query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
What happens when I put a magnet up to a computer monitor, or television screen. | [
"A CRT display is based on firing a beam of electrons at a coated surface that lights up when hit by electrons. The display is controlled using an electromagnet to deflect the beam, so that the right bits light up to make the desired image. Moving another magnet close to the display messes up this control system. ... | [
"ELI5 why you are putting your fingers on the computer's screen."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How forums detect whether you're still online or not? | [
"They tag you as \"online\" when you visit a page of theirs. After that, you're \"online\" for a certain period of time (say, 10 minutes). If you haven't done anything on the site for that time, you're tagged \"offline\". Otherwise, your \"online\" timer restarts."
] | [
"Subreddits are not official reddit creations. Instead, reddditors like you or me create subreddits, and then decide what they want to do with them. So, for example, you could create a subreddit that is used solely as a sort of message board for your group of friends, make it private, and only allow your friends to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why do your emotions come in 'waves' after something very emotional occurs? | [
"most emotions come from chemicals in the brain such as dopamine, oxytocin, adrenalin, serotonin, etc. When your brain starts to release these chemicals, it doesn't happen all at once. It begins to secrete them as if opening a valve. The flow starts slow until you get enough of the chemicals and your brain is fille... | [
"Sadness is when your dog dies and you feel bad about it. It's a normal response to negative events in your life. Depression is when nothing makes you happy anymore. Your brain chemicals are fucked up and it's difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy anything."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why does 100 degree F water feel hotter then 100 degree F weather | [
"When you put your hand in 100 degree F air the air around your hand starts cooling down. However only the immediate air around your hand. Air is a good thermal insulator which means that it will not transfer heat from the surrounding air to the air in contact with your skin very fast. The molecules are too far apa... | [
"You're comparing kind of cold to really fucking hot. Grab dry ice and you'll immediately damage your finger just like touching a stove. An open flame used in household stoves is around 800° to put your question into perspective, a more even comparison would be -20° and boiling water (212°)...their closer to even e... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why do we have historical evidence that Julius Caesar existed but none about Jesus Christ? | [
"Because Caesar was actually important back then, unlike Jesus."
] | [
"I looked for and could not find any record from the time period that Jesus was alive that mentions Jesus. The first time Jesus shows up in history is, I believe, about 30-70 years after he died."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
; Why is Jesus on a cross the symbol for the religion and used against demons? | [
"Jesus on the cross is dying for our sins, to absolve and protect all the rest of us. He protects us from our own \"demons,\" that is, our sinful nature. Remember, being crucified didn't destroy Jesus. He was resurrected shortly thereafter. It was merely an ordeal he went through on our behalf. I think I've got thi... | [
"Mostly, it's a slow news day. You see, the cups are red and green, and according to the media, that is not Christmassy enough for certain demented people who require graven images for their celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, Lamb of God."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do sunsets/sunrises turn pink and orange, but those colors aren't present with the sun is actually up? | [
"White light is every color of light combined. When you see a rainbow, what you're seeing is the different waves of light separated. At sunset/sunrises, sun light isn't aimed directly at you. It hits the atmosphere and bends to where you are. So instead of seeing an intense white light, you'll see shades of colors.... | [
"The moon is actually a dark grey color, it only looks white from here due to the contrast with the infinite blackness of space. The sun emits light at all wavelengths and peaks in the yellow-green, but it can appear red or orange at sunset since the atmosphere is screening out blue. At noon it's definitely white, ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why does every elevator have a "door close" button if almost none of these buttons actually work? | [
"They work fine when the fire key is turned."
] | [
"The heat of a fire tends to melt and fuse the wiring in, among other things, elevator call buttons. This closes the circuit, sending a \"call\" signal to the elevator. So if you got on an elevator in a fire, it would respond to this call and take you right to where the flames were hottest. Firefighter elevator key... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Movies used to show people dialing numbers like 555-1212. Why couldn't film producers secure ordinary phone numbers from the phone companies by buying them outright? | [
"They can, and have. But why pay money when you don't have to? Also, they might not have that number forever, so whoever gets it after them will still get harassed. No point."
] | [
"1-800 became the typical phone number for a company because it is super-definitely-**not**-secret phone company code for a toll-free number. In a normal phone call, the calling person pays while the receiver doesn't. This avoids being forced to pay for something out of your control (someone else calling you). With... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why can Netflix stream at 2.0 MB/s, but Steam can't get above 500 KB/s? | [
"I think you are confusing megabytes (MB) and megabits (Mb). Does your ISP offer you 4 MB/s or 4 Mb/s? Megabits are far more commonly used when ISPs tell you your speed. A 4 Mb/s speed is roughly 500 KB/s (kilobytes) per second) so that sounds about right and your Netflix is probably able to utilize near the full c... | [
"1.32 M**b**/s. Mb/s = Megabits per second. MB/s = Mega*bytes* per second. 8 megabits = 1 megabyte. 1.32 Mb/s means 165 KB/s. 0.53 Mb/s means 66 KB/s. That's an upper limit, you should expect slightly less than that. If you're downloading at 150 KB/s, then that's normal for your connection. At your upload speed, up... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage about Internet speed and service:"
} |
Can a commercial aircraft, like a Boeing 747, do a looping? | [
"They can't loop in the nice circular sense. They don't have enough thrust to make it over the loop even if they start at max speed. However, if you're careful, you can get far enough over than, when you stall out, you're past vertical and can \"flop\" over to complete the loop in a rather ungrateful manner. You ar... | [
"1) because WWII started 2 years after the Hindenburg blew up and civilian air travel stopped for the duration of the war. 2) By the end of the war aircraft and jet engine technology has matured to the point where airplane travel is vastly better than anything Airships can offer. In contrast, when the Titanic went ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why do people snort coke? Does coke get in the bloodstream through your lungs? | [
"Nope, it enters through your sinuses. Your sinus cavity has all kinds of membranes that the drugs can enter your bloodstream through, and the effect is pretty quick. The only really quicker ways are smoking or injecting, which both require some equipment and preparation - snorting is quick and easy. Eating or drin... | [
"Its typically lactose powder, or vitamin b powder for those who are lactose intolerant. These powders are harmless even if snorted. If they are snorting a lot of \"coke\" the straw is typically coated on the inside with vaseline, which will cause most of the powder to stick to the straw, instead of going into the ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer about Entertainment:"
} |
Why is it that certain weapons, like poisonous gasses, are banned from use in warfare by the Geneva convention, yet countries and governments can still use them against their own population, such as tear gas to control riots? | [
"Geneva convention is largely a gentlemen agreement. No one wants their soldiers getting gassed or having to patch up wounds from hollow points. Its easier to just say no one gets chemical weapons and fight with conventional weapons, then it is to say \"there are no rules\" and everyone have them. Its already illeg... | [
"\"Weapons of Mass Destruction\" are labeled as such by the US Government to indicate that a certain type of weapon is *indiscriminately* destructive. When you shoot bullets at someone else, you are somewhat more precise with who you are aiming to kill. There won't be as many deaths of non-combatants. When you use ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why can't I buy health insurance whenever I want (in the US)? What is a "qualifying life event?" | [
"Health insurance companies aren't allowed to turn you down because you have existing medical conditions. So if you were allowed to sign up whenever you wanted, that wouldn't work; you could just wait to buy health insurance until you had large medical expenses to cover."
] | [
"If you're exempt from the penalty, you're still exempt, no matter how big it gets. You don't exactly have many options. Unless you have a qualifying life event, you have to wait until 1/1/2017 to get a health insurance plan. If your income is as low as it seems, you likely would have qualified for free coverage un... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do we create saliva in our mouths and where does it come from? | [
"I don't have any reference materials, so I can't to much detail, but nobody else answered yet, so I'll do a summary. Saliva is a combo of mostly water and proteins with a little bit of dissolved salts. It comes from salivary glands that are placed in several places around your mouth. Mostly under the tongue. A gla... | [
"Moisture is absorbed into the bloodstream throughout your digestive system. As it travels through your blood, it transports waste products to your kidneys which uses the water to help flush these waste products out. It's more complex than that, of course, but that's the general process."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If Flash and Java plugins are going to be removed from Firefox and Chrome, why can't they make "good" versions of the plugins that will still work? | [
"The problem isn't with the plug-ins but rather security issues with the core languages of Flash and Java. Mozilla (which makes Firefox) and Google (which makes Chrome) feel that there aren't ways to make safe use of those languages for web-based services through your browser."
] | [
"If you remember the Internet 5-10 years ago, most of the fancy multimedia sites and games were made in Flash, which meant you had to download a separate plugin to view them. As a viewer, It meant you were at the mercy of Macromedia/Adobe if there were security holes. You also can't view Flash content on smartphone... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why is it that humans have a lot more distinct feature where you can tell one apart from another, but animals almost always look the same? | [
"Three things: There’s a phenomenon where people have a hard time telling people of a race different than their own apart, because their brain hasn’t practiced seeing those types of faces. I would assume this is also the case with animals. Basically, we’re good at identifying human features because we see them a lo... | [
"Yes, those differences in appearance are caused by one genetic abnormality that causes all the other symptoms of Down's syndrome. If the other symptoms of Down's Syndrome made it easier to live life as humans, attract a mate and have children, then it could become part of what you could call 'evolution'. Persons w... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about biology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about biology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about biology:"
} |
Why do we move our whole body around while playing a video game as if we are in the game? | [
"Your brain consists of neurons that are connected to one another, and these connections strengthen over time through repetition. In your whole lifetime you've learned that the way to evade an object flying at your head is to move certain muscles. So when some neurons send a signal \"there's something flying at my ... | [
"Playing a video and actually doing the work rendering the video games are two different things. It's similar to watching a video of ninja warrior vs actually competing and doing the work in the competition."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
How Car Lighters Work | [
"At the basic level, wires that don't conduct electricity well generate heat as they resist the flow of it. When you plug a cigarette lighter into your car's port, the electricity does just this: generates heat on a wire. Once it glows red, it is hot enough to light a cigarette if touched to it."
] | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
The body can self heal wounds and broken bones etc. Why not regrow limbs after amputation? | [
"It is theoretically possible, as some species of lizards con do it. However, evolution drove us towards scar tissue, which serves to seal the wound from infection long before the limb could regrow."
] | [
"It mostly has to do with healing speed. Scar tissue grows very fast to repair the wound without much regard for anything else. If something causes the wound to heal slowly, normal skin cells will have time to replicate and grow instead of scar tissue. On a small scratch, if you keep picking the scab off every time... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about biology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about biology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Please ELI5: why too much salt is bad for you. | [
"I want to take a different approach. Drinking salt water kills people. That is the fact. Why? Because NaCl (that is what salt is) when its in water it forms two ions (Na+ and Cl-). These two molecules attract water around them as they have a charge. So when you drink the salt water, these ions in your body attra... | [
"What source says that alcohol is bad for your teeth?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do they determine the caloric value of different foods? | [
"Originally they used a [bomb calorimeter](_URL_1_) but now it is just calculated using the [Atwater system](_URL_0_) from the percentages of individual components. i.e. if we know the energy in a single gram of protein, fat, carbohydrate, fibre, or sugar then we just need to know how many grams of each is in a pie... | [
"How much fat, protein and carbohydrates are there in water?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why is Oman such a 'quiet' nation despite being right in the middle of chaos? | [
"They are not in the middle of anything. They are a coastal country bordering two stable countries, and one semi stable country."
] | [
"No it's not, it is a constitutional monarch similar to that of England except King Abdullah has a few more powers. But don't let that dissuade you for it is a highly developed country with one of the freest economy in the Middle East. It's getting positive press for the actions it's doing to ISIS in retaliation fo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
If diamond is the hardest substance, and you can only cut it with other diamonds, how were diamonds originally acquired? | [
"Diamond is very hard, which means it is very resistant to scratching. It has a very low toughness though, which is the resistance to impact. [\"Somewhat related to hardness is another mechanical property toughness, which is a material's ability to resist breakage from forceful impact. The toughness of natural diam... | [
"I don't know about diamond knives, but I do know that both diamonds and lasers are used to shape and cut diamonds. BTW, you can use two rough diamonds to make a sharp diamond, it is much harder to do this, but it is possible. Also, other materials can break diamonds as well."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why did TV and computer screens used to flicker in videos, and now they don't? | [
"CRTs work by scanning a electron beam left to right 15 to 100 thousand times a second while scanning top to bottom at 50 to 120 (numbers are approximate) times per second. That fills the screen, but the beam only hits one spot at a time. The phosphors glow brightly at first but start to fade quickly. By the time a... | [
"An old CRT tv (the big ones with the tubes) only refreshed the screen 30 times a second. (Interlaced video so at 60 Hz every other line is drawn on each pass through). This is slow enough for a dog to notice. Also colour screens are use RGB colour. Humans have cones in our eyes for red, green and blue. Dogs have c... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
What, exactly, is poo made of? | [
"I'll tackle the Fiber question and I can punch it out with how tired I am. Basically we cannot digest fiber; so what happens is it is a long polysaccharides chain that scrapes the side of your intestines as it passes and this stimulates your bowels to release a mucus. This mucus helps lubricate the feces as well a... | [
"Someone told them what the answer is supposed to be."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Technology:"
} |
the current terrorist threat that is causing the US to shut down embassies in the Middle East | [
"A conversation was allegedly intercepted between two top level members of AQAP (Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) speaking in very general terms about a terrorist attack in the very near future. Given what happened at Bengazi last September, the Obama administation is using an abundance of caution because the las... | [
"Syrians are rising up in protest and what looks like a growing rebellion against the countries dictator, although foreign media hasn't been allowed in so we can't be sure of what's going on. It appears things are getting worse as their is an increasingly violent crackdown. The Iran situation is more complicated wi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Examples of tax deduction and exemption | [
"tax deduction is something you paid taxes on when you got it, but can remove it from your taxes at the end of the year. Most business expenses count, so if your office bought a table then you spent earned money (usually taxable) on that table, but since it was a business expense you can deduct the cost of that tab... | [
"Very briefly it sums to about this Accounting - management of money and numbers / finance - analysis of market for investment"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why don't any larger animals have compound/multiple eyes like bugs do? | [
"Depth perception, visual acuity, and distance. Compound eyes don't fair very well on any of those factors, all of which are far more favorable than having a large cone of view, especially in light of possessing other senses (namely hearing and scent) and ocular muscles."
] | [
"It's not entirely independent. Most of those organism with faces as you describe, have some kind of common ancestry. Things like eyes, ears, noses and mouths tend to be in close proximity to the brain (actually, I know of no exceptions)."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about biology:"
} |
Why is it that you cannot fix a flat tire if the hole is on the side? | [
"The tread surface of a tire is much more rigid because that's the part of the tire designed to make contact with the road. The sidewall is much more flexible because it is designed to adapt to changes in tire pressure without bursting. Sealing the tread is easy because the patch will remain relatively still, but a... | [
"I don't know why they're not all on the same side, but I do know that there's usually a little arrow on the gas guage pointing to the side of the car where the gas tank is."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why does pouring water on grease fire increase the amount of flames? | [
"Grease is an oil, it's a liquid at burning temperatures. Oil and water don't mix, so when you squirt water on grease you get balls of water in oil and vice versa. The balls of water in oil are a big problem. The oil is over 212˚F (100˚C) so the water boils into steam. The steam expands, spreading the oil into a bi... | [
"Salt is (reletively) non-reactive and has a high melting point. By putting salt on a fire, you can keep the hot whatever from getting the oxygen necessary to burn. This smothers the fire. Added bonus is that cleanup is easy since salt dissolves in water."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why does electricity conduct better through different materials? | [
"In a metal the electrons 'float' in a sea around the nuclei, they are not bound to a specific atom. In wood each electron is mostly bound to a specific nuclei. The flow of electricity depends on how free the electrons are to move around."
] | [
"No. One of the special features of conducting metals is that their outermost electrons are basically shared between all of the atoms. So they act as if they were free electrons bouncing around all over the place. When there is a current they bounce more in one direction than they do in the others, and so there is ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why is it advised to cut down on salt when one is bodybuilding? | [
"Someone can feel free to correct me, but I believe this is due to the osmosis of the water in our body. With too much salt, the water in your body will retain more making you look bloated. Potassium helps this, because then you will have more potassium for the sodium potassium pump. So the salt or sodium will be r... | [
"It may be the result of some underlying medical problem like magnesium or potassium deficiency, but it might also be from something as simple as muscle inactivity. If I were you, I would just eat more fruits and vegetables and stretch every day. Are you an active person?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text about Health and Wellness:"
} |
How are acids named? (Chemistry) | [
"It's a combination of systematic naming and what's always been done. If it's an organic acid, that is, it has a carboxylic acid group in it attached to some number of other carbon groups, it is named based on the IUPAC naming scheme, for which wikipedia is probably your best explanation. Examples of organic acids ... | [
"Crash Course has a couple of episodes explaining DNA, replication and protein synthesis. DNA Structure and replication - _URL_1_ DNA translation and protein synthesis - _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
When upside down, how are you still able to swallow. | [
"Peristalsis. That is the name for the contraction of myscles that forces food along its path. It is what allows you to eat upside down and what allows astronauts to eat in 0 g. Incidently, not all animals have it. Birds dont, which is why they tip their head up when swallowimg and why we can't take birds into spa... | [
"It feels good because you're not fighting gravity. It easier to lay in a bed than stand, right? Same concept."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How does "Whataboutism" differ from giving context to information? | [
"Whataboutism is distraction. When you give context, it means you discuss what, say, Kevin Spacey did in light of other, similar incidents. Whataboutism is when you just make the conversation completely about Woodey Alan. And it didn't suddenly pop up, it was made to describe Soviet propaganda techniques, it just g... | [
"Nobody has responded to the question regarding 'what grounds are the conspiracies based on'. The answer is: general stupidity and lack of education."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
What determines if you are burning fat, muscles or calories? | [
"a calorie is a measure of energy. the food you eat provides a certain amount of energy, measured in calories. your body uses a certain amount of energy (calories) every day just to support regular functions. at the end of the day, any unused energy gets stored in your body as fat. when you work out, your body need... | [
"Lets break this down a bit because the main problem is duplicate names Fats in foods are lipids, fats on you are adipose tissue. Everything you eat gets broken down into its basic blocks which get used for energy(calories). If you're consuming more calories than you burn then your body will pack some away in adipo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why are you ordered to register as sex offender if you are peeing in public? There is no sexual matter involved in peeing. | [
"There is no sexual component in peeing, no. But there is a sexual component in purposely showing your genitals to other members of the public. The thing is, it can be very hard to gauge the motive someone had when they were peeing in public. Were they genuinely desperate and couldn't wait, or are they peeing ther... | [
"Sex offenders are considered to be significantly more dangerous than other offenders like thieves. It's done in the interest of public protection. For example, the government and society in general have a vested interest in keeping parents informed of where convicted pedophiles live. That being said, some of these... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How did we develop all this advanced technology in less than 300 years when it took us hundreds of thousands just to learn how to farm? | [
"The major catalyst was the industrial revolution in the late 18th and early 19th century. Political stability and the ability to efficiently produce food were contributing causes to the industrial revolution happening."
] | [
"It takes nine minutes for sunlight to reach the earth, and its traveling at the speed of light. There isn't any way to set up a warning system, and even if you could, it would buy you minutes. Modern Humans have been around for 200,000 years. We've relied on electricity for about 130. I think we'll be all right."
... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why do planes need to be pressurized? | [
"At high altitudes the atmospheric pressure is very low - there's less air than there is down at the surface. If the plane wasn't pressurized there wouldn't be enough air to breathe."
] | [
"The higher the temperature, the less density the air has and the less lift the plane gets from it. In other words, the hotter it is, the longer the runway you will need. There are charts for every plane that says lot long the runway needs to be at different temperatures. The charts typically stop at around 120 deg... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why Do Movies Shot 30 Years Ago Look “Old” When Played Now? | [
"Technology in camera equipment has come a long way. Lenses have gotten better. Lighting has gotten better. The art of film has been perfected over the years. But I think the main factor of this \"old\" look has to do with post production. Back in the 70s and 80s they didn't have the computer power to color correct... | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
If permanent colonies were built on the Moon, how would someone born there be effected on Earth due to the differences in gravity? | [
"The moon *does* have gravity. It's a lot lower than Earth's, but it's still there - a lot more than the microgravity experienced on the ISS. All we can really do is theorise, but the likelihood is that if someone grew up/lived a long time in lower gravity, coming down to Earth would be pretty traumatic. Your bone... | [
"Some plant cells are sensitive to gravity, and the plant uses this information to send the root down and the stalk up when the seed germinates. It would not work as well on the Moon or Mars, where there is less gravity, but some effect is still likely. Of course, both these places have a larger obstacle to plant l... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why does water taste so sweet after vomiting? | [
"I'd say there are a couple of reasons. Firstly, the water washes away the acid residue left over in your mouth by your stomach fluids, causing relief of the burning sensation and that might be perceived as sweet. Also your body is most likely craving water due to the sudden onset of dehydration that was probably c... | [
"I know what youre talking about, and its not an allergic reaction. Not sure why, but maybe your body thinks you ingested a poison and is trying to sweat it out? Source: my imagination"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment about Biology:"
} |
What is the actual purpose of having a United States Space Force? | [
"I think the idea is to split the responsibility for space off of the Air Force, much like how NASA was split off for civilian aerospace work. The Air Force actually spends more on space operations than NASA (moreso if you include agencies like the NRO). Putting that as it's own organization would, in theory, let t... | [
"The main reason is because of the religious background of the United States."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why baseball stadiums are different sizes | [
"Tradition. And more than any sport, baseball is a slave to tradition. When professional baseball was in its infancy, there were no dedicated stadiums. Teams would play wherever they could find the space, usually somewhere used primarily for something else. The Yankees, for example, used to play on polo grounds. Th... | [
"Because they're not allowed to use chewing tobacco in the dugouts anymore"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Sports:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph about Sports:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why does your skin heal faster at night than during the day? May it be for cuts, wounds, spots, acne etc... | [
"Because your body's resources aren't dedicated to moving you around, talking, seeing, etc. Also because you're not moving around, touching your injuries and generally making things worse."
] | [
"There are number of reasons cigarettes make people look older but a major reason is that smoking causes your blood vessels to constrict. That decreases the blood supply (and the nutrients the blood carries) to all of your organs, including the largest one: your skin. The proteins like collagen and elastin that reg... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Health and Wellness:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about Health and Wellness:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What causes blood to seep out of cuts and scrapes? | [
"For blood to come out of a wound, some kind of blood vessel must be damaged. If the cut or scrape is very small, then these blood vessels were likely capillaries."
] | [
"A lot of infections cause bleeding. Think of like a rash on your skin. But on the lining of your organs."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
- What are undersea cables, and how do they work? | [
"Undersea cables (aka submarine cables) are made up of bundles of fiber optic cables running along the ocean floor that connect different parts of the world (e.g. North America and Europe) to exchange data/internet communications and telephone conversations. The first submarine cable was laid all the way back in th... | [
"Imagine you have a computer on your house. Now you want to connect that computer to your friend 100 miles away. How do you do it? You could lay a 100 mile cable, but do you have the permissions to dig up roads and pathways? You would use a company whose cables were already there, and just use that network of cab... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
I was always told not to put a fridge or AC on an extension cord. Why? | [
"Refrigerators and AC units have a much higher peak power draw than most household appliances. An extension cord that isn't rated to handle that kind of draw could overheat and short, or cause a fire."
] | [
"It has to do with the amount of amperage you are drawing out of one circuit. In my opinion its not safe to use cheap surge protectors at all, due to their low amperage range. Then plugging 6 poor surge protectors into the first poor surge protectors is just asking for electrical problems. At least, blowing a break... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Electrical plugs and their design:"
} |
in the USA, when does a dad (or mum) in full time employment see their children? | [
"You work 9-5 in a lot of jobs, meaning that you see your kids in the morning and evening."
] | [
"But how would you \"encourage\" that? And who will take a care of a kid, even a smart one, whose parents only did it out of obligation?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does it hurt significantly more standing on a 10 min bus ride, over walking for 20 minutes when commuting? | [
"Standing tends to strain the same muscles over a long period of time. Walking spreads the load over several sets of muscles, so that while you're technically expending more energy no one set of muscles have to bear the load for the entire period."
] | [
"Imagine running to the store a mile away vs walking. One burns way more energy than the other"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do TOR/.onion sites make you completely anonymous, even to the government/FBI? | [
"Normally, you're traced by just reading access logs to determine what you downloaded. But with TOR, your Internet traffic is routed through a bunch of other computers known as *proxies*. To trace you in that way, someone would have to go to every proxy and ask them when you were online and what information you got... | [
"Technically speaking - the \"Deep Web\" is just the part of the internet that is not indexed. Most people actually mean \"Dark Web\" which is the web that can only be accessed using special tools to make you anonymous. Websites on this \"Dark Web\" check and block anyone who is non-anonymous from visiting the site... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
- Can things like light waves or radio waves become radioactive? | [
"Light and radio waves are both kinds of radiation. Specifically, they are both non-ionizing EM radiation. What \"non-ionizing\" means is basically that they won't come barging in and jack up your DNA. X-rays and gamma rays on the other hand are ionizing EM radiation, and definitely will smack your DNA upside its h... | [
"If you mean from e.g. a probe flying through space, they send radio, which doesn't require a medium to travel."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
What changed that allowed SpaceX to go from crashing rockets on barges to a 3 for 3 success rate? | [
"Every crash is a learning opportunity. They weren't crashing because they didn't know WTF. There's a ton of very complicated stuff to work out to land a rocket, and getting it even a tiny bit wrong usually results in an explosion. Rockets don't really do rough landings. It's either perfect, or kaboom. So every tim... | [
"The Space Shuttle required extensive examination and repair of the heat shield tiles after every launch. The Shuttle also consisted of 3 extremely large and complex liquid fuel rocket motors, while a Falcon 9 consists of 9 smaller and less complex Merlin engines; most of the time, not all of the engines are requir... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is there ice in the mens urinals | [
"Ice cools the urine which reduces odor. Ice also melts, which produces water and flushed the urinal. Much more popular back in the days before auto-flush systems."
] | [
"If sideways water pressure was a thing, you would be in trouble if you took a swim in the ocean."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How do other animals cut their nails in nature? Do they even have to? Also, how did humans cut their nails in the past? | [
"Usually just using them makes them eroded and they are as long as you need them. In nature, animals and humans use their nails for lots of things, and there is where they are \"cut\": every time they are used, they are a little bit shorter, making up for their growth. If they grow too much, they can be scratched a... | [
"Primates do not have claws because we lived in trees. Fingers are very good for grasping and holding on to branches. Claws would have gotten in the way of that. Primates are too large to use claws as climbing tools. Our diet (mostly fruit and dead animals) did not require us to have the large, powerful claws that ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
EL5 Why we have a two party system. | [
"I have a beautiful youtube video just for you! _URL_0_"
] | [
"Only if the federal government let it. See: American Civil War"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why do people with accents lose their accents when singing? | [
"Because when they sing, they are consciously controlling their voice and producing a particular phonetic effect. Like you would if you're imitating birdsong. They are in very good control of their voice, and can produce specific desired sounds rather than speaking/singing in their natural accent."
] | [
"I think accents depend a lot on age when moving to a new country. Most of my relatives came to America in their 20's. They all have accents. My cousins that came in their teens have a slight accent. My cousins that came in their first 10 years of life have an American accent. I was born here. I moved around a lot ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
In movies that take place during 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries in America, characters are often depicted as speaking with an English accent. When did American born citizens actually shed the English accent and adopt geographically identifying accents like in the north east and south? | [
"Each area of america was settled by different ethnic groups. These ethnic groups shaped the way English sounded in a given region. The southern accent is actually closest to what the old English settlers would have spoken."
] | [
"America is a melting pot. It is not merely a collection of English settlers. Many of the more unique features of American English can be traced back to pronunciations made by people who did not have English as a first language. Most famous is probably the influence of Yiddish on the New York City accent, but acros... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why we still label circuits based upon "conventional" current when we know that current actually flows in the opposite direction? | [
"Pretty much, everything was defined before the discovery of, say the electron. Scientists, being positively minded and optimistic, decided it would probably be the positive charge moving around. Note also how stuff like Capacitance is measured in Farads, which is a huge unit and you usually use micro or nano farad... | [
"We just call them positive and negative, but we could also say the electron has positive charge or it has Charge A vs Charge B. The only reason we say positive and negative is because it fits well in our mathematical models of potential energies and force."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How can I simply explain to my friend that two outcomes doesn't mean a 50% chance of one happening? | [
"I would simply say that your odds of winning the lottery are not 50/50, even though there are 2 outcomes: you either win, or you lose."
] | [
"Why would the probability change as you flip the coin? The coin doesn't care about the past. There is a 50/50 chance on every flip."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are there different sized stars? Once enough mass is gathered to commence fusion shouldn't additional gasses be blown away from the star? | [
"The gas clouds that stars form from collapse into a disc shape pretty early on in the formation process. The big-ish protostars blast most of their early heat of formation out in polar jets that never cross that disc, so the incoming matter doesn't meet the outflowing energy until the star is well formed. It takes... | [
"Gravity. Hydrogen is matter, and it has gravity. You do need some sort of disturbance to get stuff to start clumping, but once it does, each clump will keep on attracting more hydrogen until either there is no more in the area, or it ignites, creating a solar wind that pushes the hydrogen away. If hydrogen has mas... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why do online job application systems force me to attach my resume and then also fill out their own resume system? | [
"The parts you have to fill in will be run through their HR system, which can make a preselection. With how many people apply to some jobs, there simply is no time for them to check out all resumes, so they have to select them some way. Once you are through the preselection, your actual resume makes it onto the des... | [
"Any such question should NOT be on the base application. It should be on a separate paper (or web page) that can be separated from the application. Because of discrimination laws - and lawsuits - employers want demographic data on who applies and who is selected for employment."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
If cold humid air is more cold than dry air, but hot humid air is hotter than a dry heat, what is the tipping point? | [
"H2O is a better heat conductor than air. That increases the heat exchange rate between a person and the environment(both positive and negative). At a low temperature heat from the body is lost more quickly in a humid environment, vice versa in a warm one. The tipping point happens around 98 degrees F, where thermo... | [
"This is most likely to do with humidity. Warmer temperatures can hold more moisture than colder temperatures. The air is also very stagnant and most of the coolness and comfort you feel just before entering that car is from cooler air that is actively moving around you. The air in the car cannot leave and is thus ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence about Physics:"
} |
Why do so many people hate Piers Morgan? | [
"I don't watch his show, so I don't have any strong feelings about him. From what I have heard from other people, there are two major complaints: 1) Back when he was in the UK, he had a reputation for publishing inaccurate, sensationalist content as news. 2) On his show in the US, he is viewed as arrogant and conde... | [
"What's a Tory, and why do so many people seem to hate them?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Since there is no "air" in space, what do spacecraft thrusters push against? | [
"Thrusters, rockets, engines, etc push against the spacecraft, not the air. The force of the material being expelled creates an equal and opposite reaction on the spacecraft."
] | [
"Yes their propulsion system is self contained and doesn't need oxygen in the air to function. This is a lot like how space crafts bring their own oxidizer along with the fuel."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does Apple own the Beatles? | [
"[The Beatles sold the rights to their catalog of music back in the 1960s.](_URL_1_) It's been owned by many people, most famously by Michael Jackson, who made almost as much money on Beatles royalties as on his own music. I don't know if Apple Computer has any ownership in Beatles music, but you might be confused ... | [
"Are all of your electronic made by Apple?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
How does the software "Tor" work? | [
"Here is a little diagram to start off with: _URL_0_ The (very!) basic gist of it: You connect to the network which proceeds your request along a randomized route through network-relays using data encryption, before it transmits your request to the final destination. Backtracking is extremely hard, since the random... | [
"Are you asking about \"Tor like\" services, or specifically Tor? This could be very different answers."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it often recommended to fully charge electronics before using them for the first time? | [
"Imagine that your battery is an opaque water bottle. When you first get it, it has some amount of water in it. You have no idea how much water is actually in it because you can't see the water. It has a weight to it but that doesn't tell you anything because you have no reference. For all you know, it could be em... | [
"There aren't really any 'proper ways' to care for a laptop battery other than not continuously charging it for days, which will reduce how long it can hold a charge."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are symptoms more potent in the morning and evening when you are sick? | [
"In the morning it's usually because you've been dehydrated due to sleep or if symptoms just arose, you aren't used to it. In the evening, because of being tired and talking all day, you get worn out. Just think of going to a sporting event all night yelling then getting home and having a sore throat. Wear and tear... | [
"Extreme weather is an example of stress on your body, which likely results in a sour temperament. This is similar to why you feel cranky when you are in pain."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How to people find amber with preserved life inside? | [
"It’s just random. They mine the amber and then upon examining it and cutting it up to sell, find what’s inside"
] | [
"Because its rare, hard to get, and illegal."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does 80 degree water feel so much colder than 80 degree air? | [
"Water absorbs much more heat per volume. So water touching your skin aborbs more of your body's heat compared to air of the same temperature."
] | [
"I don't think they are colder than the room, it just feels that way. Unless you keep the room at 96.5degrees F, most room temperatures are much colder than normal body temps"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Ugly power lines, poles, transformer cylinders and other mess of stuff cloud my neighborhood. But my well-off parents' neighborhood has not a single wire in site. How? | [
"All those things can be run underground, but it can cost up to 10 times more than overhead systems. This cost means that they tend to only be put underground in regions where people are willing to pay that price, ie wealthy neighborhoods."
] | [
"Birds are not real. They're government surveillance drones. Kidding aside, birds perch everywhere. My front yard bush hides 50 birds at once. Since birds can't perch in middle of air where there isn't a power line, power line it is. Or on the ground.or on a tree branch, or on a building ledge or wherever there's... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Congratulations ELI5 on 300,000 subscribers! And thank you! | [
"I enjoy seeing the questions people post. Sometimes, i feel like just replying \"google it,\" but then i realize that a lot of times, even if you do google it, the answers you find require you to either know a lot about the topic to begin with, or are so buried that you may never find the answer you are looking fo... | [
"A million subscribers isn't cool You know what's cool? A billion subscribers"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why is it so hard to spot this "Planet Nine" when we can easily observe and photograph light years far off celestial bodies? | [
"Well first of all, we can't easily observe and photograph most celestial bodies that are lightyears away. The ones we can photograph tend to be either giant flaming balls of light, clouds full of giant flaming balls of light, or a collections of billions of giant flaming balls of light. You might notice the recurr... | [
"There is speculated to be thousands of planets similar to Pluto (which is Planet X) around Pluto. Anything bigger would be easily noticeable but because Pluto and it’s counterparts are so small and so distance. At least as common knowledge, aren’t necessarily worried about."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about astronomy:",
"pos": "Represent the document about astronomy:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What exactly happens if Russia is proven to have tampered with the voting process (ex: Brexit, US elections)? | [
"The UK has mechanisms to force a new vote. So they could \"revert\" things fairly easily if the public decides to do that. The US does not have such a mechanism. They could impeach Trump for it which would leave Pense being President. They could also theoretically impeach Pense as well since he was on the same ti... | [
"Vladimir Putin and his minions. Talking to the Russians is not a bad thing. Making foreign policy deals with them **while Obama was still President** is a problem. Coordinating with them to commit crimes, like stealing DNC email and giving it to wikileaks, is a crime called conspiracy."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What is it that specifically makes the new car smell and why is it the same in every car? | [
"Offgassing plastics. There is some concern that plasticizers and solvents released from many industrial products, especially plastics, may be harmful to human health. All the car companies use the same types of plastics so thats why the smell is the same."
] | [
"It's about novelty. When it's new, we cherish it and want to take care of it. Novelty eventually becomes familiarity. We see this a lot with cars. That new car, the owner is so careful. At some point, however, it becomes OK to toss that empty Big Mac box in the back seat."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why did Chairman Mao kill so many people including teachers? What could he have been trying to accomplish? | [
"He was trying to purge China of The Four Olds as these were seen to only further the exploitation of the classes. The Four Olds are old customs, old habits, old culture, and old ideas. A lot of teachers were executed publicly, monks were humiliated in the streets, a great number of Kung Fu masters took to the hil... | [
"The Chinese government did encourage rapid population growth because they thought it would be beneficial for their economy and army. After the Century of Humiliation the new communist government wanted to rapidly become powerful and more people meant a greater labor force. It seems like this claim is inspired by s... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
how can PPI (pixels per inch) be different across certain devices? Aren't inches and pixels a set size? | [
"an Inch is a measuring unit. a Pixel is an object. It can be any size. A display's resolution describes how many pixels it has. 1080p means it has 1080 pixels on the short side. So, obviously, to fill a 42\" 1080p TV and a 5\" 1080p phone with the same number of pixels is going to require differently sized pixe... | [
"I think automod pulled my previous post for being too short, so lemme words more: the size of the pixels themselves change. Both monitors are 1,920 dots across by 1,080 dots tall, but monitor 1 has smaller dots than monitor 2. The attached computer doesn't know or care. Think of it [kinda like these different siz... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
What is 'Trickle Down Economics' and why or why not is it bullshit? | [
"Trickel-Down economics is the idea cutting taxes on the wealthy will lead to higher overall economic growth---more than enough not only to help the economy, but also to make up for any lost revenue to the government for the tax cut. When the idea originally came to prominence, top tax rates where extremely high, ... | [
"Extreme incompetence or criminal negligence. Take your pick!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why they call dark matter "matter" | [
"Because as far as we can tell it is matter. It's just a special type of matter which doesn't interact at all with the electromagnetic force, so we can't directly see it. **Edit:** Something I want to add, matter that doesn't interact much with EM isn't actually all the strange. For example, neutrinos interact very... | [
"dark matter exists wherever matter exists. galaxies form inside pockets of dark matter. in fact, galaxies are not dense enough to be kept together under just the gravity of matter, so they would fly apart without it. dark matter is coursing through your body constantly. trillions of particles per second, probably.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage about Physics:"
} |
With the attacks going on right now, why has France been the target for so many terrorist attacks? | [
"They, like all the old European powers, had colonies in the lands that are now terrorism hot spots. They treated millions of people very badly."
] | [
"They do happen, they just don't get reported on. China is targeted every few years. China was attacked 4 times in 2014. Since the '70s both the US and China have been attacked 11 times by Islamic Terrorists, so it isn't a case of them not getting attacked, it is more of a case of the attacks going unnoticed in the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Does my way of doing this math problem make any sense? | [
"All you did is multiply both sides by the denominator in the x fraction, and then rearrange terms a bit. a/b = x/c c * a/b = x c * a * 1/b = x c/b * a = x"
] | [
"Its a principle that basically says if two solutions are otherwise the same, the one that is simpler is the best choice. Its a fancy way of saying don't make things harder than you need to."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is destructive interference unnoticeable, say if you have two sources of light and you move them around? | [
"The wavelength of light is smaller than the smallest thing a human eye can see, by far. So these effects are too fine in scale for us to see."
] | [
"The video is correct. Its using electrons to illustrate a simple point because electrons are an easily accessible wave particle. The same thing happens with light. It creates interference patterns with itself, even at low light thresholds that have only 1 photon in the air at a time. The electrons intersect the tw... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
why carbon monoxide is so poisonous to breathe when carbon dioxide is not. | [
"Carbon monoxide binds very strongly to hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in your blood. When it does so, it stops hemoglobin from binding to oxygen, and limits your body's capacity to get oxygen in the process. Carbon dioxide, which is almost completely non-reactive, doesn't do that."
] | [
"The equation of life is: sugar + oxygen = water + carbon dioxide + energy So most of this weight is lost as exhaled carbon dioxide and water."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do they turn old black and white photos into color photos? | [
"Unless the negative is preserved, they literally just color it. Think of it as a coloring book. I've tried photo colorization, and while choosing correct colors isn't that hard, getting the blending to work out realistically is much harder. For video, when it's a single shot, you can use tracking software so you d... | [
"Because it has a very particular style. It's like why do people still paint with paint and brushes when they could do it on a computer, or why do people buy records when they can just get an mp4. New and efficient doesn't mean better in every way."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How do gemologists tell lab-grown gems from natural gems when the crystal structure is the same? | [
"Naturally formed gems are not perfect. They have atoms of other elements dispersed within their crystal structure. When a gem is grown in the lab, it is usually 100% pure. There are no imperfections, (or nearly none). So when a gemologist observes the crystal structure, and they see no impurities, it is almost c... | [
"You know that a cubic zirconia is not an artificial diamond, right? It's just that in jewelry it can be cut to resemble a diamond, even though it doesn't have the exact same properties (eg. lower refractive index)."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Fire... does it push things or exert force? | [
"Fire itself does not, no. However, fire heats up the air (and other fluids) around it which can increase the pressure that they exert. For example, have you ever seen ash from a newspaper (or something similar) floating out of a fire up into the air? It's not doing that because the fire is pushing it, but the air... | [
"Nothing, because you are already holding the burger. Eating doesn't make weight go away or change or anything."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why are religious texts open to interpretation if they are the word of god? | [
"because they're arguably the word of an infallible being, but they've been written down by a man. I think the bible even recognizes this fact at one point, or it was just my religious education teacher that pointed it out."
] | [
"Hindus realise that their source isn't perfect and there's always room for improvement. Muslims consider the Quran to be the perfect set of teachings from the perfect creator. Absolutely no room for improvement."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How did we discover Pluto? It's so little and our solar system is so huge. | [
"It was by mistake, mostly. In 1906, Percival Lowell made come mistaken calculations that there was a 9th planet beyond the orbit of Neptune. The calculations turned out to be wrong, but he spent decades searching for it, and never did found it. In 1929, Clyde Tombaugh was charged with resuming the search for the ... | [
"The moon can block out the sun because it's massively closer than any planets. Sometimes that one really bright star you might see in the night sky is actually Venus. It's just a tiny point of light and it's the closest planet to the earth. Other planets in our own solar system will be even less visible than that.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Is it actually possible for Korea to 'reunite'? | [
"Yes, it is possible. Just as it was possible for East and West Germany to go back to being Germany. That doesn't mean it would be easy, however. There are a lot of practical problems with merging the two states. Even if you assume that the North collapses and the South just takes control (rather than trying to cr... | [
"North Korea is on a whole 'nother level compared to Saudi Arabia and Qatar."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why does hearing a song lots make us dislike it? | [
"I think you can relate this in a similar way to drugs. When you take a dose of drugs or listen to pleasant music, your brain is simulated and releases signals that it is happy with whatever you consumed. However, over time the same stimulus will result in lower and lower stimulation in the brain, as it becomes use... | [
"You see or heard something that reminded you of the song. However, your brain is not satisfied just remembering the song. Your brain can't find closure and throws it on a loop. That's why listening to it usually helps; the brain has heard it all again and can end the song in a natural manner. Think about it, you n... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the passage about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
if someone comes on your property without your permission and they slip or get attacked by a dog, can you be held liable if they sue? | [
"That fully depends on the country/state that you live in. In some places you can be held accountable for any injury, in some you can be held accountable if there was injury due to your negligence (lack of maintenance, lack of warning sign, etc), and in some their trespassing negates all rights to sue you for any i... | [
"It depends on the state. In any case, this person must pose a reasonable threat to you. Some states have \"stand your ground\" laws, which basically mean you can shoot him if he threatens you, other states have \"duty to retreat\" laws, which means he has to chase you into a corner before you're allowed to shoot h... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why is the US West Coast a desert | [
"The west coast is nice and green, but then there are several mountain ranges. Air that is pushed over the mountains is cooled and forced to drop most of its water vapor, so it is much less moist. This means less rainfall beyond the mountains and more desert conditions."
] | [
"What do you mean by downfall? This is still a dominant part of current culture."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
What happens to the body when you donate one of your kidneys? Does it become less able to filter stuff out of your body? | [
"When you donate one kidney, or one kidney fails, the other will pick up the slack. When functional, both kidneys are not operating at the fullest capacity."
] | [
"Moisture is absorbed into the bloodstream throughout your digestive system. As it travels through your blood, it transports waste products to your kidneys which uses the water to help flush these waste products out. It's more complex than that, of course, but that's the general process."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do Dutch people eat spaghetti with knife and fork, instead of spoon and fork? | [
"American of partial Italian ancestry here, what would you even use the spoon for? why not just a fork?"
] | [
"Do you also cough when eating popsicles and frankfurters/hot dogs? If so, it might be your technique."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why does cleaning your ears cause gag reflex? | [
"It does? If it actually does, I would say it’s because the ear, nose and throat are all connected."
] | [
"Why do they randomly twitch just once? I dunno. Why do you get a twitch that won't go away? Potassium deficiency. I used to get eye twitches all the time before I figured it out."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Health and wellness:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Health and wellness:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Health and Wellness:"
} |
Why do browsers replace spaces in the URL with %20? | [
"Some operating systems and software treat a space (white space) differently. It is called URL encoding and the %20 represents a space in the URL (web page name) so the entire URL is resolved correctly."
] | [
"In Windows, backslashes are used to separate directories in file paths. On the internet, we use forward slashes in our urls. When there needs to be a difference, I don't know but there is one."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why do humans/mammals bleed from the mouth after head/chest trauma? Why is this always the imminent death factor in movies? | [
"Think of what the mouth connects to - your lungs, stomach, and the passageways to your nose and ears. Head/chest trauma can lead to bleeding into one of those areas, which is usually a sign things are going pretty wrong."
] | [
"As long as the bullet misses the Medulla Oblongata, a small section of your brain responsible for basic life support, you could in theory survive the gunshot if you were treated for the complications afterwards, such as internal bleeding. Obviously you'll suffer massive brain damage as the bullet rips through your... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why does it take so long for a country to develop nuclear warheads/ weapons? E.g. Iran and N. Korea. | [
"It depends on how many resources they want to put into it. North Korea is a very poor country so they can't spare the same amount of resources that the US put into the manhattan project. Additionally usually people who are developing nuclear weapons programs are doing it against the will of the wider international... | [
"I'm not sure why you think Iran is far more prosperous than India. The Gross Domestic Product of India dwarfs that of Iran several times over. India has the third largest GDP in terms of purchasing power parity in the world. So India has nuclear weapons because they are simply powerful enough. Pakistan is believed... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
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