query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Why does nitrous oxide(whippits) make you feel so good? | [
"Two chemicals in your brain, called dopamine and NMDA, are important in transmitting signals around, and can affect your mood dramatically. Nitrous oxide interferes with how both of these chemicals are processed, resulting in that \"euphoric\" feeling."
] | [
"They're faking it. This will make you light headed and dizzy, but it won't make you hallucinate. You can achieve the same thing by huffing co2, and it's because the buildup of c02 in your blood. (You said oxygen deprivation, close enough, but you don't actually feel that, when you're drowning or something, what yo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why do people use child soldiers? | [
"Children have some \"advantages\" over adult soldiers. They're a lot easier to indoctrinate. Children generally lack more developed feelings of empathy. Once you get them killing they don't really seem to have a problem with it. Allied soldiers during WW2 said that the worst units to get captured by were the Hitl... | [
"why do mods cringe when people refuse to search the archive?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
What exactly does a perm do to your hair? Why would someone want to get one? | [
"Long story short, perms work by breaking bonds in your hair and reforming/rehardening those bonds around a perm rod to set the curl. There are a few different types but ammonia thioglycolate is pretty common. And to answer your other question, I never understood why people want perms, mostly little old ladies tha... | [
"My hair is a tangled mess, what are you talking about? It entirely depends on what type of hair you have and how long it is."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text about science:"
} |
Math is considered the language of the universe. Does it have different "dialects" or "accents"? | [
"Yes, practically every sub-field of math has it's own jargon. Many different fields have different starting points(axioms), these means that these kinds of math might not be even compatible."
] | [
"Mathematics is a language more than a separate science. Its job is to put the descriptions of natural phenomena into a form that we can understand and work with. So numbers are \"real\" the same way words are \"real\" - they *describe* something real."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
What is the difference in the scientific community between a 'Theory' and a 'Law'? | [
"A law is an observable constant. Stuff like the force of an object being equal to the mass times its acceleration or the fact that objects with mass attract other objects. A theory has more to do with how things happen. Its an explanation that is backed by quite a bit of evidence and holds up to scrutiny. Stuff li... | [
"No need to an ELI5 because there is no answer to this question. Science has plenty of hypothesis, but there is no answer yet. One of the great remaining mysteries in medicine."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How do taxes and tax brackets work? | [
"In the United States, we have a progressive income tax system. As your income goes higher, your marginal tax rate increases. To be exact, if you're single, your first $9,275 are taxed at 10% dollars 9,276 to 37,650 are taxed at 15% dollars 37,651 to 91,150 are taxed at 25% ... dollars 415,051 onward are all taxed ... | [
"The more money you make, the more taxes you owe. That’s the simple answer. There isn’t enough information here to tell you exactly why. There Were changes to the tax laws, you could have had different withholdings, you could have had different deductions, etc."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is it that multivitamins have a reputation of being ineffective, while many individual supplements seem to perform well in clinical studies? | [
"Generally speaking people take a single supplement because they need it, and if you have a deficiency then supplementation can be helpful. The problem with multivitamins is that most of us eat plenty of food, and even an unbalanced diet is usually full of added vitamins and minerals (cereals especially). When your... | [
"Diet pills typically contain 2 types of ingredients: stimulants and appetite suppressants. Caffeine is the most common stimulant, although they may contain others. Basically, they force your body to use more energy - ie, to burn more calories. Appetite suppressants block your hunger signals, so you're less incline... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does Wikipedia need donations constantly? And why do people not donate to wikipedia? | [
"It is the philosophy of the founder Jimmy Wales to do it without ads. They do not need donations, (run campaigns constantly). They do need to pay for servers to deliver their free product. People do not donate because they can get away with it. It is also the philosophy of wikipedia to share knowledge freely."
] | [
"1. They have bots which automatically clean out spam and vandalsim. 2. New users can't add external links 3. The people who want to improve wikipedia are far more dedicated and have much better tools than spammers who want to screw it up."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What is this "Zija" thing my mom's gotten into? | [
"Like Shakeology and everything else, these things can BECOME a money-making ploy but aren't necessarily so. If she's only **buying** it to use for **herself**, then I would say there's a good chance she's getting ripped off. (these products are not intended to cure, treat, diagnose, blah blah blah). If she's selli... | [
"What is this szechuan sauce I keep hearing of?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
What did George W. Bush do to destabilise the middle east? | [
"Saddam Hussein, despite his faults, was a fairly strong leader in a region where those are often in short supply. After he was overthrown, the Shia majority in Iraq set up a Shia-friendly government (Saddam was Sunni and had oppressed Shias under his rule). This government promptly pissed off the Sunnis in norther... | [
"What do you want to hear more about? The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? The Israel vs. Palestine situation? The Arab Spring? The recent attacks on US embassies?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How is it possible that I reflect genetic origins that do not show up in either my mother or father’s DNA profiles? | [
"My sister used 23 and Me. Results showed Portugal as having an influence when in fact our grandmother is from Brazil, where a significant number of inhabitants are of Portuguese ancestry. Just an example of how these tests can be skewed..."
] | [
"They get samples of DNA from people who can prove their families have lived in the same spot for many generations. With a large enough sample, they're able to find DNA patterns that are unique to that area, and they compare to the DNA samples you send in. Note the 'with a large enough sample'. Companies like ances... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Science:"
} |
When driving in rain, is it better to stay in a lane behind someone and follow the path of their tires, or be in a lane by yourself? | [
"Better how? As far as grip in the wet it doesn't really matter. The important things are to maintain a safe speed and following distance. Realize that it's going to take you longer to stop, and that hard braking is going to be harder to control, so you need to give the car in front plenty of room. Also tires. They... | [
"The rule of thumb (sometimes actually codified sometimes not) is that faster traffic moves towards the left. As such, if you are passing someone you should be to their left. If you are passing someone on the right either you are going too fast for that lane, or they are going too slow in the left most lane (otherw... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
We're struggling to find material strong enough to support a space elevator. Why not build a pipe into space that's filled with water, and float items into space? | [
"Both. The pipe itslef would be too heavy to support itself. And the pressure at the bottom would be incredibly high. Have you seen submarines used to go down the Mariana Trench? I think they go down like 10 kms. Now imagine how a capsule would have to look, that would be needed to survive that pressure. And of cou... | [
"It's inflatable, it's held up by the buoyancy of helium. It's not \"standing\". It's being pulled up. It's still not a proper space elevator, that should go up above geostationary orbit and be held tense by a counterweight. But this should theoretically help make space flight cheaper for now, and it's \"more feasi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are noises louder during winter? | [
"Sound travels better through cold air because it's denser. This means that the soundwaves are stronger when they reach you than they would have been in warmer, less dense air, so they sound louder."
] | [
"It's a hearing problem called tinnitus that's often caused by excessive exposure to loud noises."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument about Health:"
} |
What is the difference between a bullpup rifle and a carbine? | [
"A carbine is like a rifle but with a shorter barrel. A bullpup is when the action is behind the trigger group, using the space that would otherwise be the stock and allowing a longer barrel than otherwise. They are different configurations that serve similar purposes."
] | [
"This is actually different from country to country, as specific laws can vary as to how guns are classified. Here is a broad set of guidelines, though: * Rifle: Gun with a shoulder stock firing a full-power rifle caliber round * Assault Rifle: Gun with a shoulder stock firing an intermediate-power rifle caliber ro... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What happens when a military tank gets struck by lightning? | [
"Rubber wheels on the ground isn’t what protects you in a vehicle during a lightning strike. The body of the vehicle forms a faraday cage."
] | [
"Let me answer your question with another question: if you tape a grenade to the back of someone's head and pull the pin, what happens to the front of their head? Same thing, more or less."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does Indian cinema feel so self-contained? Why does it seem to lack the global appeal that films from basically everywhere else in the world have? | [
"When it comes to getting to other markets, it's all about, well, marketing. Be it word of mouth or organized advertising. I suppose part of it might be the fact that India (and the immediate region) is a huge market in and of itself so there's less incentive to try and push outwards."
] | [
"It's not specific to independence days, basically everything about the US is better known than the equivalent thing about India in countries other than India and its neighbors. The US was one of the two world superpowers during the advent of the age of mass media, and it continues to be the most powerful country i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why are some people annoyed by some sounds like a fork scratching a plate or by a chalk stick scratching a blackboard, but other people are not? | [
"Im not a rocket surgen but I think it has to do with the pitch that the noise puts off. Some people have more sensitive ears than others Edit: grammar"
] | [
"This is personal preference. I, at least, cannot *stand* the sound of our cats eating (or licking themselves, but that's not pertinent here). It absolutely sets my teeth on edge. By comparison, I find most people's chewing a non-event. Occasionally it will bother me (generally in the office if a coworker is having... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
why would anyone deny climate change | [
"Because the certainty of losing your livelihood now is more important to you than the possibility of consequences decades from now. If you working in the fossil fuel industry, and you have kids and a mortgage and skills that won't transfer somewhere else, you might not be terribly eager to go to work at the grocer... | [
"because they dont want to admit it. simple as that. at the very least, they downplay the issue. _URL_0_ there is far more right wing nationalist revisionism in japan than germany."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Climate change debate:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Climate change debate:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do some Blue Ray movies look lower quality, almost like you can tell they're in a studio (compared to DVDs)? | [
"I mean, a indie movie on bluray is gonna look worse than a Disney movie on DVD. Do you have any examples?"
] | [
"If they were made to be shown on television, and not on a computer, they were likely made before HD was a thing, so at best they were mastered at 480i resolution. If the videos were made on film, they could be remastered to 4k (most film is incredibly high quality which is why you can take a 1940's film and make i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How would the destruction of the moon affect the Earth? | [
"[What would happen if the moon were destroyed?](_URL_0_) This site presents a few scenarios. If the moon were broken into pieces, the debris would likely come into our atmosphere, block out the sun, and destroy all life. See the link above for alternatives, such as the moon somehow just \"disappearing\" or \"vapor... | [
"Yes, and given the immense size of the Earth compared to the ball, the effect is negligible in just about any application."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do companies hide how much work goes into something? | [
"I'm not sure I follow you. It's not that they hide that information... I'm fairly certain you can find out any information related to the development if you only ask the question. It's more like they know that people don't care about that... they care about the end product."
] | [
"Making a standard and getting people on it costs money. And there's no profit for doing it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why does things like olive oil and butter taste so good on food, but then terrible on their own? | [
"Lots of flavours in food are non-polar molecules. Broadly speaking, you have polar and non polar molecules. Polar molecules are things like water, or salt. As they are both polar, salt dissolves more easily in water. Non polar molecules include oils, fats, and a lot of the things that give our foods flavour. S... | [
"Follow-up question, I hate drinking milk but i love it with cake, cookies or brownies; what causes the taste difference? I even notice when it goes back to tasting gross after a few seconds, its weird."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why do some websites only show you the price of an item AFTER you put it in your cart? | [
"They do that to avoid running afoul of manufacturer set minimum prices. Manufacturers of premium goods, generally sell them in expensive retail outlets (with skilled sales staff). If customers go to the store and take lots of staff time to make a decision but buy on a cheaper Amazon the retailers will go broke, an... | [
"I'm just going to write it iff that you are still new to this online shopping thing. Cart is basically putting an item in the \"I want to buy this\" category. You put multiple items in the cart so that you can check out/pay/apply coupons all in one purchase. If you don't buy it at the time the price is advertised,... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
The benefits the US gets from protecting Israel so much. | [
"Actually Israel has the most advanced weapons/military technology in the world. Since they face threats/attacks everyday they have to be ready with top notch technology. The U.S. does get the benefit of trading our weapons with their weapons."
] | [
"Because the US, Russia, and Israel are powerful enough to get away with it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
How does static electricity work? | [
"When you rub a balloon on the carpet it picks up electrons out of the carpet. Those extra electrons make it negatively charged, and a negative (or positive) charge creates an electric field. If you move the balloon close to your hair, it will repel the electrons ~~out of your hair and down your body, making your h... | [
"If magnets are magic, is gravity magic too? Fundamental forces, yo. They run the universe."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How is sound generated from music files? | [
"They’re played over the top of one another. In all your daily life longitudinal sound waves are overlapping each other, and when they do they basically add to each other (if a compression of the wave crosses a rarefaction (low pressure) then they will cancel out, if two compression cross they will create a very st... | [
"They use a microphone to capture outside noise then generate the opposite waveform to cancel it out when they meet."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer about Technology:"
} |
Why can't I use my Sprint phone on Verizon? | [
"Sprint and Verizon used to be able to share phones- both used the CDMA network protocol. However, for their 4th generation of cellular networks, Sprint went with WiMax, and Verizon went with LTE protocols. Each type of network doesn't work on the other networks, so you can no longer swap phones."
] | [
"You're missing the right carrier. T-Mobile and Sprint have this option already and I believe AT & T should have it soon if they haven't rolled it out. You need to have one of their newer phones though."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why are plants green when the sun puts out a lot of green light and the only reason we see plants as green is they reflect the green light. | [
"Many plants would have troubles with overheating/dehydrating if they absorbed all light."
] | [
"It's due to how light is absorbed by the water. Blue is reflected the most so it appears blue. It's the same reason why leaves are green. The leaf reflects mostly green light, so it turns out green. The physics behind why different colors reflect differently is rather complex, however. To be short, a smaller amoun... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do people unconsciously swear/make random noises when recalling something embarrassing they've done? | [
"I do it. It is sort of an involuntary reaction to the cringe-y memory."
] | [
"I don’t have an answer, but I am fascinated because the *exact* same thing has happened to me since I was a kid. If I so much as thought about something I considered sexually unconventional I’d sneeze. Interestingly, once I tried it or stopped thinking of it as unusual I’d stop sneezing. It got to the point where ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do cops give line walking tests and alphabet tests instead of breathalyzing drivers immediately? | [
"In Australia they actually just pull you over and breath test you. If you're under they let you go, if you're not under, you're in trouble."
] | [
"They use visual and audio queues just like any drug, if they suspect you have drugs in your system they may take you to the station to perform a blood test but it's way too expensive and time consuming to do a blood test on the side of the road and there's not really any other way to prove that you have drugs in y... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why can’t you upgrade hardware in a console like you can a PC? | [
"You could, conceptually, but they aren't designed with that in mind. The whole concept of a \"console\" is to have a generic, standard hardware package to which developers can design products and can be maintained with ease. People who are not technically knowledgeable can just go to the store and pay $400 for \"t... | [
"Because they weren't written for it. Though they appear similar, computers can be as different as consoles as time moves on. What you're asking is akin to \"Why can't I play Playstation 1 games on my PS4?\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why has Remi Gaillard been able to avoid jail time? | [
"Because he lives in France, where people are less uptight about practical jokes and don't send someone to jail because they farted near a police officer"
] | [
"you can still be fined for things that are decriminalized. You won't be sent to jail though."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What happens when a graduate student fails to defend their thesis? | [
"It's a requirement for their degree, so most colleges I'm familiar with would treat it similar to a failed class. As long as they're still in good standing with the college and haven't exceeded the total deadline (usually 7 years) to complete the degree, they'll get another chance. However, this could vary by scho... | [
"Grad school (short for \"postgraduate school\") is what you call it when you keep attending university after earning a bachelor's degree. If you attend grad school for a while, you can earn a Master's degree. If you stay longer, and do significant original research, you might earn a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) de... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What exactly is happening when parts of my skin start twitching? | [
"Your muscle begins to tighten due to some form of stimulation (voluntary or involuntary) and usually before it can reach the height of its contraction, your brain is telling it to relax. Rinse. Repeat. Twitch."
] | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about Health and Wellness:"
} |
Why does the United States on a whole go through so many periods of Xenophobia, when it is and has mostly always been an immigrant country? | [
"You will likely have a much better result asking this question in /r/asksocialscience. I would actually question the basic assumptions inherent in your question before even trying to answer. Has the US gone through several different periods of xenophobia, or do the same xenophobic groups just catch the public atte... | [
"Because socialism is linked with communism in the eyes of many Americans which we have been conditioned our whole lives to view with poverty and corruption. It also is strongly linked with Europe which tends to bring a whole other bag or animosity to the table. Edit: America is based on the myth* that the governme... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
What protect us from being charged of drugs possesion if a cop wants to plant them? | [
"Planting them would be very, very illegal. Other than that? Nothing, I suppose."
] | [
"It needs to be proven in a court of law that you knew you were recieving drugs in the mail. The police have the power to arrest someone on reasonable suspicion a much lower standard then what is needed to find you guilty in court. Its pretty reasonable that if you got drugs in the mail you knew they were coming si... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
The rule righty tighty,leftie loosie applies everywhere except those gas containers,can you explain why please? | [
"There are several different reasons for using a left-handed thread. In gas containers specifically, as far as I know, the main reason is to prevent people from accidentally mixing up items. There are flammable gases and inert gases, and you don't want to pick the wrong one, so they have different thread."
] | [
"I always pop them and nothing happens, don't know what everyone is going on about scars and stuff."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are bagels from the grocery store never cut completely in half? | [
"For packaging and presentation purposes. If they were sliced all the way through they would slide around and be a mess in the pack and not look as appealing to the consumer."
] | [
"It toasts the bagel only from one side. You're supposed to cut the bagel in half first and place the halves in the proper direction."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why not make minimum wage a floating number that changes with inflation automatically? | [
"The risk is that you will create an economic feedback loop that with result in hyperinflation. Inflation increases wages, wages increase inflation, and the whole things spirals out of control."
] | [
"I've heard people saying we need something like $15 minimum wage. My question is what are we going to do with the people who make $15/hour now? Many doctor offices are operated by staff at around that salary; wouldn't they expect a salary increase? Many technical jobs that require at least a two-year degree pay ab... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
why is kosovo not part of albania | [
"In the modern day, people tend to get upset about an ethnic minority breaking off from one country and joining another."
] | [
"well taiwan is pretty much an independent state anyway - taipei doesnt pay any taxes to beijing. tibet could be its own country, and it wouldnt be a big loss to china, only has like a $15B GDP. apparently tibet is already tax exempt anyway."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How did debit/credit cards work before computer systems? | [
"[The beloved 'knuckle buster'](_URL_1_) and the [carbon copy paper that went into it.](_URL_0_) The raised numbers on the card made an imprint on the carbon paper, which was then hand-signed by the card holder. Amounts were usually hand-printed on the paper before you signed. The transaction was usually phoned int... | [
"It's really only recent if you live in the United States. Most credit cards in the world use chips for greater security."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Technology:"
} |
What caused the decline of the U.S. auto industry? | [
"Honestly, US automakers were putting out really shitty cars for several decades (at least the '60s, '70s, and '80s). Once the Japanese (especially Toyota) made inroads beginning in the '70s with cars that were much more reliable and safer for the same price, it signed the death warrant of the US auto industry - or... | [
"1. They are ridiculously expensive 2. The global decline in Nationalism in favor of Globalism"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why would a country want a weaker currency? | [
"Because when your country sells things to other countries, you make more money. That way they can charge less locally. Countries with large GDP exports will want low currency values (to a point) and will adjust interest rates to match."
] | [
"How would the president conduct a hostile takeover without the military? Also a takeover of what?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why are some people against food stamps and other welfare programs? | [
"> I work hard at my job to get a paycheck to support my family. Why should my money go to supporting some slacker that doesn't want to work? Give or take."
] | [
"It's the theory that giving people charity might make them lazy and dependant on that charity for survival instead of using it to help them temporarily deal with difficult times. There is a dilemma for those who want to give charity because it might do more harm than good in the long run. It's an argument that's o... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why do we need to close our eyes to go to sleep? | [
"The reason you fall asleep is because of a hormon that is released; melatonin. Melatonin production is regulated partly by light. The more light that \"hit your eyes\", the less of this hormone is released. Your eyelids are quite effective at blocking out the bright light that halts the production of this hormone... | [
"It's so you don't need to take it out of your handbag every time you want to do something."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Biology:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph about Biology:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why would Reddit have their source code be open source? | [
"Software developer here, That is because there's very little value in the software. The value is in the service, the intellectual property (Reddit's name), and the community fostered around it. Sure, you can take their source code, buy a domain, and fire up your very own clone, but who cares? No one. You don't hav... | [
"I have a similar question and couldn't find an answer. ELI5: Does this affect me in any way? Is it dangerous to click an imgur link now?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why can't robots press the ReCaptcha button? | [
"They can if there is only a button. But if there is an image AIs cannot reliably recognize what they are yet. But that tech is advancing."
] | [
"How would you know which button was the bottom button if they didn't put one on?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
different molecules chemical bonding shape? | [
"You just have to memorize the chart. There's no trick to it. You should get used to this if you will eventually have to take Organic Chemistry. Here's a [picture](_URL_0_) of the chart to help you out. All you really need to do is figure out how many chemical bonds you have, and how many lone pairs you have, and t... | [
"So imagine your material as a steel chain. Each link is identical but the length of the chain can change. Molecular weight =total weight Formula weight = each link weight."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does boiling water soften pasta and vegetables, but harden eggs? | [
"Eggs harden due to proteins. The proteins before heating are folded in the shape of balls, and these balls flow pass each other very easily (thus it can act like a liquid). But once you heat the proteins up, the balls unfold, and these protein strands now entangle one another, thus making the egg act like a solid.... | [
"It dehydrates, as the salt pulls all the water out of it, resulting in death. Think of how you preserve meats or prepare raw salmon, or prepare some cabbages; salt extracts water."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Some countries have very cheap currencies. $1 could equal to thousands like in Lebanon, or hundreds like in Japan. What's the reason for this and how do the residents of that country feel about it? | [
"Each country established its currency long before it started trading with other countries on the other side of the world and thus established an exchange rate. So in one country, 1 unit of currency might have been the value of a potato, while in another, it might have been the value of a big bag of wheat. The pot... | [
"If the dollar is weak, then you couldn't buy anything from outside the country, as it would be more expensive for you. So it would mean imported things would become more expensive. On the other hand, if the dollar is too strong, it would mena no one outside the US could buy things from you as they would be expensi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why can .exe only run on Windows - not Mac or Linux? When a file like .mp4 can run on both? Can't a compatibility application be made to support .exe? | [
"It's not that difficult to write a Mac or Linux program that can read the instructions in a Portable Executable file (the format that Windows uses for .exe files). The problem is that doing so doesn't let you run the program. Modern programs don't contain everything they need to run- all sorts of common logic, lik... | [
"Compile it for windows/OSX, bundle all the dlls and resources with the exe and you are set. For C/C++ you'll always have to compile specifically for your target platform. Java runs on a VM so as long as there is one on the target platform it should run (excluding platform specifics). I feel i didn't understand the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Does heat affect dark colored skin? Does it attract more heat than light colored skin? Is this even a thing that happens? | [
"Actually, this is exactly why humans have different skin colors. Darker skin colors are seen closer to the equator, where more sun hits - they have to be able to reflect the sun better, since there's so much of it. Lighter skin colors are seen further away from the equator, where less sun hits - they have to be ab... | [
"My freckles are the same, and I'm no expert at all so please don't only take my word for it because I only studied it for a little bit, but you have melanin deposits in your dermis. These are your freckles. Sometimes they expand with exposure to the sun, but most of the time, they remain the same. Melanin in the i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What is the significance of the Pope confessing in public? | [
"Confession really has been a dying fad in the church for quite a while. The bible says that a man is a man no matter who he is, and because of this, the attitude also exists where priests are no better than any other human in the eyes of God. By him SHOWING he's going to confession / repenting for sins / etc., it ... | [
"What does the Pope handle on a day to day basis?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
- Why hasn't the net been cutoff in the Ukraine? | [
"The government doesn't control everything. That aside, taking an entire nation offline would probably do more harm than good, domestically and internationally."
] | [
"It's still going on but isn't getting the same level of attention is was a few years back. According to the news, they've moved on to Iranian vessels."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why do Mexican drug cartels display violence and ruthlessness far greater than other criminal organizations? | [
"Control of resources and cash flow. They want anyone that would like to enter the drug smuggling business to be too terrified to attempt to cut into their market because it would weaken their monopoly. They want the mexican military to fear them, and the mexican police to fear them. If enough people are terrified ... | [
"Terrorism - the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Gangs' aims generally involve profit, not political power. They are treated as criminal organizations, not terrorist organizations, because that's what they are."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
What exactly is existentialism? | [
"In a very very small nutshell It is a philosophy based on the ideas of authenticity, freedom, absurdity, responsibility, and focused on the individual providing meaning to their own life in the face of absurdity, impending death, and society's norms. People argue its pessimistic and negative overtones, but I've s... | [
"What do you mean by downfall? This is still a dominant part of current culture."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What is it with all the fighting in Hockey? | [
"Hockey, being a contact sport, has some hits that are exceptionally dangerous - to the point where people have actually been severely hurt or even paralyzed. The belief among hockey purists is that game or league discipline is not sufficiently threatening to deter this, so rather than have a cycle where cheap shot... | [
"Hung up? Its just a part of American culture."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why we don't see lights in the form of lines like lasers. | [
"The laser is an intense, narrow beam of light. When you can see the line where the laser is shining, what you see is part of the laser light being reflected off mist, dust or smoke particles that the laser beam is shining on. The same effect shows with all lights. Spotlights shone into the sky at movie premiers ar... | [
"Obstructions in your view such as water vapor, dust, heat, cause the lights to appear to flicker. I'm sure there are probably several other reasons as well."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Science:"
} |
Why are ATM machines limited to withdrawing denominations of $20? | [
"Not all of them are like that, some will let you do $10s and I've even heard of some that will do $5s. But the simple fact is - it's easier for the bank. They don't have to stock the ATM with anything but $20s and it makes the back end work easier too."
] | [
"Most ATMs are linked to global financial networks, and the transaction can route to your bank, whether international or not. The only difference in a foreign country is it dispenses money in the local currency, then automatically converts it to dollars for the withdrawal from your bank account. Like you'll withdr... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why does time behaves differently near Black hole or at the edge of event horizon? | [
"Time and space are not separate, they are a single thing called \"Spacetime\". Gravity doesn't suck stuff up, it actually creates a divot in spacetime that stuff falls into. So the bending of space caused by the gravity is actually bending time as well, because time and space are a single thing that make up the un... | [
"Generally, I think people would describe a black hole's size as it's event horizon. In the middle of a black hole is a singularity that is very massive/dense. So massive and dense that nothing can escape it's gravity, including light. There is a point where you get close enough to the singularity where you will be... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the passage about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why do i see pairs or runners hung up on power lines? | [
"No one really knows. Snopes has an [article](_URL_0_) on it that offers the theories and legends, but just concludes that no one really knows. The idea of the shoes indicating gang activity or drug dealers in the area makes little sense. Why would they want to advertise their presence to the police? Although I hav... | [
"Because it get close to the center and at a certain angle a connection closes to start that action."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
I think I might understand "hashing" from a computing/security viewpoint... but can someone critique it like I'm 5? :) | [
"That's actually a very good example. In the real world, of course, it's very difficult to 'reverse-engineer' the hashed list. Also, in your example, Ace would have a hash of 9, while Abe would have a hash of 8. This makes it rather less secure. Let me explain: If Abe (a legitimate guest) stole the hashed list, he... | [
"It would be really awesome if someone could give an explanation via a metaphor. Real simple terms because I too struggle with grasping this concept."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why can't people remember correct spellings of common words? | [
"I type reasonably fast, frequently my misspellings are when I am thinking of the right word but I type a homonym or I start to type one word like pay and then swap what I want to say to use paid mid-word and just add the typical past tens suffix. Edit: I've been a fast reader for several decades and read mostly f... | [
"I used to ask my very literate wife about things like this and she always told me not to hold her responsible for the English language."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why don't states ever try to secede from the US, opting to keep their tax money and run things exactly as they would like? | [
"A bunch of states tried that back in the 1800's. It didn't turn out so pretty good."
] | [
"> What would happen if I bought an island (in US territory) and attempted to secede, creating my own country? Pretty much nothing. You're not important for the government to even care about. You're not going to be signing treaties or entering trade deals with foreign countries or anything, after all. In fact, no o... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why does putting sugar on some things make it taste sour? | [
"I'm pretty sure the coating is a mixture of sugar and citric acid. Citric acid is the main chemical that makes citrus fruits taste sour."
] | [
"Toothpaste block your tongue from tasting sweetness. So when you drink orange juice, which is very sweet normally, you can only taste its sourness. Which is why it tastes horrible."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why has the cost of college risen so much faster than inflation? | [
"students are encouraged to borrow with promises of future earnings. lenders are encouraged to lend by government subsidies and bankruptcy regulations."
] | [
"When we say the dollar is stronger, that means in comparison to other currencies like the yen and the euro, not in comparison to consumer items. To see how the dollar has changed compared to consumer items, you should look at the inflation rate, which is about 2% right now. That means an item that cost $100 last y... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why do albums have Japanese bonus tracks? | [
"CDs are really expensive in Japan. The record companies don't want consumers to buy imports which are the same thing for a lot cheaper, so they add the bonus tracks. \"Sure it costs a lot more, but for a true fan like *you*, it's worth it to have this special rare track that can be found nowhere else! C'mon, buy i... | [
"It's usually a cover they can't afford the rights to, or something that doesn't fit in well with the rest of the album. The same is usually true for unlisted tracks."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What exactly is a configuration space? | [
"One thing to add to RandomExcess' explanation below is the notion of whether or not configurations are reachable from each other - there can certainly be cases of '*you can't get there from here*'. In neural nets for business processes, for example, you might have to bound the set of all configurations to 'only th... | [
"Could you explain a bit more about your question?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
If you miss your period (not due to pregnancy) and have intercourse after (~1 week), is it possible to get pregnant? | [
"Yes. You can get pregnant around the time of ovulation. Missing a period can change your normal ovulation schedule, and there is no way of telling if ovulation is occurring in that one week, so the risk of pregnancy exists."
] | [
"Fertile days are the ones just before, during and just after ovulation, about 3-5 days depending on your cycle. It's the time you're most likely to get pregnant. Ovulation is when one of your ovaries releases an egg to your uterus. Safe days are the ones you are less likely to get pregnant. The most safe days will... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about Sexual health:"
} |
the difference between microwave safe ceramic dishes and non-microwave safe ceramic dishes. | [
"Some glazing for ceramic pottery decorating and finishing has metal in it. Microwaves will heat it up scorching hot, even without food on it."
] | [
"microwaves heat food by shooting microwaves at it. Water absorbs those microwaves, vibrates and heats up. Thats not to say nothing else absorbs it, certain ceramics do as well. Its actually part of which products are microwave safe and which aren't (along with usually BPA content)."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Physics:"
} |
What happens when we inhale? How does our body generate the suction? | [
"Air Pressure. When we inhale, Our muscles pull on the lungs, making them a little bigger. This creates more space than there is air, resulting in negative air pressure. Air outside our body gets sucked into the lungs to fill up the space. When we exhale, it's the reverse. The muscles squeeze the lungs, creating le... | [
"That aching feeling in your lungs when you hold your breath? That is a build up of poisonous CO2. When you breathe out, you are lowering the concentration of CO2 in your lungs. In fact that is the only reason it hurts to hold your breath. Hence why Nitrogen Asphyxiation has been proposed for the death penalty."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why don't public schools require students to take a class on the 4th Amendment & Miranda Rights? | [
"They do. The law requires schools receiving federal funds to provide educational programming on the constitution. Google H.R. 4818."
] | [
"Learning your rights is one thing, understanding the law is another. (in my mind at least) Assuming you're a US citizen, you should read the Constitution and it's Amendments. That will give you the basics that most people will ever use. Among the rights listed in the first 10 amendments(Bill of Rights as they call... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are cells so small and why can't they be huge? | [
"Because as cells get larger, their interior mass increases faster than the surface area of the cell membrane. This means that at one point, the amount of membrane would not be sufficient for servicing the entire cell interior. Not enough oxygen/water/sugar could enter the cells through the limited protein \"doors.... | [
"The cells have all the traits we associate with living things. They eat food, they procreate etc. The cells in the human body isn't all that different from the cells of single cell organisms."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How is it possible to maneuver spaceships in space? | [
"Get on a skateboard and throw a BIG rock in one direction. What happens? You move in the other direction. Same idea with spaceships except you're exploding rocket fuel out your back end."
] | [
"I'm no expert. But your question isn't dumb. If you are considering something space then you must be able to move in it. Which requires at least one dimensions."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text about Physics:"
} |
How are police able to retrieve Snapchat messages when they are inaccessible to the public ? | [
"> Snapchat isn't being truthful when they tell you it will be deleted forever. > Their policy clearly states they keep it for 30 days: _URL_0_"
] | [
"If you take a screen cap, it alerts the other user. Snap chat reduces the likelihood of pictures getting out, and gives you an early warning if they save it, but snap chat does NOT claim to be secure, nor is there any compelling evidence that it is. If there are pictures that you don't want people to have, don't u... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Physical side of the internet. | [
"The internet is (to oversimplify it slightly) a bunch of wires that connect every computer on Earth. When you open up a web browser and type in _URL_0_, your computer receives a web document from a server (which is basically a big fancy computer whose main purpose is to host web documents) encoded in HTML or some ... | [
"You're only seeing a portion of the full circle."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
how did the Wild West cease to exist? | [
"First, it never really existed. The whole cowboys and Indians wild west as a romanticized legend created by dime novelists then later brought to life by Hollywood. To the extent it existed, it ended when the land became more settled. The various Indian Wars were concluded, wilderness got organized into territories... | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Can animals have a sense of humour | [
"Have you ever had a pet? But if you're talking human-level stuff, check out the great apes and dolphins. Or check them out on youtube. These creatures are very intelligent - they are self aware - and play tricks and invent games with rules as well as play with people. As far as dogs go, the degree to which they ar... | [
"Because humans are the only species with a complex enough social structure to allow for emotions such as embarrassment."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Weather Reports where today's low is higher than the current temperature. For example, why would Google says "today's low will be 38F, current temperature 22F." | [
"A lot of weather services report the day’s high along with the following night’s low. In the morning you could be coming off a real cold night, undergo significant warming, and have a low the following night that is higher than your current temperature."
] | [
"Average means some higher, some lower. -.5 -.4 -.3 -.2 -.1 +0 +1 +0 -.1 -.2 -.3 -.4 There's 12 months. Average is below zero (-1.5). There is only one month of melting (above zero) Now watch when the average increases by 2 tenths of a degree -.5 -.4 -.3 -.2 -.1 +0.1 +1 +0.1 -.1 -.2 -.3 -.4 Suddenly, THREE months... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about Geography:"
} |
In many medieval stories or tales in real life, when there is a cruel or unjust ruler, what stops his guards/soldiers from rising up against him? | [
"To take North Korea as an example: the actual soldiers are treated very well. [It's called \"Songun\", meaning \"military first\"](_URL_0_) and it's North Korea's policy of always distributing goods (like food) to the military before anyone else. Mix this with individual charisma from the military leadership and ... | [
"Mainly because mythology and popular belief of that time. The Middle Ages were full of tales about witches, dragons, monsters, magic and other supernatural concepts. It makes more sense to tell a story of a witch during the Middle Ages, where people actuallt believed they existed and therefore can act in a genuine... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What gives a band's music the distinct sound that allows you to identify the band even if you've never heard the song? | [
"Musical style, of course. But also the selection of instruments and how they are played. I work as a sound engineer, and there are a few of my friends i can recognize when are playing. And I guess in the same way you might recognize an author through the writing style, you might also recognize the way the music is... | [
"Genres are a social construct. We didn't always have genres, but as more and more musicians became available for the masses to listen too, the masses classified those musicians as sounding like one type of music or another. Looking back to when there were only a few types of genres like bluegrass, jazz, rock and r... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How does fast charging for phones work? | [
"Most phones use USB, but USB was never designed to use much power, just enough for a few flashing LEDs. So a phone has to make sure it can charge off what is guaranteed by the standard to be available (500mA at 5V, so 2.5W). Fast charging is where the phone can communicate with the charger and ask if it can give m... | [
"Theres no reason not to. All modern phones automatically stop charging when the battery is full."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Java programming language | [
"Programming is a skill, perhaps an art. Some say it's a state of mind. It has nothing to do with a particular syntax or language. Syntax and language have a habit of getting in the way of what you are trying to accomplish (until you learn the particulars of the language you are trying to master, then it all fits t... | [
"There is also [this](_URL_0_) image that explains main differences between the two."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How and why do magnets weaken over time? | [
"Magnetism depends on the alignment of the constituent atoms in the material. If you heat a magnet above its \"Curie Temperature\", the thermal vibrations (heat) causes the atoms to essentially become random, and it loses its magnetism. This happens a little bit each day even at room temperature. The temperature... | [
"Do you know how a fan works? If so just turn it around"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is there a reason why so many tech companies, game developers, and startups are based in California, compared to other regions? | [
"Many of the companies (going back to 60's) were founded by Stanford professors and students, who hired other Stanford students. The concentration of technology skills fueled new ideas, some of which became new companies. Other companies sought out the area because of the concentration of skilled workers to hire. S... | [
"It really usually has less to do with states, than size of Metropolitan areas. The states you mention have large metropolitan media market. In fact, if you look at _URL_0_, you will see that most of the major media markets have sports franchises. Outside of the historical oddity of Green Bay, almost every franchis... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why does changing the speed of a song change the pitch? | [
"Sound is a frequency, how many times something happens in a second. If you make the same number of that something happen in less than a second, it gets a higher frequency. Higher frequency = higher pitch"
] | [
"No, it won't shift position at the same time. The position change will travel at the speed of sound in the string."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If the NFL is a non-profit then why is Roger Goodell's salary $44 million? How can non-profits legally pay executives exorbitant amounts of money? | [
"Non-profit doesn't mean charity. You can pay anyone any amount you want. All non-profit means is that there's no one who gets the profits from the organization."
] | [
"If you mean the executives of non-profits, they often take home massive salaries. If an organization is non-profit is means it doesn't disburse funds to stakeholders; that status has nothing to say about employee compensation. The executive director of the Red Cross made a salary of $561,210 in 2010. This is crap ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do we determine the amount of days that are in a month? | [
"A long time ago, there used to be only ten months. Each month only had 30 days, however. The people that created this calendar, the Romans, used to not count the winter days. Nothing happened during the winter anyway. Someone soon figured out that a 300 day year wasn't working for most people and that the days of... | [
"Any given unit of time is a smaller percentage of your total life as you age"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why do we say "ow", and why is this particular utterance so common among many languages? | [
"I'm no linguist, but from what I do know, \"ow\" doesn't seem to be all that common. Anime fans know that Japanese say 痛い (itai), while according to [this forum topic](_URL_0_) it varies from \"eina\" in South Africa, \"ahia\" or \"ahio\" in Italy, and there are several others. It looks like a few places do say \"... | [
"It's a filler that indicates you're still thinking of what to say next. It often becomes a habit, as an absence of saying anything may allow someone else to interject and thus disrupt what you're trying to say. As a random useless fact, different languages have different filler words. As I recall, some Chinese use... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How did we go from having companies that took pride in making quality products to huge corporations whose sole focus is to sell you something made as cheaply as possible with the highest profit margin? | [
"> Back in, say the 40's and 50's it seemed companies took pride in making a product that lasted a long time and was made really well. That was mostly marketing. Throughout history, almost no business has actually sacrificed profit for quality. Instead, they strike a nice balance that'll keep their customers satis... | [
"These companies are so large and resilient they probably would never go out of business unless something completely revolutionary appeared on the market that ended the need for what they provided. These corporations are deadly efficient and extremely resilient, often able to take huge losses in customers and reven... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Besides Mars, is there any other planets where sending humans out to colonise it is being considered? | [
"There are ideas and plans for just about any piece of rock in our solar system. Mars is a favorite because it looks like it would not be a lot of work compared to the others. The moon is another favorite, but unlike Mars there aren't any good ideas about terraforming it. Venus, while much more like Earth than Mars... | [
"We could certainly put a base on the Moon, and it could even potentially have significant use, such as a place from which to launch further exploration without having to fight against earth's gravity. but it's a more hostile environment, and some questions we have, such as the search for extraterrestrial life, are... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why does gas smell when it leaks but doesn't smell when it's burning on the stove? | [
"The gas itself is odorless, the smell is added to aid leak detection. Both the gas and the additives are converted to odorless combustion products when the gas is burned."
] | [
"It's actually not the liquid itself that burns. It's the mixture of their vapours and the oxygen in the air that's flammable."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
After we see a bright light, why do we still see a spot when we blink, even though when our eyes are open that spot has already faded away? | [
"Desensitization: the receptors in your eyes become less sensitive and the afterimage is created. The reason we see it more clearly after blinking is because your eye hasn't completely adjusted yet and by closing and opening the eye the more sensitive vs less sensitive receptors create the image again. There's prob... | [
"The floaters? When you squint? They're shadows formed by the light. When light enters our lens, it passes through a clear fluid called vitreous humour and it may have lumps broken off that wander around. You're basically seeing their shadows. About a year ago, a big chunk broke off in my eye. It was really annoyin... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Physics:"
} |
What's the difference in activity for atoms in a fire and atoms in electricity? | [
"Electricity involves electrons \"jumping\" from one atom to another to create a net flow in one direction. Fire is a chemical reaction (where atoms bond/unbond with one another) that releases enough heat to vaporize the burning material and cause it to glow from the high temperature. They're not really related."
] | [
"To add to the question - does the number of protons an atom have affect the conversion to pure energy? So what would it take to convert iron to pure energy compared to helium?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What stops people with insurance on their phones from just saying they lost it and getting a new one for a friend? | [
"Because the phone goes into a stolen phone database that's shared among the carriers. So, a couple of years ago, my daughter broke her phone. A friend of hers gave her an older iPhone to use, and she put her SIM in it. As soon as she powered the phone on, the carrier completely disabled her number because she use... | [
"The cost of doing so exceeds the off chance you are going to drop your phone in the toilet. Also, since most people get a new phone every two years or so, it doesn't make that much sense to invest in durability."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about Technology:"
} |
Why are there torrent uploaders who seem like this is their full time job with thousands of uploads. What do they gain by doing this? | [
"Maybe we can pull in /u/gallowboob and ask him why (in a metaphorical sense, as he is \"the karma whore\") ;)"
] | [
"> How do porn companies make money? How do you think it ends up on the tube sites or on file sharing sites? People buy it. Trust me, it's a small minority of people who actually use file sharing (although it's magnitudes larger than 10 years ago), so the porn sites are fine, especially the big ones like Brazzers. ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Despite how far we've come and how good of a quality we can make it, why does (some) CGI still look fake? What element is it missing from making it look truly realistic? | [
"We're awfully elastic. All our external body parts are soft tissue, many covered with fine hairs, blemishes, moles, freckles, etc. And they tend to move when we move. The kind of processing power necessary to match that in CGI is astronomical (some of the most powerful computers on the planet are for making films)... | [
"So a really cool technology called photogrammetry is being used a lot more often these days in media, where high quality pictures, images, and videos are being taken and the images are then converted to code, which shows up as a 3D model rendering. That's not the answer to your question though. Many talented artis... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Art and History:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about Art and History:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why do we love unhealthy food so much? Why is fatty, sugary, salty food so delicious to most humans? | [
"Because calories and salt are things the body needs to survive. When our ancestors were hunting on the plains of the African Savannah there was no guarantee of when the next meal might be. So, it makes sense that when you find a good source of calories such as fat or sugar that you will want to eat a lot of it. Si... | [
"Parents allow them to be, would be the short answer. The long answer is because processed foods, like chicken nuggets, taste good. They are made to be as delicious as possible at the same time sacrificing nutrition."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
What unsolved technical issues remain that prohibit a manned mission to Mars? | [
"From a technical perspective I think there are not really many purely technical challenges that are not solvable with current technology.] Outside of money, I think the biggest barrier is that we are not yet exactly sure how to keep people healthy on such a long mission."
] | [
"It's really expensive, and not incredibly valuable scientifically to send humans to the moon. You are far better off spending those dollars on probes sent to other planets and moons in the solar system. The only justification for sending humans to the moon is to 1.) Prove you can do it, and 2.) One up the Soviet U... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
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