query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Is it possible to get cancer in any part of your body? Are there parts of your body that are immune to cancerous growth? | [
"There is not (with the exception of hair and fingernails). If a part of your body contains living cells, those cells can turn cancerous. You can get cancer of the bone, skin, muscles, blood, cartilage, nerves, etc etc."
] | [
"I'm no expert, but I believe you're on the right track. * Tumors consume nutrients and calories the body needs, weakening you * A cancer may release toxins into the body or upset chemical balances. * A tumor may grow large enough that it puts pressure on sensitive areas (such as the brain or heart) * A tumor may o... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does an extreme lack of sleep seem to temporarily change an individuals mannerisms and personality? | [
"Mood and sleep are linked. When you are overly tired, you lose some abilities to regulate your emotions, so you feel more emotional extremes than usual. At the same time, sleep deprivation causes the same kind of impairment as alcohol intoxication. So you subjective understanding of what you are experiencing isn't... | [
"It's more of a psychological phenomenon than a biological one. It has to do with awareness of dreams as opposed to waking life situations. Some people are just better at consciously tuning in with the differences than others because of their mindset, habits, disposition, etc. I really don't believe there's a biolo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post about Psychology:"
} |
Babies are submerged in fluid during their time in their mother's womb. Why don't they drown? | [
"They don't breathe while in their mother's womb. All their oxygenated blood and nutrients come from their mother via their umbilical cord."
] | [
"The shh shh sound that soothes a baby is thought to mimic the sounds the baby heard for 9 months while growing inside the mother."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The terms proletariat, bourgeoisie and serf. | [
"A proletarian is someone who's main contribution to the social structure is his work itself. His labors adds value to the economic system. This is basically like saying someone today is \"middle class\". Bourgeoisie is something that is much higher class. The contribution to the economic system is their money in g... | [
"Communism is a classless and stateless society where workers own the means of productions. That is, there is no strong national government, and no economic/politixal hierarchial structures. Feudalism for example had nobels and serfs. Capitalism has the bourgeoisie (thowe who own all the capital. I.e farms, factori... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How is water from a well potable? | [
"the way water flows down into ground reserves acts as a natural purification process. most often well water is naturally clean enough, but modern day wells is treated as a precaution, but prior to this, people regularly drank well water untreated."
] | [
"There is no difference between the water that comes out of any faucets or spigots in your house or yard. It’s all coming from the same place."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why do we breathe in heavily/sigh when something upsets us? | [
"We sigh to reset breathing patterns that are getting out of whack and keep our respiratory system flexible. In times of stress, when breathing is less variable, a sigh can reset the respiratory system and loosen the lung's air sacs, or alveoli, which may be accompanied by a sensation of relief. That might be why s... | [
"There is a muscle in your body called the diaphragm, which moves your lungs to make you breathe. Sometimes, your diaphragm will spazz out involuntarily when your breathing pattern becomes irregular, usually causing a quick breath of air and the noise you usually hear. Drinking water, holding your breath, and getti... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Science:"
} |
Why do I have windows updates available immediately after installing all updates and rebooting? | [
"Because some updates require prior updates before they can be installed. Can't put the second floor on before you build the first."
] | [
"It can't. Updates can only happen when your computer is powered on. However, your computer can certainly detect that it has missed some updates when it comes up and start updating itself."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How is it that we can not feel hungry but still crave and eat snacks? | [
"Two reasons: 1. Chemical needs: Cheetos, salami, both high in sodium...you wanted something salty. Rice, carbs. Dal...idk what dal is and am to lazy to google it. I'm guessing your proper dinner wouldn't have been a salty mass of carbs though. 2. For some people (most?) eating brings an emotional high. Not a high ... | [
"It has something to do with conditioning. The same is when you smell food and instantly become hungry."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
In a video they talked about that now the best theory is that there are no particles, but what we observe are vibrations in fields. What. | [
"They're talking about quantum field theory. It's hard to explain the difference between field theory and \"regular\" quantum mechanics at the ELI5 level, because at this level, you probably don't know much about \"regular\" quantum mechanics. But yes, in QFT what you have are fields. Each kind of particle (electro... | [
"Once you get down to a really basic level elemental \"particles\" seem to just be certain properties doing their thing. We usually assign properties as belonging to things, but in this case it seems that is all there is."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do automated/self-driving cars work? | [
"The same way a human does. Using sensors the cars can use various algorithms to determine where relevant road markings are, read signs, or otherwise get all the information put out there for human drivers. It uses this data to inform its decisions on how to move the car. It moves the car using various mechanisms t... | [
"They aren't self-refueling - only self-driving. There's an operator who keeps notes about the cars behavior and is ready to step in if there's a computer malfunction (there hasn't been yet). The idea is that you would direct the car to find a gas station when it's time to fill it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do we want to spend our day at home being lazy but then feel like we wasted the day or depressed about it? | [
"I don't think this applies to everyone. I love lazy days where I do absolutely nothing but drink coffee and play Xbox. I feel very refreshed at the end of one and not have a single regret."
] | [
"I wonder that every week. Why am I staying home so I can switch around loads of laundry. Could be doing more important things with my day"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why is it so hard to get out of poverty? | [
"Also, while this game is no means perfect, it gives a sense of some of the dynamics at play: _URL_0_"
] | [
"Isn't it just another way to take your mind off it?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence about Health:"
} |
why do clothes shrink in the drier? | [
"It is the slow process of them gradually eating all of your clothing. Socks are usually the first to disappear."
] | [
"Whites get washed hot, warm, or cold, hot if they're really quite dirty or you want to keep then super white. Bright colors get washed warm or cold. Dark colors get washed cold. The reason for washing cold is to keep dyes in the fabric. Same with drying - If it's colored, don't use high heat. Some special fabr... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why do we enjoy depressing/sad stories (movies, books, gamers, etc.)? | [
"Yes, they help us notice our own sad feelings, which we often push aside. Looking at *someone else* being sad is sometimes more tolerable than directly confronting a sad thing in our own life that we need to notice."
] | [
"My guess is that you get more emotionally invested in anime because you prefer fantasy worlds over the real thing. Totally understandable, the real world can suck sometimes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
- When it comes to short distance sprint track and field events (100m/200m), why are black athletes far superior? | [
"At the very pinnacle of athletic performance, where everyone is training the same, has the same nutritional advice, and people are just trying to shave tenths or even hundredths of a second of their times, it really does come down to genetics. Even the slightest genetic advantage becomes a make-or-break win condit... | [
"There are four different types of swimming strokes as well. If there were separate 100m and 200m dashes for regular sprinting, running backwards, crawling on all fours and hopping like a rabbit as well as relays for each type of running you'd eventually see a sprinter win a mountain of gold like Phelps'."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why is Nuclear Energy good for us? | [
"Started with my own thoughts, and then added points from [this article](_URL_1_): **Pros:** - [Minimal](_URL_0_) carbon emissions. - Continuous, reliable power. - Low running costs. - Uranium is readily available. - The amount of power provided per pound of Uranium is higher than other options, like coal. **Cons:*... | [
"Where do you mean? Europe? The US? Middle East? Africa? Eastern Asia?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
White bumps on our tongue and how we get them? | [
"You may be referring to an irritated taste bud."
] | [
"They're usually caused by a virus or infection. Takes some time for your body to fight it off."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Shia Labeofs #IAMSORRY installment and the general cause of him being in the spotlight | [
"I'm not actively following the issue. However my understanding is this. He was going an art project where he sat in a room with a bag on his head. Other people would come sit with him and they would sit in silence. The important thing is that he not react or interact with the people in any way. Many people came to... | [
"It's confirmation. Until now it was just a joke that may or may not be true. People could get away with not feeling guilty about doing nothing about it. Also, has it really been so huge a thing? It's already pretty much vanished from the news and nothings changed. Miley Cyrus has been in the news for wearing an u... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Are Liberals over exaggerating climate change for personal gain or are Conservatives undermining the topic for personal gain? | [
"When over 95% of the scientists in a field accept the evidence for something (and there are lots of them, it's not like 95% of 5 people), it's ridiculous of non-scientists to claim it's not real. The people who are claiming this have no actual concept of how any of the science works, just like the anti-vaxxers don... | [
"Basically, a lot of Republicans are against regulating big business, and accepting Climate Change as real would mean having to regulate businesses to try and address the problem. (More cynically, many of them are lobbyed by large corporations who would suffer under such regulations.) There's also a big \"I don't t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What is the difference between something having "a following" and "a cult following", more specifically talking about movies, shows, and other media. | [
"Generally a following just means that something is fairly popular. A cult following means that it is popular with a relatively small group of people, but that those people are diehard fans of it. For example - Firefly (TV)/Serenity (Movie). The show ran for one season, out of order, did poorly, got canceled. Not ... | [
"For the same reason they're socially acceptable in movies, television, advertising, video games and literature - because they sell."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Entertainment:"
} |
Why did humans evolve to be so much slower than other meat-eating mammals? | [
"One currently popular theory is that we evolved to be good long distance runners rather than good sprint runners. Most mammals can't pant when running faster than a trot, and so can't regulate their body temp. Over a marathon course, a human can keep a gazelle moving until it drops from heat stroke, walk up, and s... | [
"The ecological niches formerly occupied by dinosaurs were taken over by the creatures that survived the mass extinction. So now instead of big dinosaur carnivores like t-rex, we have big mammalian carnivores like lions, tigers, polar bears, killer whales, and fish like great white and bull sharks. If all mammals b... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
How does my brain know to wake me up approximately at 6:30 AM (give or take 10 minutes) each morning even on weekends or when I'm up late? | [
"Circadian Rhythm. Basically your body likes routines. If you go to sleep at the same time and wake up at the same time everyday, so long as you're getting enough sleep, your body will fall into that pattern and wake you up without an alarm! Science is cool"
] | [
"It all depends. Your body goes through 90 minute sleep cycles, and if you so happened to wake up in between these sleep cycles, you'll be alert and refreshed. If you wake up during a sleep cycle, you'll be groggy and sluggish. For example, if you go to sleep at 10:30 PM, your sleep cycles will end at midnight, 1:3... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Biology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Biology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Sleep and its effects on the body:"
} |
Why is philosophy important? | [
"All answers here will be subjective. My personal opinion is that learning philosophy is important because a it teaches you how to think critically about yourself and the world around you. Learning about what Plato or Sartre thought isn't terribly helpful, but learning about what YOU think about what they thought c... | [
"What's to explain? Why we have it? How it works?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why people in Star Wars doubt the force exists when they clearly see it being used to choke people, move objects, ect. | [
"Remember that relative to the proportion of people in galaxy, only a tiny, insignificant amount wield the Force, even during the height of the Republic before the Clone Wars. Now imagine after Vader killed most of them off. Even if they were alive before the Clone Wars, chances are most have never encountered a Je... | [
"Note: I'm not a Star Wars fan. It was completely unnecessary and pointless. No one wanted to see Force explained and the explanation didn't achieve anything. It was basically just the Drunk Jedi going, \"Oh yeah and by the way, we can use Force because midochlorians\" and that was it. It was not a plot device, it ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do some TV show themes have a higher pitch in its' later seasons? | [
"If they've been sped up slightly, to cut the time wasted on that noise, the pitch will be a bit higher. Think Chipmunks."
] | [
"A good portion of songs (especially pop songs) are within a certain range of tempos. Try choosing a slower song or faster song. I just chose Mad World by Gary Jules and it doesn't quite sync up, maybe try a much faster tempo found in classical music. One thing you have to remember is the fact that your perception ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
How do you become good friends with people you know and how do you find best friends? | [
"Well here's my recommendation. Make time for the people that are important to you. I am blessed with both quantity and quality of friends. But most importantly if your gonna invest in time for those people, pick ones that are good and healthy for you. The ones who aren't are not going to be good for your life. Unf... | [
"It's a club. You make friends and contacts that you might have for the rest of your life."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer about Education:"
} |
If bathroom hygiene is so important why don't we get sick after performing oral sex? | [
"It's more a matter of frequency. If you consider all the times in a day you touch a person (shake hands, etc.) or touch something they touch (doorknobs, etc.), it ads up to a lot of exposure. If you sucked that many dicks, every day, from that many random people, you would probably get sick a lot."
] | [
"> Doesn't that break some kind of health code? Not as long as he practices good hygiene. It's conceptually no different from him cleaning his own toilet at home before coming to work. Or him using the restroom himself while at work. He just needs to thoroughly wash his hands afterwards."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do some plugs have ground prong and others do not? | [
"If there is the possibility for an internal wire to come loose and electrify the device itself, it is required that there be a dedicated ground prong that is connected to the device. If this is impossible, usually due to extra layers of electrical insulation between the electrical components and the outside case, ... | [
"They are polarized to prevent the hot wire from being swapped with the neutral. The neutral is bonded to ground so it is basically at zero volts. Some devices only have a switch or fuse in the hot line so they need polarization to maintain safety. Light bulb sockets need to have the threads connected to neutral fo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What is the need for an conductor in an orchestra as everyone knows what they have to play? | [
"The conductor is like the coach. What you are not seeing is the weeks and months of preparation that the conductor has put in with the orchestra before the performance. Additionally, on the day of the performance, the conductor does, in fact, keep time, and communicates a great deal with the musicians as they pl... | [
"A producer is responsible for the entire production. Hiring performers and technicians, organizing studio time, and ultimately ensuring the quality of the final mix. An arranger is usually hired for a specific part. Like if you decide your heavy metal song should have a kickass organ solo, but nobody in the band h... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does your body keep food/drink from going into your lungs and air from going into your stomach? | [
"There is a flap called the epiglottis that sits at the top of the split to the trachea (lungs) and when you swallow this flap covers the hole preventing stuff from getting into your lungs."
] | [
"Stomach acid isn't there to break down your food, its primary role is to destroy bacteria in anything you just ate. The enzymes in your small intestine are responsible for most of the digestion. Heartburn is caused by stomach acid finding its way up, and out of your stomach where it attacks the lining of your esop... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How can lawyers promote "no win, no fee" cases. | [
"It's a lot simpler than you might think. The initial consultation is free so they can listen to the merits of the case. If they don't think they can win easily, **THEY DON'T TAKE THE CASE.** That way they don't have to worry about not winning."
] | [
"Because a lot of people sustain personal injuries. They all need representation. In addition, it is much easier to get clients that way, because clients are not required to pay anything out of pocket. Most personal injury cases are handled on contingency basis making legal representation affordable even for poore... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why does (liquid) medicine have to taste so bad? | [
"I guess if it tasted good, there would be a load of kids drinking it because of the taste and overdosing?"
] | [
"We can? It tastes like water. Go to your kitchen, pour yourself a glass of water, and give it a go. Granted it is a fairly neutral taste, it isn't *not* a taste, though."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Science:"
} |
How do cell phones connect to cell towers that are far away? | [
"It's really not going all that far, especially if you're in a major city. From where I'm sitting at right now, there's 2 TMobile towers within 2 miles (one is about 1/4 mile away). There's about 25 towers that service the entire Las Vegas metropolitan area for T-Mobile. There's other towers for Sprint, ATT, Verizo... | [
"> Can astronauts use their cell phones to make calls or text? The International Space Station does have internet access. They can make calls or text over the internet/Wi-Fi (like Wi-Fi calling, Facetime, or Skype does), but they can't make a \"normal\" phone call because there are no cell towers. I don't know if t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
What is a "nominee company" operated by a law firm? | [
"> Company formed by a bank or other fiduciary organization to hold and administer securities or other assets as a custodian (registered owner) on behalf of an actual owner (beneficial owner) under a custodial agreement. Basically an organization formed to control assets on behalf of their true owner. So rather tha... | [
"LLC, Corporations, etc. are fictional entities. They cannot act for themselves, they need humans to act on their behalf. The primary purpose of a registered agent in the US is to accept the service of legal process. A corporation, LLC, LP, etc. is required by state law to have a registered agent. Any adult residin... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The Seth Rich Story and what went down | [
"Seth Rich was an employee of the Democratic National Committee, which is the top governing body of the USA's Democratic Party. In July of 2016, Rich was apparently assaulted and shot in an alleyway in Washington DC. He was found by police and transported to a nearby hospital, where he died. The murder is still und... | [
"2016 - Shootings - Hate Crimes - Racism is very well and alive - Two of the shittiest presidential candidates possible - Got laid off"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
What is the genetic significance of humans being either left-handed or right-handed? | [
"Here's a theory I've grown to favor: A large majority of humans are right-hand dominant. The right side of the body is controlled by the left side of the brain. It also happens that the left side of the brain is typically the 'hotspot' for language production in humans, even in people who are left-hand dominant (e... | [
"Handedness is not an all-or-nothing thing. It is more common than you think to be *mixed-handed*, in which you have different dominant hands for different tasks. Since you do nearly everything, but not totally everything, with your right hand, you would be considered \"mixed right-handed\"."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why police/investigators seek motives in solving a crime? | [
"Finding the person who committed a crime is a process of elimination. You start with 7 billion possible suspects, and try to whittle that down to the one who did it. People rarely commit crimes completely at random. Understanding who had a motive to commit the crime is a useful tool for finding the people who were... | [
"When there is federal jurisdiction in a legal area that the FBI is responsible for. So bank robberies (banks are federally insured), kidnappings, terrorism, etc. other violations of federal law might cause different agencies to be brought in instead. For example, a counterfeiting case would go to the secret servic... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why do old glass bottles which have been underground for a long period of time go rainbow? | [
"The effect is called iridescence. It's caused by a chemical reaction on the surface of the glass by the compounds in certain soils similar to how rust develops from the oxidization of iron. It can be removed through buffing if desired."
] | [
"It would dry out over time as the liquid boils out of it and, if left in direct sun light long enough, could probably gets some nasty burns."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about Science:"
} |
What is the difference with Wines from Australia/Africa/France etc | [
"Yes the ground (and exact location) the grapes are grown give them distinct flavors, and is of extreme importance to a winemaker. Even the same grape grown from one side of a vineyard or the other could have slightly different flavors."
] | [
"It would help a lot when you also said about WHICH house-market you are talking about : as I read it it could be New Zealand, Scotland, Canada or where-ever..."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why do we have to have different currencies? | [
"Countries have a degree of control over their currencies, like how much money they print and where their central banks set interest rates. They use that control to match their fiscal policies with current economic conditions. Countries that share a currency have to have the same fiscal policies, and if one is havi... | [
"Why do people in Western countries use forks?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Finance:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Finance:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
how come when I twist my cup the ice stays in place? | [
"there's very little friction on it to make it move"
] | [
"If you mean after drinking from it for a bit, it's the stuff that leaves your mouth and goes into the bottle when you drink from it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How are cats able to stay hydrated just by basically licking water? | [
"They're not licking the water, they're scooping it up into their mouth using their tongue."
] | [
"Yes, it is possible. Your skin is designed to be as waterproof as possible, so you don't swell up like a sponge when you go swimming, or soak up toxic chemicals when you step in a puddle. However, it's also possible to survive. While you need to drink, you don't need to drink through your mouth. You could... *rela... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How Putin has been in power in Russia for 15 years. | [
"The Russian constitution lets someone to be President only twice in a row, but there's no limit on the number of times they can be President overall. After someone else takes a turn they can run for President again. Putin was President twice, from 2000 to 2004 and 2004 to 2008, and then endorsed his buddy Dmitry M... | [
"Can you really use the term 'so quick' when the conflict in Syria has been ongoing for almost 2 and a half years?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How did people find out how you make maple syrup? | [
"They first discovered the sap was edible and good either from observing bugs eating it, or chopping the tree down for use and discovering the sap. From there it is just experimentation on how to tap the trees without killing it."
] | [
"I call this an apple what do you call it? This is how I write apple how do you write it. Same idea for grammar"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
The Controversy Behind Viruses Being Living/NonLiving | [
"I'm not aware of it being a controversy. They don't have cells or metabolisms. These are commonly considered part of the definition of \"being alive,\" if one agrees with that definition then viruses aren't alive. But there's no inherent 'life' quality we can just objectively detect or not detect, so the precise d... | [
"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 question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Does a black background on your mobile use less battery life than a bright one? | [
"It depends what display you have. An LCD display (most mobiles, TVs, monitors etc have these) works by polarising light which is sent through different filters. For an LCD display the backlight is always on, black areas are made by polarising the light in such a way that it cannot pass through a polarising filter,... | [
"Your phone has an array of sensors, one of which is a light sensor. Usually located near your phone's camera this sensor can detect how much light is hitting your phone, using this info and taking into account things like the time of day your phone does its bets to adjust the brightness to fit your needs. Ton of ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why have there been plenty of first person shooter games that portray Germans and Russians as antagonists, but there are no games where the Israelis are antagonists? | [
"As most videogames are made in the US and the UK, Germans and Russians are easy choices for villains due to their history of being antagonists to the US and UK within the last 100 years. Modern video games now include such antagonists as North Koreans and Middle Eastern people, the most recent antagonists of the U... | [
"I don't know exactly what poster(s) you're talking about, but I've seen similar stuff before and think I can answer. There are a lot of black people in the US vs. Italy and there were black US army units fighting in WWII, so the association of the US with blacks would have been plausible to Italians. Taking advant... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why is the Satan considered evil when he killed 10 people in the bible, compared to the 3,000,000+ killed by god? | [
"Going by bible logic, God doesn't consider death in this life as that bad a thing. If you go to heaven for an infinite amount of time, who cares how long you spent here? The devil is considered evil because he allowed sin to enter the world."
] | [
"If religion didn't exist people would just kill themselves over something else. Killing over religion is a very tiny portion of total \"killings\" over the past 100 years."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Religion:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage about Religion:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
What is a Raspberry Pi and why is it so good at, whtever it does? | [
"It's a small computer. The latest version has 1GB RAM, wifi, ethernet, sound output, USB ports and HDMI. It's tiny and costs about $40. It's good for whatever purposes benefit from a small, cheap computer. It won't really compete with a desktop or a laptop, but it you want to do something like hanging a screen som... | [
"You're pretty spot on. Think of it like a little computer that's dirt cheap. It's popular because of the support it has from the community around it, various manufacturers produce parts that expand its capabilities, and most importantly its incredibly cheap compared to it's alternatives. So for about 30 bucks and ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
How does sunblock creams prevent your skin from getting burnt? | [
"Pretty simply put, sunblock puts a shield over your skin to prevent the UV rays from reaching your body. It physically blocks it with a layer of different ingredients to keep you protected. Sunscreen on the other hand actually uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. It is a chemical reaction that absorbs uv rays bef... | [
"It doesn't darken our skin. Our body darkens our skin by producing more melanin as a reaction to the sun to try and prevent dna damage."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why do films in theatres look grainy and low-quality, even if the production value is really high? | [
"Film is an analog medium, and therefore not perfect. Those are just simple imperfections. The black ovals are called ~~changeovers~~ cue marks. The projectionist watches for these marks. The first one warns that the change is coming up. I think it's something like a 5 second warning. When the actual changeover mar... | [
"Many old TV shows and movies were shot on celluloid film. It has a great picture but the networks broadcast the shows digitally. Digital tech wasn't what it is today 15+ years ago thus greatly decreasing the quality of the picture. Now that digital HD has caught up to Celluloid more or less, the broadcasts can loo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
The Butterfly Effect | [
"Time travel is somewhat a logical paradox. Your thought is perfectly valid, given a certain system of rules for how time travel works. If, for example, travelling back in time spawns a divergent universe in which your actions will lead to an outcome you have not already seen, then your logic is null and void. Time... | [
"Relevant entertaining and informative youtube video Electrocution in Water: _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
From an actual five year old, why is it when we lay on our arm for a long time, our arm doesn't die. | [
"When your arm falls asleep from laying on it too long or whatever, it isn't actually blood flow being restricted (hopefully haha), it's the pressing on the nerves, that's why it feels all tingly."
] | [
"They would get so scratched in such a short amount of time you wouldn't see through the screen."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Health and Wellness:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Health and Wellness:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Technology:"
} |
why do oranges have slices? | [
"Good information at AskScience: _URL_2_ The number of sections citrus fruits have is determined by the number of ovules the particular flower and fruit has. While ten is 'standard' for oranges, they can have fewer or more. Navel oranges, for example, will have twice the number -- more or less. Source: _URL_0_ In s... | [
"do they squirm when you squeeze them? if so yes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How does wearing glasses with the wrong prescription damage your eyes? | [
"Wearing glasses with the wrong prescription or wearing glasses when you don't need them does NOT in any way damage your eyes or make your eyesight worse. At most you'll get a headache. This is just one of many medical myths that won't go away."
] | [
"There is no substantive evidence that either contacts or glasses contribute to a decline in eyesight. Aging itself results in degradation regardless of whether you wear them or not."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How do spiders avoid getting stuck in their own webs? | [
"Some spiders produce oil that makes their legs more slippery while at the same time they have small hairs that get smaller at the ends to allow for less surface adhesion. Other spiders it is still unknown. Technically, they do get stuck to their web but they can get unstuck kind of easy."
] | [
"Cobwebs are made by spiders in a specific family called the Theridiidae. They make sticky silk which is why you see them gathering dust."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How can the color of a cloth change just by sweeping it in a different direction ? | [
"IIRC As the cloth are exposed to sunlight, the cloth fades. The fibers exposed to to sun more will be faded more. When you drag your finger along the cloth you are exposing fibers that were not as exposed to the sun, so their color is slightly different from the other parts. Additionally, pushing the fibers also c... | [
"Grease! The grease on your fingers makes it harder for water vapor to condense on the mirror in the spot where you touched it. Try drawing images with a dry cloth or something and see the difference."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is it that in the dark when staring at something in your peripheral vision it is easier to make out then directly staring at it? | [
"There are two types of receptors in your eye. Rods are good at detecting contrast and movement. Cones are good for color and detailed information. There are more cones in the center of your retina and rods in the peripheral. Night vision relies a lot more on contrast, thus your peripheral is better at it."
] | [
"It's an illusion your mind creates to make sense of an object in the horizon. If you look at the rising moon upside down you'll notice it's small again."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why does the fiscal year not line up with the calendar year? | [
"A fiscal year can start whenever because a company can start whenever. Your first 365 days of operation are your first fiscal year. If you don't start your business on January 1, it won't line up with the calendar year."
] | [
"The fiscal year is not a set time period. Each company/organization chooses when to begin and end their fiscal year. They choose a time frame that best suits their business schedule. For example, schools might choose to have a fiscal year run from September to August because it lines up with the school year. Touri... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why the Mexican Drug Cartel is so violent? | [
"Every time a new president in Mexico comes along, I think the drug dealers bribe the president a large amount of money to let them sell their drugs in peace. Our last president Felipe Calderón, didn't accept this \"bribe\" and instead tried to put a stop to drug dealers and all that stuff. Well for the past six ye... | [
"> Drug Enforcement Administration agents allegedly had “sex parties” with prostitutes hired by local drug cartels overseas over a period of several years, according to a report released Thursday by the Justice Department’s watchdog. . > The former head of the New York Drug Enforcement Administration organized cri... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why don't public schools teach personal finance and nutrition? | [
"I finished high school last year. They do, extensively. I honestly don't understand why this question is CONSTANTLY asked, because it's always the same answer"
] | [
"Next you will want to teach them about budgets, savings, diets, exercise and sex. It is hard enough to get them to learn the basics like greek gods, cursive and algebra I am not sure we can squeeze in your pet projects. Sorry."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What is the point of GIFs? They load so much slower than streaming video and have no audio. | [
"They are supported on all formats, while HTML5 is not. Also, most of the time, GIFs load pretty fast for me."
] | [
"Pretty much the only reason is that Imgur has a very small file size limit for GIFs. Minus either doesn't have a limit or it's big enough that I've never had to worry about it before. Also I've never had a problem with loading Minus GIFs before (they're just as fast as Google or Imgur) but I think it must have som... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How does meditation physically alter the brain's structure? | [
"This is one of those things that's true but completely overblown. Look, *everything* physically changes the brain's structure. Reading this very sentence has altered your brain's structure. That's how our brain works. If our brain couldn't change, we'd never *experience* anything, because synaptic connections is h... | [
"Everything you feel is chemical reactions in the brain and across the nervous system. From terror to love."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How come the bridge on a large cargo ship is located at the back of the ship, but the bridge on a cruise liner is located at the front? | [
"Cargo / tankers have controls aft because that's where the engines/propulsion are, and it keeps the controls from being in the way of cargo. The engine in the rear makes it slightly harder to operate (in dense fog, the captain won't see the bow), but the extra cargo room and reduced complexity makes up for the inc... | [
"In old planes the wings, and main wheels, were located at the front. So the extra wheel came in the back. Now in modern planes the wings and main wheels are more to the center, a little to the back, and the extra wheel comes in front."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
- Since the Earth's moon has little to no atmosphere: then the imprints from the moon landings in the 1960s should be intact! Would it be possible to take a picture of the moon large enough it could be seen? | [
"from earth? I think not. the atmosphere would obscure too much for such a picture. from orbit? its theoretically possible but implausible. we have pictures of the landing sites from a moon orbiter, but the resolution is probably a bit worse than what we see in google earth, you can see their tracks, but definitely... | [
"Just as many stars can be seen from space. The pictures we see from space are normally taken facing the sun, the moon, or the earth. In those pictures the objects in question are far too bright the camera isn't able to get light from the stars. But we have **plenty** of pictures from space facing away from earth/s... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
why do carrots bend outwards when cut along their length? | [
"I have been reading jokes all morning and I thought this was another joke. I was expecting something along the lines of \"Because bowing is too difficult.\" or \"to prevent them from screaming.\" But to answer to ELI5, I believe it is because of the tension on the outside is greater than the tension on the core."
... | [
"There isn't any good reason to cut it off, but it isn't exactly useless. You can tell of a pineapple is ripe by pulling on a leaf from the center. If it easily comes out, the pineapple is ripe."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Can the brain achieve full silence, or is a 'full silence' simply learning to ignore arising thoughts? | [
"I believe the only time the brain achieves full silence(complete nothingness) is when its dead."
] | [
"I forget which is which, (alpha/beta) waves but meditation is the act of controlling which waveform your brain operates. Different wave forms are generated by each state of mind, rem sleep, wakefulness, etc. You seeing a light is more often than not a visualization fabricated by your brain in the absence of any ex... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why is the Russian Ruble collapsing? | [
"It's a combination of the falling oil prices and the economic sanctions. The recent rush to the bottom just now is an effect of this and also that fear has taken over and people are abandoning the ruble."
] | [
"North Korea is on a whole 'nother level compared to Saudi Arabia and Qatar."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why do websites push us to use their app? | [
"Your mobile phone can expose your name, number, current location, contacts and call history, etc. This information in extremely valuable in today's business and political world for many reasons. Advertisers purchase this kind of information to better keep track of what products you are interested in, and governmen... | [
"Because if the best Apps are blocked, there's less reason for someone to buy the phone."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do medical professions always seem to work long consecutive hours? | [
"> it seems needlessly tiring, and maybe dangerous. I'd agree with you there. According to a friend of mine who's just about to finish up nursing school, at least for hospitals, the idea is that you want the same person treating a patient for a longer length of time, so there are fewer change overs and thus fewer o... | [
"How can they get away with it? Simple. They know you need them more than they need you. These kind of opening hours are roughly industry wide, so they don't have to worry about their clients going to a competitor. Extending their business hours costs money, and you can bet your bottom, a business isn't going to sp... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
What exactly is happening when your skin is getting tanned? | [
"Your body is receiving a bunch of UV light and responds to this potentially damaging circumstance by producing melanin, a dark pigment that's really, really good at absorbing UV light before it can damage your tissues. The more sun you get, the more melanin your body produces (and the darker your skin gets). Peop... | [
"One thing I can think of is your skin repairs itself more effectively when you are asleep than when you are awake. This also applies to the daily damage the skin goes through from the sun and other elements that wear it out each day. It is possibly where the term \"beauty rest\" came from."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Health and Wellness:"
} |
How can cable send hundreds of HD channels at the same time but my internet is slow? | [
"It's the difference between using a megaphone to talk to 100 people, and using 100 telephones to talk to 100 people. There is no two-way communication with cable (TV at least), and you are only handling 1 signal instead of a separate signal for each person."
] | [
"This is what your sim does. You get all of the streams, but only interpret and decrypt one of them. A gigabit of throughput on a cell tower is not out of the question. Thousands of people tend not to stream over LTE at the exact same time from a single tower."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The Finite Element Method | [
"Calculus lets you treat things as if they were made up of an infinite number of pieces. Computers can't handle infinite numbers, so instead you break the thing in question up into a large (but not infinite) number of small pieces. LY5: Imagine you have a big box of Lego pieces and you want to make a cool spaceship... | [
"The Art of War in the Western World - Archer Jones"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Education:"
} |
how does a computer start executing commands when its powered on? | [
"The first thing that starts any kind of processing in the computer is the BIOS. This chip checks all the \"inventory\" in the computer and makes sure that everything is operational and ready to go. This is also the chip that starts to beep when things go wrong. If everything is OK with the inventory then BIOS loo... | [
"Additionally hibernation dumps the contents of the ram to a file on the physical disk before shutting the computer down completely. When restarted the contents are just copied back to ram like the system was never shut down."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How universal is Modern Standard Arabic as a spoken language? Would a fluent speaker understand and be understood verbally as their geography changed, or would knowledge of dialects become vital? | [
"I'm not sure if you understand what Modern Standard Arabic is. It's not a real language, it's an artificially created standardized version of Arabic. It was created in the early 20th century on the basis of classical Arabic and contains many elements common to all Arabic dialects. So it's used in the media, in sch... | [
"Languages naturally drift. If you compare, say, American English today to how it was spoken 100 years ago, you will see noticeable differences in vocabulary, syntax, grammar, and pronunciation. Not so much that it can no longer be understood, but still quite significant. Even in recent years, things like dangling ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How did Gold become the universal currency? | [
"[Here](_URL_0_) is a good NPR article answering that exact question. ----------------------------------- To start, we need something for a currency. Life is way easier with something for a currency. So what do we use? We need: * Something rare but not too rare * Something that's not a gas * Something that won't ex... | [
"One of these is not like the others."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does the nicotine in cigarettes make you addicted? | [
"Nicotine is addictive much like caffeine, but it's not just the nicotine that causes addiction. There's hundreds of \"ingredients\" in a cigarette. When you light it on fire, the combustion turns those hundreds into thousands. You eventually become addicted to several of those chemicals. I don't know which ones sp... | [
"It's not the tobacco that's addictive. It's the nicotine in cigarettes that is addictive. Hookah does not typically contain nicotine."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
How come objects that are much smaller than they usually are, appear "cute" to us? | [
"Cuteness is tied with vulnerability, and things smaller than ourselves are more often than not vulnerable."
] | [
"Also, if I am not mistaken, when you see yourself in a common mirror you look bigger than you actually are. So when you see someone else in the mirror they look bigger than you usually perceive them."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why movies obviously photoshop the faces of the cast on "family" pictures that they could of easily just taken pictures of? | [
"Well you can pay some low level photoshop monkey $15/hour to do the work on this in like just an hour, or pay for an entire photo shoot, actors, photographers, make up people, lighting and such, which can easily be in the tens of thousands of dollars and take a whole day. Or just pay that guy $15 and have it done ... | [
"Those shows are not filming everyday like you might think. My family had one season on TV. The film crew would come into town for a weekend and they would give a very strict itinerary for the events. Many events and different places for each day they were in town. My family would have to bring a completely differe... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why has the English language changed over the years so that words which are written the same aren't pronounced the same, yet phonetic languages haven't. | [
"It has happened in other languages as well, but probably English seems more like a mess because there's no organisation to actually sit and decide how language is regulated. In that time, English was still trying to get used to the changes by the [Great Vowel shift](_URL_1_) which later on, kept merging and changi... | [
"Typically they are words from other languages, or from older versions of our language, so they had meaning in their original context but don't in our time and place."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does Steve Perlman's pCell work? | [
"I wrote up an explanation of how the technology works on my blog [here](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Because now we have the technology to do so."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Instead of remembering dozens of complicated passwords, why don't we use just use fingerprint or retina scanners for everything like bank accounts, emails, online accounts etc? | [
"If your password is compromised, you can change it. But if someone gets a copy of your fingerprint, well, you only have ten fingers. In general, security is considered to be some combination of three things: 1. Something you are. This includes biometric data like fingerprints and iris scans, and should be treated ... | [
"Typically, it involves guessing the password. Or, if you've re-used the password on a site that isn't as good at security as Google or Facebook, some other site gets hacked and they try the same username/password combination elsewhere. There are two things you can do to really protect yourself. First of all, use a... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the comment about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why are people so concerned about terrorists, when things like drunk driving kill more people everyday? | [
"People are afraid of things that they feel they cannot control, and they overestimate their ability to control certain situations. For example, [most people think they are superior drivers](_URL_0_) when statistically and logically this is not true. So they underestimate the dangers of driving because of how aweso... | [
"Because you build up an \"us vs. them\" mentality where they aren't fellow innocent countrymen. They are the reason why your son can't get a job, they are the reason why you have to lock your doors at night, they are the reason why you have to worry about your daughter being raped. The same mentality is seen in th... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why does the US have a high gun ownership rate and a high gun violence rate and the Swiss have a high gun ownership rate and a low gun violence rate? | [
"The Swiss also have mandatory military service and a relatively low income gap, with universal health care and a more robust welfare state. So less of the desperation that leads to violent crime combined with knowing everybody has a gun and knows how to use it would logically result in in a low violent crime rate.... | [
"It was still a lot harder to get a gun in Australia compared to the states, even before Port Arthur and the buyback scheme. For one thing, to get a firearm license in Australia you've always needed to have a demonstrated purpose for it, the most common being: - Agricultural need (you own a property and need a gun ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
The third law of thermodynamics | [
"Think of water. When it is hot, it is in a gas form and the molecules can move freely (high entropy). As it cools, it changes to it's liquid form (water). The molecules can still move, but not as freely as in the gas form (lower entropy). As it cools further, it changes to it's solid form (ice). The molecules move... | [
"Your quarter acts as a gyroscope. Google for gyroscope. The gyroscopic effect (conservation of the angular momentum) resists to gravity."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How human bodies will not recognize or ignore pain during physical altercations and injuries. | [
"Your nervous system floods your body with chemicals that amp you up to fight, which in turn also releases endorphins that block pain so that you can continue to fight and possibly live in a life or death situation. It’s survival."
] | [
"Because the brain is complicated. It’s mental trauma. Some people never recover from physical trauma, same with mental."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why is it legal and considered okay for Native American tribes to hunt whales, but when the Japanese hunt whales it is considered an animal rights issue? | [
"small scale food and resources compared to large scale industrial whaling"
] | [
"> Why does the international community condemn Japan for shark fin soup, but not Spain for killing bulls for sport incredibly inhumanely? They do, at least as far as I can tell."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
The difference between light from the sun and light from a lamp, primarily when growing plants | [
"They're all photons yes, but not all photons have the same energy. Sunlight has a specific distribution of energies, for example (I'm making up the details): it might have 10% 400nm light, 40% 500nm light, 30% 600nm light, and 20% 700nm light. In contrast, your lamp might have something completely different. It's ... | [
"It's all based on the facts of what kind of light the produce and how they interact with objects around them"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text about Science:"
} |
How does the massive amount of internet shaming and negative media coverage affect companies like Comcast? | [
"Comcast specifically? It doesn't. Comcast has a monopoly in a lot of areas, they have no reason to improve."
] | [
"I'm sure they'd like to, no doubt. But it's a fine balance of revenue and public outcry. Perhaps the bigger question is whether or not advertisers pay for blocked ads."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
why does blood pressure raise abnormally when getting angry or stressed out? | [
"When you get stressed your body released more of a hormone called cortisol from your adrenal glands. This hormone among other things increases blood pressure. The point of a stress hormone like cortisol is to help when you're distress \\(like sick, or fighting/running from a saber toothed tiger\\). The problem is ... | [
"peoples blood pressure is lower when they first wake up. this makes them more sensitive to the cold."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Is there any reason broken pieces of technology start working again after you stop using them for a while? | [
"Bad solder joints. They don't connect completely. As humidity/temperature/etc change, the solder expands or contracts and the connection returns. A good whack can often have the same effect."
] | [
"Turning the lights off uses no power. Turning them on uses almost no power, except for some fluorescent models where it can use up to 30 seconds of power. Short answer: turn them off, especially if you're likely to be gone for much more than a minute."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Can the average human brain create/imagine a unique human face or is it all based on faces already seen/remembered? | [
"There really isn't any way to answer this question scientifically. But the human imagination is actually not that great at coming up with entirely new creations. Almost anything that you can possibly imagine is a combination of other things that you've seen before. That's why it's impossible to imagine a new color... | [
"The way I understand it, thoughts and memories are more patterns of electrical activity in our brain rather than data that is hardcoded into a cell, like say DNA would be. This essentially means that every idea you have ever had, every thought or notion or piece of art you have ever seen, heard, create or remember... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Science:"
} |
The XKCD blue eyes question | [
"Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the brown eyed people and the green eyed guru will never leave. They only know that they don't have blue eyes. The brown eyed people know that there are at least three eye colours: brown, blue and green. Once all the blue eyed people are gone, they don't know if their own eyes ... | [
"This video by grey goes over the creation as well as other things concerning the us Canada border _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why can I vividly picture a person in my mind, but not "see" the details if I were to draw them? | [
"It's a learned skill. My art teacher in college could draw faces he saw to almost exact proportions. You just need to practice doing it."
] | [
"I don't think I have a mind's eye. I can remember what a thing looks like, but I don't \"see\" anything."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Can someone please explain Supply Side economics to me like I'm 5. | [
"Supply Side Economics is a philosophy that the economy runs best when there are the fewest restrictions on the corporations that produce goods, hire people, etcetera. This means less regulation and less taxation. Is it legit? Hard to say. The trouble with economics is that you could put 10 economists in a room, as... | [
"Explain my rights to me... like I'm five?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What is happening when I blur my vision at will without crossing, squinting, or moving my eyes? | [
"You're focusing at a distance where there is nothing, so everything goes out of focus."
] | [
"Do you have corrected vision? And if not can you focus on other small things near your face without getting a headache?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
In the USA, why should I vote in a presidential election if the electoral college chooses the victor? | [
"Because your vote directs the electoral college. They vote for whom you vote."
] | [
"Caucuses in general are held so that the Democrats and Republicans can nominate who they want to be president. The person who wins the most caucuses wins the right to run under their party's banner; they are said to be the Democratic/Republican nominee for president.. That's why we don't have more than one contend... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why is farting more embarrassing than belching? | [
"As explained *by* my five year old... \"Because it comes from your butt! Ha ha ha!\""
] | [
"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 title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How can dogs and other animals sense things like earthquakes? | [
"It's either 1) [not entirely true](_URL_0_) or 2) PFM (pure fucking magic). In other words, we haven't been able to reproduce it, so there's no way to study it."
] | [
"Apparently the body releases a certain odor that is undetectable to humans, but not to dogs right before some types of seizures."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does scratching my balls feel so much better than scratching any other part of my body? | [
"Here's a tip for all holy ball scratchers: Go to the drug store and get an exfoliating glove. So much easier for scratching, the best. You're welcome."
] | [
"If it's hot enough to burn other parts of the body, it'll burn your mouth, too. In fact it'll probably burn your mouth easier than other parts of the body."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
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