query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
why does eating certain foods after a heavy night of drinking help prevent a hangover? | [
"Fatty foods especially will help because fat, a complex molecule that takes longer to digest than carbs or protein, keeps your duodenal sphincter closed off for longer, which keeps the alcohol in your stomach longer. This helps because the enzymes that help your body neutralize alcohol are pretty much exclusively ... | [
"Coffee does nothing except keep you alert for a bit and in one place while you drink it. It actually will make your hang over worse, because caffeine is a dieretic as well as alcohol. Fun fact: if you feel as if you're going to vomit after a night of drinking, or feel full, you can drink a cup of water without ge... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What's the difference between the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam, and why is there so much hostility between them? | [
"The Shiite group believes that only descendants of Muhammed should be leaders in/of the religion. The Sunni group believes that \"good\" (\"good\" meaning following the Quran and doing their religious duties well, etc.) should be the elected leaders in/of the religion. That's the main difference between the two, h... | [
"First of all, you have to realize that Saudi Arabia or ISIS don't represent the vast, varied, and complex religion that is Islam. Many women don't wear the hijab, or other veils. Of those that do, many choose to do so, and see it as empowering, rather than oppressive. With that said, in places like Saudi Arabia, i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Oracle v. Google Law Suit | [
"Oracle bought a company called Sun. Sun had developed a programming language called Java. Google had introduced an operating system for mobile phones called Andorid. Android is built on top of a variant of Java. Android started to become very valuable and Oracle wanted to get some of that money. Oracle claimed tha... | [
"Star Wars Episode VII: The Jar Jar Binks Adventures"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why is the air blown from a fan cooler then the air in the room it occupies? | [
"It isn't. You *feel* cooler, for two reasons: (a) it blows away the thin layer of air around your body that has been warmed by your body heat and (b) it increases evaporation from your skin, which cools you off."
] | [
"The AC doesn't add air to your room. The AC sucks air into one channel from your room, through the big vent, uses it to cool the other channel and spits it out through your window. This air is used to cool the other channel, which is cycled from inside your room, back into it. So to answer your question, the pipe ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
In quantum physics, how does witnessing (or observing) something cause you interfere with it? | [
"\"Observed\" in science doesn't necessarily mean \"seen,\" but it can also mean measured. Often times, trying to take a measurement of something means that you have to interact with it. On a larger scale, it's like putting a temperature probe in a glass of water. Unless the probe was the exact temperature as the w... | [
"We know because when we do these types of experiments we can limit the number of electrons to one. If there is only one electron in the experiment but you can show that there is an electron in both places at the same time you know that it is the same electron. The theory is then that the same electron is in all it... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the answer about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about Physics:"
} |
Why don't dogs have a belly button? | [
"They do - but they are usually much smaller than human navels, and usually hidden by fur."
] | [
"The best things come in pairs, breasts, testicles, sandwiches, butt cheeks, you get the gist."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Can someone explain Post-Modernism like I'm 5, please? | [
"What does it even matter? Nothing has any meaning anyhow. Even the meaning we project on things is a construct of the mind and the only thing that is worthy of attention is the richness of the individual experience, each of which differs from every other."
] | [
"Explain my rights to me... like I'm five?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is deep frying so much faster than baking? | [
"Heat transfers faster through liquids then through gasses. You can be in a sauna without any harm to your body, but if you get covered with boiling water for a few minuites you at best will be covered in scar tissue and in pain for the rest of your life."
] | [
"It's nonsense borne from ignorance and fear of technology, in many cases microwaving will help retain more nutrients than other methods of cooking, especially compared to boiling in water."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
the positive and negative effects of the privatization of Medicare. | [
"It's hard to imagine something that would impact today's seniors. Future seniors (today's young people) might have an option (or get forced) to get their Medicare benefits from a private insurance company. That company would get a cut of the taxes that fund Medicare in exchange for providing coverage for a chunk o... | [
"The French Revolution in regards to the mindset of modern culture. The Industrial Revolution when it comes to technological advancements."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
why does the outlier exist in many languages that the number 11-19 follow a different pattern of construction that doesn't fall in line with 21-29, 31-39 and etc? | [
"Groups of twelve were common in commercial transactions back in the day because it is divisible by more numbers than ten. As such, we had unique words up to twelve. Thirteen is just three and ten and the numbers follow like that until the twenties, which use a slightly different, groups of ten and single system."
... | [
"When you start counting: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 notice that more than half of the numbers start with \"1\". Only one number starts with \"9\". If we would count until 99, we would see that all starting numbers have the same probability. As soon as we go above 100, the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Mathematics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about Mathematics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What does the 'plastic' mean in "plastic surgery"? | [
"\"Rhino*plasty*\" from the greek rhis: nose & plassein: to shape"
] | [
"Because it's more expensive to mass-produce hydrophobic(water resistant) clothes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about Textile technology:"
} |
How can Obama unilaterally change a law | [
"The law actually allows insurers to continue offering some plans as long as they aren't changed. And those that are changed can be kept for another year (til 2015). But most insurers are just cancelling plans instead of extending them for another year to simplify their own process. But he can't \"change a law\" un... | [
"They could. The thing is, campaign promises are unenforceable. Obama promised to end the Afghanistan war, close Gitmo, protect whistleblowers and have a transparent administration."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
What exactly is buying debt, and how did Occupy Wall Street just do it? | [
"When banks or whoever else might have a bunch of people owing them money decide that they're never going to see enough money from the debtees for it to be worth it - so basically when someone isn't paying any of the debt off for months and they can't seem to get it by force - they offer to sell the debt off to oth... | [
"They would sell your debt to someone else as a way of paying off their debts, and now you owe your mortgage to some other entity."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Social issues:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Social issues:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why aren't there ever any windows at bowling alleys or casinos? | [
"Bowling alley: the ones windowless I know are underground, plus I think it reduces noise. Casinos, that's actually funny and sad. Imagine yourself immerse in a game, you won't be looking at your watch or phone. So, how do you know it's already night? If you have a window you'll see the light contrast. However, ins... | [
"What do you mean on them? The signs, the walls, floors?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
safe to eat raw chicken. | [
"Most meat is fairly sterile immediately after slaughter, but the slaughter environment quickly taints the meat. Beef slaughter is not quite as dirty because you get so much off a single animal that you can afford some overhead. Chickens are *notoriously* dirty animals ( I own 20). And worse they are omnivores. Whi... | [
"farts smell like poop. were you eating poop?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Negative effects of raising the U.S. minimum wage? | [
"When labor costs go up costs for everything goes up. This is called inflation. You can raise minimum wage all you want, at the end of the day there are only so many resources on earth. A maximum wage would be more effective. It would also be un-American. Our society is based on capitalism. If you want to make more... | [
"Bernie wants to: Tie up tax loopholes that favor the rich. Have a universal health care system. Expand the middle class. Make state colleges more affordable."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Please explain to me the mythos created by HP Lovecraft | [
"The point of Cthulhu and the rest of Love craft works is about the fear of the unknown. Nothing is ever fully explained which is kind of the point. I would suggest getting a hold of the penguin publication \"Call of Cthulu and other weird stories\". Because the stories were written at the turn of the century it ca... | [
"I recommend this article from Rolling Stone _URL_0_ which outlines the absurdity of the allegations against her very well."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why can't shows like NCIS, Law and Order SVU, and Criminal Minds reference real world things? | [
"Either to avoid it looking like a paid product placement, or to avoid the owner of the trademark complaining or even suing. For example, if a show revolves around a terrorist attack which was organized by the terrorists using, say, WhatsApp, then the makers of WhatsApp might not be too happy about their trademark ... | [
"To answer your embedded question... Last Week Tonight with John Oliver got going because the executives at HBO did focus group testing on the show and learned that it would be a potentially popular show. I'm an American and my opinion is that there is definitely a lot of garbage on TV. However, if you venture past... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why does a cat seemingly "turn off" when the back of their neck is pinched? | [
"It's instinct. Mother cats will use the skin on the back of a kitten's neck to carry it (in her teeth) if she needs to move it. Cats instinctually go limp when this happens (which prevents it from potentially hurting one cat or the other), and you're triggering that same instinctual response when you grab a cat th... | [
"Typically this is something that young kittens do to make milk flow more freely while they're with their mother. In older cats it's a sign of the cat being particularly at ease in its surroundings. Sometimes you'll even see a cat appear to lick the blanket at the same time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why do dogs, with their amazing sense of smell, choose butts, old socks, and urine to smell? | [
"It's not just a unique smell or marking territory. Specifically for butts, in other dogs there is a little gland there right near the anus that secretes the unique odors they use to identify each other. That is why they specifically smell in that area on other dogs. As for humans, they do it because that's how the... | [
"Because we are prone to food poisoning, and need to identify when food is not fresh enough to eat or contaminated with faeces. Dogs do think there are bad smells, they just aren't the same as what you perceive to be a bad smell. Try offering a dog some fresh orange peel."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
How does constantly mixing cement keep it from turning into stone? | [
"As pointed out before, it doesn't, however it does prolong the process. Cement solidifies by basically turning itself (a paste of very specific particles and water) into a crystal. The particles pretty much combine with the water to form nice hard crystals (so saying you're waiting for the cement to \"dry-out\" is... | [
"There are different mixes and grades of concrete. Some have fibres, more/less aggregate, different bonding agents, waterproofing agents. There isn't just one type of concrete. Some even have extra lime to help reduce weathering and add water resistance."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Can any one explain r-value of insulation, like what I'd lose if I used R-19 instead of R21? | [
"The R-value describes how good the isolation is. The formula is (T1-T2)/R*surface area = amount of heat lost per hour. From that, we can conclude that R-21 let's through about 10% less heat than R-19."
] | [
"The proper term is thermal conductivity with the units of W / (m K) (Watts / meter Kelvin). Air has a low thermal conductivity. We use air as an insulator. Insulation (the pink stuff in the walls) works, because it stops air from moving around. Air naturally does not conduct heat well, but it is easy to move it ar... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How is the brain able to create images while reading that make it feel like I'm watching a movie? | [
"I'm no expert, but I would say it is because the writer uses words to describe things you've already seen in real life. For example, when I say mountain you start to think about a mountain in pictures, because you've seen a mountain and knows what it looks like. But if I were to say mountain to a person whom never... | [
"Your eyes don't actually see anything. Your brain does. I'm sure someone can explain it more in depth but basically when you imagine something, you are using the visual part of your brain to process image information that was made up by your imagination. You aren't really seeing what you imagine either. Your brain... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment about Psychology:"
} |
what is the difference between Porter, Lager, Ale, Pale Ale, and what does the darkness of the color signify? | [
"Beer is made of a few things: Water, Yeast, a Grain (such as wheat or oats), and Hops. Generally speaking, there's two kinds of beer: Ales and Lagers. Ales are brewed warm (ish) and their type of yeast floats to the top of the brew tanks. Lagers are brewed cold (ish) and their type of yeast sinks to the bottom. B... | [
"Stout: heavy, sweet, roasty, dark, coffee, chocolate Porter: like a stout but not as bold and thick, lots of similarities to port wine Amber ale: white bread, oranges, leather, bitter, heavy but not too thick, this beer is open to a LOT of variation Pale ale or IPA: bitter, pine trees, lemon rind, grapefruit, refi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why and how do fungus grow on your body? | [
"It grows like it would any other place, with a dark and damp environment generally. Make sure to fully dry your ass and toes ladies and gents. As for why it is simple, you have what it craves."
] | [
"For: wash off pesticides, dirt. Against: why the hell would there be anything against washing your fruit."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does Aloa Vera sting when you apply it to skin? | [
"As with many moisturizers, the probable answer is to look at all the ingredients of your lotion. Alcohol, acid, or sodium may be cause of stinging? Find a more pure formula if possible. For minor burns & minor skin irritations, I just snip a portion of stem from an aloe vera plant and rub the inner juice right on... | [
"Sometimes, it burns a lot after eating spicy foods. That is the same reason it burns going down. LPT: After eating spicy foods and when you're anticipating a painful poop, put some petroleum jelly on your anus first. It helps coat it and soothes the pain"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why don't bands tour and have 3+ hour shows where they play all their music? | [
"Because that would be absolutely exhausting and some of these bands are playing almost nightly during their tours."
] | [
"Short answer, program managers are lazy. It's easy to stick with the 'classics'. It's safe. Also if a band is around long enough they may not fit the style of the station with their new/old stuff. Classic rock stations are going to play the hell out of 60/70 era Rolling Stones, but wont touch anything they have ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Music:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about Music:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text about Music:"
} |
Why did the Vietnam war happen? | [
"The US didn't want communism spreading through that area of Asia and thought if they could stop it in Vietnam the rest of the area wouldn't go communist. Also the US had a policy of \"If a nation asks for help against communist aggression will will always render aid.\""
] | [
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why so many prescription drugs lower your risk to fight infections | [
"Some diseases are caused by your immune system attacking your own body. The pills to treat these diseases weaken your immune system so it will cause less damage to your own body."
] | [
"Your teacher is an idiot. Talk to a doctor about the best way to beat a type of cancer. That being said, a diet high in vegetables and low in red meat would lower your chances of getting cancer in the first place."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
In terms of computer science, what exactly happens when malware is quarantined? | [
"It's moved out of its original directory structure and renamed, so attempts by external software to call/access that file result in failure. Also, software checks are put in place to specifically prevent that file from being executed or loaded into memory."
] | [
"As a concrete example, a PDF is an executed file. There's actual code in a PDF that needs to be run, unlike a text file where it's simply read and displayed. This means that when you open the PDF, the attached code could very well run, and if that code is malicious, then there goes your computer. Additionally thin... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do U.S. Supreme Court Justices keep such long appointments, often until they die? | [
"They purposely have appointment till death/choosing to step down so that they are less corrupted by politics. They do not have to worry about running for re-election thus needing the approval of the people, and they do not need to seek the approval of the President or Congress to keep their appointment. That means... | [
"The US Supreme Court has ruled that the constitution gives every same-sex couple the right to marry, no matter what state they live in. There are only two things that could overturn that decision. The first is a constitutional amendment. The second is a new Supreme Court decision where the justices change their mi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Is it realistically possible to save endangered species or is the planet definitely going to lose turtles, whales, sharks, elephants and many other endangered animals? What's stopping efforts to save them? | [
"It depends a great deal on the species. As a few examples of highly recognizable success stories: The American alligator was nearly extinct before it was listed as endangered. Now there are more than 5 million. The bald eagle was reduced to around 450 mating pairs. Now it's around 10,000. Wolve... | [
"Because we have nowhere to put them. Species that are endangered generally aren't endangered because they aren't breeding. They are breeding just fine. They are endangered because humanity is taking / altering their habitat or because of poachers. Neither of those problems are solved by breeding them."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why are the Beatles now treated like legends, when back then, they were seen as just some boy-band fad, soon to dissappear? | [
"That is not a fair likeness. While they might be considered such a phenomenon, what they are great by is that they took music and made something entirely new with it. It was simply new and scary and exciting as they released their albums. Douglas Adams, an outspoken fan of Beatles as he was, once said that when t... | [
"It's probably due to the Sex Pistols being one of the first mainstream popular punk bands. They definitely weren't the start of the genre, but the Sex Pistols were a bit like the Beatles except for Punk, so they're easily recognizable icons to people outside the subculture."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
We've just flown past Pluto and we're entering the age of the driverless car. Why hasn't air travel changed since the 1960's? | [
"Air travel has changed quite a bit in the last 50 years. We have much bigger jets than the 737 of the 60s, not to mention advances in avionics and, speaking of the driveless car, autopilot."
] | [
"Because he's making amazing futuristic things happen, like electric cars and private space flight and ultra-fast maglev trains, and he's a bit of a nerd. There's a lot of bitterness and disillusionment with our technological progress, or lack thereof. Yeah, our phones keep getting better, but in a lot of ways we'v... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does squinting eyes change this image? | [
"High and lo pass filtered images superimposed on each other. When you squint you lose the ability to see fine detail so the lo-pass filtered image stands out as the details (high pass filter) disappear. When you are not squinting you see the detail parts stand out because the brain likes to see fine detail more th... | [
"Your brain adjusts to the movement pattern of the gif, and doesn't compensate instantly when you move to look at the picture. It has nothing to do with the Starry Night picture, the illusion works the same if you looked at the back of your hand."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the argument about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
how does someone create a coding language like C++, python, or the protocols that govern Internet traffic out of essentially nothing? | [
"assembler, or machine code. simplified, you might have a 40 lines of code in assembler that only job is to [put a letter on the screen](_URL_0_). now that you have it, you can make an alias for that program, call it **print** for example. **print \"hello world\"** this uses the assembler program you called print ... | [
"Do you have any programming experience at all? The fact that I’m not seeing you mention it means you must be asking for an entire tutorial on learning a scripting language and then making the bot, right?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is it that I don't have to pee, but then suddenly my bladder is about to explode? | [
"The bladder wall is made out of muscle which has waves of contractions just like your gut. These waves appear and disappear which may give you the feeling of urgency (feeling of wanting to let go). This should not normally happen unless you are holding your urine on purpose. The usual feeling of bladder fullness i... | [
"More importantly, why do they tend to do it after they poop?? Granted, I feel lighter on my feet after a good poo, but I don't feel compelled to sprint through the house!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Since purple does not exist - When something is purple, what color is it? | [
"Purple does exist, but only in your eye. Purple is what your brain tells you you're seeing when the eye receives both blue and red light at the same time."
] | [
"White is the presence of all colors, where black is the absence of all colors, so to answer your question it can't."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does getting hit in the head knock you out? I understand the force causing damage but why does the system shut down for non critical damage. Seems a design flaw when you're in a tight spot. Do all other mammals as well? Lizards? Insects? | [
"In many cases it's a consequence of the processes triggered by the trauma, a contusion will start a sweeping process which will increase intracranial pressure which in turn will compress blood vessels and reduce blood supply to the brain. The poor oxygen delivery in this case leads to dizziness, disorientation and... | [
"Yea, it certainly can do. It also might not. A random person on the street would probably pass out for a few seconds from the pain because they aren’t expecting to be shot. But a soldier on a battlefield is filled with adrenaline and is subconsciously expecting imminent pain, so is quite unlikely to pass out until... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Biology/Medicine:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer about Biology/Medicine:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why do most bipedal robots always keep their knees bent a bit when standing? | [
"I'm still an industrial electronics student but if I had to guess I would say that it is because when engineers program robots they are given a \"home position\" that the robot stays in. In this case the home position is the one that best allows the robot to react to varying conditions. Like if the robot were to s... | [
"...because humans are bipedal and our appendages lie flat when we're on our back instead of jutting out unsupported at awkward angles."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What is Marxism and how much does it differ from America's current system | [
"In very simple terms, it means that the means of production is owned by the workers. So for example a factory producing cars would be owned and controlled by the workers in the factory. America's current system is a capitalist one, where the means of production are owned privately, and not necessarily by the work... | [
"That depends, what is your or your cultural definition of the 'purest' form of capitalism? Is it Austrian School Capitalism of free and open markets with complete Laize Faire politics? Is it a State Capitalist system in which free capital markets are controlled by the state? Or is it 14th Century Agrarian Capitali... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How exactly does computer hacking work? | [
"The aim of a lot of hacking is to exploit a weakness in a system, such as buffer overflow. Another example: ever heard of the heartbleed bug in programming? Here's a good comic that explains it: _URL_0_"
] | [
"That's exactly how car insurance works. Can you clarify your question?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why bands perform with heaps of amps/speakers on stage instead of connecting to the venues PA system. | [
"My band uses both our own towers *and* the venue PA system: The speakers (or rather, monitors) that are in front of us are used to hear ourselves play, in case our in-ear monitoring system fails. Optically and audibly, this constellation is a win/win situation, (but of course only if our system and the venue are ... | [
"Typically they use directional microphones that only pick up what's right in front of the grill, and aren't very sensitive so they only hear what's close to them. In addition modern stages use \"in ear monitors\" where the musicians listen to themselves on noise reducing earphones instead of floor monitors. So the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do tires on a car have air in them? Why not have them made out of solid rubber? | [
"Rubber compresses yes, but not as much as air. Very early cars had solid rubber tyres and the ride was very bumpy (albeit combined with very primative suspension). Also the solid rubber tires would \"bounce\" like a rubber ball, not ideal. Air inside tires however acts like a shock absorber... then once the tire h... | [
"Well, the material itself is somewhat stiffer, while still retaining a certain flexibility. The holes are there to offer room for the material to flex, avoiding the uncomfortable hardness you'd experience if the tires were solid- it fulfills the same purpose as the pressurized air inside a regular tire, as well as... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Automotive technology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Automotive technology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is water pressure from depth a "directional" force and therefore a downward force? Can it be alleviated? (illustrations included) | [
"Water pressure, just like air pressure, pushes in from all around, not just from above. Neither of those diagrams will alleviate the water pressure felt."
] | [
"The vertical difference is pressure is only enough to *equal* the downward force of gravity. They're balanced out."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
LI5: Could you explain to me what linux is and why it's so different from Windows or Mac OS | [
"There are more than those 3 operating systems: examples are the three you listed, Unix and BSD. Unix is the grandfather of operating systems. BSD, Linux and Mac OS are all Unix-like OS'. Linux is an operating system (like Windows), but the main difference between Linux and Windows or Mac OS is that most Linux sys... | [
"Both BSD and Linux are open source Operating systems based on UNIX. Modern BSD OSs are descended from a UNIX distro directly while LINUX started out as an attempt to rebuild something like UNIX from scratch. Linux in its various distributions is far more popular and widely used. BSD, especially FreeBSD does enjoy ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about technology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about technology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does our stomach and or intestines dont eat itself? | [
"Our intestines have muscosals on the inside. That's a kind of slime between the stomach and the acid. *Side-fact: When you die, the muscosals can't be regenerated, and then you \"eat\" yourself. (The acid dissolves you)*"
] | [
"I have ulcerative colitis and when my stomach can't digest the food and makes my stomach hurt it relaxes the muscles and makes the pain go away 100%."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment about health:"
} |
Why do girls tend to have good handwriting and guys tend to have bad handwriting? | [
"Girls develop their fine motor skills earlier than boys, and it happens to coincide with the typical age around which children learn to write."
] | [
"From my experience, I have horrible hand writing because I'm trying to write faster than I can because my brain is so far ahead of where my hand is. It may just be some people don't think as far ahead into their writing as others do"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why the sudden excitement after the Star Wars teaser? | [
"I do believe that people are incredibly hyped due to both nostalgia and hope. This is our new hope after the prequel disaster."
] | [
"Out of curiosity, was this post prompted by the \"Amazing Story\" video on the front page?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why are rest stops built with one on each side of a highway/interstate rather than one build in the middle? | [
"They are in the median in some places. The left exit and entry is problematic for slower vehicles/drivers. Speaking of slow drivers, if you circle around looking for an open parking spot, eat, pee, and get gas, your internal compass may get confused and you could enter the highway going in the opposite direction ... | [
"I don't know how others work, but for the bridge from China to Hong Kong, the lanes split so that one goes over the other and then bring them back to level on the other side, only now they are on the opposite side of the road that they started on."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why can't 32 bit or 64 bit Windows run 16 but apps? | [
"The difference isn't so much in the \"number of bits\", but rather in the fact that 16 bit apps are old and are designed for an entirely different runtime and file format and they require a completely different set of dependencies. They're now known as \"16 bit\", but the reality is the operating system's kernel w... | [
"You are on a 64 bit operating system, so Program Files is for for 64 bit programs. And Program Files x86 are programs that still use 32 bit."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
The sound barrier, and how you "break it" | [
"We're used to air behaving a certain way as we move through it. It flows out of the way as we move. However, it can only flow so quickly, and at a certain speed its ability to flow basically stops, and that's the speed of sound. As you get closer to that speed, the air can't get out of your way quickly enough, an... | [
"The sound waves bunch up ahead of the vehicle, making out sound higher, and as it passes you, they spread out behind out, lowering the frequency. Google \"Doppler effect\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Does putting a chair under a round door handle really stop it from being opened? | [
"Yes it works. The objective of putting the change under a round door handle is not to prevent the handle from being able to be turned it its to prevent the door from being opened by way of 'wedging' the door closed. See [here](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"There's a little notch inside the outlet that goes into the hole making the plug \"stick\" in the outlet, so it doesn't constantly fall out or get accidentally pulled out."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument about Electrical appliances:"
} |
Why do things sound deeper when in slow motion? | [
"Pitch is determined by frequency. So higher pitch equals higher frequency and lower pitch equals lower frequency. Basically, if you capture sound at regular speed and slow it down, you are also slowing down the frequency of the tone."
] | [
"Women have higher voices that carry better over background noise. Try watching women's tennis sometime."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
what speed do nerve signals travel at? And do giant whales have a delay since they are huge? | [
"The speed is affected by a lot of factors such as age and gender. The impulse has to travel along the axons. Some axons can vary in diameter and can be more or less myelinated (think of it as rubber around an electric wire). There are a lot of types of fibers. The nerve signal can travel from 0.5 to 120 m/s (more ... | [
"It happens the same way, but it just takes much much longer since you have to rely on diffusion. These animals are usually also much smaller so their demands aren't as severe."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Since the first quantum computer has already been built... what exactly does it do and why is it considered a paradigm shift? I understand that it uses quantum mechanics but I don't get it at all.. | [
"It's not really a \"paradigm shift\". Quantum computers are able to solve specific classes of problems that are hard for conventional computers. It's certainly not going to be a huge revolution or anything, but we should see an improvement in areas like cryptography and image recognition."
] | [
"You're looking for an answer that doesn't exist. Quantum mechanics just works fundamentally differently than you expect; if you understand the concept, there's nothing more to understand."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about computing:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about computing:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
why do you become sexually attracted to someone once you develop feelings for them? | [
"Part of developing feelings for someone is caring about their needs and wants. If they want to have sex with you then fulfilling that need is making them happy. Of course you are allowed to enjoy it too. When you really want to have sex with them and they really want to have sex with you then you are providing yo... | [
"She means what she said. People think that there is some hidden message behind friendzoning. There isn't. Almost always, the person legitimately wants to stay friends, just doesn't want be in a relationship with you for whatever reason."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why do so many white, western liberals and progressives defend Islam? | [
"They tend to support freedom of religion. They tend to support civil rights for minorities. Seems strange to think of them as a minority but in the US and Western countries they are."
] | [
"They are generalizing to re-enforce their own world view. Islam isn't anything in particular. Muslims, like any other arbitrary group of people, cover the whole spectrum of human behavior. Some are tolerant, some aren't, some are violent, some wouldn't hurt a fly, some hate gay people, some couldn't care less - et... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What's going on with Russia and Syria right now and how does it affect the rest of the world? | [
"Russia is allies with Syrian leader, Assad, due to a navy base there. Russia claims to enter Syria to fight ISIS but it appears they may have attacked Syrian Rebels that oppose both ISIS and Assad, Rebels that America is backing financially and with training, risking a proxy war with USA. Edit - to further clarify... | [
"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 post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why is it considered immoral to outsource labor to workers in countries willing to work for very little money? | [
"Usually it's the working conditions that people are protesting. Factories in developing countries with little regulation and workers' rights can be downright abysmal to work in. They're not called \"sweatshops\" for nothing. In addition to poor working conditions is also worker safety. A man might lose an arm oper... | [
"Worse. Remember, people work in sweatshops because the wages and conditions are BETTER there than they are elsewhere. I remember reading that one of the problems that these factories cause is that they entice trained persons like nurses and teachers to leave their professions and take employment there for the incr... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
In simple terms, what does the mathematical constant "e" mean? | [
"e is special because of what happens when you take it to some exponent. Namely, if you graph y=e^x . [Here is a reference](_URL_0_). It's special because, at every point on that line, the slope of the graph is exactly equal to the y value of the graph. At y=1, y'=1. At y=2, y'=2. Turns out, that symmetry is very u... | [
"One of the most interesting unsolved problems in computer science is P vs. NP (which you can read about in many [past ELI5s](_URL_0_) so I won't go into it here). The SMBC is a silly fake proof that works when you assume that Pi (the mathematical constant for the ratio of the circle's circumference to its diameter... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do people become addicted to smoking cigarettes when it is so awful the first few times? | [
"For many people, smoking isn't about cigarettes, but rather about a little social club you get to hang out with outside every few hours. It's not always bad the first time. I liked the cigarettes the first time I smoked one. It just felt right, and the feeling of hot smoke in my lungs was pleasant. I only didn't ... | [
"If you drink coffee every day to wake yourself up in the morning, you will eventually become addicted. How would this contribute to you becoming addicted to alcohol, tobacco or methamphetamines? They're completely different drugs with different effects, different feelings and, most importantly, different chemistry... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do some games have huge modding communities (Minecraft, Skyrim), whereas others have none at all? | [
"Some games are easier to mod than others. Most have no official modding tools, unlike games like Skyrim or Valve games."
] | [
"Believe it or not some people care more about if a game is enjoyable than if it looks good. I know I spend most of my gaming time playing games like Minecraft, Elder Scrolls 3-5 and old pokemon games, all of which may not look the greatest but damn are they fun. Video games should be about having a good time, that... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Can someone please explain LI5 what redshift is? | [
"Everything that astronomers see in the sky is because of a wave that came from that object. Most of these waves are light, but astronomers also have infrared telescopes that can see waves that aren't visible to our eyes. Of the waves of light that we can see, the \"weakest\" are the ones that carry the color red, ... | [
"> ELI5: Why does turning down the radio help us 'see' the address better? ELI born today WTF the question is about."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
The concept of 'squatting' in a home that isn't yours and why it's so difficult to remove squatters from the premises in certain places. What stops people from kicking in the door to residence they own and throwing squatters out? | [
"Actually, I \"squatted\" on and off for about 4 years 14-18 in the US. In my experience, alot of the time, It's a civil issue not a criminal one. Civil suits take time. Also, for instance; when the housing market crashed and a lot of banks went under or had been absorbed by other banks, some properties went into a... | [
"It doesn't. What you're referring to are tenant rights and protections against their landlord. There are laws in the books that prevent a landlord from randomly locking the doors and booting out a tenant out of convenience. Unfortunately, the same laws (in some states) allows tenants who have lived in certain esta... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why do some people scream when they sneeze? | [
"Could be cultural ties. Even the way people sneeze is influenced. Culturally and ethnically. That's not the be all, end all reasoning... But it definitely influences it."
] | [
"How do you know that you don't sneeze in your sleep?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why do i always feel a bigger need to smoke when i drink alcohol? Is it purely the social part of smoking, or are there in fact other factors which are to blame? | [
"I think it's just being intoxicated in general. Why are you more hungry/horny/outgoing etc... when you're drunk? It's just easier to give in to your desires, whatever they may be."
] | [
"I'm Interested in this answer too. I'm guessing it's something that the alcohol does to the brain to numb parts that are associated with discomfort/unpleasentness. If this is true it would explain things feeling less harmful to you than normal, the want of people to smoke cigarettes without a problem, how good lay... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Health and lifestyle:",
"pos": "Represent the argument about Health and lifestyle:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
if muscles can work anaerobically, why do we need to breathe oxygen, on a biological level? | [
"Without oxygen we would lose about 94% of our capacity to convert glucose to energy usable for our body. It generally doesn't take too long for this to become a problem."
] | [
"Because you aren't doing enough cardio... ;) But seriously, whats happening is actually going on in the muscle that controls tour lungs called the diaphragm. As it becomes tired, there is a buildup of lactic acid that causes a burning sensation. Lactic acid is produced my muscles as a sort of alternative to oxygen... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about Health and Fitness:"
} |
Why do we get to decide if Iran is allowed to make nuclear weapons? | [
"Iran is a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and has therefore agreed to not build nuclear weapons. Source: _URL_0_"
] | [
"Because the US, Russia, and Israel are powerful enough to get away with it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why did Canada get rid of the penny? | [
"Canada got rid of the penny because the penny costs more to make than it's worth. A good video: [Canada gets rid of the penny](_URL_0_) Edit: put in the right link"
] | [
"Why do some parts of the world call gasoline petrol?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Is there a mechanical reason fan switches often go from off to full power, and then down? (Ordered "0,3,2,1" on the switch) | [
"Although the other answers may have some truth to them, one of the big reasons for this is that any electric motor will have a \"startup current\" that's much higher than the normal operating current. When the motor is physically rotating at a different speed than its electricity makes it \"want\" to rotate, it so... | [
"Because the switch is intended for a 3-way bulb, but there's only a standard bulb installed. With a 3-way bulb, it would go low-medium-high-off."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Electrical engineering:"
} |
Why does glue not harden when it's in the container, but harden when it is poured out? | [
"Glue only hardens when it is exposed to air, and the water inside it (which is what makes it fluid) evaporates."
] | [
"Lack of air. Glue will dry when it is exposed to air. If there isn't air circulating in the bottle, it won't dry. Leave the bottle open, and you will get dry glue."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
If memories are so susceptible to change over time, how can I be sure an event that I remember actually happened? | [
"supporting evidence. Other people agree it happened, there are photos, diaries, souvenirs. There are lots of reasons to be trust your memories."
] | [
"Because you are remembering the last time you filled out that paperwork and how it reminded you of that particular event. Memories are always being rewritten and reshaped. Most of the time when you think of a memory, you aren't really remembering the original memory, but instead remembering the last time you remem... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why does it feel better to have feet elevated when you sit? | [
"Your feet take a lot of wear and tear, and are often in tight shoes and socks. Elevating them on a footstool repositions them so they're off the ground and not at the very bottom of your entire bloodstream's contents. It takes a little bit of the pressure off of them, meanwhile flexing the knees a bit so they're n... | [
"I was actually thinking about this the other day because I'm the kind of person seems to never get comfortable. I found out if you stretch and loosen up your muscles you'll have an easier time sitting still or even falling asleep at night."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Does having a larger penis increase the likelihood of conception? | [
"No, just like a longer needle doesn't increase the effectiveness of a vaccine. As long as it's sufficient for injecting the genetic material in the correct hole, that's all that matters."
] | [
"Being sexually active means you have a vector for various STIs and STDs. Some of these can affect the likelihood of you developing cancer, or can give false positives on some of the tests they may choose to use. Additionally knowing how often you ejaculate can affect the likelihood of you developing some kinds of... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are Computer Malware so obvious to detect for the victim? | [
"Some malware is obviously visible, like changing your browser's homepage to some ad-riddled horror show. Many casual computer users won't know what to do, so they'll just let it slide, and use the bloated crapshoot as their homepage, making the malware people advertisement money. However, just because you can see ... | [
"They do, its just that there are a lot more Windows PCs out there. The entire purpose of a Virus on a computer is to cause as much trouble as you can before anti-virus updates and eliminates it. Ergo, if you want to cause as much trouble as you can, you write it for windows, not OSX or Linux. There are plenty of e... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Is there an evolutionary benefit for men having beards other than helping with the ladies? | [
"They actually have a surprising benefit if you spend a lot of time outdoors in the cold. At least for me, I shaved off about six months of beard growth in the middle of this winter, and my face felt much, much colder. It's not a huge benefit, but it was the difference between having to wear a scarf or not."
] | [
"A lot of the characteristics we are attracted to are from basic instincts in our brain. Hour glass figures on women are representative of a good body for childbirth. An upside down triangle body on a man is representative of a physically strong man, who is resistant to disease. Some people are attracted to differ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Difference Between Heat and Temperature | [
"You can think of temperature as being similar to the level of water in a bucket, and heat as being the actual amount of water in a bucket. If you have two buckets, they might both be filled five inches deep with water. But if one bucket is much wider, that five inches represents a lot more water in the big bucket ... | [
"Being Black Does Actually Have (Relatively Minor) Health Consequences, It's Just That They're Obviated By Modern Life. There's An Energy Cost To Have Extra Melanin, Even A Small One, So If You Don't Need It It Won't Be Selected For. Melanin Reduces Vitamin-D Uptake From The Sun If Sunlight Is Lower Than You're Ada... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Before college became a requirement for many jobs, how did employers screen and filter out candidates? | [
"Basically before the late 90s you got a job by 'knowing a guy' Most older people (over 50) you meet, if you ask them how they got into their career the story will start \"I knew this guy...\""
] | [
"It will be much, much harder to get certain jobs. If you go to a vocational school, you should be able to get one of those jobs just fine. There's not really any reason for 100% of students to go to college. There are more students with a college education than there are jobs that require one."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does a phone's (specifically an IPhone) cooling system work? Since it's a smaller computer, is it essentially the same? | [
"Phones are designed to utilize passive cooling only. That being, they do not generate enough heat through standard operation to require a fan. This is due to the size, power, and space required for fans and various failure points introduced by them - and also any CPU that generated enough heat to require active co... | [
"Off the top of my head, there's usually three things in a computer that makes noise: - The 'oldschool' but still very popular hard drive that works like a record player by spinning. - A CD-ROM drive that also spins. There's obviously not one on the iPad. - The fan that spins to cool down the computer. When your co... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does a plunger work? | [
"The plunger is bell shaped....so when you put it into the toilet, you are pushing a pocket of air down with it. When you compress the plunger, the air is pushed against the clog, and with enough pressure it can dislodge the clog and get it moving. Try blowing out your mouth with your lips pressed together...it's t... | [
"Are you asking how a wheel works ?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does American use a Presidential system, rather than a Parliamentary one? | [
"Because we divide our government into separate branches and use them to limit the other branches. In a parliamentary system the legislative and executive branches are fused into one, which gives it more power, and in most parliamentary systems the judicial branch is partially fused as with it as well giving it eve... | [
"All republics are democracies, but not all democracies are republics. Therefore, anyone who says that the United States is a republic but not a democracy is just incorrect. The United States is a republic because the head of state and the head of government is based on the people's choice and not appointment or in... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is Polygamy Illegal? | [
"It makes taxes, inheritance, divorce, and lots of other things very complicated."
] | [
"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 Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
I've learned today that some bugs and flies sees the world in slow motion. How does that work? | [
"What we see isn't produced by our eyes but by how our brain interprets what our eyes see. For insects to see in slow motion just means that their brains process information from their eyes much faster than ours do. Also calling it \"slow\" motion is completely arbitrary as that is just a comparison to what we are ... | [
"Well, it's not an illusion that affects an eye, it affects our brain. so it doesn't matter if you change eyes. As for why it affects our brain, I don't know."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Entomology:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Entomology:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Physics:"
} |
How is Microsoft making money from Windows 10 if they are giving it away for free? | [
"1. They collect data on you by default for targeted advertising. 2. They have a lot of services that default or redirect to Bing, which they get ad revenue from. 3. Much of their business comes from corporations using their products, not individual users. Indeed, Enterprise builds are not covered by the same upgra... | [
"One of Microsoft's biggest costs has been legacy support: providing help and compatibility for old versions of windows. Microsoft would like to eliminate older versions of their OS so that they don't have to support them anymore and can devote resources to improving the Windows platform as a whole."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
The different types of alcohol (chemistry, not beverages) | [
"Ethyl alcohol is ethanol. It has the chemical formula H₃C-CH₂OH (two carbons). This is what you find in alcoholic beverages. Methanol has one carbon instead, with the formula H₃COH. This is what's dangerous in moonshine - methanol is much more toxic than ethanol because its metabolic products are formaldehyde and ... | [
"1. different processes. 2. different cultures. 3. different milks (goat, qualities, fat amounts, etc.)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about alcohol and behavior:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about alcohol and behavior:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why does a bathtub of water eventually get colder than the room | [
"It doesn't. Our sensation of heat is not the same thing as temperature. Easy example: tile floors feel colder than rugs. In reality they're the same temperature. Our sensation of heat is because tile floor more readily absorbs our body heat than does a rug. The sensation of losing our body heat quickly is what we ... | [
"Hot water loses heat at a faster rate than cold water but it doesn't freeze faster. Heat lose has an aspect of temperature difference in the equation (Q=mCp(T1-T2)) so the rate of heat loss is faster with a bigger temperature difference. Hot water from a tap does hold a lot more metal from the pipes (which is why ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why is everyone so obsessed over Nikola Tesla? What could he have really done? | [
"What do you mean by \"could\"? He did plenty things, like inventing AC power and the induction motor, among a [long list of other things](_URL_0_). People generally like him because they view him as an underdog who wasn't given all the recognition he deserved, especially given his battle with Edison, in which Edis... | [
"Edison was first and foremost a businessman, looking at how inventions could make money. He also had a staff of people doing most of the hard work. When Tesla worked for him, he exploited him. He was kind of like the Steve Jobs of that day - Knowing what people want, letting clever people make it and then take all... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
If matter can’t be destroyed, what happens to an object when it is vaporized? | [
"A vapor is still matter. So are the people who were \"vaporized\" in the atomic blasts in Japan; they were simply broken down into much smaller component parts, probably gas, ashes and dust. However, before they were vaporized, some of those poor people blocked the initial gamma ray burst and some part of the heat... | [
"They get absorbed. The energy from the photon triggers chemical changes in the rods and cones of your retina that results in signals being sent to your brain. And your brain interprets those signals into the image you see. The energy from the photons gets absorbed into those chemical reactions, and turns into heat... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How can it be that every lock in the world is different and there are not two of the same? Or isn't this the case? | [
"It isn't the case. It would be theoretical possible to have every lock in the world be different by making them all a different size and shape but it would be highly impractical. Most locks operate with a series of different pins and lengths \\- your standard household lock would have somewhere between 100,000 and... | [
"Nobody came to a world-wide consensus as to what an outlet should look like when they were invented, so each country did their own thing. It's too expensive to go back and replace them all."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How come Germany get to keep the 3 world cups from when they were West Germany? Surely when East and West united it became a brand new country? | [
"Officially the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) ceased to exist, and it's territory was ceded to the Federal Republic of Germany. The current German state is technically the same one as west Germany, just with more territory than it used to have. Same as how the USA did not become a new country when Texas... | [
"Security. Germany for example did it when the country was split in two during the cold war. But unfortunately Germany is unable to get his gold back. It kinda... Disappeared."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
...the immigration crisis. How can people be protesting kids? Why can't these children be adopted? | [
"These kids have parents. If someone adopted a child with parents that want them it's called kidnapping..."
] | [
"Most of them are already living in tent cities in countries surrounding Syria. It is not like we are getting the ones you saw on TV last month crossing boarders. And they go through the process described below. At least someone is asking questions and not just panicking like so many others."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How did European's become light skinned? | [
"Your skin has something called melanin which gives the skin its dark or light colour. More melanin means darker colour and less means lighter colour. The goal of melanin is to protect from UV radiation. Since there's less UV exposure up north, skin needs to produce less melanin and the people from there are thus l... | [
"Race really came from that time in history we were really wanted everything to fit into nice taxonomic groups. But the groups we choose are pretty damn arbitrary, even to this day. What does it mean to be white? European? How close are Italians to Finnish to Romanians to Spanish? What about Asian? Asian including ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why do small private colleges without large staff, facilities or research departments have such high tuition? Where does that money go? | [
"Because small private schools lack state-funding, lack large, research oriented programs that draw in grant money, and lack major athletic programs to draw in revenue. These reasons (and others, I'm sure) make it so that if small schools want to keep the lights on, they have to charge more in tuition. It is not, i... | [
"Administrative fees, building fees, university research, staff salaries, etc. all the stuff that enables your classes to happen and your university to do its work. I'm not sure about the UK, but in Canada public institutions have to be fairly open about their finances. You may be able to look up a general overview... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
The "internet" to someone from the 1950s | [
"It's like a telephone that can call anyone, anywhere, and you can see through it like a television. You can choose what you want to see, like visiting a library, but you never have to leave your house. There are classifieds like in a newspaper, business listings like the yellow pages, movies like in a theater, and... | [
"Related question: Is the mindset that we live in a \"better\" time a modern one? So would someone in the 1500s even view any sort of technological progress as being good? As in the mindset that the non-existent past was some golden age. Perhaps the question could also be answered the other way around, \"why would ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about history:"
} |
Why does the USA have CIA,NSA,FBI? | [
"FBI is internal, CIA is external, and NSA is oriented more toward signals intelligence than spies. Each has their own role but conceptually there is a lot of overlap and sharing of resources."
] | [
"Because all caps indicate acronyms and initialisms, for example, the USA, CIA, MIB, NFL, MLB, USPS, etc."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why does the Nintendo Zapper not work with modern televisions? | [
"The Zapper was very precisely timed to the screens (the refresh rate, specifically). It looked for the screen to be drawn at a certain exact moment, and used that data to tell if you had, for example, hit the duck or not. Today's plasma and LCD televisions have different refresh rates/timing, and are in fact less ... | [
"Because they weren't written for it. Though they appear similar, computers can be as different as consoles as time moves on. What you're asking is akin to \"Why can't I play Playstation 1 games on my PS4?\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
What are the curving lines that appear in digital photos of computer screens? | [
"[Moiré pattern](_URL_0_). It's what happens when the grid of pixels that create image on the screen and the grid of pixels that capture the image in the camera don't perfectly align, which is almost always because they only align at four angles (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) and are not aligned at every angle in-between."
... | [
"What you see on a screen, like on TV or your cell phone, are not real objects. What you see is light created by tiny lightbulbs, called pixels."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about Science:"
} |
In grade school we are taught that we can either use 3.14 or 22/7 as pi. But 22 divided by 7 is actually 3.1428(etc), not 3.1415(etc). Why are these used interchangeably? | [
"22/7 is the closest rational estimate of pi that we have which uses simple numbers in fractional form. This makes it useful to young students who have trouble with decimal representation or with multiplying numbers with several digits. For the purposes of grade school calculations, it's a close enough approximatio... | [
"The problem is that it's doing the calculations in binary and can only store a limited number of digits. 0.1 can't be stored exactly in binary, in the same way as 1/3 can't stored exactly in decimal. You get rounding errors similar to the problem you'd have dealing with 1/3 in decimal: 1 - 0.333333 - 0.333333 - 0.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
how actors who only work in bit parts, make a living | [
"How they make a living? Working in restaurants"
] | [
"Some prefer blondes some prefer brunettes. The cast must be in such a way you at least like someone."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.