query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1 value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Why is negative population growth bad? | [
"Because people like to retire. If you have negative population growth and a life expectancy that is over the age of retirement then you eventually get to a situation in which there are more retirees than people working. The thing about being a human is that humans enjoy consuming goods and services. To produce tho... | [
"In any healthy economy, inflation just happens. There isn't really a point to it because it's just natural. Asking what's the point is like asking what's the point of a mountain, or of mars, or of some natural law. Your question can be split into two separate questions. The first being, why does inflation occur? H... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What causes that indescribable scent when it first starts to rain? | [
"It’s called “petrichor”, and it’s a scent that’s created when rain hits dried soil. Plant oils soak into absorbent dirt over time, and are then released into the air when the dirt starts getting wet. The scent has been isolated and is commercially available as a fragrance material called “geosmin”. The human sens... | [
"The smell isn't the grass, but is the smell of the sap from the grass when you cut it. That's right. The smell of freshly mown grass is the smell of fresh plant blood after a horrific genocide. ;)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When pouring a liquid, what determines if it pours out nicely or dribbles down the side of the original container? | [
"Water is a polar molecule (which means it likes sticking together and with other polar molecules) [_URL_2_](_URL_1_) [_URL_0_](_URL_3_) In this case, depending on the material the container is made of, it'll have a certain tendency to want to stick to that as well, hence dribbling on the side. The attraction it... | [
"When the soda is pouring out the volume of space that plop used to be in needs to be replaced by an equally sized plop of air. When the soda is filling the entire opening of the bottle there is no place for the air to get in. Eventually the air gets tired of waiting for its turn and it forces its way in. The soda ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How and why is Earth's orbit elliptical and not circular? | [
"Because perfectly circular is incredibly unlikely, almost all orbits will be at least slightly elliptical. Earth's orbit is only very slightly elliptical, its furthest point from the sun is just 3.4% further out than its closest approach to the sun which is an eccentricity(out of roundness) of just 0.0167, that's ... | [
"One solar day is the time it takes the planet to perform 1 full revolution on its axis. The real question should be why do planets revolve on their axis at different rates."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What's the difference between UX and UI? | [
"\"UI\" stands for \"user interface.\" It's the way the user interacts with the system. \"UX\" stands for \"user experience.\" It's concerned with the UI, plus a bunch of other stuff like sounds, colors, and stylistic consistency across the entire app or site."
] | [
"Programmer is to construction worker as software engineer is to architect."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How is alcoholism a disease? | [
"Think of it like a shrimp allergy. To most of us, shrimp is food. To many it's a delicious, special treat. To some people, even though they may like the taste, their body reacts differently to shrimp and it can cause serious problems. The individual reacts in a non-standard way to a standard substance. Interesting... | [
"What source says that alcohol is bad for your teeth?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What is stickiness? On a chemical level, what's happening? Is everything sticky in the same way or are there different kinds of stickiness? | [
"There are different kinds of stickiness. Two I can think of are fictional forces, of which Velcro might be a good example (if I'm wrong you will see me swiftly corrected) and viscosity. Viscosity has to do with how much something resists a sliding force. Like the difference between how thick mud flows vs hot oil.... | [
"There's a weak chemical bond that takes place. The same thing happens when you glue something to something else, except glue is far far more adhesive than the surface of our fingers, or the surface of a pencil lead. Big things stick to our fingers as well, but they're too heavy to stay stuck enough to be lifted o... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Did old films really looked that bad back when filmed or it's just because it's deterioration over time? | [
"Depending on which version of an old film you saw, it could have even looked worse back then. A lot of the versions you see now have been remastered."
] | [
"Not an expert on the matter. But I read a while back that the original films have the most ridiculously high/detailed resolution. And the end product that you (the audience) get to see is actually downsized/downgraded/compressed version of the original, that is adapted to \"fit\" the specifications of whatever med... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
How does a nuclear power plant generate electricity? Where does the radiation come from when there are failures? | [
"A nuclear reactor uses a chunk of stuff that wants to explode. They jam pencils through it to stop it from exploding. It still gets super hot (but not not enough to melt the pencil lead), and they use that heat to make steam. They use the steam to spin big motors that make electricity."
] | [
"Nuclear power is safe, cost effective, and environmentally friendly. I never understood why environmentalists are against nuclear power. The only byproduct of nuclear energy is pure steam. IIRC, France gets 70 or 80% of its electricity from nuclear power."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why does wrapping a bottle/ can in a wet paper towel cool it faster when placed in a freezer | [
"Water transfers heat faster than air does, so the wet paper towel absorbs heat from the bottle/can faster than just putting it in the cold freezer air."
] | [
"Moisture evaporates out of the food when it's exposed to air for to long. Moisture is what makes the food squishy and easily chewable. If you put the food in the microwave and put a damper paper towel near it, this helps a lot"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did the beef between the Chinese government and Falun Gong start? | [
"Falun Gong was a kind of hokey mish-mash of Buddhism, Taoism and qigong exercise. It was founded in 92 and got real popular fast. The CCP was trying to get people to be less devoted to it by smearing it in the party controlled media. The Falun Gong practitioners staged a non violent protest in Beijing (because t... | [
"What do you want to hear more about? The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? The Israel vs. Palestine situation? The Arab Spring? The recent attacks on US embassies?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
how did computers get so smart at playing chess ? | [
"Chess is a unique game, in that each piece has only certain moves that can be performed at any time, and thus one can predict which moves will be done many turns in advance, and each move to counter them. There is really no \"randomness\" in chance. This allows a computer to be programmed to constantly monitor the... | [
"why do we yawn when we read about yawning?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do babies know that they need to breathe as soon as they are born? | [
"The sudden change in temperature and stimuli causes a neurological reaction. Triggering the first breath, which typically sounds like a gasp as the baby takes in air for the first time, rather than being filled with fluid. Much like the Mamillian Dive Reflex, this acts on the same pathway iirc, just in reverse? ... | [
"There are a lot of nerves in our faces. Stimulating these nerves helps to keep you awake. This is why you see babies doing this a lot when they are tired and don't want to go to sleep yet."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Biology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about Biology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
how did iced tea get to where it is today. | [
"It is not the northern states that were left behind. It was the south and Canada who couldn’t see past the sugar to realize the tea was what you were after all along. Add mint, add another tea to the tea hell add lemonade. IDGAF But don’t mock the unsweetened tea just add your sugar and move along."
] | [
"Once people stopped thinking the tomato was poison (the leaves of the plant look a lot like deadly nightshade, and in fact the two plants are in the same family) the American Italians quickly adopted it and brought it back to Italy. A Dutch man in Boston invented Dutch Processed chocolate, and the Germans brought ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are the back wheels of wheelchairs slightly angled inwards? | [
"That's called camber. Negative camber is when the bottom of the wheels flare out. Negative camber improves handling on turns by increasing the grip on the center of the tire as the forces cause the vehicle to lean on that side. Makes it less likely to tip. Negative camber also provides an outward force on the whee... | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why does food taste weird right after we brush our teeth? | [
"Menthol (what makes things minty) actually sets off certain taste receptors in our mouths. Our tongues pick up salty, sweet, bitter, sour and savory flavors. When menthol hits the tongue it basically shuts off the sweet receptors. So when you drink orange juice after brushing your teeth, you only get the bitter an... | [
"Bacteria eats sugar and poops acid into your mouth which burns your teeth. Brush and floss and see a dentist."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Dentistry:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage about Dentistry:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why do songs and poems usually rhyme? Why is rhyming so pleasing for us humans? | [
"The human brain loves patterns. Rhyming is just a pattern of sounds. Like how we see faces in odd shapes. It's just a natural thought process to find and enjoy patterns"
] | [
"Lots of native English speakers also have *some* trouble with song lyrics. So much of the experience of a song has to do with the melodies that perfectly understandable lyrics aren't really a priority for singers."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why do some apps not include the full functionality of the full website? | [
"Because adding functionality is expensive because you need someone to develop it. Also people use platforms differently on mobile compared to their computer."
] | [
"They're often loading from a different server than the rest of the website."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why do some events that happened a year ago feel like they were yesterday while others feel like they were years ago? | [
"Emotion affects memory formation Example - dangerous situations or anytime your adrenaline spikes, your mind makes sure to remember those things with as much clarity as possible, because it's a survival instinct - adrenaline means you are in danger and thus remembering what is happening in that moment could save y... | [
"Just wrote a long post about living with severe amnesia,.. you don't really get them back, and when you remember them it's like it's happening to someone else or you saw it on TV."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why does scratching feel good? | [
"Scratching triggers mild pain in your skin. Low-level pain signal to shoot up to the brain and override the itch signal to provide us with relief, and sometimes the pain from scratching makes your body release the pain-fighting chemical serotonin. It can make the itch feel even itchier."
] | [
"Nothing is touching the back of your throat or tongue so there is nothing to trigger it. Why do you think sound would trigger it?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Weird Math and Arbitrary Numbers? | [
"Often, those kinds of numbers are indexed for inflation. So a number like 11,806 might have started as 10,000 when the law was originally passed. The following year, inflation was 2.7%, so it was raised to 10,270. The next year, inflation was 3.1%, so it increased to 10,588. After a few years, the numbers are seem... | [
"High Crime + Dwindling Population + Crumbling Infrastructure + Diminishing Jobs = Perceived Shithole."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why do our faces look puffy in the morning just after waking up? | [
"Medical issues aside, it's from the build up of fluid in your face while you sleep, especially if you sleep with a pillow. When you're awake and walking around, gravity will help keep excess fluid away from your face. When you're lying on your back or side, now your whole body from your face to your toes are kind ... | [
"You don't produce saliva while you are in deep sleep. Because of this your mouth is dry and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. This bacteria cause bad breath. It is why you should brush your teeth in the morning as well as in the evening."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Health:"
} |
Why do people confuse left and right but not up and down? | [
"Left and right are choices we make hundreds of times a day for all sorts of things, many of them arbitrarily one or the other as they're often quite equal. Up and down isn't a choice - but gravity enforced upon us. It's never mentally mapped as equal"
] | [
"Because anything left of middle is liberal, and anything right of middle is conservative. You might as well be asking why half of a table is on the right and the other half is on the left."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What makes a morning person? How does their water not taste like vomit, their muscles not ache like crazy, and their addled mind not want to kill everyone within a 5-mile radius? | [
"For me its having a good natural alarm. I *usually* wake up on my own anywhere from 10 to 3 minutes before my alarm and it seems to do well for my circadian rhythm. I notice a huge difference when I dont wake up on my own - alarm or person - where I'm miserable, sore, and exhausted."
] | [
"Because cats! Motherfucker waits for you to sleep to take the slightest movement as a grave offence and punish your toes accordingly. Nothing like a claw stuck in between the webbing of your feet to wake you up in the middle of a pleasant dream"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why is success associated with how well a person is doing financially? | [
"That’s just one measure of success, perhaps what you view as success. An overweight person going to the gym may view someone who is jn shape as a success. Someone who has no family and is lonely may view another person who has a rich home life as a success. It is all perspective."
] | [
"There are plenty of smart people who have accomplished things. A work ethic doesn't come automatically with being smart, though."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
What is the Lemon Law? | [
"They vary from place to place, but the basic idea is that you can't sell a car to someone without disclosing whether it has a ton of problems. If you do the buyer can invoke the Lemon Law, take you to court if need be, and get their money back or another car. In a few states the law only applies to brand new cars,... | [
"Check out Robert E. May's *Manifest Destiny's Underworld*."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
; Where did the stereotype that blondes are dumb come from? | [
"Blondes were generally thought of as prettier than other hair color, thus blondes could survive more on their beauty finding a man therefore Blondes don’t need their intelligence to find a companion."
] | [
"Its just a media thing, nothing more than a stereotype. Some men prefer blondes, some do not."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
ACPI and UEFI. What are they and why do computers needs them? | [
"So, ACPI and UEFI are two separate things, so we'll handle them separately. * ACPI (*Advanced Configuration and Power Interface*) provides an open standard whereby the operating system and hardware components can talk to each other; ACPI advertises the hardware and its functions to the operating system, which can ... | [
"Sure! * Monitor - Let's you see stuff the computer wants to show you * Keyboard/Mouse - Let's you put information into the computer, control things * Harddrive - Stores information in the medium/long term (SLOW) * RAM - Stores information in the short term (FAST) * Optical Drive - Let's you read from disks using l... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage about Computer Science:"
} |
What gives metals their reflective characteristics? | [
"Think of a wave hitting the shoreline. Since the wave can’t keep moving in the direction of the shore, but the energy has to go somewhere, it ends up going backwards. This is the principle here - metals are conductors, which physics understands as that the electric field can only exist on their surface. So the li... | [
"Even today we can't 'see' elements but like many years ago we identify them based on their differing physical and chemical characteristics. Melting points, reactivity with other chemicals, electromagnetic spectra, to name a few of the early techniques."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
when popping popcorn, why does the first kernel popped not burn while the others are being popped? | [
"While there are still a lot of unpopped kernels and only a few already popped, the energy is absorbed by the unpopped kernels. It is only until a few unpopped kernels are left, that the already popped kernels start to absorb energy and get burnt. Copy pasted my top answer from: _URL_0_"
] | [
"Because the popcorn button is evil. Depending on the power of the microwave and the size of the bag, you may end up with unpopped kernels or burnt popcorn. Better to just listen to the bag and wait for the kernels to mostly stop popping to take it out of the microwave. That's the best way to maximize your popcorn ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How can plastic contain acid that can dissolve a human body? | [
"The issue is chemistry. Acids aren't just magic fluids that destroy all things they touch, they are chemicals that react in specific ways with other substances. If you mix vinegar and baking soda it foams up, but mixing vinegar with corn starch doesn't despite it on the surface appearing to be a similar white powd... | [
"Water will slowly dissolve the plastic of the bottle. When this happens, it tastes bad and could be dangerous to drink."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Are GMO foods actually unhealthy? | [
"There is no scientific evidence showing that GMO foods are more unhealthy than non-GMO foods."
] | [
"It's created by artificially inserting genes into the genomes of the plants. There are significant positives to GM food; it increases crop yields, can be used to insert useful nutrients, and can be made to require fewer or safer pesticides. Some people believe that GM food is more likely to be unhealthy than non-G... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about science:",
"pos": "Represent the text about science:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
or like I’m fifty. I don’t understand what a “shitpost” is, despite Urban Dictionary. | [
"Basically, it's a low effort attempt at being funny, primarily by just copying a meme someone else made."
] | [
"I am the only person in my social environment that manages to accidental do this every fucking day and it feels good to know that this is known (?). Would love to read why"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about Sleep and its effects on the body:"
} |
What is "Catastrophe Theory"? | [
"Think about how things change. Something like a plant grows a little tiny bit every day so that you don't notice the change at all. On the other hand, when a building falls over this change is dramatic. Catastrophe Theory deals with this second kind of change, when something changes from one state to another very ... | [
"Check out Robert E. May's *Manifest Destiny's Underworld*."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does music with 4 beats per measure sound satisfying? | [
"It is satisfying because your brain is used to it. 4/4 and 8/4 time signatures are very common in Western pop and rock music so you are really familiar with them and they sound natural to you. However, other styles of music such as jazz use odd signatures that might not sound pleasant if you're not used to them. ... | [
"**Meter** is one complete segment of a music. It's kinda like one sentence in an essay if the essay is the whole song. **Time signature** tells musician how many notes fit (not play) in one meter. 4/4 time signature means four quarter notes fit in one meter. (probably the most common and used in almost all pop son... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Music:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Music:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does it hurt when you bite your tongue on accident, but not when you bite your tongue on purpose? | [
"Your brain won't let you. I don't know the science behind it, but the short answer is that your brain doesn't let you bite your own tongue with enough strength to hurt"
] | [
"Generally because you are sleeping with your mouth open which dries out the mucous membrane. If you don't believe me, try keeping your mouth wide open and breath in and out for an hour and tell me how your throat feels."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Does mouthwash kill the *good* bacteria in your mouth similar to how hand sanitizer kills the *good* bacteria or your hands? | [
"Yes it slaughters everything without discretion. However \"good bacteria\" are mostly found and useful within your stomach and intestines. So long as those are fine, then you have nothing to worry about."
] | [
"Both regular soap & anti-bacterial soap kill germs or simply help wash them away. One of the benefits of regular soap is that it preserves healthy bacteria on your hands. Like the rest of our bodies, our hands have healthy bacteria that we need for various bodily functions. You might know that consuming too many p... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the text about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the text about Science:"
} |
How do the scientists know what the core of other planets are made of, (eg: Mars’ core is iron, Neptune’s liquid diamond) even though mankind has never been there? | [
"No, they dont guess. Their mass is determined by their gravity, which is determined by how they affect over objects. This gives them indications on density. Spectrometry will give them the atmospheric makeup and density and math solves the rest. _URL_0_ Guessing. Lol, just feaking lol. Ignore everything that guy ... | [
"We have no idea if Jupiter has a solid core or not. It is believed that if it does exist, the core is probably between 12 and 45 times the mass of the Earth (the whole planet is roughly 320 times the mass of the Earth). Why would we not count the mass of the atmosphere when considering Jupiter or any other gas gia... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about science:"
} |
Why do so many people naturally have the instinct to pick scabs even if it's bad for healing? | [
"It's because they itch. Itching is a sign that the healing process has begun, but it's frustrating because it's happening below this hard crust, so you can never quite satisfy it by scratching unless you scrape it off."
] | [
"When you scratch, you damage the skin. This causes more white blood cells to gather in the area to fight infections. That's why rashes are itchy. If you scratch too hard, you can break the skin allowing more infection. This is what the medical professionals want to prevent."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
why do sun tans go away over time? why isn’t the melanin permanent like how people are born with darker skin? | [
"Skin is constanly dying an being shed. If there is no more sunlight triggering tanning, the new skin won't be as tan."
] | [
"Because there isn't much sunlight that far north, so they need to produce less melanin to allow the UV light to create Vitamin D in their skin. Melanin is also what makes hair and eyes dark too, so they end up with pale skin, pale eyes, and pale hair."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does fire produce/give off light? | [
"It gives of light for the same reason any object does. It isn't special. Light is emitted when an electron gets bumped. In a light bulb flowing electricity (which is electrons) bump and hostile the electrons of the material that compared the light filament +or gas) Fire is created when a chemical reaction involv... | [
"when something is burned it undergoes a chemical process, converting the substance to carbon, which is black"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why do pigeons make a noise when they take off? Is it their wings flapping or a vocal noise they make? | [
"Holy crap my mom is an amateur bird enthusiast I actually know this one! Pigeons and doves both lack the ability to make loud, warning noises to alert their fellow bird friends of danger. To get past this, their wing tips actually whistle when air rushes past them. The noise you hear comes from their wings, not th... | [
"Many animals, including people, have a natural instinct to respond to specific stimuli in a variety of ways. For example low sounds are often a trait of animal growls or roars, a good sign you need to get the fuck out of there. Sudden noises in the silence are also a good example. If you sneak up on a deer and sna... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do they "estimate" how many people were at events? | [
"A photo is taken. Within the photo a fixed size is determines, like 5x5 feet. Within the square the number of people are counted. Then the total area being measured is divided into similar squares and the number of people in 1 square is multiplied by the total number of squares."
] | [
"It's still going on but isn't getting the same level of attention is was a few years back. According to the news, they've moved on to Iranian vessels."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
how come plants survive if they are submerged in a backyard pond but if a plant is given too much water it can drown? | [
"Different plants like different conditions. They’re not all the same. Some trees only grow on ridge tops while others only grow in bottomlands or riparian zones close to water. Obviously pond plants prefer being in water. You can’t plant a water lily in your yard."
] | [
"There are so many variables that are very different for every plant. First is type of soil, how well it drains and ph. Second is the ph of the water and amount of water you give it, most plants do not like their roots soaked all the time. Third is what type of nutrients the plant needs and whether its getting need... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does the whole process of Chemotherapy work? | [
"Chemotherapy uses toxic chemicals that target rapidly dividing cells. It enters the system and spreads throughout the body. Cancer cells are rapidly dividing therefore they would be the most affected by these drugs. However plenty of healthy cells are rapidly dividing so they get killed too. It impacts the entire ... | [
"Also to flood the area with white blood cells to aid the healing process."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Medicine:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Medicine:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does the moon control ocean currents? | [
"Well the moon controls the tides. The ocean currents are largely caused by the changes in ocean temperatures and the shape of the contenants. So the moon pulls water where ever it goes and the water has to slosh around all those pesky land bits. You can thank the moon for slowing down the Earth's rotation too."
] | [
"Well kind of. The moon pulls water around causing tides, so it's never really even. To answer your question though, fundamentally yes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is breaking stuff so satisfying when we are mad? | [
"I don’t actually get this sensation. Or rather I do and then immediately feel guilt for even feeling it. I tend to clean stuff when I get really pissed. I think in both your case and mine it’s mostly you just want to have absolute control over something."
] | [
"A follow-up question: Why do some people love that feeling while others detest it?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why are some states consistently hot while others get to experience all four seasons? | [
"The farther south (or north if you live in the southern hemisphere) you go, the hotter it gets and the less the seasons show themselves, because of earth's tilt"
] | [
"Do we really have 4 distinct seasons? You have an obvious summer and winter but I would argue that fall & spring are simply the transitional periods between them. The only real difference is whether plants are starting to grow or dying off."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How do food stamps work? | [
"Every state is different but generally follow the same rules. Actual stamps went away years ago. It is a debit card. Every month the state gives a set amount into the account. There are 2 kinds of cards. Food only, and cash. Food only means the card can only he used for food products. Every store that accepts th... | [
"How much do they cost vs how much will they generate."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How do so many new movies become "The #1 movie in the world" when they've only been out for a few days? | [
"I mean it depends on who is saying it. Usually it would be whichever movie sold the most tickets (in dollar value) that day or weekend. So whatever is #1 this week might not be next week."
] | [
"To claim the title, all the book has to do is reach the best seller list, even if it's only on the list for a split second. Advertising claims aren't strictly governed, so as long as the book showed up somewhere on a New York Times best seller list, even if it's just the best selling book of that one day it was re... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What does meta mean? | [
"It really means \"beyond\". What *that* really means in any context, is someone is seeing something beyond the scope of their character, for instance metagaming in tabletops being used to say something outside the knowledge of rules and mechanics their character wouldn't know, or a character being \"meta\" is usin... | [
"Maybe let's start with: what is ring tone rap?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are RGB LEDs bad at producing purple (and nearby variants)? | [
"Are they? RGB can represent millions of colours, purple too"
] | [
"It's not an illusion. Words are less useful in this context than pictures, so check out [the typical CRT color gamut.](_URL_0_) See how there is a whole lot of space for greens and relatively little space for reds and purples by comparison? That's what what causes the compression artifacts to be more apparent for ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why does eating too much sugar may lead to diabetes? | [
"For your body to use sugar, it needs to be broken down by insulin, which is made in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes: Body doesn't make insulin, cant break down sugar. Type 2 diabetes: This comes from the excess sugar consumption. Over time, insulin isn't made as much or isn't as effective as it would normally be, s... | [
"Cancer claims are bogus. Rotten teeth are a thing, due to diet soda's higher acidity and carbonation compared to regular soda. Diet soda does not inherently lead to obesity, but in some people can lead to increased cravings for sweets, which can lead to overeating and in turn obesity."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
The local power company is shutting off power for wildfire safety. How does my use of power/electricity in the city affect the start of wildfires? | [
"If a tree branch gets blown near (i.e. basically right up against) a high voltage power line, a spark can jump from the line to the tree, which if the tree and surrounding area are extremely dry, can be a problem for obvious reasons."
] | [
"Running on house electricity means anytime you lose power you lose smoke detectors. Blackouts are often the most dangerous times for fires, with candles and generators and kerosene heaters. What would be best is detectors that ran on both."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
How does a spoiler in a car work ? | [
"You know when you're driving down the highway on a nice day and you stick your hand out the window and feel the air moving around it? You tilt it up and the force of the wind almost lifts your arm for you. You tilt it down and it pushes your hand and arm towards the ground. The spoiler works the same way. It has t... | [
"Are you asking how a wheel works ?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does Google Stadia or other gaming streaming services work? | [
"The game, is run normally on a machine in one of Google's (or whoever's) data-center. Your computer sends it your inputs (so controller/mouse movements and button presses) which are fed into the game. The server then sends you the video stream of the game, just like youtube or netflix does. The big challenge is ge... | [
"Most companies want you to pay streaming fees for services like Apple Music and google play."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why did older languages in general have more complicated, multisyllabic words, when most other things increase in complexity as they develop further? | [
"Language is one of those things that is rarely designed and created intelligently (by which I mean languages don't tend to be created at all). They develop organically which means there's a lot of room for nonsense. Nobody decided what makes sense, they just communicated. Older languages have tons of simple words ... | [
"English is an Indo-European language, and the only Indo-European languages that have this distinction are spoken in India, where they borrowed the idea from the Dravidian languages. So the only real answer to this is that English (and other European languages) simply didn't evolve that way. Since languages evolve ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Language and Translation:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about Language and Translation:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Helicopter Spinning Blades | [
"They match the frames per second the camera captures at. So every 'photo' the camera takes is close to matching the speed of the rotor."
] | [
"Sleep - Shake Unconscious - Splash Coma - Wait and Hope Vegetative State - Wait and Bury"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why aren't yakitori restaurants everywhere since the food is so simple and amazing? | [
"Incredibly low profit margin... I'm a chef and can give you an even more detailed explanation if you want."
] | [
"They're cheap as *hell,* and even the least-capable chef with what barely counts as a kitchen can cook them. They also don't need to be kept cold. An ideal fit for a dorm room lifestyle. I can't come up with another food that's so insanely cheap (amazon will sell you a package of 36 for what's basically 50 cents e... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
I understand how igloos stay insulated as a result of building fires inside them, but how do the emissions from the smoke get ventilated out of the igloo without suffocating its inhabitants? | [
"Normally you dont put a fire in an igloo. The purpose is not to make the igloo warm, but to make it not cold. So around -5 to 0 celsius is fine."
] | [
"Silly answer, same as any other hotel, but made of ice. Serious answer, they only get made when conditions are right, as in winter, and only where temperatures are below freezing for most of the season. The building is usually constructed of river ice which lets them cut it to however big or small they need it to ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What determines the "computing power" of CPU cores? Why is an ARM core generally considered less "powerful" than an x86 core? | [
"This is a very complex question if I get in depth on the engineering decisions that make them different, but without that, it becomes oversimplified. Heat. Think of phones as ultra small computers. Unless you want a fan in your phone, they depend on passive cooling, and unless you want the phone to be heavy, batte... | [
"Hz is a measure of frequency- the number of times something happens per second. If something has a frequency of 3GHz, it means that it happens three billion times per second. In the case of computers, that's the speed of its internal clock. A single operation in a computer can take multiple steps, and the clock s... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do some games (e.g. Minecraft) need a launcher instead of directly launching the game ? | [
"There are at least a few reasons. The launchers that many games have now allow the game to check for updates when you open the launcher. It also allows for in game stores and advertising. There are probably many technical reasons as well, but this is why a lot of companies have launchers for games you would not th... | [
"The exe you download is usually not the game itself, but is an installer. It sets up a bunch of stuff including a program that updates itself. Almost never is a game a single file, even on Android or iOS devices. On the iOS side for instance you have a single file for the app called an .ipa file. It is actually a ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What’s is the difference between a sales tax and VAT (value added tax) | [
"In Canada, our sales tax is accounted for at every stage by every business. You collect tax on what you sell and pay tax on what you buy and you owe the government the difference at tax time. This doesn’t sound too awfully different from the VAT as described."
] | [
"Sales tax is a tax on the transaction, not the item. There's other sorts of taxes, such as a VAT (value added tax) that specifically target goods. The item being secondhand makes no difference to sales tax."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Finance:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph about Finance:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Can a US state declare independence? | [
"They can declare whatever they like. However there is no legal process provided by the constitution that allows states to peacefully seceede, and the few times the matter has in some form come across the supreme court the answer is pretty clear: Statehood is eternal. There are only two ways a state can leave the u... | [
"Please help me understand why this vote is occurring in the first place? Why would the Scottish people want to separate from the UK?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
The Law of Attraction | [
"It's a philosophical belief that positive or negative thoughts can result in positive or negative experiences. It's also considered religious, to a certain extent. It is criticised for the lack of falsifiability and testability of these claims. Other criticisms include it being unmeasurable and questioned the like... | [
"The Art of War in the Western World - Archer Jones"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage about Education:"
} |
If caffeinated drinks like coffee are meant to give you boosts of energy then why is it recommended for kids with ADHD to calm them down? | [
"ADHD is caused by *underactivity* in the frontal lobe of the brain - the part responsible for organization and impulse control (think of it as “the brain’s secretary and the brain’s breaks). The reason kids with ADHD are hyperactive is because that front part of the brain is underactive - the hyperactivity is beca... | [
"Caffeine requires more intake to feel the positive effects after regular use. Caffeine, however, always raises blood pressure. Maybe stop drinking coffee for a week and start again."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How can cell phones send signals such long distances? | [
"The big cell towers are there to provide broad geographic coverage and handle thousands of calls at once. The size and power is not related to communicating with one phone but thousands. The receiving antennas in the cell towers are able to pick up your weak signal and hand it off to the rest of the switching syst... | [
"Yep. It's may be difficult to realize, but radio waves have identical properties to visible light. This is because they are both forms of electromagnetic radiation. Radio waves travel at the speed of light and do not deteriorate in space. In the same way that you can see the light from the sun 300,000,000 miles aw... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about Science and Technology:"
} |
Why do modern homes have such high ceilings? | [
"Cooling a house is cheaper if the ceiling is high, as the hot air rises toward the ceiling, leaving comfortable cooler air down where the people are. Buyers like high ceilings for their appearance."
] | [
"Old windows let out cool air and head, making maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home difficult. Update to insulated windows and save on your heating and air conditioning costs. You're welcome."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do noise canceling headphones... Cancel noise? Could they be "upgraded" to silence concerts? Gun shots? | [
"Okay so sound is a wave. Noise cancellation works by listening to the waves on the background and then outputting the opposite wave to cancel it out. Think of sound as waves in a tub, you can stop them if you do a \"counter wave\" movement right? That's literally noise cancellation"
] | [
"The use active noise reduction. There are two microphones, one pointed towards the mouth and one pointed away. One picks up speech + noise and the other just picks up noise. Subtract the 2nd signal from the first and you are just left with the speech. Similar technology is used in telephones, noise cancelling hea... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why does eating something crunchy sound so loud and overpower other sound? | [
"because the sound is generated inside your mouth and the vibrations travel through your jawbone / skull to your auditory canal/ ear drum/inner ear."
] | [
"This is personal preference. I, at least, cannot *stand* the sound of our cats eating (or licking themselves, but that's not pertinent here). It absolutely sets my teeth on edge. By comparison, I find most people's chewing a non-event. Occasionally it will bother me (generally in the office if a coworker is having... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is it easier to remember something by going back to what you were just doing? | [
"The way your memory works is essentially by “remembering your last memory” of an occurrence, not actually remembering the event itself per sé. This is why, with time, memories become faded or restructured with less or different details. When you go back to what you were doing when you conceived the idea of doing s... | [
"Memory has short term memory (aka working memory) and long term memory. When we fail to have something in our working memory long enough, it fails to become a long term memory. So if we just thought of something to say, for example and suddenly someone pipes up right before you were going to talk, it is possible t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage about Memory and communication:"
} |
Why are jars so hard to open when left closed for a few days? | [
"Usually because whatever is in the jar got between the threading at the top of the jar and the lid, dried up and got sticky. Or the jar got cold and the metal lid contracted."
] | [
"because you're going to eat it. Cooked meat can be dangerous if you leave it in the fridge for a few weeks. Just like raw meat. The difference is that if you put raw meat in the freezer, you can save it for a few months. Cooked meat can be left in the fridge for a couple days, but still is subject to rotting. Bein... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why does a pimple hurt less after being popped even though it is now an open wound? | [
"You relieve the pressure under the skin when you pop it. The pimple is caused by a blockage of your pores which causes a buildup of pressure. The increased pressure causes inflammation locally putting pressure on the nerves in your skin. When you pop it, you relieve pressure allowing the fluid to drain. Make sure ... | [
"The blister is usually a result of you having rubbed apart two layers of the skin which then fills up with fluid. Why you want to pop it, I have no idea. Edit: you aren't supposed to pop a blister because the blister itself is sterile and if you pop it you run the risk of infection."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Health and Wellness:",
"pos": "Represent the passage about Health and Wellness:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What's the difference between sleep and being inert? | [
"The really short version is that when we actually sleep, our brain and the rest of the body is allowed to focus on certain tasks like repairing and restoring your muscles, organs, etc. To put it in (very) basic terms, your body switches from conscious/thinking mode to \"repair mode.\""
] | [
"Isn't it just another way to take your mind off it?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Health:"
} |
- if I ice an injury am I making it better or just masking the pain? | [
"It will kind of depend on the injury you have sustained. Icing an injured area does numb pain and it basically functions as an external application of an analgesiac. Yes it does wear off over time and yes your only masking the pain similarly as taking meds would. Icing is usually used for acute injuries soon after... | [
"Probably because the headache would have stopped on its own with or without the painkiller. The painkiller didn't cure the cause of the headache. It simply masked the pain while your body recovered from the cause."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How come sometimes when you take a drink, it causes extreme pain and discomfort as it goes down? | [
"The bolas you've formed to swallow is too large and stretching out the muscles of your esophagus as it travels down your throat. Edit to add: The throat is a tube with muscles that can squeeze or relax but no muscles that open the throat wider. So what happens is each section of the throat widens because the secti... | [
"I used to get that feeling a lot when I first started taking my daily pills. Turns out I wasn't getting the pill \"stuck\" in my throat exactly, but I was not swallowing them with enough water. When someone swallows pills without proper salivation or lubricant the object can \"scrape\" itself on the back of your ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why does water come out of bottle like glu-glug-gl-gl-glu-glug-glug-glu-gl-glug-glu-glu-glu-gl-glug | [
"Because in order for the water to come out air must fill the void left by the water so while water is exiting the bottle air is entering the bottle through the same opening. Hence: glug glug glug glug"
] | [
"Vowels are made without closing off parts of your mouth, so you have a free flow of air with no build-up in your upper throat or mouth. You can generally \"hold\" a vowel sound: eeeeeeeeeeeeeee, aaaaaaaaaaaaaa, oooooooooooo are all easy to sound out, but ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp is not. Exact defi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If Hong Kong belongs to China, but has its own legal and political system, in what sense does Hong Kong belong to China? | [
"China had leased Hong Kong to the UK for 99 years and allowed a different legal system to be established, a \"great experiment\" in the capitalist free market economy and western style government. China did not however give up their territorial claims to the area and when the lease came to an end did not allow it ... | [
"Because over time they have been distancing themselves from China, to avoid implying that the government of mainland China has rights over them. Similarly they often call their country just Taiwan these days."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does some high fiber or bad food get "fast tracked" through your digestive system? Does it "bypass" regular food waiting to be processed, or does it push out everything in front of it? | [
"In the case of fiber, its sticky and slippery at the same time. That makes it bring the rest of your poop along for a very fun, regular ride down the fart slide and into the Porcelain Kingdom. Doing that also keeps super sticky fat (cholesterol) from clogging up your blood vessels. If you want a slightly less ELI5... | [
"Initially the stuff that's coming out is the food your body was already digesting. When you eat something your digestive system doesn't like it pushes the stuff already in there out faster in order to get the nasty stuff out faster. Unfortunately that means your poops are gonna be loose because there wasn't enough... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage about Health and Wellness:"
} |
Why does 5GHZ seem to be the ceiling for conventional desktop overclocking? | [
"_URL_0_ Theres a few reasons, cpus can definitely go kver 5 ghz, some have gotten up to 8 ghz, but you need a lot of cooling, much more than a standard PC (issue 1) The second major issue is on CPU design. CPUs are mad eof a bunch of really tiny transistors. For a CPU to operate faster, these transistors need to w... | [
"If you're talking about LAN connections then it will always be faster than a wireless connection as it is wired and transmits data without much interference. Even if you put wireless cards in your desktop or use laptops it will still be faster than phone using the same wireless connection because they have bigger ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why are cars able to go at speeds that are not allowed in normal roads? | [
"Capping a car's speed at the speed limit would be both dangerous and impractical. Dangerous, because there are certainly instances -- such as passing another car -- where you need the extra acceleration. Impractical, because speed limits are a social limit not a physical limit. As such, they can change, both thr... | [
"Cars would be required to be more powerful than this. For example if they need to go up steep hills or carry heavy loads. As well as this, they need to have good acceleration in some occasons. Most people will. Expect to go 0-60 in under 8 seconds. To achieve this you would need an amount of power that would easil... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
how do muscle relaxers not affect the heart ? | [
"There are different types of muscles. Smooth, skeletal and cardiac. ‘Muscle relaxers’ only target skeletal muscle."
] | [
"Steroids reduce inflammation (swelling) and can reduce the amount of fluid around a tumor. I'm not really finding anything about steroids being able to directly kill cancer cells."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
If we see galaxies light years away, how do we know we’re not seeing our own galaxy X light years in the past? | [
"We can't see light emitted from our own galaxy in the past because that would require our galaxy to have travelled faster than the light. And nothing travels faster than light. It would be like throwing a ball down the room and trying to run and catch it at the other end."
] | [
"Yes. Everything we see in the sky is from the light it generated/reflected in the past. Even the sun is several light minutes away, so we are always seeing it as it was a few minutes ago. A star 10 light years away, we will see the light that is now 10 years old. The further an object is away, the further in the p... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about astronomy:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about astronomy:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about astronomy:"
} |
How does stretch tape stick to itself when pressure is applied to it, but not feel sticky to the touch? | [
"It’s kind of like Velcro but instead of hooks and loops that stick together, there are little folds/grooves that fit in together which will hold the sides of tape together."
] | [
"It deals with the water holding together. I can't seem to remember the technical term, but the water likes to pull the skin. For example, you are going down a slide. With water, you can feel the drag on your skin. Let's say you use Vaseline instead of water. You slide far faster and smoother than with water. It al... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do animals know to look into our eyes? | [
"Looking at faces is a good way to determine which direction a creature is looking, and thereby which direction the creature is likely to attack or move. Most (if not all) sighted mammals have the ability to distinguish faces because it's an advantage to be able to do so. If a creature can lock eyes with another ... | [
"How can you look out your window and still see the interior of your house?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Animal behavior:",
"pos": "Represent the passage about Animal behavior:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why is it that when I’m looking at a mirror with my glasses off, everything is blurry, even though the mirror is really close to me? | [
"The lenses of the glasses are designed to help correct for light incoming at various angles, focusing them in tandem with the lenses in your eyes to form an image on your retina. The issue is that the mirror isn't the origin of the light you are seeing, instead light that reflects from the mirror retains the angle... | [
"Near sighted people can see things that are near, but not far away - Far-sighted people can see far away things, but not things near them. I'm near sighted, so without my glasses I can see things that are near. I don't need glasses to read a book/monitor or see anything within arms length, but without my glasses ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do box fans have the off setting (0) right next to the highest setting (3)? Wouldn't it make more sense to have it by the lowest setting? | [
"It's more efficient, electrically, to start a motor at a high speed than it is to get it moving at a slow speed. It is simple to step down to the slower speeds while it is running."
] | [
"The numbers don't always mean a specific temperature. It just means 5 will be hotter than 4. You've got to figure it out based on your own house, because it's only a valve. How hot it'll make the room depends on the specifics of your room, how big the radiator is, how efficient your boiler is, there's a ton of var... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Blisters from friction, like wearing shoes in the wrong size causing a blister | [
"You rub the skin until the top layers breaks off and becomes disconnected from the lower layers. Then all the lymph fluid that was going between the layers just leaks into the little cave and doesn’t drain away till the void fills up like a balloon"
] | [
"Socks are fairly absorbent and pull moisture away from your foot so you don't notice the sweat unless you completely soak through the sock. Socks also provide a barrier between your skin and the show to help reduce blisters from rubbing"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about Textile technology:"
} |
Why street lights during night time are warm orange colored and not white lights? Won't having white lights seem more like daylight? | [
"The yellow light comes from Sodium lamps. It's just how they glow for chemical reasons. More modern street lights are LEDs and more white to light-blue. They're also brighter and more directed instead of glowing in all directions."
] | [
"The issue is that screens shine blue-rich light straight into our eyes, When we are outside, the light is mainly sunshine, which is green-rich. The other problem is this blue light acts like sunshine to our brains, telling them that it is still daytime, and that we should remain alert and awake. If you are using y... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage about Science:"
} |
Why do animals that live in the same environment and eat the same diet taste different? (For example sheep and cows) | [
"Their biological processes and body compositions are different, so they might eat the same things but their body will process, distribute, and use things differently."
] | [
"I don’t know much about it but many animals have specialized digestive systems to allow them to eat certain things - like cows eating grass. Also many animals eat more things than you know about, like deer for example will eat birds when they have the chance."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why is having reduced hearing and blockage in one of the ears a common cold symptom? | [
"Our ears and sinuses are connected inside the head. When you get an infection such as a cold virus, those passageways can become inflamed and fluid can buildup causing congestion."
] | [
"It's called tinnitus. It's a sign of damage to the equipment in your inner ear. If you regularly experience it, that is something you see a specialist about, and it may be indicate the potential for permanent hearing loss down the road."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence about Health:"
} |
How do sharks detect electrical signals fish emmit when they move? | [
"They have special organs called the ampullae of Lorenzini. They're basically clusters of pores with electroreceptors. These organ cells are specialized to have high concentrations of voltage dependent ion channels. The cells are also connected very tightly to one another by gap junctions. There are some other anat... | [
"Electric eels, like all eels, have muscles running all throughout their bodies. Muscles can do two things: relax and contract. Muscles work like the brain, they are activated with small electric currents. That is why people who are shocked by lightning or high voltage electricity have sudden spasms when they are s... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about biology:"
} |
what exactly causes non specific itchiness of the skin, not due to health issues, and why is it often felt in different areas at the same time? | [
"You are shedding dead skin cells all the time. Exfoliating the skin by rubbing it scratching feels good, so sometimes your skin just \"wants\" to be scratched. If it happens a lot, you could have dry skin or allergies."
] | [
"if it's a random pain that goes away in under a minute in a random spot, it's called \"idiopathic pain\", meaning the cause is unknown. It's far more common than you think, most people I know get it at some point. If it becomes more frequent or is recurs in a specific area, go see a doctor."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why are some elements solid, liquid or gas in normal Earthlike conditions? | [
"It also has to with how strong the attractive forces between the molecules are. Weaker forces means gas and you can go from there. Why the forces are the strength they are has to with certain factors like size and the number of electrons in their valence shell. However, very elements exist in their pure state natu... | [
"Gasses dissolve more in colder water than hotter water. Solids on the other hand dissolve more in hot water than cold water."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about Chemistry:"
} |
How hard would it be for the UK to just scrap its plans and stay in the EU? | [
"If parliament agreed to do it, it would be very simple. Straight vote, revoke article 50, cancel the process. Politically, it would be very fractious, probably political suicide for many MPs voting for it."
] | [
"I worry about the potential impact on the banking sector in the U.K. Love them or hate them, they are an enormous part of the economy. Not being a member of the single market could force banks to move to Frankfurt and reduce the UK's importance in world business. I'm certainly no expert, just an observation so som... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why does it hurt so much when you drink orange juice after brushing teeth? | [
"Not sure of the exact science, but it's some sort of chemical reaction with toothpaste and orange juice that makes it taste horrible"
] | [
"Bacteria eats sugar and poops acid into your mouth which burns your teeth. Brush and floss and see a dentist."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why is it that humans feel random attractions to specific colors, numbers, etc at a young age? Why do our brains generate “favorite colors” and “favorite numbers,” and things like that? | [
"We make connections between positive experiences and things like numbers/colors/smells. It also has a lot to do with socialization. Little girls might like pink because their favorite toys were pink, but as they grow older they might like blue because the sky is beautiful. Same for numbers, a lot of people like 7 ... | [
"There are several factors at work. Brain chemistry, life experiences, and even what music they were raised with will affect how someone reacts to the sounds. For brain chemistry, it is like some people are easily addicted to drugs, and some people are almost immune. Life experiences are pretty obvious. If you had ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What is the point of the machine (clapperboard) that starts a film? | [
"It’s used by movie editors/producers to synchronize the audio and video. In the old days, it would have the scene/take numbers on it, too. You could synchronize your video to your audio by listening to and looking at the clap."
] | [
"They would physically cut and re-tape the film. The phrase \"On the cutting room floor\" comes from this."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
When you see an amount of something is “adjusted for inflation,” how do they calculate that? | [
"Inflation is measured every year (or whichever timeperiod) and inflation over all those years is basically stacking all those years of inflation on top of eachother. Year 2000 product X costs 100 Year 2001 inflation of 2 percent so X costs 102 Year 2002 inflation of 2 percent so X costs 102 times 1,02 = 104,04 Ye... | [
"Inflation is or can be a symptom of an increase in the money supply. Hence inflation. You can also think of the number of dollars it takes to buy something \"inflating\"."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How does the body decide which pathway food/air goes through? | [
"Our throat consists of two tube-like pathways - one in the front for air, called the “trachea”, and one in the back for food, called the “esophagus”. At rest, the breathing pathway is open and allows air exchange from the environment and the lungs, while the food pathway is closed. When we swallow food, liquid, or... | [
"It gets digested and then is absorbed through the intestinal walls (mostly small intestines) and then is added to the blood stream. The liver and kidneys process all the blood as it goes around. It doesn't separate so much as it just forms the blood volume that both organs filter."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
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