to do *and* be realistic looking, both visually and with how characters interact with a computer. Not to mention editing. Plus then you watch the show a year later and it ... | [
"You might be surprised at how much little stuff is digital these days. You only spot the obvious or semi-obvious stuff. Search YouTube for behind the scenes green screen shots and you may be amazed at how much even modest budget and boring shows like a procedural use CGI for things like locations."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why do recent scratches, cuts, scrapes, etc. sting/burn when in warm water? | [
"Because the subcutaneous (under the skin) nerves are more exposed, and are more sensitive without their layer of defense anymore."
] | [
"An itch is your bodies way of letting you know there is an irritant present on your skin. When a bug crawls across your hair, it itches right? Your body wants you to get this bug off just on the off chance it will harm you. Your also feel the tingle when anything brushes against a hair, or sweat runs down you back... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
How can scientists determine that anything is billions of years old? | [
"This might be helpful: _URL_0_ Carbon decays at a measurable rate. Carbon 14 can be measured up to billions of years. It's pretty well trusted scientifically, but if you're my ex stepmother this is all a lie and the dinosaurs were put here only as skeletons to make us question our existence. Sooo...."
] | [
"If your car is only two years old, how can you use it to drive to a house that was built ten years ago? Something being 5 billion light years away simply means that the light from that object has been traveling for 5 billion light years before we see it. The age of the Earth is not relevant in that calculation."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Astronomy:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Astronomy:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about astronomy:"
} |
Why are the Ming vases so valuable? | [
"The ming dynasty went from 1368 to 1644 - meaning that an original Ming dynasty vase is at least a little over 360 years old. And that's delicate, super thin porcelain... That's why they are so expensive - because they survived that long without breaking. That didn't happen often as in fact there aren't that many... | [
"What's so bad about having something made in Israel?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The DowJones dropped 400+ points. What does this mean and how does it affect the economy/business? | [
"Minor dip. It'll smooth out over the long run. The real thing to watch is whether a trade war starts with China. If that happens, you can expect certain things to become more expensive and certain manufacturers to scale back their production lines."
] | [
"Check out the graph in this cnn article: The Chinese market is actually still up for the year, and just went through a huge bubble (much like the NASDAQ tech bubble of the late 90s). Everything effects everything of course, but so long as this is just a correction, it shouldn't have any real bearing on the global... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does your brain decide what kind of music you like and don't like? | [
"I vaguely remember my music appreciation class in college telling me that there's a mathematical reason why some chords go with others. For instance, there's a reason so many pop songs will use the i-v-vi-iv (e.g. C-G-Am-F) chord progression. Maybe someone with a more extensive background can explain further, but ... | [
"Well, your brain knows what's interesting and fascinating to you so it's easy for it to interest and fascinate you in your dreams."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Psychology:"
} |
Why is car and motorcycle insurance so cheap in the USA compared to the rest of the world? | [
"Pricing is based on statistical data gathered for each ZIP code (postal areas). It includes (and I'm sure I'll forget some things) the current value of vehicles involved, the statistics of that specific vehicle being involved in collisions (My Mini was cheaper to insure than my Mazda, even though the mini was a mo... | [
"There is much greater adoption of public transportation in Europe than in the US."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
The dangers of using public wi-fi | [
"You see, using public wifis is like shouting everyone what you are doing BUT on the internet. Imagine yourself shouting: * I'M OPENING CARTOONNETWORK!! * MY NAME IS DERPINGTON STEEL!! * I'M OPENING RIGHT NOW MY FATHER'S BANK ACCOUNT!! If you like that, go ahead (Not recommended in any way), if you don't it's easy,... | [
"The easiest way to secure your privacy is to not participate in disclosing personal information on the internet."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
why do other people's houses have a distinct smell? As well as your own? | [
"I always assumed it was residual food odors. From cooking ect. Its pretty evident when you visit people who use large quantities of spices in their cooking. I have some indan friends and their houses always smell awesome."
] | [
"in all seriousness, maybe dogs don't like the smell of our breath."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
are raw or cooked vegetables better for you and why? also does this apply to popcorn? thanks! | [
"Cooking vegetables makes more of the nutritional content of them accessible, and aids digestion, particularly by breaking down cell walls we can't break down or digest. That said, if you live in a first world country, where nutrition and food scarcity is hardly an issue, it probably isn't going to be a concern. If... | [
"~~Do you have a source that says we can't digest raw potatoes? I've tried googling it but all results are contradictory to the claim~~ I've found a source that says why you shouldn't eat raw potatoes, we can digest raw potatoes, but raw potatoes have toxins to our body that get broken up by cooking"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
When staying awake all night why do you get very tired but the following day even without sleep you can feel fairly normal. | [
"Melatonin you brain produces alot of melatonin at night which is the sleep hormone but during the day the sunlight signals your brain to stop producing it because u need to get things done. That's why alot of waking up without coffee hacks say to go outside In the morning or open up the blinds"
] | [
"Probably because you feel tired when you nap but when you sleep its because its the designated time to sleep not because your tired"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Sleep and its effects on the body:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Sleep and its effects on the body:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Sleep and boredom:"
} |
- What exactly IS Energy? | [
"It is a measurement regarding the ability to do work. Not a magical cloud."
] | [
"The things that are touching get tangled. ELI25 Version: Pursue a Ph.D. in Material Science...we still don't have all of the answers."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why is milk more expensive than gas? | [
"For one, it takes a lot of work to pinch dem titties to get some milk. Then you gotta pasteurize that shiz.Takes a shit ton of work, seriously! Gas you just gotta dig it up, aint no titty pinchin involved."
] | [
"Why do some parts of the world call gasoline petrol?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
During a Star Wars space battle, what happens to the lasers that don't hit their target? | [
"There's no lasers in Star wars: only blasters and their bigger derivative. What goes out of the barrel is \"bubble\" of gas in plasma state. It's still a physical object, subjected to regular physical laws. It doesn't even travel at relativistic speed (you can see them move), so most likely lose shots will end up ... | [
"Distance: An object in motion stays in motion. There's negligible resistance in space, so once they've undergone the initial acceleration, they'll just keep going in that direction. Damage: space is empty. Very empty. So empty that we don't even have to account for the asteroid belt when we fly right through it be... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are cats/dogs able to see in the dark so well? | [
"The retina at the back of the eye has cells called rods and cones that detect shapes, edges, color and movement. Humans have more cells that help us see color...dogs see only blues and yellows, no red. However, dogs and cats are much more sensitive to movement and light than humans. And while they can see better i... | [
"They can't? Some fish might be able to see better in low light, just like some land animals, but nothing can see in pure darkness."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What would our vision be like if we had a third eye at the back of our head? | [
"Do you mean how would 'what we see' appear? That would depend on how our brain had evolved to use that third eye and represent it to us mentally. Since this is necessarily different from how our brains function today, there's no definitive answer to give you other than 'we could presumably see behind us, at least ... | [
"You have two ears located on each side of your head, not one in the center of your forehead."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If every particle is bound by rules and can only act withing those rules, how is it that humans have free choice, since there is no part of the brain that can change how one particle reacts to another? | [
"You can determine that a human makes a decision before the brain thinks it is making the decision ([Bereitschaftspotential](_URL_0_)). Besides, a completely free will is a logical paradox anyway. If it is determined by previous experiences in some way, it is not free. If it is not, it is indistinguishable from ran... | [
"Yes because the body has code to determine everything about you which is DNA. The environment around you helps you learn, just like a computer AI learning how to play a game, humans learn how to react to the world around them. Scientifically, our brains work just like computers in that synapses fire just like comp... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the post about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why does depth and time affect how long a phone can be waterproof? | [
"Imagine a seat cushion outside in the rain. If it rains a bit on the cushion, it will be fine if you grab it quickly and bring it out of the rain. But when it sits there getting wet for an extended period of time, it will get completely soaked through. Same if it falls in the pool ... if you grab it quickly, it'l... | [
"If you encase your cellphone in a ziploc will you still be able to hear it ring inside? Waterproof does not mean soundproof."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
When politicians, news, citizens say "infrastructure" and how we need to fix it, what exactly does that mean? | [
"Roads, sewers, bridges, railroads, etc. The shit that was built decades ago that is used every day, but never maintained."
] | [
"Because believe it or not it affects what goes on around you. The amount of tax you pay, the amount of social assistance, whether or not wars both foreign and domestic occur. Look at what just happened with net neutrality. Had that not passed your Internet could be slowed down considerably while giving corporation... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why isn't American cheese called cheese, and instead called cheese product? | [
"Because it's not (authentic) Cheese. It's made out of at least two different kinds of cheese and processed, therefor making it a cheese product."
] | [
"From Huffington Post: > \"String cheese is just mozzarella cheese that has been heated to 140 degrees. At this temperature the cheese becomes very stretchy and the milk proteins move around and line up together in a row. It's this alignment that makes string cheese so stringy!\" Other cheese sticks are just cheese... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What's "closed" in closed captioning? | [
"It apparently just means that you have to opt in to seeing them (by turning them on) compared to captions which are \"open\" and automatically visible to everyone (perhaps on a foreign film, or something like that)."
] | [
"It has a few different meanings in different contexts. What setting are we talking about?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about finance:"
} |
why fake credit cards aren’t a thing? | [
"When you buy something, the seller's bank immediately checks the credit card account number to see if it's valid (along with the expiration date and verification code). If even one digit is off, no deal. So they're hard to fake."
] | [
"Cars, houses, school. You don't have to use a credit card to get yourself in debt."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why does the term cis-gender exist? | [
"In general humans like grouping things, and labeling them. It's comforting to us and helps keep us organized. People who identify as trans-gendered have that desire too. They want to group the people who are not trans-gendered. Calling that group \"normal\" puts a lot of negative stigma on the people who aren't in... | [
"Because it was coined to work like the word gene."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Are there places where the moon appears much larger? | [
"No, the moon appears to same size to everyone on Earth on any given night and it's size doesn't change very much from night to night, even when you hear about there being a \"supermoon\". The big moons you see in media are likely someone taking artistic license to depict the [moon illusion](_URL_0_), which makes t... | [
"It's a lot easier to grasp when you think about the Sun's location relative to the moon when you're looking at it. The bright part of the moon is always facing the sun."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why is the country approximately 50/50 when it comes to the political spectrum? Is it a coincidence that it's divided so evenly, or is it a statistical phenomenon? | [
"No, it's actually what you would expect with a two-party system. Imagine tomorrow that either societal attitudes changed or the Democrats changed their policies so that they suddenly had the firm support of 60% of the country. The Republicans, now realizing that they're now never going to win the presidency or con... | [
"Perhaps because the complex political fabric of a country of 300+ million people is not easily captured by stereotypes. There are very fundamental questions about the role of Government in ones lives, the nature of morals, mankind's place in the world, how we should interact with our fellow man which do not easily... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Political Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Political Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
how a moon pool (aka wet porch) works, and why a ship with one doesn't sink. | [
"There are a few different kinds of moon pools. The easiest one to understand are basically a hole in the floor above the waterline of a drilling platform or ship with multiple hulls that lets you look down into the water. You're probably thinking of moon pools below the water line though. Imagine taking a cup, tur... | [
"Like other ships float, buoyancy and water displacement, what about a aircraft carrier would make you think it works differently?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How can people demand constitutional carry yet not be a member of a well regulated Militia? | [
"The stated reason is a militia, but it is the right of *the people* to bear arms. The right is not assigned to the militia. The right is assigned to the people. Militia is formed from the people at the time of need, not before, and when that time comes the founding fathers thought the people should already be arme... | [
"Because: 1. There are already 290,000,000 guns in the U.S. 2. The 2nd amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms. It essentially comes down to people (like myself) that believe that \"well-regulated militia\" in the 2nd amendment sets a precedent that allows us to regulate and limit firearms vs. people that ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Firearms control:"
} |
How come taking an extended break from something sometimes makes you come back to it stronger than ever? | [
"Overthinking interferes with muscle memory. Taking a break can clear your head, so you’re back to playing on instinct. [Here’s a related article on why overthinking can make you choke](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"If I tell you that the pain you feel in your muscles after a workout is the pain of your body tearing itself down to rebuild itself better, how does that make you feel? If I tell you that the pain you feel in your muscles after a workout is your body developing cancer, how does that make you feel? And there's your... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Who is winning the Syrian Civil War? | [
"I'm not sure who is winning. But what I know is that everybody is losing. Hundreds of thousands are dead. Millions are refugees. The country is almost completely destroyed."
] | [
"What do you want to hear more about? The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? The Israel vs. Palestine situation? The Arab Spring? The recent attacks on US embassies?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why did old (North America) power plugs have one prong bigger than the other, and why don't we have to do that anymore? | [
"That's not for \"old\" power plugs. It's still the standard for modern devices. *However*, it only applies to plugs that: 1. Don't have a grounding pin, and thus can be plugged in in either orientation. 2. Are for a device where it matters which prong is hot, and which is neutral. For a lot of modern devices, the ... | [
"I guess it's the same problem as with any other kind of standardization: you'd need to get the whole world to agree on something, which is hard. There'd be massive benefits to adopting the metric system everywhere, but that hasn't happened yet either. That said, there may be some benefit to having different plugs ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Electrical plugs and their design:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Electrical plugs and their design:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Electrical plugs and their design:"
} |
Can someone explain to me how smoke shops that sell paraphernalia are allowed to stay open? | [
"Because they say, explicitly, that the products should only be used for tobacco."
] | [
"The pipes are not illegal. You can safely display them as art or use them to smoke tobacco if you'd like. It is the possession and consumption of weed that is illegal."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why isn't text just rendered in the colour they're supposed to be? | [
"To \"smoothen\" it, this is called anti-aliasing. Without it, the text would appear very \"rough\" around the edges, and would be more of a strain to read. I'm sure someone will post a side by side comparison in a minute or two. :)"
] | [
"It's not actually transparent, nor it is checkered, it just designates a specific color or color range in picture as transparent and displays it to you as checkered so you know it's transparent."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is it when I scratch one part of my body sometimes I can feel it somewhere else? | [
"Nerve endings, I imagine. If you think about it, you have nerves running throughout your entire body, and they are all connected at some points. So maybe by scratching one area you're activating another that it's connected to. I could be wrong but it's an interesting thought anyway!"
] | [
"Yes, they are called phantom pains. And of course when you cut it off it's going to hurt obviously."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When businesses say they accept all "major" credit cards, what exactly does that mean? Is there such thing as a "minor" credit card? And if so, what are they and how do they work? | [
"Major refers to visa/mastercard, and in most cases discover and Amex. As opposed to saying they take any credit card, because your sears card won't work, unless it's a visa branded one (which many store cards are going to.) Also, for the latter half of the last century you had diners club which was mostly accepte... | [
"The two most common credit card brands, Visa and Mastercard, provide a service to banks, but not directly to merchants. Merchants contract with banks to accept credit cards, and the banks compete with each other to attract merchants to their services. This competition drives down the rates that they charge to acce... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do people sometimes have to pay the government on their tax return, even though they already take their taxes from the persons pay checks? | [
"There are two different things going on. First, throughout the year, the government is trying to predict how much you will end up owing in taxes (based on what you fill in on form W-4). Ideally, it'll withhold about that amount from your paycheck. But then, after the close of the year, you file your return and cal... | [
"In the USA, there's a number of ways you can have money taken out of your check before you get it which would reduce your net income for the check but you'd get the money back at some point. One way is through health insurance savings plans that go into a card that you can use to pay for prescriptions or office vi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How Did Dalmations Become Associated With FireFighters? | [
"Dalmatians are one of the few breeds of dog, perhaps the only breed of dog, that is not afraid of horses. Firehouse dogs needed to work in close association with horses back before there were motorized vehicles."
] | [
"Being Black Does Actually Have (Relatively Minor) Health Consequences, It's Just That They're Obviated By Modern Life. There's An Energy Cost To Have Extra Melanin, Even A Small One, So If You Don't Need It It Won't Be Selected For. Melanin Reduces Vitamin-D Uptake From The Sun If Sunlight Is Lower Than You're Ada... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
why is it that you can see the reflection of stickers that are stuck on mirrors? | [
"There is a glass pane covering over the actual reflective surface. What you are seeing is the side of the sticker that is on the glass. However, because the glass is thick, there is distance between the sticker and the reflective surface, so you can see the back through the glass. Did that answer your question?"
] | [
"because it would be awful. you get enough glare from light shining on the front, now imagine how bad it'd be if you add light coming through the back"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Physics:"
} |
What is the difference between table salt, kosher salt, and other types of salt? | [
"Table salt typically contains iodine as an additive (in the US), whereas kosher salt will not. This is one of the reasons some recipes will call for kosher instead of regular table salt. Also, because of how the kosher salt grains are shaped, it tends to be slightly less dense than table salt. In other words, 1tsp... | [
"It's all just salt. The difference is the size of the grains. The salt that is used when making french fries has super-fine crystals - it's almost a powder while the salt in the packets is more like a traditional table salt. The size of the salt crystals greatly influences how it impacts your taste buds."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why can't we remember exact smells but can remember how they made us feel? | [
"Our olfactory pathway (pathway from the \"smell\" to what our brain does with it) is tied much more closely with our limbic system (emotion system) than all other senses. There are structures called the fornix, cingulate gyrus, amygdala, and septal area (among others) that our smell information runs through. These... | [
"The best way that I can describe it is that I know “facts” about people and things and that is how I remember. I know my dogs’ mannerisms, the colors of their coats, their size, how they move, etc but I can’t picture any one of my dogs in my mind when I’m away from them. This is how I “remember” loved ones, I th... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is glass opaque to UV and IR light, but transparent to visible light? | [
"atoms can only absorb certain light frequencies, because electrons need to get enough energy to jump from one energy level to another, and these energy levels are not arbitrary. it happens so that atoms in glass and IR light frequency meet these requirements so glass absorbs IR light."
] | [
"Oftentimes it is done to give color to light outside of the visible spectrum. Many structures in the universe are mostly invisible in the visible spectrum, but emit tons of infrared and UV light."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How homeopathy is supposed to work? | [
"It doesn't work. There is absolutely no evidence that it works. In fact, it physically can't work. Any benefits or effects are either entirely due to the placebo effect, or because of whatever chemical the pill/liquid which supposedly contains the homeopathic remedy you're consuming is made of."
] | [
"You can't cure the sickness, but you can treat the symptoms. That's all these medicines are doing. It provides some relief."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Are they opioids or opiates? | [
"As far as I'm aware, One is synthetic (Opioids) I believe and one is naturally occurring (Opiates) like from poppy's etc. But that may be the other way around."
] | [
"Side note: Opioids and Opiates are actually different terms. Opiates refer to substances directly derived from the naturally occurring opium poppy seeds. This includes Morphine. Opioids are synthetic opiate-like substances which have been designed based on the chemistry of opiates and act in a very similar way on ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence about chemistry:"
} |
How did drinking wine go from an every person, every day alcohol to being something associated with class and sophistication? | [
"In those places where it used to be an every day sort of drink, it largely still is. Go to France, Italy, etc, and you'll find that it's served everywhere and commonly had with meals as it always was. Those places where it has assumed a certain air of sophistication tend to be those places that weren't traditiona... | [
"Humans across a wide variety of cultures have been manufacturing alcohol for over 5,000 years. It's built into a lot of cultural traditions, even the Bible mentions it. If it was invented 10 years ago it probably wouldn't be legal."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage about alcohol and behavior:"
} |
Overloading websites. | [
"Now Johny, when you access a website, you ask for it to give you something. Lets pretend its a submarine sandwich. You like those, right? Now, when the website is transferring it back to you and others, it has to travel across the internet on their bandwidth. Lets imagine that their bandwidth is like a cylindrical... | [
"There is a post on the frontpage on the topic: _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When do I properly use the word "literally?" | [
"Most of the time when someone uses the term literally wrong, what they mean is figuratively, so the best way to answer this I think is to show the difference between them! Literally means that this *actually happened*, where figuratively means that its an exaggeration. *\"I waited in line for Metallica tickets for... | [
"There are seven words in the english language that do this: Potatoes Tomatoes Embargoes Echoes Heroes Torpedoes Vetoes That is just how they were originally spelt. As for photos, it's short for photographs making it an adopted \"slang\" word."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why is Comcast able to run a Monopoly, and why aren't new ISPs popping up to compete? | [
"Per question 1: Lobbying, and the current government climate is very pro-business. Won't see much monopoly busting when there's such a massive pro-business sentiment in government. Per question 2: They make deals with communities for exclusivity and will refuse to provide internet unless they agree. So TWC and Com... | [
"> What is Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017? Basically? It's a $45 million bribe being paid to AT & T and Comcast to get them to stop blocking EPB expansion in Tennessee. EPB is an electric power cooperative in Tennessee that started offering gigabit internet service to customers in Chattanooga, but has subseque... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the post about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How bugs survive falls from 3-4 feet with ease while humans die from height of a similar scale? | [
"Because bugs have very little mass. You jumping from a skyscraper will reach a much higher speed than a bug falling a few meters. Higher speed of impact means more damage. Plus the bugs usually have a hard shell so it doesn't get damaged easily. Well unless it meets a human hand."
] | [
"A mixture of extreme luck and what you land on. If its concrete your dead, if its grass or dirt you have a very small chance of bouncing a few times breaking lots of bones but still potentially surviving. Human terminal velocity is 120 mph (your top speed in a free fall) so just think about the different types of ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why can comedians make extremely racist jokes without being called racist in the media? | [
"You can call them racist all you want. That's part of the joke."
] | [
"He's black, which means conservatives can use him to spout talking points without sounding bigoted."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why did China choose to ally with the US? | [
"China's break from the Soviet Union had several contributing factors. China and Russia have historically had tensions because of land disputes at their border so that was a contributing factor with some small scale conflicts happening in the 60's. Also after Stalin died the Soviet leadership began to criticize the... | [
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How is Banksy's identity still anonymous if there are public statements made by him, the location of his house is known, and parties are held to unveil his new works? | [
"His inner circle is very tight knit. Everybody who deals with him directly has an interest in maintaining his anonymity. For those who interact with him professionally, this anonymity is a still significant contributor to the value of his work. For those who are his friends and family, protecting his anonymity is ... | [
"I don't know about \"artists like Banksy\", but he (she?) makes a lot of money selling original copies and prints of his work for huge sums, showcasing in galleries as most artists do, and selling several books of pictures of his work. Also I think he does some commissioned works for companies and events. Despite... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does someone else touching my junk feel better than me touching my own junk? | [
"Anticipation. Your anticipation hightens the pleasure because you don't tense and prepare for it as much."
] | [
"The idea that masturbation can damage your eyesight is a lie made up by people who think masturbation is wrong. Stop if your dick is sore and don't do it inappropriate places and you'll be fine. Masturbation is normal and healthy as long as you're not doing it constantly. Don't know what's up with your eyes, but i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How come I can vigorously rub my eyes, which seem so fragile, while causing what seems to be absolutely no harm to them? | [
"Not the perfect answer, but eyes are much more stable than people would might think. I used to be super afraid of losing my eyesight because I wasn't aware how strong and stable eyes are. It changed when In School we learned about the eye and we sliced up and did an autopsy on a cow eye. It wasn't fragile at all, ... | [
"You do not want to learn. I have this, and it's a disease. I have no control over it. I don't even have it severely and have to put a jelly paste in my eyes multiple times a night which is also a pain in the ass in the morning. If I don't put the paste in my eyes I wake up with a horrible burning sensation from my... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Health and Physiology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer about Health and Physiology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What is a hydraulic press actually used for? Other than clickbait videos | [
"Kitchen sinks. The metal ones, that seem to be made out of a single piece of metal that just happens to be the shape of a sink? That is most likely a single piece of metal which was squeezed into shape by a hydraulic press. The drain gets cut out at the same time. The drain cover can even be cut at the same time.... | [
"There is energy in water pressure too, in fact electricity is often generated from the movement of water. Just like the pressure of flowing water can turn the generators in a water dam, it can be used to turn the reel back in. If that was clear to you and you rather wanted more detailed explanations of the exact m... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why are Hiroshima and Nagasaki inhabitable while Tchernobyl is not? Does radiation from nuclear bombs dissipate faster than a leaking reactor? | [
"A bomb only has a few dozen kg of nuclear fuel. A reactor has hundreds of tons of it. A bomb releases all of its energy in an instant while a reactor is designed to fission for years at a time. So the reactor builds up drastically more radioactive waste products. Also a lot of the fallout from a bomb gets blown ... | [
"Uranium itself does not become electricity. Uranium is used to heat water. The water boils, and goes up as steam through a turbine, which spins and generates electricity. Most nuclear power plants are based on this design - the uranium + water = Steam, Steam + Turbine = Electricity Pros: High-energy production, yo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why do many Redditors "Support" Christopher Dorner? | [
"There is a strong streak of anti-authority in Reddit, and specifically, anti-police. Basically anyone in power. They see Dorner as being justified because the LAPD is widely seen as corrupt. It has little to do with Dorner's actual claims, simply that he is someone with inside knowledge who stood up to the police.... | [
"Follow up: What *were* his reasons for siding with the British?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
The differences between First Degree, Second Degree, and Third Degree Murder | [
"Murder 1 - This is when someone plans on murdering someone. For instance, they buy a gun, they find a place for the body, then carry out the plan. This is also typically the degree of murder given to those who kill during the commission of another crime (also called Felony Murder). Murder 2 - Murder with no planni... | [
"Here's a typical progression within the American education system Age 4: Pre-Kindergarten (Optional) Age 5: Elementary school, Kindergarten Age 6-11: Elementary school, often referred to as 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, etc. Age 12-14: Middle school, often referred to as 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Age 15-18: High ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
What are freckles and why do we get them? | [
"When the sun hits your skin, the outside layer of your skin thickens a little bit. Some cells understand that event as a sign to produce a dark pigment (melanin). This pigment helps to protect the skin from the sun. People with lighter skin have less melanin on their skin, so, when the pigment is produced they oft... | [
"It depends on the amount of melanin you have in your body. Darker skinned people tend to have more melanin and are therefore more resistant to sunburn. Usually you can determine the amount of melanin you have in your body by you skin, eye and hair colour. For example, a red headed person with blue eyes and freckle... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Science:"
} |
Why people turn all red when embarrassed? and is it possible to control? | [
"It happens to me randomly, ill be speaking, lose my train of thought and go total red face and I think to myself \"what the hell?!? I was just trying to get back on track and now this person knows that I know he knows that I look like a cherry.\""
] | [
"A lot of nerves in your ear canal link to most of your body. Tickling them makes your blood pressure drop and thus leads to pleasure. At least that's what I read. Correct me if I'm wrong."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text about Health and wellness:"
} |
Why student loan debt isn't absolved by bankruptcy. | [
"The loans are guaranteed by the US Govt, the system is structured for the loans to not be discharged by bankruptcy. No other way you would get an unsecured loan for 100k at 6% with little to no credit or income. It would also present a pretty attractive strategic bankruptcy opportunity to file at ~22 and be debt ... | [
"They declare bankruptcy. We are drowning in medical debt and student loans, and people wonder why there is an opioid crisis. Before declaring bankruptcy, they try to get help from friends and family through crowdfunding. It’s abominable and tragic."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are there so many weird/oddly specific old laws in the US? | [
"To combat the weird, odd cases that occurred. Let's say some state has a \"don't spin pigs on their backs in traffic in the rain on sundays\" law.... That's probably because someone was doing that, and the person said, \"I can spin a pig on its back in the rain on Sundays if I want because there is no law against... | [
"I'm not sure if this exclusively a US thing. We get plenty of stories like this in the UK."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is it that people spend so much money on gym memberships to go running on treadmills when they can run outside for free? | [
"Many people live in areas with bad weather. Many people live in areas with too many hills. Many people live in areas with dangerous traffic. Many people enjoy running at a certain pace and the ability to manually adjust their incline. And yes, many people are already there for other workout equipment and use tread... | [
"Bad habits are easy, good habits require effort. It's way easier to switch from eating fresh cooked organic food to just grabbing fast food because it's super easy, cheap, tasty & convenient. It takes a lot more effort to make a commitment to eating a healthy diet. It's way simpler to just stop going to the gym & ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did carrier pigeons know where people wanted them to go? | [
"They didn't. Every carrier pigeon has one place that is their \"home\". They can always find their way home, no matter where they are released. But that's all they can do, so they're only able to deliver messages one-way, to one place."
] | [
"Did sailors generally know the name of the ships they're fighting?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
If we witnessed a meteor hit the moon, would it be instant like on earth or would it be slower? | [
"I'm not sure what you mean about \"real time\" and \"slowed down\". We would see it over one second later because of the speed of light. The fastest known comet moves at 536 km/s, which is 0.1% of the speed of light. At these speeds you can observe color (and electromagnetic wavelength/frequency) shifts if you stu... | [
"A catastrophe like that simply could not occur on that scale at that speed, and not at that 90-minute regularity. Apart from that, and a few other glaring physics mistakes, it was really quite an excellent film. Though space debris is a big problem for things in orbit. There's a lot of debris up there, and it coul... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about writing:"
} |
In the Islam religion do women pray in Mosque's or only men? | [
"Women usually pray in different part of the Mosque, most likely behind the men or in the different floor than men."
] | [
"1. Any facial or body coverings are more cultural than they are religious. Muslim women are supposed to dress \"modestly\" but not every Muslim woman does it. And the ones who do all have different interpretations of how to be modest. Some cover their hair, some cover their face, some dress in normal clothing. 2.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does some of my spam email (especially ones that leak into my inbox) think that my name is Michael? | [
"Someone, somewhere filled out a form with the name michael and your email address. Spam - oddly enough - often lacks quality control so this will likely go on forever."
] | [
"He does have an email address, very close to your example, actually. It does accept external email. It's read by someone on his team, though, not him. EDIT: I should say that it USED to accept external email, anyway. They no longer just advertise the address, so that may have changed. However, you can still email ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why do certain musical chords or notes have a pleasing or chilling effect when listening? Does personality have anything to do with chord progressions that people enjoy? | [
"A lot of it is societal. Our current popular music is still built pretty heavily on the same chord progressions as those used by Bach in the 1600s: [I-V-vi-IV](_URL_3_) of a major scale. That chord progression sounds nice because we are used to it and thats what we grew up with. A lot of popular music is also base... | [
"The human brain is infinite in its variation. Some people respond most emotionally to their auditory senses (like music), some to their visual senses (like art), some to olfactory senses (smell), some to written language (reading), some to kinesthetics (body movement). And this is mediated through their life exper... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Is it true that radiologists/people who conduct x-rays will be sterile/infertile? | [
"No. People who work with radiation are generally very safety conscious and are held to a *very* strict regulatory standard. Any suggestion that workers are getting an abnormally high dose of radiation is likely to result in an investigation and possibly large fines."
] | [
"They know how diseases/viruses/bacteria get transmitted and take many precautions against them. For instance, they constantly wash their hands/wear protective clothing."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why is it so natural for us to laugh at other people getting accidentally hurt? | [
"Not everyone does. There are some people who do not and cannot find humor in painful or embarrassing situations happening to others, even if they know they're fictional. There was an interesting article that dealt with this topic, in relation to the TV show *The Office*, and how some people just cannot find it fu... | [
"Been there, done that. Laughing comes much more naturally to kids because there are so many new first times seeing or experiencing humorous things. Also, the media (and fail compilations) deadens us over time. And another great source of laughter is when things are funny, but you're not allowed to laugh because yo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Psychology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about Psychology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Movie theater screens? How do they work? What's the difference in a normal theater and one of those imax hd theaters? | [
"It's all projection. IMAX is still largely done using film projectors, even digital IMAX is lower resolution than the film counterpart. In addition, the larger screen with the much higher resolution is really what makes the experience so much better."
] | [
"They are sometimes used for laser light shows. Laser Floyd comes to mind. There just isn't a lot of ways to use a movie theater with the screen on the ceiling."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why are men attracted to breasts and butts? | [
"They show that your potential mate is worth the pursuit - i.e. can actually birth your children and afterwards feed them."
] | [
"Asian men are far less attractive to White women than Asian women are to White men."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why is the Armenian Genocide not as recognized as other major events (i.e. Holocaust, Five Year Plans, Pear Harbor)? | [
"Well, I think it is by a lot of the world. However, there's still some argument about how much it was a forced deportation intended to kill as many Armenians as possible and a forced deportation by a crumbling empire which was in such bureaucratic chaos they simply totally failed to prepare in terms of food and sh... | [
"Because you live in the West. Hitler's atrocities are more personal to you and your countrymen. If you lived in Asia you would hear a lot more about Mao and 1930's/1940's Japan."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
How do documents like the Achtiname of Muhammad not diffuse into the violent populations of Muslim countries? | [
"It's not about following the Quran in any real manner. The Quran has multiple verses that talk about Jesus, his role as a Prophet, and his eventual return as a part of Judgement Day. The Quran is (if I'm not mistaken) explicit about both Judaism and Christianity as being part of an evolution in God's word that 'en... | [
"Because of their interpretation of some details in their practically same religion and historical, tribal diferences. Two reasons of most wars and conflicts."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What causes people to sleep in different positions. | [
"Some people think that there's [a link](_URL_3_) between sleep position and personality traits, but it's [not totally certain](_URL_1_) because people tend to move around a lot in their sleep. It looks like no one really knows why we sleep how we do, and we mainly just sleep how we feel comfortable. [However](_URL... | [
"Basically because most people enjoy sleeping at night."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
What is the purpose of a company that buys debt from other companies? Why do they buy it? What do they do with it? | [
"If you're asking about what I think you're asking about....they buy the debt for much less than the debt is for. Then try to collect as much as they can. For example, imagine that you borrowed $100 from the bank, but then couldn't pay it back. They try to collect it from you, but you just don't pay. Rather than k... | [
"Fees, services, interest, and investments. Fees - they charge you do to certain transactions. Some banks charge for debit usage. Others charge a fee to take money from an ATM. Banks charge for wire transfers. Banks also often charge a fee per month or year for certain account types or services that they sell you. ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
why do we call certain people by their initials (e.g. AJ, TJ, BJ)? Why aren't there any FAs or GAs? Do other cultures call people by their initials? | [
"In America at least the \"J\" a lot of the time stands for junior. Ex: Tom Smith Jr. might go by the name \"TJ\""
] | [
"I'm no wordologist, but I'd guess it's because their title is more important than their name and there's only one of each. I do call my aunts and uncles by their first name, like \"Uncle Stephen\" \"Aunt Doris,\" etc. because there are (and even if there aren't there can be) more than one of each. Your partner onl... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
The "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign | [
"Many people do think of them as weird. Many people think the religion is weird. When you are trying to convert people to your religion, looking normal and happy helps."
] | [
"There are companies that do this. There was a movie made about it where the girls in the film did it. It was called \"Sunshine Cleaners\" Pro Tip - Amy Adams boobs"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What is the difference between an iMessage and a Text Message in iOS 5? | [
"Apple has figured out that if two people are using iPhones (or iOS derivatives), they can route the message through Apples servers and push it to the destination. This bypasses the carrier network saving the consumer money. If it knows one of the two parties is not using an iPhone, the message is routed through t... | [
"Your friend's iPhone has registered itself on Apple's iMessage servers. Your phone, as soon as you type his number into the To box (or bring up a previous conversation with him) will ask the iMessage servers if they recognise him phone number. If they do, the message goes as an iMessage, otherwise it goes as a tex... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What exactly is going on with American ISPs at the moment? | [
"American government lawyer here...studied Aviation and Outer Space law in Canada. My Outer Space law professor put it best (paraphrased) when discussing telecoms...for capitalism to work you need both corporations and government regulators. When only one is working well the people are getting screwed. Conservative... | [
"All you need to leave a comment is a name and address. Both Comcast has, so they can enter as many as they want. A better question would be: why aren't they facing criminal charges for doing so?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why is a shaft with a bore through it stronger torsionally than one without a bore? | [
"Flex, the shell can flex and creates less torque on the center of the mass. Cross sectional area has been reduced so shearing stress has also been reduced. It's the maths, bro."
] | [
"If the glass fiber is 1/300 the thickness a sheet of glass, it can bend around a 300x tighter radius without breaking. The material on the outside of the bend has to stretch in order to stay lined up with the material on the inside of the bend. If the material is thinner, the difference in radius is smaller, so t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is it possible to throw a Tennis Ball to the Moon or Mars if i was outside the ISS? | [
"Changing orbit requires a change in velocity, the faster you go the wider your swing out away from the Earth. The difference in speed required to change orbits is typically measured in delta-v, or change in velocity. I looked up some numbers. The ISS is orbiting at 7.67 kilometers per second. That's a crazy fast ... | [
"> How far would it go before it was sucked into the gravitational pull of our own planet or another object? That depends entirely on its trajectory. > If thrown hard enough, could it break away from the pull of our planet? Spacewalking astronaut is already in a stable orbit around Earth, so if he threw it away fr... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are men hairier than women? | [
"it's mostly hormonal. men have testosterone in abundance which promotes body hair growth. testosterone is also significantly responsible for men *generally* being larger and stronger than women. I suspect that the hair is just incidental. a few extra hairs dont do much, 2 inches and 10 lbs do."
] | [
"Also, why are some people not ticklish at all?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did the Neanderthals die off ? | [
"They were gradually assimilated and outcompeted by Homo Sapiens. They had a lower brain capacity, and were less adaptable, and natural selection favored humans, who outcompeted them for food and living space. We do know that humans also interbred with them though, and it is estimated that up to 4% of our genome ma... | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How do movies obtain the rights to play music from artists or composers who have been dead 100+ years? | [
"Written music that old is generally under public domain. However, the particular recording of it from the London Symphony Orchestra in 1975 is not, and would have to be licensed from them. Or you could record it yourself for free!"
] | [
"If you plan to sell copies of the cover song you have to get permission from the publisher, except for instances where the song is so old that it has entered public domain. This may include payment or royalties to the original song creators. Some bands/publishers are very generous with their cover licensing, some ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about music:"
} |
How do so many hundreds of people get killed in stampedes at Mecca? | [
"Actually, if you asked a devout Muslim where/when he would want to die, he might say Mecca and he might want to die on the most spiritually fulfilling day of his life. Regardless, people weren't trampled because nobody cared or trampled anyone on purpose. People were trampled because there were MILLIONS of people... | [
"News programs like to overhype this kind of thing. For the vast majority of places, it's not really shrouded in violence and chaos - it's just lots of people and long lines. There's sometimes violence and chaos at football games, too, but they still happen every year."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
If a war veteran suffers from PTSD and kills a person/people, what happens? | [
"They would go to trial where they would likely plead insanity/mentally incompetent and be placed under the ward of the state (see: asylum) until they are deemed fit for the general population. That is provided the arresting officer didn't shoot them."
] | [
"1st degree: A murder which is intentional and planned in advance. 2nd degree: Still intentional, but not planned in advance. 3rd degree: Usually referred to as manslaughter. Manslaughter can also be divided into multiple categories. Voluntary manslaughter: Intentionally killing someone, but in a circumstance where... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why are DJs like Calvin Harris and David Guetta getting billing over the singers in their songs? | [
"Besides producing the music, they usually also write/co-write the songs (though the singer may co-write also); so it usually is their song, they just asked a famous singer to sing it. Since these DJ's are popular, they negotiate it. It's a simple business move."
] | [
"He makes all the beats and sounds for his music, then hires people to sing over them. He's a producer. He's famous probably because he has connections and was able to get other famous people to sing over his music."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why us car paint shiny and every other paint dull? Is there a reason for this other than someone thought it looked good 60 years ago? | [
"Shiny is more protective and easier to clean. A dull finish on a microscopic scale is very rough with lots of surface area. That area is where dirt collects and allows the surface to be more easily damaged. A mass produced product that needs to survive many years in harsh conditions needs the best protection at ... | [
"The varying causes of deterioration: Age: Let's day I paint a house. No matter what paint I use, it will eventually get worn and peel, not looking so good. The paint just doesn't last forever. Genetic stuff: Let's say I'm painting another house. This time, I got a bad batch of paint. No matter what I do, it won't ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why are chiropractors popular if they are not part of mainstream medicine? | [
"Their treatments provide an immediate, but temporary fix to people's musculoskeletal problems. The key word being temporary, as in you have to keep going back indefinitely to maintain the level of pain relief you get from a session. This creates a very loyal customer base. You can re-align joints all you want, bu... | [
"There is no science and they do not work, its literally as simple as that. Alternative medicine does not work, if it does than it becomes part of real medicine."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is there a reason shops are so eager to start selling seasonal items so early? | [
"From my experience it's to ensure they can actually sell through the inventory of seasonal items."
] | [
"Someone once told me it's because they're desperately trying to get rid of any back stock they have. Getting ready for the shipments and product for the new year. I could be wrong though."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
why is declining population growth considered to be a bad thing? | [
"Our economy is based on continuous expansion, which is difficult (or impossible) to do with a declining population. Fewer people working means fewer consumers for goods and services, fewer tax dollars collected, etc."
] | [
"In any healthy economy, inflation just happens. There isn't really a point to it because it's just natural. Asking what's the point is like asking what's the point of a mountain, or of mars, or of some natural law. Your question can be split into two separate questions. The first being, why does inflation occur? H... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it when on a slow internet connection ads on youtube do not have to buffer at all and play in high definition, but when the video starts, it has to buffer even on the lowest quality setting? | [
"YouTube videos end up fitting into two categories: a small number of videos that get watched A LOT, and a large number of videos that only get watched sometimes. Videos in the second category are stored on YouTube's big ol' server setup, but videos in the first (the popular ones) are cached on boxes at ISPs around... | [
"It doesn't assuming you really are getting the same thing. YouTube and many other video players can reduce quality on the video before transmission, and some may use more compact encoding than some video files, but really streaming is just downloading something in such a way that something can start playing it bef... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why can I see memories of places or people when my eyes are closed? | [
"Your mind's eye activates pretty much the same area of the brain that your actual eyes do. So, when you imagine things like that, it can really be like literally seeing them. Neat!"
] | [
"I am interested in this as well. I often find myself dreaming that I am in a location that as far as I am concerned does not exist multiple times. It only exists in my dream but I dream about being there quite frequently."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
the difference between minister, pastor, reverend, priest etc | [
"The way I understand it, a minister is basically anyone who does religious teaching, even unofficially. A reverend has to be officially ordained by some religion. A priest is specifically ordained by the Roman Catholic church. A pastor is like the head reverend of an individual church."
] | [
"Muslim and Islamic are interchangeable when used as an adjective. For example \"Muslim architecture\" and \"Islamic architecture\" are both correct. However \"muslim\" is also a noun that refers to a follower of islam and is not interchangeable in that context. For example you would say \"John is a muslim\" but no... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
What does the 8/7C timing mean for american TV shows? | [
"I, assume, you aren't American? There are several time zones in this country. That means a show comes on at 8 EST and 7CST"
] | [
"How are you going to change the filter?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
When you die from cancer what actually kills you? | [
"One of two things Firstly the cancer can grow as a tumour in particular organ to the point that the infected organ can no longer function. E.g. you could have a tumour on your lung that grows to a large enough size that you essentially end up suffocating. The second and most common way is what is known as metasta... | [
"Yes. It essentially attacks your immune system until you are literally incapable of handling any sickness at all. It's not aids that kills you, it's everything after aids that kills you."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What happens to the data deleted on our computers/phones/devices? | [
"The data is on your hard drive and when you delete it, your computer allows the data to be overwritten."
] | [
"Nothing on facebook is ever deleted. Just because you delete it doesn't mean facebook doesn't keep a copy. Similar things go for text, although this varies more from carrier to carrier. In the very least, they keep records for a long time even if they eventually delete them. The main point is that the data isn't ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
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