query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Why don't videos load anymore? | [
"probably to reduce their costs so they don't eat up as much bandwidth"
] | [
"Maybe it's a problem on my end, but the link isn't loading for me?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
what makes a particular comment "best" vs "top"? Shouldn't they be the same thing? | [
"best comments are the ones that have a lot of upvotes but very little of downvotes aka the ratio of up/down, top are just most upvoted comments."
] | [
"One major problem is that any people don't really bother reading more than the first page or two of comments. This means they're only seeing the top-rated comments, and upvoting those. Any comments that come later never get read or ever have a chance to get upvoted, regardless of quality. You can see this effect b... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why do men pee standing up? | [
"because we can, because it avoids putting our butt skin where others buttskin has been, because its quicker, because we can keep our pants on, because it takes less space in a bathroom so you can fit more spots."
] | [
"EIL5: Why can't I stop sitting with my legs crossed, even though it hurts my knees, and why does it hurt my knees?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why is it so much more common to see people in Asian countries wearing masks during a virus outbreak as opposed to America? | [
"Here in Korea, we have atleast 2 outbreaks each year. Because people started to wear masks so often, its basically fashionalbe to wear it now. I think the pollution from china also has a play in this phenomenon."
] | [
"I’ve been told that it’s because of such a dense population they are used to prevent/limit the spread of airborne illnesses. I could be wrong though"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How is it possible to predict everything like this? ( | [
"These aren't \"predictions\" in the tradition sense. Based on the rules of the movements, and the numbers of times he has you move (which really breaks down to odd vs even), you can mathematically determine which space is not reachable. He removes a square that is not mathematically reachable each turn until you a... | [
"Of course not. Why would you think this?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Entertainment Industry Associations, Guilds, and Unions | [
"SAG is a huge and very powerful one. It is necessary because there used to to be s lot of abuse of actors in the industry. They would make you work for free to \"get your name and image out there\", make you work 16 hour days, etc."
] | [
"Next Week's Theme: 'Royalty, Nobility, and the Exercise of Power' To be followed by: \"Eastern Europe\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Who is in charge of File extensions? .jpg .torrent .mp4. Who creates them, Who assigns them, Where are they assigned? | [
"Nobody is. Every program picks whatever they like and uses that. Usually it's not taken, and if it is, the probability that two programs are using the same extension is quite small. Even if they are, it's not a *huge* problem."
] | [
"Domain names and DNS services is quite an interesting topic for computer networks. You will find that there is a central controller who maintains the domain names they are responsible for. For example there is ICANN for America and the .com domains. _URL_0_ Other places and other top level domains will be contro... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why do males lose attraction and interest in there partner after ejaculation? | [
"Are you still hungry after you eat, do you stay there and stare at the empty plate? Same thing."
] | [
"Because if sex is not pleasant for them, the men are much less likely to ejaculate into their vaginas."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why does the LGBT movement differentiate between lesbians and gay people? | [
"Not LGBT myself, nor an expert on the community, so take this with a grain of salt: My best understanding of it is that the challenges faced by lesbian women are different than those faced by gay men. Lesbian women are more likely to be objectified by straight men (think \"So... can I watch?\" jokes), or told thin... | [
"Q can stand for queer or questioning. Queer in this context is more than just gay or lesbian, it's a term that includes all of the L, G, B, and T, or anyone who doesn't identify as straight or part of the gender dichotomy of male/female. Basically, \"out of the sexual norm\"."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about LGBTQ+ terminology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage about LGBTQ+ terminology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Where do food coloring additives go in my body? I can drink red fruit juice all day, but still pee yellow. | [
"They get digested or metabolized in the liver. Some are excreted via feces."
] | [
"Think of the dye they use to turn beer green for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s food grade, safe for consumption. They don’t dye the River using industrial textile dyes that are toxic."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do I feel like I can ONLY fall in love with a woman because of her looks, and not her personality even though I want it vice versa? What psychological explanation is there? | [
"Because you haven't fallen in love with a woman yet."
] | [
"Personality, confidence, sense of humor, etc. All those things in the right proportion that matches what you are looking for will overcome physical issues all day. Give this guy a chance. Looks can be fixed. Asshole is for life."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If gravity has a quantum manifestation of itself (gravitons), how does anti-matter relate to it? Would there be some kind of anti-graviton particle? | [
"The expectation is that gravitons are their own antiparticle, similar to how photons are their own antiparticle. So no, there probably isn't another such particle unless we have things very wrong."
] | [
"An anti-matter atom is one made up of the anti-matter equivilent of normal subatomic particles. That is, instead of being made up of electrons, protons, and neutrons, it will be made up of positrons, anti-protons, and anti-neutrons. At the most fundamental level, particles and their anti-particle counterparts have... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the answer about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why do washing machines have glass windows whereas the dishwashers don’t? | [
"Washer machines has a load level, also, requires some supervision of the activity [i.e. Trying to open the door when water level is hight]. Dishwashers can't be \"overloaded\" neither visual inspection is needed."
] | [
"They run the pump one way when circulating the water to wash the dishes - this way round it sucks water against the filter. When it's time to empty the water out, it runs the pump the other way, flushing all the stuff - even quite big things like peas - down the waste. At least, that's European dishwashers. I've n... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
How is a compiler created? | [
"You start out by writing a primitive compiler in assembly. Then you use that primitive compiler to make a better version of the compiler. Then you are up and running."
] | [
"> Is there anything more to it? Turn left."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
File Compression, .ZIP, .RAR, etc. | [
"File compression works by looking for patterns in data and then replacing common patterns with a short identifier. Then you tack on a dictionary that maps those identifiers back to what they represent. An easy example is this: > I would not eat them in the rain > I would not eat them on a train > I do not like ... | [
"This has been asked before here: _URL_0_ . TLDR: Yes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why do the employees of big-box stores seldom have any knowledge of the products in the section they're assigned to? | [
"Because that would require training, expertise, and a generally higher wage for the employees. The employees generally aren't going to educate themselves outside of work b/c they're not paid enough or given enough reason to take any pride in what they do. So since the company would have to pay for employees to hav... | [
"It shows a perception of laziness that the business does not want to project to customers. More cultural than anything else I would imagine. Additionally, it is commonly believed by management that if you have time to sit you have time to clean something, straighten stock, talk to a customer, etc."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why is it harder to get glitter off your skin than dirt? | [
"Glitter is kind of 2D whereas dirt is kind of 3D. As your skin is almost always a tiny bit moist (with sweat and oils) it's harder to get the 2D stuff off than the 3D stuff. Try this experiment: 1) Lightly spray a concrete floor with water 2) Drop some grapes on the floor 3) Drop some notecards on the floor When y... | [
"For: wash off pesticides, dirt. Against: why the hell would there be anything against washing your fruit."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What happens if a Redditor goes haywire with downvotes? | [
"wow you just got downvoted by one of them"
] | [
"Y'know how people like to do what everyone else does? Now, it works like that for Reddit too. When someone downvotes you, it makes people think your comment was worse that it would be if they hadn't downvoted it, but of course they don't realise this. It works the same way for upvotes. So, it's basically to preven... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why is it that countries aren't fighting over educated/experienced refugees? | [
"1) The educated and experienced do not need to use the exemptions that refugees get in order to immigrate to another country. They can use the normal immigration process. 2) Russia supports Assad who is the reason for many of the refugees fleeing in the first place. So a lot do not want to go there. 3) China has... | [
"To be blunt about it, Americans seem to be ill informed about the rest of the world. They claim freedoms (like privacy) they don't have and claim other countries have a population that is oppressed. If that was true wouldn't America be way more overrun with foreigners (not just the downtrodden) that it is? You don... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why do they add a laugh track to certain TV shows? | [
"So that you know when to laugh, since their jokes aren't that funny cue: [Big Bang Theory](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Because in a lot of ways it is no different than fast-forwarding through commercials on TV or going to the bathroom when they play."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How do fighters such as Conor McGregor gain so much weight in between the weigh in and the fight? | [
"Water. Before a fight one can lose weight by shedding as much water as possible. They will put that weight back on almost immediately once they re hydrate. 17 lbs is a bit extreme, but it could be possible."
] | [
"Dropping that much weight in such a short time takes an enormous physical toll. An average person would be physically spent, however, these fighters are in phenomenal physical shape to begin with. Think of the most fit person you know and multiply it by ten. Yes, it affects his strength and physical abilities, but... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do some wheelchair wheels lean inwards at the top and what is the benefit of them doing so? | [
"It increases stability. A person in a wheelchair is more top heavy than a car, for example. Having the wheels leaning in at the top makes it much less likely to tip over in a turn. This is why you see this type of chair in races or other sports. I believe the pumping action is also slightly easier when the wheels ... | [
"All the detailed physics theories aren't necessary here. While moving, a rider is simply able to steer the bike back under him/her as they inevitably begin to fall one way or the other. And to ride with no hands - notice that due to the design of the front fork, whichever way the bike leans, the front wheel will t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
what happens when I continue using 2-week contact lens for more than 2 weeks? | [
"Minerals may. Build up and scratch your eye. Bacteria may build up and cause an infection. The lens may wear out and tear during use which would leave you partially blinded until you get replacements"
] | [
"Rule of 3s. Any more than 3 times a day seek medical help. Any less than once every 3 days seek medical help."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Can someone explain to me as to why Greece continue to grow into further debt? | [
"Greece still owes for the money it borrows and that money doesn't come free. There is interest on it that needs to be paid every month and it accumulates. Not to mention that the government has its obligation to pay for the government programs and government workers."
] | [
"Ok I don't know about Spain but I do have an understanding of Greece having much family there and travelling there regularly. Greece currently excluding the interest repayments of the existing debt is cash positive. In that, I mean Greece collects more money from its population then it takes to pay for it's public... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How does the "wayback machine" work? | [
"> Is everything, as in every page on every site, archived? How quickly does something get archived? Depends on the popularity of the site. Something like Reddit gets crawled very deeply pretty constantly. \"Joe Bob's Baking and Fishing Blog\" may only get crawled every few weeks. > Is it an automatic process In g... | [
"you see that search reddit box over there on the right? You search keywords from your question. Such as: \"search for answers about questions\" or \"how does the economy work\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Are male and female brains really different? | [
"There are physiological differences, yes. Womens' brains tend to have more white matter; men's tend to have more gray. White matter controls communication between different parts of the brain, gray matter is sort of the \"organs\" within the brain itself. This is highly simplified, of course, and the exact mechani... | [
"It's not about how big your brain is, it's how you use it. Human brains have been shrinking for the last few thousand years, but by all accounts we're getting smarter. It's about how wrinkly your brain is."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do many people continue to hear/see sounds and images from a video game they've played recently for hours or days after they've stopped playing? | [
"Funny you mention Tetris several times, this is actually a widely recognized phenomenon aptly called the 'Tetris effect'. There is a respectively named Wikipedia article on it that I would link to if I wasn't on mobile and too lazy to bother with cross app links."
] | [
"Do \"deja vu dreams\" qualify as deja vu? In several cases I've dreamed conversations and situations that actually happened in the future. There was nothing really significant about these situations that would make me think about them in a dream necessarily, but I knew what each person would say for 15 seconds or ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Cognitive Science:"
} |
How does oral analgesic gel work? | [
"They basically prevent your pain nerves from firing. For your nerves to send signals to your brain, special gates have to open on the surface of the nerve to allow an influx of sodium ions which trigger the signal; many oral analgesics work by preventing these gates from opening. To use an analogy, think of your ... | [
"Aspirin stops the formation of enzymes that cause the pain sensation in the body. It is known as a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor. COX creates a compound called prostaglandins, some prostaglandins activate pain stimulation in neurons, your nerves. All aspirin will work in the same way regardless of which you buy. ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Speaking in tongues? | [
"Babbling nonsensical sounds. Its a mass delusion that has a positive reinforcement for the group."
] | [
"Yes to both your questions. See: Spy satellites."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why do they say breathe through your nose and out through your mouth? | [
"It forces you to be deliberate with your breaths, letting the air stay in so it can be absorbed by your blood."
] | [
"Because the same air is coming out of your lungs and back out of your nose. Like asking why you taste food when throwing up."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Health and Wellness:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Health and Wellness:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Health:"
} |
Why is muscle soreness delayed? | [
"Although poorly understood, there are several theories on why there is a delay. In order to better understand muscle pain, it is important to analyze how muscles contract under normal conditions and under strenuous conditions. Normally there is release of calcium from organelles in the muscle cells. The calcium a... | [
"It's better to relax, as less muscle fibres will get damaged that way. Although the difference will be minute, at best."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
As a member of the US armed forces I swear an oath to protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Who decides what constitutes and domestic enemy? | [
"You do - which means even if your government or your commanders are committing treason your oath says to defend your country against that. Sadly some don't understand IF it's happening and if they do, they realize they will be instead charged with treason sometimes. That's why when Bradley Manning and Edward Snowd... | [
"Because we are supposed to be in charge of our government, not the other way around. Our constitution grants the government very limited power. Attempts to reach beyond that are interpreted as affronts to our freedom. Our basic right to liberty literally means to be left alone. A government snooping into every ema... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
If we could desalinate water with little electricity, how much could we take from the oceans and put into the clean water supply before something cataclysmic happens? | [
"In theory there should be little net effect, because the used water would go back into the oceans and mix back in -- it's a closed loop."
] | [
"You don’t consume the water, you use it. Every breath, every drop of sweat, every time you use the bathroom, returns a little of that water to the atmosphere, where it will eventually end up as rain. It always ends back in the cycle, unless it is split with electrolysis (but even then it’ll be water again once the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Is paying by check safe? | [
"What do you mean safe? Do you know what a check is?"
] | [
"Is it legal? Yes. Is it smart? Double Yes. Why? Because no one can say they paid their rent without having proof."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How did we historically come to use the left/right terminology to refer to progressive/conservative political thinking? | [
"The left side of the assemble was for people who support the liberal or democracy *not modern day democracy but for that time period it was radical*. The right side of the assemble was for those who supported the monarchy. This was during the french revolution."
] | [
"This is a really loaded question because the usage of the terms 'liberal' and 'socialist' in the United States aren't representative of what the terms have meant historically. Further complicating this question is that both socialism and liberal theories have different component parts, i.e. economic liberalism, so... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why do injuries to the mouth heal so much faster than any other body part? | [
"Your mouth is made of mucous tissue. Mucous tissue is really rich with blood vessels, so there's a ton of nutrients, oxygen, and repair factors that can be carried with relative ease to the mouth. Some suggest that [saliva also plays a role in it](_URL_0_). However, that's beyond me."
] | [
"You have a higher concentration of nerves in your hand than you have in most other places on your body."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Health and Medicine:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about Health and Medicine:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What accounts for the fact that humans have a relatively weak sense of smell compared to so many other animals? | [
"There aren't specifics. We can only deduce conclusions based upon our observable facts. Nature doesn't make one sense super powered when other senses dominate. Because of our eye sight, humans use a large part of their brain processing those signals. If our eye sight is damaged, typically one or more of the sense... | [
"Many animals lack a sense of self, so they see the animal in the mirror as another animal. In addition, many animals use their sense of smell much more than their sense of sight, and as they don't smell another animal, there is nothing special in their surroundings to react to."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do some countries require citizenship renunciation if you were to newly obtain citizenship in that country? | [
"Because they hold the philosophy that you can only hold loyalty to a single nation. That means you have to give up all loyalties and privileges you may have in other nations to gain citizenship in their nation."
] | [
"In most cases, citizenship is not determined by international law, but only by the domestic law of the sovereign state granting a person citizenship of that state. The child would be a Canadian citizen because it was born in Canada. The child would be a United States citizen because it was born the child of a U.S.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
If cats can't taste sugar then why do many popular cat food brands add it? | [
"Sugar is not only about sweetness in flavor. It's also a quick and ready source of carbohydrates: energy. With that said: Not all cat foods contain added sugar. In fact many don't but some certainly do. It's a cheap and lazy way for manufactures to boost certain nutrition label figures to make the catfood look mor... | [
"Big difference. Treats aren't designed to have any nutritional value, just to taste good. They tend to be fatty. It's like asking if there's a difference between a balanced meal and a bag of M & Ms. If you substitute it for food much, your cat will get fat and unhealthy. Edit: cat, not car. Your car won't get fat,... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do animals not get sick from drinking puddle water (or any stagnant water) whereas it can be very dangerous for us ? | [
"Animals *do* get sick from drinking bad water. All the time. They're lousy with parasites. The difference between them and us is that humans know that we can avoid sickness by only drinking clean water."
] | [
"Some bacteria eat things our bodies need to survive, and some bacteria produce poisons, even if they're eating stuff we don't need. If the wrong bacteria are in the water, it doesn't matter where it came from. A glacial lake is less likely to have shit in it compared to some random river, but I'd boil or otherwise... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What's the difference between a carbohydrate and a hydrocarbon? | [
"\"-ate\" means oxygen. Carbohydrate = carbon, hydrogen, oxygen Hydrocarbon = hydrogen, carbon"
] | [
"How much fat, protein and carbohydrates are there in water?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How do bands wear outfits during live performances without sweating through the clothes? | [
"Wull if your wearing a jacket the sweat wouldn't show through and only they usually do a couple costume/outfit changes"
] | [
"It adds an extra layer of clothing protection from sweat and assorted bodily fluids. It makes the outer clothing last a bit longer. Notice how you buy more underwater than pants every year?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What is white gold? Why is it just not silver? | [
"Gold in jewellery is not 100% gold. That is what carats stand for: they indicate how pure gold is. In general, gold is sold at 18 carats, meaning there is 18/24^th of gold in it. The extra 6/24^th are other metals - to make the jewellery brighter, tougher, etc. You can chose metals that won't change gold's colour.... | [
"Gold was discovered and used a looooong time ago. Platinum has been used only since the 1500s. The history of the usage of gold is important. Also because its shiny gold color. Platinum is like silvery. Dull compared to that nice yellow stuff"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Bullet Board System or BBS | [
"As long as you knew the phone number and credentials, you could connect to any BBS in the world. But usenet is probably a closer analogy than IRC, as most BBSes did not have a live chat type feature. They were, pretty much, just an electronic bulletin board"
] | [
"Download RES. It allows you to. The link is at the bottom under tools."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
How come when a large aeroplane turns we're not all forced sideways (whichever way is downwards)? | [
"You are. Airplanes bank (tilt to the side) as they turn, so that you're forced down in your seat instead of to the side. And the turns are so wide and slow that there's very little force, so you generally don't notice it."
] | [
"Going into the atmosphere facing backwards *is* pushing your eyeballs back into your sockets, and not out of your sockets. You have to remember that when space capsule are re-entering the atmosphere, they are being slowed down by the atmosphere. They have a lot of speed that is pointing roughly tangent to the eart... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Physics:"
} |
Why do people enjoy lists so much? | [
"Lists actually can be a very efficient way to present information, but they can also be used for trivial purposes as you mention. Many people are interested in trivia, however. Affluent people have the luxury of indulging in such things."
] | [
"You all seem to be asking a lot about communism here."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
How do microphone windscreens effectively diffuse wind noise? | [
"A windscreen simply deflects the full force of wind (or even a person's breath) away from the diaphragm of the mike, the part that vibrates and is used to convert mechanical to electrical energy. It also helps keep dust, grime and saliva from the top of the mike."
] | [
"There are a few things that you should probably look at. Some microphones have different recording patterns. You can choose an optimal recording pattern depending on the setting. Cardioid mode records what is directly in front of the receiver versus say an omni\\-directional mic that will pick up in a 360 degree p... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What does having a mental illness or personality disorder mean? | [
"I explain it scientifically as a chemical imbalance in the brain. Causes problems with mood, interferes with how you feel or just give you nasty headaches. Most of the time OK, but sometimes don't do so well. Exactly like diabetes. I find people understand this very quickly, and separate the stigma from the illne... | [
"Neither Down Syndrome or Autism are mental illnesses. Could you clarify what you mean by this question? Do you mean disorders such as Down Syndrome or Autism, or mental illnesses, more along the lines of depression or schizophrenia?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do companies who operate at a loss like Tesla and Netflix afford to pay their staff? | [
"they raise capital by selling shares of ownership in their company, or by selling bonds in the form of debt. Tesla has gone to the well to get more money several times in the past year or 2. Works fine as long as investors believe theres a path to profitability."
] | [
"Explaining all aspects would take a very long time. Basically though, GE own many companies, some of which lose money and some of which are deliberately allowed to lose a ton of money. When you factor in all of GE's holdings, you can get to that effective tax rate."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
how do mathematicians know pi is irrational? | [
"There are ways to prove a number is irrational. For example, [here's](_URL_1_) a pretty simple proof that the square root of 2 is irrational. Unfortunately, the proof that pi is irrational is probably way to complicated to ELI5. It wasn't proven until the 1700s, which is testament to how complex it is. [Here's](_U... | [
".999 repeating to infinity is equivalent to 1. Decimals are not an approximation, they are another way to state a number. 1/3 = .333 repeating to infinity. That is a logically and mathematically true statement. 1/3*3 =1 1/3*3 = .333 repeating * 3 = .999 repeating = 1 Infinity isn't an easy concept to grasp, but ho... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Mathematics:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Mathematics:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do people mess with the height of their vehicles? Lifted pickups, low riders... What is the point? | [
"You can either have the same boring mass produced car that everyone else on the road is driving. Or you can the unique individual that you are and show the world that you are a unique person with a version of a car that ONLY YOU have in town, whether that means lifting, lowering, or doing some other modification t... | [
"I believe body types are copyrighted or trademarked, so you can't just throw a lamborghini body on. Also, the frame of the car would have to change, which means you'd be changing the seating, the engine mount, etc - and since the size of the space under the hood isn't the same, you'd be redesigning the engine also... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are a "pair of pants" referred to as a pair when there is only one? (ex. A pair of shoes = 2 shoes...a shirt is just a shirt) | [
"Because pant legs didn't used to be connected. They were two separate items that were put on and attached to the cod piece."
] | [
"Consider the phrase \"a box of tickets\". There are many tickets in the box, but there's only one box. So it's *a* singular box. It's basically the same thing with \"a couple of tickets\". There are two tickets, but only one couple."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How can you hear yourself when you think? | [
"Your mind is a powerful super computer, capable of generating the most lifelike graphics and sounds. I can sing like a 500-pound opera singer in my mind . I can play back entire portions of songs or movies, if I've heard or seen them enough times. Your brain is just that powerful."
] | [
"Because they can. that is the true answer. Because they can."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why my dad points the pedestal fan outwards to cool down the house? | [
"Putting the fan on you causes a breeze which cools you down. Pointing the fan out is blowing the hot air out, thereby causing negative air pressure inside the house and forcing fresh air to flow in. So, if it is hotter outside than in, point your fan at you. If it is hotter inside than out, point your fan out."
] | [
"It seems to come as a surprise to my dog, every time he farts the noise spooks him. Also do you go sit on the toilet or go outside every time you fart?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
If I am dieting, why should I care what I eat as long as I stick to X amount of calories a day? (Assuming my only concern is losing weight). Isn't a calorie a calorie? | [
"In your only goal is to lose weight, then the main thing is basically just calories. If your only goal is survival, then on at least a short term basis calories are all that matters. However, a lot of health problems can come up from having empty calories and there are a whole range of diseases like scurvy that co... | [
"> When you don’t eat enough calories, your body freaks out and starts conserving energy and you go into starvation mode. Not really, no. Starvation mode isn't really a thing, it's mostly an excuse people use when they don't diet strictly. As long as you are burning more calories than you take in, you will lose wei... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
We have "click to play" for flash why don't web browser have "click to see" for image | [
"Videos are a lot more disruptive than still images. moving pictures, forced audio, etc. Plus, most of the time you don't want a video to play until you're actually ready since you'll miss something. Not so with an image. Also, the whole Click To Play for Flash is a somewhat new thing, and stems from Flash being r... | [
"Finally one that I could possibly answer. I saw in a old thread that it's not really a pop up. It's actually a transparent web page so when you click the link/button/play you're also clicking for a link to live jasmie etc etc"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is figure skating considered an athletic sport while ballet is not? | [
"A core part of being a 'sport' is the element of competition. If the primary outcome of the activity is one party 'winning' while one or more parties 'lose', then you might have a sport. However, if the activity merely serves to entertain without any final determination of victory, it isn't a sport. Many people wo... | [
"Professional \"cheer leading\" is very different than high school/college. At the high school level it's considered a sport. At the pro level it's considered entertainment."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why do different alcohols have different effects on people? | [
"They don't. It's all in your head. Some alcohols obviously get you drunk *faster*, because they're more potent. But there's no difference between like \"wine drunk\" and \"whiskey drunk\" or whatever. *One thing* that might make a difference however is sugar. If you drink a sugary drink, you might spike your blood... | [
"If you drink coffee every day to wake yourself up in the morning, you will eventually become addicted. How would this contribute to you becoming addicted to alcohol, tobacco or methamphetamines? They're completely different drugs with different effects, different feelings and, most importantly, different chemistry... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about alcohol and behavior:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about alcohol and behavior:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What's the difference between pills you chew, pills you crush, and pills you swallow whole? | [
"Pills you chew dissolve in your mouth, and can enter your bloodstream directly by diffusing into the blood vessels there; pills you can crush or swallow whole dissolve in your stomach and do their magic there; pills that you must swallow whole don't get digested until they reach the intestines. They are all made ... | [
"Chewable tablets CAN be chewed, for those who can not swallow pills. Pills aren't supposed to be chewed, because this will accelerate their controlled absorption rate. Chewable tablets can also be swallowed, if they're small enough. This won't interfere with their function."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
If a man like Bradley Manning wants to have sex with men but also thinks he's a woman does that make him a gay man, a straight woman, or what exactly? | [
"Manning identifies as a woman. That means that her sexual orientation is the same as if she was biologically female. So, if she likes dudes, she's straight, if she likes ladies, she's a lesbian, and if she likes both, she's bi. If you don't accept that she is truly a woman, I guess she'd be a gay man if she likes ... | [
"It's when a person has a mismatch between the gender of their personality (the gender that they identify themselves with) and their physical gender. It is not defined by their gender role (ie, a stay-at-home dad is not a transgender just by virtue of his daily activities), but by their emotional identity. I'd be i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
How does a piece of paper have value to it? Why is the hundred dollar bill 100x more then the one even though it's about the same size? What gives bills their value? | [
"Society imposes a value in order to maintain an economy. That paper is not literally worth more, it's a symbol of a value."
] | [
"Imagine that you have 10 pieces of silver in your pocket. Now, you take those pieces of silver out of your pocket and you cut them all in half. Now you have twenty pieces of silver, but really, you don't have any more silver than you did before, it's just in more pieces. Printing paper money basically works the sa... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Microsoft has announced they’re ending support for push notifications in older versions of Windows Mobile. How can they do this and why would they want to? | [
"Microsoft seem to be fed up of supporting anything mobile related. Try working with Windows CE5."
] | [
"It isn't; Skylake still gets support from Microsoft out through 2018. The reason as to why there is an expiration date is because Microsoft doesn't want to keep supporting Windows 7, just like they stopped supporting XP, and Vista, and all of their other OS. It drains resources that could be better spent on other ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text about Technology:"
} |
What causes the physical pain of heartache? | [
"It's hard to explain a drug addiction to a 5 year old, but that's the best analogy there is. Love makes you feel... like you're high on drugs. The romantic kind anyway, of which I believe you are speaking. First you are a nice clean person, then puberty comes along and then desire and sex and BAM! You're in love b... | [
"Everything you feel is chemical reactions in the brain and across the nervous system. From terror to love."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
What are the “dots” you see on windshields of a car through polarized glasses? | [
"It’s an effect called birefringence. When the glass goes through the tempering process, different stress patterns form in the glass that cause partial polarization. These patterns become much more apparent when viewed through polarized lenses. [More info](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Polarization. Simply put: Sunglasses with polarized lenses align the light in one direction. The tint is an imperfect film that has certain polarizing effects on light as well. When you have the shades on, you’re able to see the alignment of the tinted application. Try this with cheap shades. You won’t see anythi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about Physics:"
} |
How do music streaming apps work from a legal/licensing standpoint? | [
"You make a deal with the record company. Many form conglomerates to license their songs, others you have to go right to the record company. Basically you work out a deal on cents-per-play, and then have reporting requirements to show them what was played, how often, etc."
] | [
"The difference is the available content. Certain videos with copyrighted material (usually music) aren't available on the mobile Youtube app. It's up to the individual copyright holders to decide whether they want their content to be available on mobile devices. As for why they wouldn't allow it, beats me. You'd h... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer about Technology:"
} |
Why do some of the greatest actors who have made some of the greatest movies agree to do horrible movies later on in their career? | [
"Because acting is fun and/or it keeps them busy and/or they want to leave their families something. Making groundbreaking film after groundbreaking film can be draining and stressful. As they get older they often just want to say yes, show up, do their job, get a paycheck, and let it go at the end of the day. Du... | [
"Comedy is difficult, drama not so much. Think about the number of decent dramatic films that are released yearly vs the number of funny comedies."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why are brains in the vulnerable head rather than in the thorax with the other vital organs? | [
"Is it vulnerable? There's a strong ass skull around it. Rest if the organs just have mushy meat surrounding them."
] | [
"Because there is limited value in moving fat to the extremities. All of the organs that need protection and warmth are in the chest & abdominal cavities."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does the removal of amygdala affect someone? | [
"The amygdala is the emotion centre of the brain, so it can mess with certain functions such as feeling emotions, for example fear. It could also make it difficult for the person to recognise emotions in other people, so if someone else was experiencing fear, they would find that difficult or impossible to distingu... | [
"Affect is a verb. Alcohol affects the brain. Effect is a noun. You study the effect of alcohol on the brain."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How are parachutes packed into the parachute bags? | [
"They are folded in a particular way after every jump geberally by experienced divers. The reserve parachutes must be packed by a licensed person but main parachutes generally aren't packed by licensed people to save money."
] | [
"Airplanes are heavy and move extremely fast. A parachute strong enough to stop a falling plane would be impractically large and heavy. Even if you could make a parachute large and strong enough it's more likely the plane would tear itself apart. Parachutes only work at low altitudes and speeds, which is why they d... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Sometimes I see one cop pull over two cars. How the hell does this happen? | [
"Happened to me once. Heading along a four lane freeway in the wilderness going pretty fast, when a VW Golf passes me. A cop car comes screaming up from behind with lights flashing and I pull over. He goes right by me and heads after the VW. I breathe a sigh of relief and start on my way again. Around a couple of c... | [
"How do you know it's an undercover cop on his phone, and not just some dude? That aside, the real reason is because there's probably not another cop around to pull them over, and even if there was, there aren't any cops who would care enough to bother. A lot of regular citizens just get ignored by police for talki... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Would it be dangerous to do hallucinogenic mushrooms or DMT while in a sensory deprivation 'float tank'? | [
"[You might regress evolutionarily and reduce your corporeal being to primal energy.](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"There's some thought that the Delphic Oracles were sitting right on top of a fault line which was releasing gasses that made the priestesses stoned for lack of a better word. You can read more about that here: _URL_0_ But that's a very specific case. There are many other types of trances. Many are related to music... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What do hospitals do with amputated limbs/body parts that they couldn't reattach? | [
"Flagged as medical waste and handeled as local law allows, most cases it's incinerated."
] | [
"Donating your organs is if you die unexpectedly while healthy (like in a car crash) and they can be given to people who need them for transplant (it requires that they be fresh). If you're much older, your organs may not be ideal for transplant. Donating yourself as a cadaver, they'll preserve you so you can be ex... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Medicine:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer about Medicine:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
How is rabies "controlled" in the wild? Why doesn't it just destroy large populations of wild mammals? | [
"Diseases are self-limiting. If they infected and killed everyone in a population, there would be nothing left to infect, and the disease itself would die out. Diseases \"want\" to be spread (as much as a non-thinking entity can want), and so they take measures to be highly infectious but as low lethality as possib... | [
"The smallpox virus had an incredibly stable genome, so it is unable to mutate and adapt to treatments and vaccines. Also, smallpox is only able to infect humans so the virus cannot hide in the wild in the bodies of animals and come back from the forest years later (you can track and quarantine humans, tracking bat... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Health and Medicine:"
} |
What is the fundamental difference between Socialism seen in the Nordic States that has lead to their apparent success whereas it has failed or experienced power seizures and corruption elsewhere? | [
"The socialism in Northern Europe is a means to lend assistance to those at the bottom, while Soviet style socialism tried to centrally plan the entire economy. In Sweden, etc. you can buy whatever kind of house you want and can afford, but if you're poor and cannot afford housing then there is state-provided assis... | [
"It's mostly an artefact of the Cold War. America was competing with the USSR. The USSR was Communist, and seeking to spread its ideology. As a result, Communism, Socialism, and even Social Democracy become dirty words. Socialism can also discourage productivity. Generally speaking, free markets encourage growth an... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
In films how do they make background noises like wind so quiet compared to the actors voices? | [
"This can be accomplished a couple of ways. One is by use of a shotgun mic that records sounds from a narrow direction, thus catching the dialogue clearly without too much background noise. Another method is known as ADR, automatic dialogue replacement, where the actors will go through and record their dialogue ag... | [
"ambient noise from the environment is much louder during the day. traffic noises, people, planes, etc. In a city, anyway. Are you in a city or populated area, can you hear road noise form your tv watching space? edit, unless you mean something like, does it take time to hear quiet sounds when I move from a loud en... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
From an earlier post, ELI5: Why can't children carry asthma inhalers in school? | [
"They can, that school was just insanely retarded."
] | [
"Actually, ELI5, how the fuck are you relieving ear itches with your tongue?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do some big companies with already well-known products like Coca-Cola still have to advertise so often? | [
"Their perpetual advertising is not an awareness campaign, but a brand confidence campaign. They advertise so you'll feel better about having bought their products, thereby making you more likely to become a repeat buyer and loyal customer."
] | [
"Typically the main difference is the amount of marketing the company puts in. Large brands put in millions of dollars into marketing while off brand counterparts usually advertise not at all. Sometimes they may even made in the same place as brand name products but it comes down to the advertising costs."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
What does the quote "If a tree falls in the woods, by noone is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Actually mean? | [
"It is a \"mistranslation\" of a Japanese-language Zen Koan, which can be less-poetically translated as \"if a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to experience the physical acoustic vibrational phenomenon of the tree's fall, does it make a psychological phenomenon of a sound?\" It is intended to prod the... | [
"> \"Some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.\" Pigeons crap on statues. Some days you do something bad to someone else, some days, you're at the receiving end. > \"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.\" The act of forgiving does more for (liberates) you... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What is the big deal about "unlocked" smartphones? | [
"Smart phones are quite expensive and so present an entry barrier to cell phone companies who are trying to provide a service. To solve this they sell phones which might cost $800 at only $200 if you agree to a 2-year contract, planning to recoup the cost over the course of the agreement. However, if you can unlock... | [
"Why can't you? What type of internet do you have?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why is it not ok for USA to have a normal, positive, bilateral relationship with Russia? | [
"Nobody has ever said it's not ok for the U.S and Russia to have a good relationship in fact many would like for that to happen problem is that both countries do a lot of things that piss off the other and both feel they are in the right and that backing down would be a sign of weakness. I mean it'd be cool if you ... | [
"They don't, they're just not prepared to jeopardize their relationship with Turkey in favor of supporting a Kurdish state."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is your palm lighter than your skin? | [
"The palms and the soles don't have any melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment responsible for the skin color. (melanin) More melanin = darker skin. edit: my english spelling sucks."
] | [
"There's a nerve closer to the surface of the skin at that spot."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why do I not die sleeping in my bedroom with closed windows and doors? | [
"Air is 20% oxygen. Divide your room into 5 parts, and one of them is pure oxygen. That's a lot. You use about 500 litres of oxygen in a day - and that's not really all that much. One square meter, about half a meter high. Maybe the size of a dressing table. Even with the doors and windows closed, your room is far ... | [
"And why don't I need it when I fall asleep on the couch?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage about Science:"
} |
Why do debits and credits always equal in accounting? | [
"A debit to my account could be a credit to yours. No money is lost in the transaction. The movement of money out of various accounts (as a whole) must equal the movement of money into various accounts (as a whole)."
] | [
"Double-entry bookkeeping means that you record two accounts for each transaction: one account where the money came from, and another account where the money is going to. This makes sure that each entry in an account requires an opposite entry in some other account. This makes it easier to keep track of things and ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
- why companies charge termination fees. | [
"Often times the company subsidizes part of the initial costs in exchange for you signing a longer term contract. A classic example in the US at least is mobile phone contracts. AT & T will sell me a new iPhone for $200 if I agree to a 2 year contract. A new iPhone by itself costs at least $600. AT & T pays differe... | [
"1. fees. do you really want to subsidize amex or visa with dollars intended for roads and bridges? 2. transaction processing / approval times are too slow - causes traffic."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do snow flakes form the way they do? | [
"Snow flakes are caused by a process called deposition. Basically, you have water vapor in the atmosphere, which is gas. Normally, gas condenses into liquid (raindrops), then the liquid freezes into solid ice (this makes hail or sleet.) But in deposition, the water vapor gets so cold so fast, that it changes form f... | [
"Here are a few ways to tell the two apart: 1. When butterflies land on something, their wings will be up vertically; moth wings will be flat horizontally 2. Butterflies are usually active during the day, while moths are more active at night There are some exceptions to this rule, but for the most part it works"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does baking time vary based on your altitude? | [
"Water boils at a lower temperature as pressure decreases (high altitudes have lower pressure). So you have to bake or boil the dish longer, because the temperature isn't as high."
] | [
"Cooking times vary due to the variance in appliances. However, I've noticed that with my particular oven, stovetop, and microwave, the estimated cooking times are pretty much spot-on. Perhaps you have equipment that either cooks too hot or not hot enough to match the expected cooking time. Adjust as necessary."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
If somebody is pointing a gun at me, how far away roughly would I need to be to be able to duck and miss the bullet if the trigger was pulled? PS I know this would change from gun to gun, but would like an example. | [
"Human response time: 200ms Muzzle velocity of an average 9mm round is about 1200 fps. Assuming that you have the visual acuity to see the shooter pull the trigger, the bullet will have traveled 240 ft. This distance is pushing it for even the best of marksman. So if someone is shooting at you with a pistol from a ... | [
"I've fired exactly two automatic rifles in my life, I was young and didn't know the type of one, the other was some hands on historical thing and I was allowed to shoot a tommy gun filled with blanks down range, but it was pretty \"predictable\" both times, every shot gives recoil, so as long as the shots are cons... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why Does Chocolate Turn White? | [
"It's called [blooming](_URL_0_), and is usually caused by the fats and cocoa solids separating one the surface."
] | [
"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 document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are there so many japanese people with names that end with -moto? Like Yamamoto, Miyamoto, Matsumoto, etc... | [
"\"moto\" means \"origin.\" Thus Yamamoto would roughly mean \"of Yama\". So Takeshi Yamamoto would be \"Takeshi of Yama.\""
] | [
"Japanese parents (such as my wife) will say a word backwards, that is, with the syllables reversed. So, \"okashi\" (candy) becomes \"shi-ka-o\" in front of the kids."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it that hard for mobile apps to remember their exact state before re-start? | [
"Many apps may not want to retain their state through a restart process because if something goes wrong with them it would then be impossible to return them to a known good state. It is a feature for them to restart into a default state which is known to be functional, not a limitation."
] | [
"GPS for one. A lot of apps also need time and date for house keeping reasons or for very simple non-security related checks, such as when the last time the app was launched."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Okay, why exactly are people against gays and gay marriage? What is it that people find so egregious about gay marriage that they think it is worth intervening in other non-intrusive people's lives over it? (Particularly looking for anti-gays themselves to answer this.) | [
"> what is the root of people's anger? Why do they hate gays? Largely religious. The closest thing to a logical argument against gay marriage is that a child needs a mother and father to develop healthily. But this conveniently ignores single parents and the fact that marriage doesn't mean kids. And of course the ... | [
"Two reasons: 1. You're making a false comparison by comparing the *criminalization* of adultery against the *subsidization* of marriage. Gay marriage being illegal doesn't mean you go to jail for it - it just means that you can't file paperwork with the government. In contrast, adultery being illegal means they pu... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why has battery technology remained stagnant in the part decade? | [
"It has not, there is tons of development, but as battery tech is not that fancy so its not widely reported."
] | [
"PC evolution has been very slow for the last 5 years. Mobile devices have evolved a lot during the same time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Technology:"
} |
Why does the music industry have no problem with us ripping our CDs to our computers but the movie industry goes to every imaginable measure to stop us from doing the same with our DVDs? | [
"The premise of your question is wrong. The powerful end of the music industry has had a problem with people ripping CDs. You should read up on the [Sony Rootkit scandal](_URL_0_) to see that they've gone to pretty extreme lengths in the past to stop it. Ultimately, I think they just found that what they were doing... | [
"It is not illegal to share a movie or music on the original media. For example, you can legally loan or give your friend a DVD or CD that you bought from the store. But it is illegal to copy that and give it away, just like it's illegal to photocopy a book and give that away."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What exactly is a "meme" and is there a trail leading to the 'original meme'? | [
"Meme is a word coined by Richard Dawkins to discuss the behaviour of ideas competing with each other for attention in minds and particularly communities of minds. It basically means an idea that causes minds experiencing it to spread it to other minds. [CGP Grey has a pretty good explanation of them here](_URL_0_)... | [
"As a person who frequently visits \"the internet\", this is the first I've heard of this. What are your sources?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How Speakers Produce Audio | [
"Their operation is not really that complicated. First of all, sound is essential just a pressure wave in the air. Very similar to a wave in water. In water you can easily create such a wave by placing your hand in it and moving it back and forth. This is exactly what a speaker does. It's just a piston that makes t... | [
"2 Starbucks > 1 Starbucks + 1 competitor."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
UK Redditors - why is the gov proposing introducing the 'living wage' rather than raising the National Minimum Wage? | [
"So this is the labour party making a proposal, not the government, and they intend it to be part of their party platform. Living and minimum wages are different things - though similar. A living wage in London and a living wage in Manchester aren't the same. The Labour party idea is to give incentives (i.e. tax br... | [
"If your salary is below the new minimum wage, then yes, your salary would get adjusted as such. Not sure what salaried position would pay less than $15 an hour though..."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
If blood rushing to areas of our bodies that have been injured is how we heal, why do cold compresses help this? | [
"Cold compresses do not help with healing, they reduce swelling which can make the injury more pleasant. It is like taking a painkiller, we don't do that to make the wound heal faster."
] | [
"No scientist here, but I believe it helps blood flow. Good, because it helps any pooled blood or fluid, that winds up in the feet during the day, drain towards the heart. Most likely bad if you don't have a circulatory issue and may cause cold or numbness for lack of flow."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why when you put two of the same things in a microwave you need to cook them for twice as long. | [
"There is a component in your microwave that emits a set amount of energy. After this energy is emitted, it is absorbed by the food in the microwave. The more food in the microwave, the more energy you need to heat it."
] | [
"Here are two extra questions: 1.What would happen if you jammed the door catch and started microwaving with the door open? 2. When I microwave olives (delicious), they sometimes spark, does that mean the seeds have metal in them and should I not be doing this without parental supervision?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
If my urine is completely clear, is it still urine or just excess water being dumped? | [
"It comes from your bladder so it is urine, even if the urea content is very low. Urine usually is mostly water, otherwise you would pee paste."
] | [
"Similar to how your fesces are the waste product of the food you eat, your urine contains the waste liquids from the stuff you drink. \"Urobilins\" are what give your urine the yellow colour. If your urine is clear, it's probably because you're drinking more water than your body needs. If your urine is dark, then ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why does plastic dishware (Tupperware) not dry in the dishwasher as well everything else ? | [
"Generally speaking modern dishwashers dry things off with a heating cycle, which needs to be gentle enough not to damage anything, but still drive off moisture. Your plates and cutlery being metal, ceramic, stoneware, etc... get pretty hot (as you might notice if you try to unload the washer immediately). Essentia... | [
"Dish soap is made with \"bubbling agents\" which is different from dishwasher detergent. (And laundry detergent for that matter) so when you use it in the dishwasher, it bubbles up like crazy because it's supposed to make bubbles."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
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