query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1 value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
How do prosthetics work? Like the really good arms with the individual moving fingers? | [
"Most prosthetics with internal mechanisms work by using the muscles left behind after amputation in the upper limb. Electrodes are placed on them, and contraction of the muscle triggers the mechanism to move joints or extremities in the prosthesis. Others have toggle switches that can be operated by the amputee ma... | [
"Most robots aren't. Most robots that are made look nothing like humans at all. They don't have a body, lots of arms (or just one), and are made for one very specific purpose. Some look like cars, some like helicopters. And some are made to look like humans. They have two arms, because we have two. And they are mo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why do so many ancient cities, especially the big ones, have dissapeared geographically after being abandoned? If nobody destroys them, shouldn't the structures and general architecture remain intact? | [
"People like to reuse stuff. There's an abandoned city nearby? Free building material! And anything that's made out of wood will rot away eventually."
] | [
"Ancient civilizations aren't always underground, they were, at some point or another, probably anywhere you can imagine. The reason above-ground ones don't exist anymore is because they were above ground and could be destroyed, vandalized, demolished, repurposed, etc. The ones that end up getting buried undergroun... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Architecture:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Architecture:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do people move around and shake when they want to pee really bad? | [
"Urine puts pressure on the bladder which in turn signals via nerves the need to pee. People instinctively move around to shake that urine so the bladder is under less strain and the nerves transmitting the idea of \"I have to pee\" ease off, resulting in a less severe need to go to the toilet."
] | [
"It seems to come as a surprise to my dog, every time he farts the noise spooks him. Also do you go sit on the toilet or go outside every time you fart?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Health:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Health:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What would be the real dangers of putting water on a nuclear meltdown? | [
"Very basically, explosions aren't always fire, simply, they're rapid expansions of matter, so in the show, they were worried about the extreme heat of the melting core touching a tank full of water. Now water when liquid is quite dense sitting in its container, but when it boils, it expands and becomes a gas (see ... | [
"If we could get them separated and contained, they would cease to be a problem. The issue is that they are generating radioactive heat uncontrollably due to proximity and a failure of the stop measures. And you really don't want nuclear waste blowing up on liftoff."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How are logic chips (AND/OR/NAND/etc) actually built to work like their chosen logic gate? | [
"The basic building block of electrical/electronic gates is the transistor. You can think of a transistor as an electrically operated switch. This switch has an input, output and a \"switch\" (also an input). If the switch is \"on\" it connects the input to the output, if the switch is \"off\" the input is disconne... | [
"> tl;dr Why does a computer read code the way it does? It's pretty difficult to answer even at a high school level. There are components called registers, counters, and all sorts of other little components. These are made up of \"gates\" that allow information(in the form of binary) to pass through if they meet ce... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did the emergency services work during times of segregation in cities like NYC? | [
"Everything was very community based, and most solutions arose out of need, not governance. What I mean is, a community needed law enforcement, so they hired the best person for the job and called him sheriff. He deputized folks he thought were good for the job, and boom. You have a police force. This is why Sher... | [
"There is much greater adoption of public transportation in Europe than in the US."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why is rolling our eyes a natural response to something we perceive at dumb or annoying? | [
"It’s a cultural, learned behavior., not a natural response to something dumb or annoying. This is backed up by literature and media from Shakespeare all the way up to the early 80’s where eye rolling was actually still seen/used as an expression of lust/attraction. The use of eye rolling to express annoyance is a ... | [
"Intelligence. Understanding something and being able to break down the complexity into something less serious can make the mundane genuinely humorous. When we understand a reference or something or find it to be a parody of something we've known, it usually causes a laugh. It's like watching someone slip on a skat... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Psychology:"
} |
what is the purpose of serving “consecutive sentences”? | [
"A life sentence doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in jail for the rest of your life. It could mean that you’re eligible for parole after a certain number of years and so consecutive sentences would prevent that where “life without the possibility of parole” isn’t an option. Also, it’s possible that one sentence may ... | [
"It is so that if parts of the conviction get over turned, they still end up with life in prison."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is the human anus hyperpigmented brown? | [
"It's not uncommon for people to have anuses (and genital tissue in general) that's darker than the rest of their skin. In regards to the anus, it's for a few reasons. The first is that the skin around the anus is a transition area from external epithelium (skin) to the internal epithelium that lines the end of the... | [
"Male genitalia - and the pubic area in general - have a higher concentration of the pigment melanin than the rest of the body. This accounts for a darker color."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Health and Wellness:"
} |
How do our brains suppress traumatic experiences? And why? | [
"When you experience a traumatic experience your brain will try to combat the experience and the memory by using a defense mechanism. We all have these, and they are used to help up carry on with everyday life. Imagine if you saw someone get killed right in front of you for now reason. After this may may start thin... | [
"Triggers are things which could cause someone who went through a traumatic experience to relive them."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How did the United States historically handle previous mass migrations into the country? | [
"There is no blanket answer here, as the US has handled immigration differently over the course of its history. One of the most famous periods was between the 1890's and 1950's. In this time period, immigrants took a boat to Staten Island, were checked for diseases, then disembarked. Passengers underwent an intervi... | [
"A multitude of different reasons. Some of which are: - Syria's civil war, which has displaced millions of Syrians - Sectarianism and cultural/religious marginalization and persecution throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa - Escaping volatile countries e.g. Afghanistan, Iraq - The chance to live a life fre... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why does humidity makes it feel hotter? | [
"Your body regulates its heat in warm weather primarily through sweating. What happens is that your body excretes sweat, which then evaporates. As it does this, it takes some of your body heat with it, cooling your body overall. In humid weather, the air is saturated with water vapor already. This actually slows th... | [
"The biggest dependent here is how humid it is outside, if you are in Georgia where the air is really humid. You are just opening the window to more humidity. If you are in Arizona, it will dry out quickly."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What exactly was the prism surveillance program of the NSA and how was it implemented? | [
"PRISM is a US government surveillance program where the NSA will work with US-based internet companies (Google, Yahoo, etc.) to collect data. Under PRISM, the NSA will have a list of \"court-approved\" search terms and these internet companies have to turn over any information they have on communications that use ... | [
"Pieces of the puzzle were known, but Snowden tied a lot of it together. It really started coming to light in 2006 when it was discovered that the NSA had connected into AT & T's fiber backbone with AT & T complicit support. The FSF sued over this. Prior to that, Five Eyes wasn't exactly a secret program and people... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
The physics that make the double bounce on a trampoline so effective and at launching kids so high in the air. | [
"A trampoline works by storing energy in springs. When the trampoline is pressed down the springs extend and will then contract lifting the trampoline back up, launching the person standing on it. The double bounce is just a way to store extra energy for an extra powerful launch. So one person press down on the tr... | [
"If you had the thighs of gods and can jump at unhuman speeds, maybe. For the rest of us, no. The momentum change from jumping won't make a difference."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Physics:"
} |
Can you catch up on sleep? | [
"You needed the sleep, so your body took the opportunity to fully rest. Short term sleep deficits (like if your 36-38 hours) if very occasional can be overcome with a lengthy sleep. The issue is more complex with longer, more frequent sleep deficits. For example if you are only able to get 4 hours of sleep per nig... | [
"Can we get back to you on this one?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How computer processors (and computers) get faster nowadays | [
"Well nowadays you are trying to shrink the \"interruption gate\" which basically means if that command comes as a 1 or a 0, CPUs are binary so it either let's the electron through or not causing a true or false statement and you get millions and even trillions of that per clock, or IPC. The more you can push throu... | [
"The ARM processors inside phones are designed to be energy efficient and produce much less heat. This makes them better suited to mobile devices. The heat of an ARM chip can be easily dissipated by the casing of the phone. The trade-off is that they are much less powerful and don't have all the bells and whistles ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Technology:"
} |
Activated charcoal food | [
"Activated charcoal is good at absorbing small organic molecules, which is why people would be concerned about it interfering with drugs taken orally. I believe it would simply pass through you normally, but I still wouldn't make a habit of consuming it regularly."
] | [
"Also must think of what air plains are made of magnesium alloys and many other things that plain water wont put out. Most trucks at airport use chemical foam"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How does lathering work? | [
"Soaps almost universally are *surfactants* which significantly lower the surface tension of water, allowing the thin film which makes up a bubble to exist without surface tension pulling it apart immediately. Whisking up soapy water or rubbing a bar of soap in your hands is just trapping air in this surfactant-wat... | [
"Are you asking how a wheel works ?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
How does the stomach separate food and water from the stomach acid? | [
"The duodenum, the part of the digestive tract just past the stomach, adds sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acid from the stomach. This is supplied by the pancreas as one of the major roles it plays in digestion."
] | [
"It goes down your throat and gets broken down in the stomach by the acids and then pooped out like all other food."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How bees and wasps are able to get the hexagon shape to perfection? | [
"take a bunch of toilet paper tubes and pack them together. They will squish into a hexagon shape."
] | [
"Smoke! Smoke is easy to produce and it will quell the bees. One of the main effects it has is to stop the bees from being able to smell pheromones (smell chemicals used to communicate) so the whole hive doesn't get riled up. There are also 500 species of stingless bees, some of which produce honey in enough amount... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does recycling work? | [
"It differs for different materials, but the steps are: * Separate the materials as much as possible, metals from plastics from paper from glass etc. This step often requires people to do the separating, manually. * Shred the material to small pieces. * Re-form the material into a different shape. In the case of me... | [
"How much do they cost vs how much will they generate."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
The belief of pre-existence in the Bible. | [
"_URL_0_ The idea is that your soul existed before you were a person on Earth. The Bible doesn't really say this, but some people have decided it could be interpreted that way."
] | [
"Because of their interpretation of some details in their practically same religion and historical, tribal diferences. Two reasons of most wars and conflicts."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does so much plastic end up in the ocean and what could we realistically do about it? | [
"It starts in the hands of a human, and gets dropped on the ground. It then is blown into a river. That river goes somewhere...you guessed it...the ocean. It is mostly due to undeveloped countries having no guidelines and access to plastics. There are still places that literally allow people to just dump trash in ... | [
"Well if your garbage gets transferred via barge then it’s highly likely it could float down river to a delta and out to the ocean. If your garbage goes directly to the landfill then it’s story pretty much ends there. It’s possible for them to get into the ocean especially when some people actually just toss their ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do planes take curved flight paths instead of flying straight to their destination? | [
"It only looks curved because you look at it on a flat map. The earth is a globe - a direct path on a globe will be curved when it is projected on a flat map."
] | [
"Wind blows in different directions at different heights. So they raise or lower the altitude of the balloon to find a current that is going the way they want to head."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Aviation:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence about Aviation:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
What is the mechanical process for recycling disposable coffee cups like the ones from McDonalds, which are made from a combination of plastic and paper? | [
"Depends upon your local recycling program. Most programs would not recycle these because it is too expensive. Most programs separate the products that are cost effective to recycle and send the rest to the landfill. Just because you are encouraged to put it in the blue bin, does not mean it actually gets recycled.... | [
"The plastic lids *used* to be not recyclable but that's no longer the case. The reason was the plastic lids were a different type of plastic from the bottles."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
"Affect" vs "Effect" | [
"A ripple causes an effect. You are affected by a slap to the face. Fireworks are a special effect. Dogs are affected by fireworks. The effects of are climate change are observable. The human race will be affected by climate change. Does that help? Affect is used when it is happening to someone/something. Effect i... | [
"From a more general perspective, there's this great video by Tom Scott - _URL_1_ - Why Computers Suck At Translation And enjoy the similarly brilliant - _URL_0_ - Adjectival Order: Why A \"Big Red Balloon\", not a \"Red Big Balloon\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What actually happens to the body during an asthma attack? Why can't you just calm down and breathe? | [
"Asthma is when an immune system reaction in the lungs causes the bronchi of the lungs to spasm. Both the immune system reaction, and the spasms, are completely out of the control of the person experiencing them. They are autonomic actions the body just does by itself."
] | [
"Asthma medication for people that don't have asthma supposedly gives them better cardiovascular performance and lets their lungs breathe better. Doesn't make a difference in my experience though."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What are the fundamental differences between face lotion, body lotion, foot cream, daily moisturizer, night cream, etc.?? | [
"Worked as a cosmetics chemist for 2 years after school. It varies depending on the function of the lotion/cream. If its a general moisturizer very little difference, maybe a slightly different ratio for the thickener to decrease tackiness for something facial rather than something advertised for the body. However ... | [
"If you are using a powerful oil cutting scrub, you might be washing away too many oils, some that are essential for pore health and regulation. The pores are left open to dirt getting inside them, and the skin overproduces oils to compensate for washing it away all the time. Once a day with a gentle soap would be ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it, with all of our technological advances, that we still don’t have cell service in all areas, especially pretty populated areas? | [
"Mainly, it's expensive to build more cell towers, and the companies that provide cell service don't see a need to spend more money on that."
] | [
"There just are not that many people to fill the space. That being said, many people like to be located near useful utilities like schools, shopping centers, jobs, etc. So while cities seems just overly crammed with people, there is good reason they don't just go build a house on a few acres in the country."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Telecommunications:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage about Telecommunications:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How can detectives and others match someone's handwriting to a specific person? | [
"The answer is they can't enough for it to hold up in court. They can use it as a detective tool but it is sort of like the lie detector, it doesn't hold up in court."
] | [
"While it seems very inexact, a signature is almost as unique as a fingerprint and it's very possible to detect and prove a forgery when analyzed."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why marching into battle in a single file at a moderate pace was favoured instead of just rushing in as fast as you can? | [
"Marching into battle single file was never favored. At any point in time. Marching into battle was done in a formation, such as firing lines with muskets, a shield wall, or a full phalanx. For the period of time you are thinking about, which would be musket formations, they were normally in 3-4 lines and they al... | [
"The purpose of the Square formation is for cavalry defense. [This picture depicts a small company sized infantry square](_URL_0_), where you'll see officers and any supply wagons inside the square while the men are in two rows, with the front row kneeling with bayonets facing up while the second row will be ready ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
if a nuclear war would produce an ecological catastrophe, why hasn't nuclear tests produced it yet? | [
"The tests have been conducted in mostly a select few, remote locations. You basically bombed what already was bombed. And most tests were conducted after the nations agreed to ban open air tests. Underwater and Underground tests create less fallout. Still the tests have indeed caused a lot of ecological damage, it... | [
"The power of Krakatoa was equivalent to 200 megatons of tnt; or the power of 4 of the most powerful atomic weapons detonated at the same time. 6000 times more powerful than the bombs that destroyed hiroshima and nagasaki. If we replicated this explosion with atomic weapons it would create a fireball 30+ miles wide... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Science:"
} |
Why can't we use materials with lower boiling points to generate power? | [
"Water's volume expands 1600-1700 times when it turns to steam. That increase in volume allows the pressure it creates to be used for mechanical motion. Acetone doesn't expand that much, so it is not as efficient or useful. Acetone is also quite dangerous when heated while water is not."
] | [
"How do you intend to use the cool air to produce electricity? You can convert electrical energy into cool air easily enough, what efficient way is there to convert it back into electrical energy? Is is more efficient than other storage methods?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why do acidic/sour things make us salivate? | [
"Your body increases saliva in response to acidic foods/beverages to protect your teeth! Highly recommend reading Gulp by Mary Roach. This is covered in a fun and humorous way in her first chapter and then she progresses through the rest of the digestive system."
] | [
"The taste of sour is basically formed by your taste buds reacting to a low PH. But because Low PH means what's in your mouth is a form of acid, it can also eat away at the soft, delicate bits of your tongue, making your mouth feel raw or sore. It also depends on your personal sensitivity level and how long the sou... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why is it that when youre fully motivated to do yard work, the second you go outside and feel the heat its as if all your energy is drained? | [
"It’s the heat. When it’s hot, your body wants to cool down. Being active (say, by hauling boxes of stuff) generates heat, and this is bad for cooling down purposes. So your body tells you “no, you don’t want to do that. Find somewhere cool and sit down while I thermoregulate.”"
] | [
"Most people don't actually have that energy, it's more like a trick of the mind. Think of it like a day dream where you could accomplish all the shit you wanted to do but it's too late now and not feasible so it's okay that you pack it in for the day."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument about Sleep and fatigue:"
} |
Why, when you swat a fly mid-flight, it seems unfazed and keeps flying? If an airplane got smacked by a giant hand while flying the plane would be destroyed wouldn’t it? | [
"The square/cube law means that bigger things are weaker than small things. Something 10 times longer, wider and higher will be 100 times stronger but it will weigh 1000 times more. That means it will be 10 times worse at supporting its own weight. That’s why fleas can jump massively high but elephants can’t jump a... | [
"It's like being a passenger in a car. You wear your belt in case of sudden unexpected movement. At any time you're in the air you can hit turbulence and be thrown around. I remember hitting turbulence in the air once and being lifted a meter off the ground for a brief moment when I was going to the bathroom. I hur... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Entomology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about Entomology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why do cameras have different framerates for different video resolutions? | [
"There is typically a limitation in how much data can move or how fast it can be processed. Much like a highway can be filled with fewer trucks for more cars, you can evenly trade off resolution (length of vehicle) for more frames (more vehicles). 720p frames are exactly half the data per frame compared to 1080p. 6... | [
"There's very little difference between the two (for digital cameras). Many still photo cameras can also take video and vice versa. The key is that to do video, the camera must be capable of moving images from the sensor to memory rapidly, and must have the memory capacity to store many frames. Some hybrids (stil... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why did China ban imports of plastic waste? Isn't recycling the plastic cheaper than making more plastic? | [
"China has extremely high levels of corruption and the rule of law is practically non-existent there. Once the waste is in the country, the national government is almost powerless to determine what happens to it and so it gets disposed of in the most profitable way possible. Plastic is extremely expensive to recyc... | [
"Traditional plastics are made from petroleum byproducts. \"Green\" plastic is made from recycled plant matter, presumably reducing the amount of oil needed in the manufacture of bottles."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
can erradicated diseases and/or pandemics occur from the rediscovery of artifacts, buried treasures, etc? | [
"Im pretty sure. I heard one about smallpox, thankfully we have the vaccination for it now. If bacteria is trapped in an artifact, upon discovery it can infect people."
] | [
"Biological weapons are more lethal over time because they (hypothetically) self-replicate. Chemical weapons degrade over time, but their biological counterparts can inoculate new victims and remain in dormant forms in the soil long enough for unprotected fools to catch it again. Fundamentaly both chemical and biol... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What is does the meaning: "Innovation doesn't happen in a vacuum." mean? | [
"It means nothing changes without something to precipitate invention. Nothing new develops without a problem to solve. Nothing gets better, without flaws in the original. Everything requires an outside force to develop. With no pressure, no need, no problems, nothing ever gets done. A ‘vacuum’ of problems, leads t... | [
"\"Do this\" is harder to enforce than \"Don't do this\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why can you hold your breath underwater much longer than you can on land? | [
"The pressure underwater puts force on the air and helps you use it more efficiently. On land there is less pressure. This is partly why a higher elevation makes it harder to breathe too."
] | [
"> Are they able to close off their airways while they eat or do they have a separate process ? They close off their airway while they eat, much like how humans close our airway when we swallow. Get a cup of water, hold your breath, and take a drink while holding your breath. This is something you can do perfectly ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why does it sound good when a lot of people are singing all together, even if people are singing off-key like at concerts and everyone sings along? | [
"If you ask a large group of people to each throw a dart to hit a bullseye, you'll get a wide distribution of hits but on average, the darts should concentrate around the bullseye. Likewise, if you get a large number of people trying to hit a note, the number of people singing flat is balanced by the people singing... | [
"The melody is the main part of the song, and what most people sing. Think of your basic happy birthday song: there is one accepted way to sing that, and that one way is the melody. The harmony are all the little extra side portions to the melody that make it sound that much better. Going back to the happy birthday... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
what about the shoes that Kaepernick pressured Nike to recall was racist? | [
"the flag on the back of the shoes is from an era when minorities were treated horribly, so they associate that flag with those times and their oppression, and so don't want to have it visible on a bunch of peoples' feet. I don't have an opinion either way, but that's what's up."
] | [
"It's an extention of the kneeling during national anthem thing. The football player who started the kneeling protest did an ad with Nike. Now people who disliked the kneeling protest are burning thier Nike stuff to show they hate Nike now."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does it sound good when a lot of people are singing all together, even if people are singing off-key like at concerts and everyone sings along? | [
"On average the people who are off tune up will be offset by the people who are offset down, so in the end your ears hear the middle. Mob wisdom is actually extremely fascinating, as the crowd always seems to come out right. _URL_0_"
] | [
"The melody is the main part of the song, and what most people sing. Think of your basic happy birthday song: there is one accepted way to sing that, and that one way is the melody. The harmony are all the little extra side portions to the melody that make it sound that much better. Going back to the happy birthday... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
If Caffeine just blocks adenosine in the brain from making you feel sleepy, how is it a stimulant for the central nervous system? | [
"well caffeine antagonises the adenosine receptors. Adenosine being a neurotransmitter that in increased quantities when you get fatigued over the course of a day. By stopping the action of adenosine you essentially prevent its depressive action thus creating a stimulating effect."
] | [
"Stimulants in general (like caffeine) trigger the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is most commonly linked to pleasure and the reward pathway, but it also deals with feelings of satisfaction, and it signals to your brain that you have dealt with your hunger needs. Basically your brain interprets a f... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
If my DVR records content from my cable TV provider (e.g., Comcast), why does it need to have an active internet connection to playback the recordings? | [
"For DVR content, that generally does not require an internet connection, for example, satellite services do not require it for DVR playback. For cable, internet connection should also not be needed, cable is a two-way connection, so you're always \"connected\" to your provider (although it may require you to actu... | [
"There's a couple options. If the show or movie is on a streaming service, your can simply play the video on your computer and use a screen capture program to save it to a file. Or, if you want to record a show that only airs on \"normal\" television, you can use a capture card. As for getting movies up before t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why do dark colors attract more heat from the sun than light colors? | [
"Darker colors absorp more wavelengths than lighter colors. Black absorps them all and white reflects them all. On impact the energy of light gets converted to heat."
] | [
"It appears blue because it is specifically tinted blue to keep the sun out of your eyes without significantly impacting visibility."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why the skin on our palms and bottoms of our feet lack pigment (melanin?) | [
"The outermost layer of the skin is called the *stratum corneum* and is made up of dead skin cells. This layer is thicker on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. This thickness prevents melanin from reaching the surface, since the cells that produce it (melanocytes) are located in the *stratum basale* - th... | [
"Pimples are caused by sebaceous glands, which produce an oil-type substance to coat our hair follicles (even the barely visible ones on our foreheads and noses). The skin of our palms and soles are special. The epidermis of the rest of the body has only four layers, and also has lots of hair follicles (and thus l... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why is the South of Italy considered poor compared to the North of Italy, which is considered rich? | [
"Are you asking why the south is *considered* poor, or why (and maybe whether) it *is* poor?"
] | [
"Incomes tend to be significantly higher in coastal areas, particularly around large cities. Orange County is one of the wealthier areas of the United States. The wealth in Orange County is not representative of the wealth of citizens of the U.S. in general."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What are all those crazy sounds an MRI makes? | [
"The MRI uses a very powerful electro magnet which needs to be switched on and off for the MRI to function - _URL_0_"
] | [
"Why do you have so many lips and chins?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage about Biology:"
} |
Why does your face get red from embarrassment? | [
"The vessel in your face become bigger (vasodilator) and increase blood flow to your face, hence the redness (the increased blood)."
] | [
"A lot of nerves in your ear canal link to most of your body. Tickling them makes your blood pressure drop and thus leads to pleasure. At least that's what I read. Correct me if I'm wrong."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Health and wellness:"
} |
On a flat road, why is it that it looks like the road is made of reflective water really far ahead? | [
"What you are seeing is a mirage. The heat coming off the road distorts the air in such a way that what you are seeing is actually a reflection of the sky. The mirror-like reflection looks like water compared to the relatively matte road surface. The mirages like you see in the cartoons are a little far-fetched, bu... | [
"Besides your being torturously dehydrated which can have severe impacts on your reasoning and perception, mirages can actually be the result of some pretty cool physics. When light from the sky comes it an angle towards the hot sand or asphalt, it will actually bend away from the ground back up towards your eye. T... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How do cities not collapse if there are hollow spaces underneath them like sewer systems and subways? | [
"Many of these subway systems go underneath roadways while the skyscrapers that are encircled by these tunnels are literally anchored into the bedrock below. There are also lots of people who spent many years in school to figure out how much weight can be supported above these tunnels in the ground"
] | [
"It's best for city planning for them to run directly under the roads. After all, closer to the sidewalks, and you run into domestic gas lines, internet/phone cables, and maybe buried power lines. Sewers are very spacious, large pipes. It makes sense to put them under a wide, uninterrupted path with no other cables... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What's so bad about corn? | [
"The problem is the high-fructose corn syrup which is in a lot of processed foods. It is basically pure sugar. The problem isn't with corn. It is a problem with *sugar*. Americans have far too much sugar in their diets."
] | [
"What's so bad about having something made in Israel?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Coldsores. There are a lot of alternative treatments for it, but many swear by ketchup. How could ketchup work to treat a coldsore? | [
"First off, \"coldsore\" is a cute name for herpes. 99% of the population has herpes, most of us got it during very early childhood from a relative that was showing affecting and kissing a baby. For 99.99% of humanity this was no big deal, then companies figured out they could sell \"treatments\" for it if they sh... | [
"Normally your body does a good job of getting rid of your everyday bacterial infections. You might have several colonies of harmful bacteria thriving inside your body but you won't even notice. However, when your immunity system is busy dealing with a widespread viral outbreak, like the flu, bacteria might take ad... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why cousins marrying is generally looked down in the west but not so uncommon in middle east? | [
"Just my own interpretation of it but marrying cousins is usually accepted or encouraged in cultures that still place a high value on class systems, like many eastern countries do - India in particular. Keeps the bloodline as pure as possible etc (despite the increased risk of birth deformities, but whatever). Most... | [
"If you live in a non-US country, this isn't the case. Even in the US, west, east, south are totally different in racial undertones. Try talking to older Koreans about Japanese. Living in central Europe for awhile, I was shocked at the racism against specifically U.S. black culture. In SEA there is a very clear cas... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
What does fabric softener actually do? | [
"It coats the fibers in an insulator, preventing transfer of electrons due to friction of two different materials rubbing against each other. [edit] is it just me, or is iOS autocorrect getting progressively worse? It’s swapping out one legitimate word for another now, capitalizing and apostrophizing random words, ... | [
"Rinse, yes. Wash, no. For the detergent to work properly it needs residues to stick on to and wash off."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why do some songs list the name of the DJ as the artist, rather than the person actually singing the song? | [
"All music is collaborative at some juncture. In this case, the singers may be brought to simply “play their instrument”, so to speak, like a session musician. The majority of the track and it’s flavours are the DJ’s."
] | [
"No, they have ghostwriters. The process works like this. The writer either writes the lyrics and music, this is rare, and sells it to the Singer. Or a producer makes a song, sends it to a writer, then back to the artist it was intended for. For instance, the song 'Shine Bright Like a Diamond' was written by Sia, t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Where does food/drink that “goes down the wrong pipe” go??? | [
"When it goes down the wrong pipe, the food or water is going down the trachea (airway) instead of the esophagus (tube to the stomach). If you have no difficulty with certain nerves or muscles, this food or water will be expelled by coughing. Coughing is the way to bring up the food that went down the wrong pipe. I... | [
"It gives you the chance to hold something and breath without swallowing. Imagine if the substance was blood, poison, or saltwater: would you really want to swallow? By the same token, say your mouth is full of water and you try to breathe through your nose; do you want that water going into your lungs? It's all to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Would you get more or less wet if running from A to B in heavy rain rather than walking? | [
"This is the second time in five minutes I've found a question that minutephysics' YT channel has a good answer to. It is better to run. They prove it visually, but I'll try my best to describe it: Rain hits you from two directions: the front and the top. The amount of rain that hits you from the top is controlled ... | [
"For the same reason you can easily step out of a parked car, but would have a less fun time stepping out of a car going full speed down a highway"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why does chloroform cause a person to pass out when inhaled? How does it actually work? | [
"Chloroform can make someone pass out and has an analgesic effect which is why it was used for anaesthesia in the past. That knock out effect in movies though is a cliche not based in reality. It would take over 5 minutes to knock someone out with a chloroform rag on his face... As for the mechanism of action I thi... | [
"It depends on the specific mode of toxicity of the drug in question. Some sleeping drugs are toxic because above a certain dose they damage one or more of the bodies organs and they could potentially damage any organ. Some cause your heart and breathing rate to slow to the point of stopping. I'm sure someone wi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
If we need to boil water normally to produce steam, why is the steam from some humidifiers cold? | [
"Actual steam is invisible. If you can see it, it isn't steam. It is mist. You can generate mist at room temperature or below."
] | [
"it would become superheated water - water that has reached its boiling point but is under too much pressure to vaporize. this is what happens in a pressure cooker."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Physics:"
} |
why do fireworks look like they're coming at you when the explode? | [
"Because they are, in a way. & #x200B; With most fireworks, when the payload explodes, it spreads in a spherical fashion, like most explosions tend to. The part of that sphere which is oriented towards you, and therefor coming toward you, will appear brightest to you. Also, our minds tend to interpret things that ... | [
"because when you look out the window while flying 30,000 ft in the air the stuff on the ground you are looking at is really far away. Because it is so far way the things you are looking at do not change their relative position too much, trust me if you were flying between the skyscrapers of NYC at 900 km/h you wou... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
this quote "The eye that looks ahead to the safe course is closed forever" | [
"The suggestion that if you're too preoccupied with doing things the safe, proven way then you'll never look 'out of the box' or innovate."
] | [
"Boy catches a glimpse of the future, see that if he avoids a life ended accident the world will end, when given the chance to live and end the world or die, he stays in bed and dies."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why are waves different in different parts of the world? | [
"Different ocean current, different winds, different coasts. All have influence on the size and shape of waves"
] | [
"Japan is something called an Island. Islands are in the middle of the sea. Fish come from the sea."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does the the brain ignore the 2nd "the"? | [
"Because most experienced readers very likely don't read word by word. It is likely that only beginner readers read word by word (unless the document is in highly unfamiliar prose style or uses very technical language). Most will break a sentence into phrases and assign meaning based on the context of those phrases... | [
"Medulla Oblongata and Pons in the brainstem. Where did you hear the theory about the ear???"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What is that 0.01% of bacteria that disinfectants can not kill? | [
"Not really a bacteria, just producers covering their ass to not get sued for false advertisement if that disinfectant doesn't kill something."
] | [
"Usually a form of cotton swab. That they then run on a petri dish and let it grow to see what was on it Edit: downvotes really?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it easy to open eyes underwater, but hard to keep them open when you go up? | [
"When you dive underwater and open your eyes, your eyes lose the mucous that's supposed to keep the moisture in. It might sting due to extra chemicals in the water (chlorine in a pool, salt in the ocean) but the water alone is perfectly fine for your eyes. Once you surface the water will fall off and your eyes are ... | [
"> Are they able to close off their airways while they eat or do they have a separate process ? They close off their airway while they eat, much like how humans close our airway when we swallow. Get a cup of water, hold your breath, and take a drink while holding your breath. This is something you can do perfectly ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Whats the difference between "good fat" (like avocados) and "bad fat" (like oil?) | [
"Well it comes down to high and low density Lipoproteins (HDL-cholesterol vs LDL-cholesterol). Good fat tend to be unsaturated which increase the levels of HDL in the blood While bad fat tends to be saturated which increases the levels of LDL in the blood & #x200B; HDL and LDL essentially have opposing effects. ... | [
"As opposed to animal fat you mean? Vegetable oil is basically just plant fat but has less \"saturated\" fat than animal fat like lard (which has to to with the type of molecular bonding). But vegetable oil still has saturated fats, just not to the same extent. Vegetable oil (like canola or peanut) is better than s... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why movies subtitles sometimes omit words? | [
"Because, depending on the requests of the distributors, you may need a certain number of characters per line and different reading speeds, meaning you have to make a subtitle within a limited time and if the person speaking says a lot in a very little time, you will have to accomodate. For example, netflix request... | [
"Sometimes chinese jokes make more sense actually, you know, in chinese lol there are a lot of nuances and tones and wordplay we might be missing from the english translation, so the original text would probably help. source: am chinese"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How is it that someone (like myself) is allergic to almost every antibiotic? What makes the body hate them so much? | [
"Essentially an allergy is an immune response to a foreign substance. For you, the antibiotics has 'proteins' antigens which trigger the white cells of you immune system to attack them. This appears as massive inflammation due to degranulation of mast cells releasing imflammatory proteins etc. Typically presenting... | [
"Because over use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA. Doctors already prescribe them too much, imagine what a layperson with no medical knowledge whatsoever would do. By the way, the flu is a virus; antibiotics have absolutely no effect on them."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why are my hayfever tablets laid out like this? | [
"The same company makes tablet boxes containing 7, 14, and 30 tablets (often more). It's more cost effective to use a different tablet strip than to use different sized boxes for every amount, so it just modifies the same strip depending on how many tablets are needed. The box is \"universal\" for all amounts, and ... | [
"Follow up question, why do I have like three times as many hairs around my left nipple than my right one?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
XR, time-release and extended release medicine | [
"So for Concerta the pill is coated with something your stomach acid can't get through. Then they drill the tiniest of holes. The hole is so tiny that only a small amount of medicine is leaked out. And since it only has that small hole, it can take hours to dissolve from the inside out."
] | [
"The prevailing wisdom is ' should be used for feet or minutes, while the curlier ’ should be used as a quote or apostrophe."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I bring a fresh glass of water to bed, tastes great. Six to eight hours later, it tastes disgusting. What happens to water when you let it sit in a glass for a few hours that makes it taste nasty? | [
"Your glass of water is absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, forming carbonic acid, lowering its pH, and altering the taste of your water."
] | [
"Hot water heaters hold water for long periods of time, and as such they often have buildup of various sediments and other contaminants that you really don't want to be ingesting on a regular basis. Also, it fouls the flavor of the water. Especially if you have scale issues. Take two cups. Fill one with hot water, ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How can a country simply “dismiss” their citizens’ debts? Like the recent case in Kazakhstan. | [
"Banks are corporations; they have no legal status apart from that granted by the government. So if the banks lose all their money and then try to collect their debts to cover their losses, the government, whose IOUs are the currency the banks are lending, can step in and say two things: one is, “forgive their debt... | [
"Regardless of the rhetoric, we are NOT the police of the planet."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What does the SPF number on suntan lotion mean?? | [
"Technically: It's a UV transmission rating SPF 60 means 1 part in 60 of the UV radiation from the sun are transmitted to your skin, assuming you follow their instructions. & #x200B; Realistically: 1 SPF is like growing 1 layer of skin to tank the sunburn for you. 30 SPF = about 30 times the protection of your reg... | [
"SPF is supposed to work like this: You take the time your skin usually takes to burn, multiply it by the SPF, and that is the new amount of time it will take you to burn. So if you usually take 15 minutes to burn and you wear SPF 10, then it should protect you for 150 minutes (2.5 hours.). Whereas if you usually t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How does odor neutralizing spray work? | [
"The sprays use chemical compounds called cyclodextrins whose molecules have a specific shape that allow them to literally trap certain organic molecules like the ones that make up bad smells. That's cool, but for me the really cool part is that bad smells can be made up of a complex mix of different molecules and ... | [
"Activated charcoal absorbs carbon based compounds. It's primarily used in air or water filters as it will hold onto unwanted chemicals (volatile organic compounds, etc.) and leave oxygen, nitrogen, water (inorganic compounds). You'll usually find it in fish tank filters and half-face or full-face dust masks. From ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How is the Universe expanding, but it's not expanding *into* a larger containing space? | [
"We cannot, this is one of the greatest questions ever bestowed upon mankind, there are many theories; some of which being an empty void of dark matter/dark energy. But we truthfully have no idea what is beyond the observable universe. We can only see up to 13.8 billion\\~ light years with current tech, the James W... | [
"> if everything is moving away from everything else then there was a starting point (the \"big bang\") Common point of confusion. The Big Bang happened everywhere simultaneously. The thing is that everywhere was much closer together at the time, and has become more distant since then. There is no such thing as the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about astronomy:"
} |
Why do paper straws go soggy and lose shape at the mouth end but maintain their structure whilst completely submerged in water/liquid? | [
"Because saliva isn't just water. It's got enzymes that start the process of breaking down food to digest it. This means that it will also start to break down other organic material, like a paper straw, more effectively than water will."
] | [
"It is texture! The gooey part absorbs heat from your tongue faster than the solid chocolate, similar to holding ice vs submersing your hand in ice-water."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
what cause something to have colour? | [
"Not a direct answer to your question, but this a related and very interesting thing. _URL_0_ Blue eyes actually look blue for a different reason than light reflection and it's why they \"look\" the way they do"
] | [
"what are the two meanings you think it has?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What causes eggs to turn hard when boiled, when generally most other things (broccoli, carrots, a piece of plastic, etc) turn soft when boiled? | [
"In a word: denaturation. Heat breaks down protein molecules causing the hydrophilic (water loving) parts of all the different molecules to clump together and the hydrophobic (water hating) to also clump together. When the amino acids in the proteins reform their bonds the now hydrophilic free parts harden over."
... | [
"When they are fried they are infused with the oil you fried with, when boiled they are more filled with water, when baked they are as they are minus the burnt juices (speaking of onions as the example given)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does alcohol absorption work? | [
"Well, generally speaking one adult can consume one standard drink per hour. One standard drink is 1 beer, 1 glass of wine, or one shot of liquor. Now, that does not factor in the proof of the alcohol. Drinking a 180 proof shot is different than a 90 proof. Generally if you consume 1 drink per hour you will be fine... | [
"Affect is a verb. Alcohol affects the brain. Effect is a noun. You study the effect of alcohol on the brain."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
if the universe is infinite, how can there be a finite amount of mater/engery? | [
"Your question is based on the potentially false premise that the universe is infinite. This is not a settled fact nor one that is likely to ever be settled."
] | [
"Depends how you define universe. Theres the observable universe which is finite. We can only see so far out past earth. Most people believe space is infinite. If it wasnt, then what would exist after space? Anyway, if space is infinite and our observable universe is finite, then it is highly likely that other univ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Mathematics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Mathematics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it always Florida? | [
"Florida has a law that makes it very easy for reporters to find out about crimes, much easier than in other parts of the United States. This means that crimes that normally wouldn't make the news in other states, do so in Florida. Thus, it gives the illusion that Florida is much crazier than the rest of the countr... | [
"Never even once. What the hell is this?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about Health:"
} |
What the Bosnia/Serbia/Croatia war of 1992-95 was all about | [
"Anyone that can EL5 this is a hero. One of the most widely respected books on the topic, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, is over a thousand pages, confusing, esoteric, and dense."
] | [
"At the risk of brushing up against the 20 year rule (though it just barely makes it), I'd strongly challenge the contention that we're in a period of 70 year long Europe-wide peace. The Yugoslav wars of the 1990s were massively violent conflicts, containing such atrocities as the massacre of over 8,000 civilians a... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about history:"
} |
Why is the Amazon being deforested? Is it just for the wood or are there other reasons? | [
"Its to provide grazing land for cattle. And also for palm oil farms. They cut down the rainforest then plant either grass or lots of just one type of tree. Its not really for the wood that much at all."
] | [
"Because a coal plant is cheaper than renewable energy Because fishing the oceans empty gives you the most profit. Because logging down the rainforest and selling the wood and land gives you more money than not touching it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
why do helium balloons die after a few days | [
"The helium molecules are smaller than the latex molecules of the balloon, so the helium can slowly leak through the latex (that's why the mylar balloons last longer)"
] | [
"Those things have holes in them for the air to escape. So they have to replace the air that is lost. Why are there holes? Think of a balloon, if you slam a balloon against the wall (analogy for kids jumping on castle) the balloon will burst. But if the balloon is not tied, when you slam it the air will escape and... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
What makes Romaine Lettuce susceptible to E. Coli outbreaks? | [
"It's not just romaine, technically anything food can be a carrier for E. Coli if it is contaminated with fecal matter from an infected source. E. Coli grows in the digestive tracts of infected individuals (animals, humans, etc.). In the case of lettuce, it might have been droppings from deer, birds, or even humans... | [
"> Annually, non-typhoidal Salmonella causes approximately 1.2 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations, 450 deaths, and an estimated-$365 million in direct medical costs in the United States. [CDC](_URL_0_) An otherwise healthy young man or woman might just get the runs from eating undercooked chicken, but child... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does dandruff shampoo clear up dandruff? | [
"Part of the cause of dandruff (it's a complex thing that is not fully understood) is a fungal infection of the scalp. Dandruff shampoos contain antifungals like zinc pyrithione that reduce the infection to a normal level."
] | [
"Causes : -Dry scalp -Not washing your hair often, not combing /brushing your hair often causes dandruff . New skin cells are forming on the scalp regularly while the old ones die . These dead skin cells then accumulate to form white flakes which is known as dandruff . -Another cause for dandruff is a condition ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
How is it that women are able to have multiple orgasms unlike men who can (typically) only ejaculate once? | [
"I can have multiple orgasms (M), but it's like I have an ejaculation but no semen leaves my body. I have no idea what that's called, but I believe I've known a few people that have at least heard of this rare skill."
] | [
"Because men basically need to orgasm to reproduce. Women, on the other hand, do not need to orgasm to get pregnant. The clitoris is there simply for pleasure purposes and needs to have the right amount of stimulation in order for a woman to orgasm. It is not a necessity."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How does hysterical strength work? | [
"The human body has limitations. Think of it a little bit like a rev limiter in a car, the engine will spin faster but it’ll damage it, so it’s capped. We can lift way more weight than we think, but your body will just go “nope” once it realises muscles are tearing and damage is being done. But, under certain con... | [
"How do you know you don’t have exercise induced asthma?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer about Health and Fitness:"
} |
Why do most living organism in the deepest portion of the ocean are TRANSLUCENT? | [
"Clear skin is easier for biology to make than opaque skin, but if an animal on the surface had opaque skin, their organs would get sunburn and they'd die. Deep sea animals never see the sun and can't be hurt by sunburn, so evolution makes them stop bothering with opaque skin."
] | [
"I believe that organs and skin are NOT see through because of skin pigment. Pigment protects skin from the sun, that is why it is harder for darker skinned people to sunburn, they have more skin pigmentation. If an organism is never hit by the sun, they have no need of pigmentation. Here is a google search of anim... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do light bulbs stop working when their glass covering is broken but filament intact? | [
"The filament gets extremely hot when operating and this makes it likely to react with oxygen in the air, forming an oxide that isn't as conductive and will break the filament. Normally the glass covering keeps an inert atmosphere (nitrogen usually I think) around the filament, but with it broken the oxygen can get... | [
"If it is an incandescent bulb (the kind you see in cartoons over a characters head when they get an idea) it is usually caused by a dimmer switch. The dimmer switch turns the bulb on and off very quickly and causes the filament to vibrate. That makes the hum. Turn the dimmer switch to full light or remove it entir... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Electrical engineering:"
} |
When two countries declare war on each other, what happens to any civilian ships that are in the now enemy port? | [
"Ships belonging to hostile belligerent countries get seized and impounded. Their crews are usually sent home through a neutral third party."
] | [
"A cruise ship is essentially a travelling embassy in terms of law. When you are on board, you have to obey the laws of the host country. But if you're just on a ship in international waters, there is essentially no law, because no country has legal right there, with the exception of specified ships of course."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
How do electric circuits work? | [
"The eli5: Electricity is a force like gravity. Electrons can feel this force, and flow like water. Wires and circuits are essentially change for the electrons to flow. When they reach a component like a motor they cause it to turn, like a water wheel. Other components often have mechanical analogs. Transistors can... | [
"If magnets are magic, is gravity magic too? Fundamental forces, yo. They run the universe."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
why does touching ice sometimes feel the same as touching fire? | [
"I'm not 100% sure on this so might want to verify it. The reason that extreme cold and extreme heat feel the same is because the transfer of heat, whether in or out, is felt by the same neural system. Touching something that exchanges large amounts of heat triggers your thermal sense to send what you can think of ... | [
"The cook has burnt his hands so much he cannot feel the heat anymore . Touch his hands , they are a lot rougher"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the comment about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
- How do hydrogen cars work? Are they better than electric cars? | [
"Hydrogen fuel cells use the difference in charge between hydrogen and oxygen ions which provides the electric power to drive an engine. _URL_0_ Better is a rather subjective term and it depends upon what you are measuring and what weight you give. The output of a hydrogen fuel cell is non polluting, but the genera... | [
"Non-electric cars run on some form of fossil fuel that is extremely polluting. When you use electricity instead you have more options for producing the energy fueling the cars. So it becomes possible to use less polluting energy sources like solar power, wind power or even nuclear energy. Edited to be more clear"
... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How are sport sponsors able to justify the money spent on a club/player? | [
"Of course the increased sales figures more than cover the money paid for player, team and club endorsements. Decades of market research bears this out. It's hard to wrap your head around just how much consumers are influenced by endorsements, but the simple truth is they are greatly influenced, and they spend acco... | [
"Proving to be among the best in your sport and competing to represent your country are probably the biggest. Fame and fortune (may very somewhat on sport, country competing for, and how well you performed). Many countries support their athletes during their training, and pay awards for medals. Additionally, there ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How can we have the feeling of someone looking at us | [
"We can't actually tell when someone is looking at us. But we're wired to notice small changes in the environment. Like a change in ambient sound when someone is standing behind us. Or reflections in surfaces when someone is moving behind us. Also, people are wired to notice motion. So when you think someone is loo... | [
"Are you sure this is a real phenomenon? It was my understanding that people are simply trying to remove a distraction so they can pay better attention."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What are workplace unions? How do they work and why does it seem like many companies are against them? | [
"They’re gatherings of workers in a similar line of work. Plumbers unions, auto workers unions, construction unions, and the like. It’s basically the workers getting together and saying “we will all behave as one” like “if we don’t get a raise, we will all go on strike”. Someone who is part of a union but breaks w... | [
"Because most of our labor laws are set to protect the employer, not the employee."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
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