query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
if black is the absence of light how do phone screens produce it. | [
"They don't produce it. They simply turn off all pixels in the area. They can't go any darker. But it seems darker because adjacent pixels are lit."
] | [
"because white is the reflection of light black is the absorption of light each different paint colour absorbs a different part of the spectrum adding more paint adds to the range which is absorbed."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
What are good ways to understand Newton's third law of motion? | [
"> Now the issue is that I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that since this is true, then how is motion in our universe possible? Why would it prohibit motion in our universe, so long as there is equal and opposite momentum somewhere, it works fine."
] | [
"Because in a vacuum a moving object has no resistance acting on it. Clarify the second part of the question please."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why do we bury our dead? | [
"Not the only way to dispose of the bodies of the dead. If we just tossed bodies in the backyard, it would decay, breed disease, smell, and attract scavengers. Cremation and sky burial accomplishes the same goal."
] | [
"Why do people in Western countries use forks?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do Nordic countries like heavy metal music so much? | [
"The traditional mythology of Nordic countries is dark in theme, the format of traditional eddaic poetry involves melodic vowel agreement and consonantal alliteration, which lends itself to the vocal styles of metal (melodic and guttural), and Nordic and Finno-Ugric cultures tend to have an acceptance of dark sense... | [
"Why do some parts of the world call gasoline petrol?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do we prefer temperatures around 20 degrees cooler than our body temp? | [
"If the air is body temperature it doesn't mean you will easily stay their, unless of course you don't do anything (aka dead). Your body makes heat just being alive, if you can't get rid of it you will die as it only has a narrow range it works at. When the air is the same temperature you don't loose any heat so yo... | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why does the stereotype "the middle child in a family is often times the least favorite" exist? And where does it come from? | [
"Probably because the oldest one is doing new things first for himself and parents. The oldest one was also the trial run child so the way has been paved for the middle child. The youngest is just simply the baby and will receive the most attention."
] | [
"\"Daddy Issues\" typically means neglected by her father. As such, she constantly seeks for male approval and is very eager to please men. Not a psychologist or anything of the sort so I can't say if this is an actual thing."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
how can trains carry so many cars and so much weight with only a couple engines? How do the wheels not just spin on that very thin track? | [
"The train engine is extraordinarily powerful and the intuition you have for it being \"slippery\" on those tracks is probably not accounting for how heavy the train is. Even further, on a flat track the power requirements aren't all that much - for example, the \"tractive power\" required is 2-5 pounds of pulling ... | [
"If they used gears on the tracks then there would be a lot of friction and a huge increase in how complicated things would be. Gears in a transmission or other applications often require a constant flow of lubricant. This is not possible on a track several thousand miles long."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What is the safest way to look up potentially illegal things out of pure curiosity? | [
"If you're in the United States, one of the most anonymous ways to research any subject is to visit your local library. Many libraries routinely destroy your checkout records once you return the books, that they cannot be Subpoenaed as evidence. There also is no requirement to check books or research materials out... | [
"Are you sure this is a real phenomenon? It was my understanding that people are simply trying to remove a distraction so they can pay better attention."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
How do viruses like Ebola or cholera benefit from trying to kill their host? | [
"In their normal hosts (bats ?) Ebola is not fatal. The two organisms have evolved together so that they can co-exist. Humans are not the viruses normal hosts."
] | [
"Successful viruses and parasites don't kill their hosts before they're able to multiply and find another host. A lot of parasites weaken the host, but not so much that the host can't continue living. And some parasites will make their hosts do bizarre things in order to facilitate the parasite's reproduction (like... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
what's the science of why breakups are so difficult? | [
"Because if they weren't, a commited relationship would be effectively meaningless and no secure bond could be made. Humans are social creatures and pair bonding is part of our evolutionary history, gained as a result of having parents bonded together in a relationship being better at raising children successfully.... | [
"luck. nothing more, nothing less. or do you want to explain process, step by step?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument about Biology:"
} |
Since you can always cut a distance in half, is there infinite distance between any two points? | [
"No. Even if you kept halving those distances an infinite amount of times until the distances became infinitesimal, if you added up all those infinitesimally small pieces you'd end up with the original length. Edit: This is essentially the basis of calculus. You take something, chop it down to tiny tiny bits and th... | [
"Since any 3 points define a plane, it's guaranteed that the bottoms of any 3 legs can touch the floor at the same time. This cannot be said of any 4 legs."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Working out vs overworking mechanical items | [
"When you work out, microfractures develope inside of your muscles as a result from the stress they are subjected to. What prevents your muscles from breaking down is that during recovey these fractures heal giving you more muscle mass. Alas, machinery does not actively heal it self."
] | [
"Redistributing load on muscles and joints prevents harm and aches that would occur more frequently in a prolonged loading scenario. tl;dr feels good man"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
- why do trains care what you charge in their power sockets? Does it make a difference if i charge my laptop or my toothbrush? | [
"Laptops and mobile phones draw relatively less power than something like a hair dryer or electric space heater. If several passengers used such devices it is likely circuits would be overloaded and breakers popped. Passengers are dumb so they restrict it to a few examples."
] | [
"They can't provide more power than they take in. If you try plugging in 2 hairdryers you will probably flip a breaker either on the strip or in your house. On the other hand you can plug 5 ac adapters into them because they don't take much power."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Technology:"
} |
What exactly happens to our body/brain before a surgery and how come we don't feel any pain/cold and also we don't dream while in anesthesia? How can all our senses be shut down in a second? | [
"Anesthesiologist here. The short answer is that we don't know exactly. We know that the drugs I give every day work very well, but for a lot of them we don't know which receptors they target, or which areas of the brain they target. This is an area that is currently being heavily studied, but part of the problem i... | [
"This whole explanation is going to come from my wisdom teeth removal surgery, where I was only given the latter drug as you've explained. During my surgery, I was only given the drug that \"makes you forget everything instantly\" as they explained it. As they were shattering my teeth with hammers and cutting throu... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
The Enclosure Law during the Industrial Revolution. | [
"Prior to the Industrial Revolution, there are plenty of privately owned lands in the countryside. People are free to graze livestocks or do whatever they want on those lands. This is called the Open Field System. During the Industrial Revolution, factories can process large amount of raw materials and have a high... | [
"British Empire -- > Post-WW2 / Cold War America -- > British and American pop culture -- > Silicon Valley."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Purpose of TV commercials and other advertisements having the background speaker's voice sound unnatural and sillier? | [
"It makes it more noticeable. If the voice is weird it's harder to tune out, so people often retain more information from it."
] | [
"- People with pleasant voices or voice training are more likely to become the kind of people who would record podcasts (presenters, radio hosts, celebrities). - Voices are put though filters to increase clarity of the voice, and may be touched up to make listeners feel like.. well, listening."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why is humor dependent on context? | [
"I will direct you to the subreddit /r/nocontext. The whole purpose is what you are describing…"
] | [
"One is referencing a commonly know item of culture the other results in detrimental action towards a set of people. The trick is figuring out which is which."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Psychology:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Psychology:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does Ricin kill you | [
"Ricin is a protein that inhibits protein synthesis in the cells that it invades, and protein synthesis is basically what allows control of the cells in your body. Proteins are the units that act in the cell environment, and its synthesis is the \"recruitment\" process. Much like a police department that can no lon... | [
"What do you want to know about them exactly?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
- Phase Shift Keying as it pertains to itself and how it compares to Frequency Shift Keying | [
"With FSK, you slightly increase or decrease the frequency of the radio wave you're sending. With PSK, the frequency doesn't change, but there is an instantaneous change in the phase of the radio wave. This is probably easier to illustrate with a picture than with words: _URL_0_"
] | [
"There are a few waves to do it. The 2 that pop into my head immediately are: Amplitude Modulation (AM): the size of the wave is varied rapidly and the receiver understands how to convert those changes in size to 1's and 0's. Frequency modulation (FM): Here the amplitude (size) remains constant, but the frequency i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What's the whole "corporations are people" thing about? | [
"Corporations have been persons, with the ability to sign and execute contracts, for over 100 years. Those wishing to do away with corporate personhood offer no realistic method for handling contract law. Instead, what we need is a resolution that they are persons, but not *citizens*, and are therefore ineligible ... | [
"More or less a way for corporations to literally be above the law and do whatever they want, among other things. Cross your fingers it doesn't go through."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
how to buy a house, and what "refinancing a mortgage" is or "taking out a second mortgage". | [
"Refinancing a mortgage is when you talk with the bank who loaned you the money to buy your house and make a new deal with them about the money you still owe them. Usually you do this if you can get a lower interest rate (how much extra money you have to pay them for the service of loaning you money) than you had i... | [
"A home equity loan is a loan that is based off the difference between the value of the house and the current balance of the primary mortage. If you paid $50,000 for a house that's worth $75,000, you can get $25,000 in equity loans. Subsequently, if your house was worth $75K when you bought it and it's now worth $... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are the last seats on a school bus smaller than all of the others? | [
"I assume it makes it easier for people to use the rear emergency exit. There's more space thus easier access to the doors."
] | [
"The windows are part of the plane, and are installed by the plane manufacturer. Every plane of the same model is going to have the windows in the same place. The seat layout, on the other hand, is changeable and chosen by the airline. If the seats don't match up with the windows, it's because the airline chose to ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why don't we have absolute control over our body? ( Stopping your own heart, growing limbs, shitting on command,,) | [
"If you had absolute control you'd probably kill yourself before long. There's so many complex systems going on inside you that need to operate like clockwork to keep you going that it would be too much for you to consciously handle. You forget to beat you heart one day and you could die stuff like that."
] | [
"He's dead. You can't defeat the aging process (The breakdown of cells and the inability to create new ones) or hunger or thirst by just meditating."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Biology:",
"pos": "Represent the comment about Biology:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why do cigars smell completely different when you're the one smoking compared to when someone else is smoking? | [
"I’m not a cigar smoker but my father in law is and he explained that cigars are best enjoyed through your mucus membranes (mouth and nose, passive inhaling) and that you’re really only supposed to smoke enough to keep it lit. This is a very different experience compared to smoking a cigarette or a joint where peop... | [
"1) Cigars are expensive, usually $6+ for a decent one 2) Cigars takes an hour or more to smoke, compared to a few minutes with cigarettes 3) Because cigars take so long to smoke, the smell lingers much longer 4) Cigars don't get you nearly as buzzed. Cigars are not meant to be inhaled, simply pulled into your mout... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why don't alcoholic products require an ingredients list or nutritional fact chart? | [
"Nutritional information is required by anything regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, but since alcohol is regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau instead(which doesn't require that info), it doesn't have it. Source: _URL_0_"
] | [
"Perhaps it is a preservative in bottled juice. Check ingredient list."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How can the government suggest banning flavored ecig juice on the basis it appeals to children, when alcohol comes in a variety of different flavors, such as 99 bananas, whipped cream, even candy flavored? | [
"Because the government makes a lot of money off of tobacco taxes. Plus big tobacco doesn't like the fact that they aren't the ones controlling it."
] | [
"A lot of them are manufactured to taste bad so children won't drink them like kool-aid. That applies to \"adult\" medicines too."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why is this "stripped book" warning always in books, and how does it actually work? | [
"Booksellers take the covers from books that didn't sell and return them to the publisher for a partial refund."
] | [
"Your question can't be answered unless you tell us what you consider to be an airplane."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do people develop bad eyesight over the years? | [
"If you mean why do people need reading glasses in middle age and the glasses need to get stronger and stronger as they age more then the answer is as follows ; The lens in your eye gets less flexible as people grow older because layers similar to an onion build up. This lack of flexibility makes focusing on nearb... | [
"There is no substantive evidence that either contacts or glasses contribute to a decline in eyesight. Aging itself results in degradation regardless of whether you wear them or not."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why does the AMA oppose socialized medicine(single payer)? | [
"They have another proposal that they like more. Their proposal says that low income people should get government subsidies to buy insurance and the market should be regulated. They think that single-payer systems lead to an undersupply of doctors, nurses, etc., lead to long waiting periods, and a lack of patient c... | [
"They fail to see the good examples of highly effective universal or single-payer systems already in place in the country (the VA, Medicare, Medicaid, e.g.) as counterexamples to the knee-jerk \"government can't do anything right.\" edit: typo"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Can you dilute DNA at a crime scene? Would hydrogen peroxide work? | [
"Nice try person that just committed a crime and looking for tips on how to get away with it"
] | [
"They are getting stained by Lycopene that ends up in the porous plastic. You can denature it with a soak in a peroxide solution, they will oxidise and become free of color."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Neanderthals. What are they? Are they our "missing link?" How can we tell if someone has it in their DNA? Does that mean they have non-human traceable ancestors? | [
"Neanderthals are 'cousins' on the human family tree. They moved to Europe before modern humans, but later humans came to Europe, 'stuff happened', and the Neanderthals died off. We have found enough Neanderthal DNA and compared it to DNA of modern humans and there are bits that are so common that it is extremely l... | [
"We split away from Homo Erects about 1.8 to 0.2 million years ago. We used to be the same, and then the two groups drifted away and we became different species. That event took a long time, but it's what made us into homo sapiens. A similar thing happened more recently with neanderthals. Since there was still som... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Anthropology:",
"pos": "Represent the argument about Anthropology:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
A Canadian, Jack Layton just died. Why was he so important to Canada? | [
"Jack Layton was the leader of a political party called the NDP. In a recent election, the NDP came second to another party called the Conservatives. Because Jack's party came second, his job was \"Leader of the Official Opposition\". His duties included keeping the leader of the party that came first (The Prime Mi... | [
"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 document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does running water over cuts and scrapes hurt? | [
"Because of the chemicals that are added to water. And you should wrap your fists before using a punching bag. tearing the ligaments (retinacula?) between your knuckles will be one of your least favorite life experiences."
] | [
"To kill the bacteria on your skin and prevent infection from the little nicks you may get. It also eases razor burn."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why does masturbation feel better if not done for a long time? | [
"ELI5.. well, imagine it's like a bottle of soda. Your bottle of soda is magic and it fills back up the longer you keep it closed. When it's full and you start shaking it and the top blows off, you have a lot more soda spraying everywhere and it's a lot more fun."
] | [
"The idea that masturbation can damage your eyesight is a lie made up by people who think masturbation is wrong. Stop if your dick is sore and don't do it inappropriate places and you'll be fine. Masturbation is normal and healthy as long as you're not doing it constantly. Don't know what's up with your eyes, but i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are vegetables really common in cooking, but not baking? And vice versa, why are fruits so common in baking, but not in cooking? | [
"This is just a cultural tradition. In Moroccan and Persian cooking and older-style English cooking, the use of fruits with meats is very common. Vegetables aren't usually found in baking because they turn to mush. There are some exceptions, like carrot cake."
] | [
"\"Vegetable\" is not a botanical term. It is a culinary term and what gets called a vegetable is determined by how it is used in cooking. Tomatoes, zucchini, squash, etc are used in main dishes and side dishes that are savory instead of dishes that are sweet or desserts. As such they are vegetables."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How do we get accustomed to things like glasses, rings, wrist watches etc on our body. Why do we not feel weird after some time as we do when we first wear them? | [
"The human mind is conditioned to react to change because that skill is an important thing for basic survival. That tree sitting there, completely still, is not a threat. But the wild boar charging you from underneath it is. That rabbit that just moved could be a food source. And that spider crawling on your should... | [
"The smell is still there, the receptors are still picking it up but the brain just starts ignoring it. Just like wearing a watch, when you wear its for a longer time the brain just starts to ignore it. When you take off the watch you will notice you don't wear it, because the brain is expecting a signal from the w... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does the American political system make it so difficult for Obama to introduce tighter gun controls? | [
"In the United States it is not the president who introduces new legislation to be written into law. The president signs bills into law."
] | [
"Do you think the government should generally stay out of the economy, but maybe it's necessary to have the government interfere in social issues in order to keep the country morally in check? Vote for Mitt Romney. Do you think the economy needs the government to regulate it to prevent the rich from exploiting the ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about history:"
} |
HIV/AIDS and why can't we kill it. | [
"HIV is whats known as a retrovirus. Meaning every time it divides within you, it changes its receptors on the outer shell. When white blood cells produce antibodies for the original virus it has already changed. Because of this, there are many strains of the virus and vaccines are only able to protect you from one... | [
"If everyone stopped having unprotected sex, the human race would end in a generation. So, from that perspective, yes, no more STDs."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What difference does the mix make on a music recording? | [
"Imagine you had several separate stereos that each played one element of a song; One stereo for the lead vocals, another for the bass, another for the keyboard, etc. In that scenario, you could adjust the volume and equalizer of each stereo separately, turn them on and off at will, change the timing of when each e... | [
"Is it possible to get a better picture with a little more light?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why does licking a seemingly dead pen make the pen able to write again? | [
"Pens are a chamber with ink in it and a steel ball jammed in a tight-fitting tube at the lower end. When you write, the ball turns, \"rolling\" the ink onto the paper, then rotating up into the ink supply to bring more down. Pens with ink still in them often get jammed up if unused for a while because a crust form... | [
"Why do I feel as though my bottles of water don't do this but instead just freeze normally in the freezer?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What did our finger/toe nails evolve from, and why do we still have them? | [
"Fingernails are extremely useful tools, anyone who has had LEGO bricks can tell you that. They also amplify the pressure you feel with your fingertips by providing a hard surface to squeeze the receptors against."
] | [
"This is a tricky question as it happened long long long before even your grandmother was around. A million years before anyone even started wearing any clothes at all. There are a few different theories to how this could have happened. My favorite is that we humans came close to living in the water. Did you know ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
What's the difference between the culture and climate of an organization? | [
"imagine culture represents the lasting behaviors, beliefs, and values that have been instilled overtime and remain fairly constant. climate probably just refers to shifting situations and aspects that aren't so deep or permanent. culture is what's going on in the background, the shared perspective of things. the c... | [
"It has a few different meanings in different contexts. What setting are we talking about?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about finance:"
} |
How come most modern cars have automatic powered windows on the driver's door, but not on the passengers' doors when all it costs is a new switch? | [
"I think all modern cars have them on all windows. Or do you mean where you click it and it rolls down all the way even if you aren't holding it? That's because there isn't a need for it anywhere but the driver's window. The point is for when the driver needs to roll down their window while still focusing on drivin... | [
"Others have mentioned the proximity to the door. The only thing their answers don't explain is why cars with front bench seats (which are rare these days, but used to be common) don't have the driver in the middle. This is because of a couple of reasons. First, the steering column. This is a relatively straight pi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
How do they put the line of scrimmage, and other graphics under the feet of Football players on TV? | [
"No expert here, but notice how the field is (usually) green? This conveniently can act as a green screen. AFIK they can use that to protect an image, aka the line of scrimmage, onto the field but not on the players in the broadcast. If someone else can prove me wrong, go ahead! This is speculation."
] | [
"For American football games they know within one or two how many breaks there will be. On between possessions they will radio down and stop lay during the break a \"TV timeout\" and a dude in a bright colored red or yellow jacket will come out and stand with the ref until it is time to resume play."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Are very expensive watches significantly (or any) better at keeping time than a cheap watch? | [
"There are two types of watches - electronic (usually \"quartz\") and mechanical (using tiny moving gears, springs etc) The vast majority of watches made in the past 40 years have been electronic. They are all very accurate, even the $10 ones, and a higher price does not buy you more accuracy. A higher price gets y... | [
"The Rolex is made of gold/platinum/etc. and coated with precious stones. Even considering that, a lot of the \"value\" merely comes from the name. Luxury items aren't priced based on how well they work. They're status symbols."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do Guiness bubbles appear to sink? | [
"Dude, you're 5 years old, you shouldn't be drinking beer."
] | [
"Why do I feel as though my bottles of water don't do this but instead just freeze normally in the freezer?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why does it take 3 years to start a murder trial for the Colorado movie theater shooter, James Holmes? | [
"Because you only get one shot to prosecute someone. You can't just keep trying until you get it right. So the prosecution wants to make damn sure that they go in there with the very best case that they can possibly have. Because if they fail to convince a jury that he's guilty, if they overlook something, get evid... | [
"This whole thing happened 11 days ago. The Texas Rangers and the FBI are both investigating the case. It takes longer than a week and a half to bring charges against someone. Give it a little time before we all break out the pitchforks."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What causes gray elbows? | [
"Dead skin that has accumulated and hasn't been flaked off. Your skin is constantly shedding dead skin cells. Some areas with thicker skin like your elbows accumulate it faster due to more skin being produced than in areas with thinner skin."
] | [
"What source says that alcohol is bad for your teeth?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why do people who fall from 3 stories or up get injure/die, but ski jumpers who reach heights of 100+ feet feel barely anything at all? | [
"Skiers are not landing on a flat concrete slab like the people falling. They are landing on steeply sloped snow. It is not the fall that kills you, but the sudden stop at the end. Notice the ski jumpers, when they hit the ground, are still moving at a similar speed. If they ran straight into a sidewalk at that sp... | [
"> What's the difference? Height and technique. Most people can jump into water from 40 or 50 feet without a whole lot of problems. A trained diver can do 70-80, and the famous La Quebrada Cliff Divers of Alcopolco jump from 100 to 135 feet. The world record is a little short of 200 feet, and many people die try to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do Japanese cartoons and animated show not depict Japanese characters very often? Most seem to be of Western ethnicity. | [
"This is actually a misconception :-) I don't have it off-hand, but there is an excellent article talking about this very issue. Asian people think the characters look naturally asian. Westerners think they look naturally western. Why the discrepancy? Basically, because our cultures relate to different physical att... | [
"For the most part, they themselves see these characters as Japanese. Megaman has blue eyes because it matches his design. Misty has red hair to make her stand out. In both of these cases, it's not meant to be a literal representation of a phenotype, but a design choice that makes the characters distinct- you'll al... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Entertainment:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Entertainment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is wine considered upper class, while beer is considered lower class? | [
"History. Wine was drunk by the Romans, while beer and ales were consumed by the horrible, uncivilized barbarian natives. Fast forward about 1000 years. If you want good wine it's grown in France, Italy, or Greece. And everywhere else has to import it, often at high cost."
] | [
"In those places where it used to be an every day sort of drink, it largely still is. Go to France, Italy, etc, and you'll find that it's served everywhere and commonly had with meals as it always was. Those places where it has assumed a certain air of sophistication tend to be those places that weren't traditiona... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
What can cause somebody to start profusely bleeding without an open wound? | [
"Generally it would be caused by an inability to clot, combined with some form of internal wound (a laceration in the gut, for example). That would result in uncontrolled internal bleeding, which would in turn end up coming out of the \"nearest\" orifice. It could be made worse by high blood pressure in certain cas... | [
"My understanding of this is limited, so please correct me if I'm wrong. But from what I know, bleeding from the mouth after an injury is entirely possible. It depends, however, on the nature of the injury. If you get shot in the stomach, let's say, you probably won't bleed form the mouth. But if your lung is punct... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why, in the English language, is it incorrect to say "me, my dad, and my sister" and correct to say "my dad, my sister, and I"? | [
"It isn't incorrect to say \"me, my dad, and my sister\" when you're all the objects of a sentence. For example: \"This house belongs to me, my dad, and my sister.\" is more correct than \"This house belongs to my dad, my sister, and I\". You wouldn't say \"This house belongs to I\". However, it is even *more* corr... | [
"The real trick to this is saying the sentence without the other person. Which is correct, \"Bob and me went to the store\" or \"Bob and I went to the store\"? Simple, remove \"Bob and\" and say the sentences again. \"Me went to the store\" doesn't sound right, and \"I went to the store\" sounds just fine, so \"Bob... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do editorial boards like The New York Times endorse a presidential candidate, isn't that a conflict of interest for neutral reporting? | [
"Editorial boards aren't news reporters, they are news commentators. They write Opinion-Editorials (Op-Eds) not articles. There is a slight difference in kind, which makes a big difference. Paul Krugman and Charles Blow are on the editorial staff (not the board) and are on record as hating Trump as much as possible... | [
"Nothing in the e-mails so far proves the primaries were rigged. The election results are valid. There are a few e-mails were DNC staffers clearly showed bias by brainstorming how to discuss Senator Sander's religion negatively in certain states and passing along certain media contacts. However, the DNC has no obli... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are public school teachers salaries so low? | [
"One factor is lack of funding for schools. Local funding is heavily dependent on property taxes, so lower income municipalities have a lower tax base to work from when funding the schools."
] | [
"why are their tax rates so much higher?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about Education:"
} |
Why do you cut steak at an angle? | [
"When cutting on an angle, you're cutting against the grain. The meat will taste more tender because you'll feel less of the tough muscle fibres. Another bonus with cutting on an angle is that the pieces will have more surface area, so you have more steak flavour in a single bite."
] | [
"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 Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
- I've seen posts of people losing lots of weight in a year (100+ lbs.). Is this weight loss really healthy or very unhealthy? | [
"Can be healthy, can be unhealthy. It depends a lot on what weight that person started out with (the heavier you are, the more you can lose while remaining healthy), how slowly weight is lost (are they losing a small amount every week, or doing it through huge drops), what measures they took to cut calories (did th... | [
"It depends on how fast the weight loss is, how long the person was overweight, the method of weight loss, and then genetics. If someone was seriously overweight for 30 years before finally getting lipo, they'll have excess skin. If someone was seriously overweight for a short period of time but lost weight through... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does dry-erase marker ink wipe away, but Sharpies don't? | [
"Dry erase markers contain a plastic-like binder that the dyes get stuck in as well as a solvent that dries really slowly. Sharpies contain dyes that only disolve in strong(ish) solvents like alcohol. So once the solvent in the sharpie dries, you need more of it to get it back off."
] | [
"9 year elementary teacher here to share some knowledge. I use black Expos daily and the best way to keep the whiteboard clean and easy to erase is to not wash it. I know, sounds strange, but it works. The black will erase much easier and will not appear as messy as it does when you erase a freshly washed board. I ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What happens to your lungs/air-passageways if during an asthma attack an inhaler is not available? | [
"Your bronchioles won't be in better shape, or in any way improved for having had repeated asthma attacks. On the contrary, they'll become more damaged, inflamed and enlarged over time. This enlargement, or remodeling, of the smooth muscles then acts to further narrow the air way, making it even more difficult to b... | [
"Symptom wise they are pretty similar. From a health care professionals standpoint, bronchitis would be more acute and caused by an infection or such (unless it's chronic bronchitis, which is confusing) and asthma would be a chronic condition. Physiologically, bronchitis and asthma both have inflammation involved b... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How can the skeleton of a fat person hold all that weight? | [
"Bone is strong. And I mean REALLY strong. It would take a LOT of weight to break bones, that's why your legs don't break when you lift something heavy. However, people who are larger do have problems with their joints, because there's a layer of soft tissue between bones called cartilage that stops them from rubbi... | [
"The support is stronger than you realize, it has to be very strong to support a lot of weight from the water. It's also anchored deep in the ground as well."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is it that, so often, when using a company's customer service (say, a health insurance company), you are prompted to input a bunch of information about yourself, by an automated voice, and then when you finally get to speak to a human, you have to tell them your information all over again? | [
"It is a signifier of bad customer service. The aim here is to make reaching an actual human being so painful and tedious that you hang up in frustration. Since you never reached a human, they don't have to pay customer support costs for your call. I see this even internally (eg Kaiser, which has a phone tree which... | [
"I used to work for Apple so I can answer this one. You *are* talking to a real person. A real person that occasionally has to handle several chats at once *and* needs to stick to a very strict quality assessment. Some of those responses you are getting are canned responses yes, because that is the easiest way to g... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
That feeling you get when you're standing on the ledge of a tall building, or when a fast train passes by and you think, "what if..." | [
"It's called \"l'appel du vide,\" which is French for \"call of the void.\" It's really just curiosity. We're attracted to the unknown."
] | [
"To the molecules in your hands, feeling something cold is like being in a car that's slowing down and feeling something hot is like being in a car that is speeding up. But feeling something really hot is like being hit by a car and feeling something really cold is like hitting parked car. Either way you crash and ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text about Science:"
} |
Why do we get blisters? | [
"You know when you want to work on something outdoors, like a car or a porch, and you cover it with a tarpaulin to protect it from the weather? Blisters are nature's tarpaulins. They protect the area beneath while it is being repaired."
] | [
"Why do you have so many lips and chins?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Biology:"
} |
How do speakers create the sounds of certain instruments (drums, guitar, etc.) without actually having the physical elements of each of those instruments? | [
"A sound is just a vibration of air. A drum beat or a guitar cord are just combinations of certain air vibrations. A speaker can sound like a guitar or a drum because it can make the same air vibrations as those instruments."
] | [
"They have their own group called \"keyboard\" instruments because they use keys to produce sound. If you were physically plucking the strings, it would be a string instrument. If you were to physically hit the strings it would be a percussion instrument. AS you physically hit keys, it is a keyed instrument."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do desk measurements work? example Size 55 1/8x25 5/8 " | [
"55 and 1/8 an inches long by 25 and 5/8 inches wide. So if you are looking at it from where you sit, that’s about 4 and a half feet from right to left, and it extends just over 2 feet from you You say“by” when reading the x allowed. Measurements with this layout are always length, by width. And if there is a thir... | [
"480 is the resolution of SD 480 * 1.5 = 720 720 * 1.5 = 1080"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What happens to our bodies when we force ourselves to be a 'dead weight'? | [
"Basicly just loosening all your muscles and not assisting in movement. Since you're not using your muscles to assist in your movement, whatever or whoever is moving you has to provide all of the strength, where as otherwise you might at least be able to limp pr such to help support yourself."
] | [
"It's a body's way of letting a person know to stop being a pussy."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
why fueling an automobile can cause an explosion if its engine is running | [
"It probably can't cause an explosion. In fact it probably won't even cause a fire. However the incidence of people accidentally leaving their cars in gear and plowing into pumps greatly decreases if they turn their cars off."
] | [
"Mostly because distracted people fuck up and spill gas, creating a hazard. There is also an incredibly small chance a defective phone could create a spark, that in the presence of a dense cloud of gas vapors, could cause an explosion."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did they come up with "twin", "double", "full", "queen", and "king" for mattress sizes? | [
"A double is the same as a full. A twin is also called a single. \"Single\" and \"double\" refer to the fact that the bed is intended to be occupied by 1 or 2 people. Queen and King refer to larger sizes (King > Queen > Full), and the names imply that they're more luxurious. #As far as full and twin go? Full probab... | [
"Are you talking about derivative nouns like \"height(h)\" for \"high,\" \"warmth\" for \"warm,\" \"mirth\" for \"merry,\" \"width\" for \"wide,\" etc.?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why is the window of youth for a female (that is, the years of highest fertility) so short? | [
"Because having a baby is hard on your body. In your 40s, your body starts to ache and creak enough without carrying the extra weight of a human + fluid, and having all your organs pushed into weird places. Not to mention childbirth and recovery."
] | [
"Widely generalized and simplified since this ELI5 Youth is held at a premium, combined with social norms such as paid dating in girls as young as middle schoolers and very young pop icons the age for fetish is driven lower. Lolis also can represent innocence and and a more \"traditional\" agreeable dependent perso... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why did Turkey make their own versions of famous American movies,for example Star wars and E.T in the 80s? | [
"Cause there's profit to be made. Same reason why there's knockoff movies. Someone comes up with an idea that makes money. You can make your film of same idea and make some money"
] | [
"Avatar would probably still win because there are more people on the planet now from when Gone With the Wind was originally in theaters."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why don't we put "windmills" under water to use the endless currents of the ocean to generate power | [
"They do. Its called Hydroelectric. We mostly use dams for it. A significant portion of the world is powered this way. edit: typo"
] | [
"Whenever you see a hydroelectric dam - that is using the energy from gravity to generate electricity."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How was Shakespeare able to invent so many words, or use preexisting words in new ways? | [
"He had a Poet's License. One of the superpowers of English is that any noun can be verbed. Don't let 'em tell you otherwise. English grammar wasn't even a thing until the 19th century. It's just a construct to help foreigners get their heads wrapped around pathological stuff like \"she thought she might have wante... | [
"Typically they are words from other languages, or from older versions of our language, so they had meaning in their original context but don't in our time and place."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If I sleep for 5 hours at night and then take a 3 hour nap during the afternoon, is that the equivalent (rest wise) as getting a normal 8 hour sleep at night? | [
"Sleeping in a single 8 hour block is a product of the industrial age and was not found commonly over 200 years ago. Sleeping in two 3-5 hour increments is more natural. Any time one sleeps for in 90 minute increments they are achieving adequately restful sleep based on sleep cycles."
] | [
"It depends on what phase you wake up in during your sleep cycle. If you finish your 90 minute sleep cycle and wake up around then, even if it’s only been 3 hours, you won’t feel as tired as of you wake up in the middle of your REM cycle, even if you have already slept 7+ hours. Also some people need more sleep th... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post about Health:"
} |
Why does our sight get fuzzy when we get up too quickly from bed | [
"It is due to the change of blood pressure when changing the state of the body, this mostly happens to older people, but when changing the state quickly, it occurs with much younger people from any age."
] | [
"Partly because this helps reduce distractions so your brain can relax more easily and partly because of protection so our eyes don't dry out if we are in deep sleep or accidently brush our had across our face and scratch then when we are in light sleep."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph about Biology:"
} |
Why does orange juice mask the tast of vodka so well? | [
"Citric acid has similar flavor points to alcohol and you drink it in higher volumes, so that's what you taste."
] | [
"There's a chemical in most toothpaste that blocks your tongue's ability to taste sweet stuff. That's why orange juice tastes so bad after you brush your teeth."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Technical explanation why charging a device does not slow it down. (My brother thinks that charging his iPad slows it down). | [
"You are correct. Unless the iPad is running on low power, it should not effect the capabilities of the ipad when it is charging. The easiest way to explain it is like this: Picture a coffee maker. You have the hopper, where you put the ground coffee, and you have the water reservoir, which holds the water. Imagine... | [
"It's probably likely because modern day devices have a cut off point at which they shut off the device and tells you to charge it. If there wasn't a cut off point the battery would be allowed to drain to it's absolute zero and it would be damaged. That's why cut off points are usually a good amount above the actua... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What are those sudden, weird, sharp pains that you sometimes get, usually in your chest, out of nowhere? | [
"if they quickly come and go and feel like someone is squeezing your heart then it is not harmful. They are called precordial catch syndrome and they are not harmful as far as we know. they tend to dissipate with age. We currently do not know the cause of them."
] | [
"The feeling can and does occur in other parts of your body. I get the feeling in my upper back normally."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do black people call each other 'nigger' | [
"Well for starters it's important to remember that black people aren't a monolithic entity and that not all black people use that word. Do you and your friends sometimes call each other \"motherfuckers\" or \"fuckboys\" or \"cunts\"? It's in the same vein. The same with LGBT and the word \"queer\". A lot of people ... | [
"I don't think it does at all. People call me 'white' and not an American. So why would it be racist to call someone 'black' instead of African American?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why does fatigueness fade away after being awake for a longer period of time? | [
"One of the potential many reasons this happens is due to Cortisol which is secreted from the adrenal glands just above the kidneys. You may have heard of the body clock or the biological clock, and this is one of the things which helps this clock work. If you wake up at say 7am every morning for example then your ... | [
"Before someone talks about sleep cycles and whatnot, try drinking water when you wake up. Very possible to be under hydrated after sleeping for a long time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Sleep and its effects on the body:",
"pos": "Represent the passage about Sleep and its effects on the body:",
"neg": "Represent the passage about Sleep and its effects on the body:"
} |
How do greenhouse gases heat the earth up? | [
"Great part of the heat coming from the sun comes as visible light. Greenhouse gases don't block visible light, so additional greenhouse gases in the atmosphere don't stop visible light from entering the surface of the earth. That visible light heats the surface and the surface then re-emits the heat as infrared, w... | [
"The Earth is covered in a blanket of gasses called the atmosphere. The atmosphere helps keep the Earth warm by hugging the Earth as best it can. However, the farther away from the Earth you get (when you go up a mountain, or in space, for example), the less of a blanket you get, and the colder it is."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why does Red China think it owns the West Philippines Sea and the islands there? | [
"It's one of those [might makes right](_URL_0_) kind of situations. None of the other south east Asian nations have the military strength to oppose them. If china choses to ignore international law, not much anyone can do about it besides go to war. Even if the issue was brought to the UN, China is a permanent sec... | [
"If you are located just to the west of it, and you don't love Japan, you call it the East Sea. If you don't think China should have any claims over it, you call it the Sea of Japan."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
We all know inflation is bad, but what about deflation? What is it, and what impact would it have on the US economy? | [
"Inflation isn't bad. Too much inflation is bad. Deflation is much, much worse. Inflation means if you keep your money in the bank it is worth less over time. That means in order to save you have to put your savings to work, either by buying property or opting for long term investment. This spurs the economy and ... | [
"The US can, and sometimes does, devalue the dollar. But that comes with downsides as well as upsides. There's a time to devalue the dollar and a time to strengthen it based on the needs of the economy."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why do some seeds (eg grass) easily germinate, while other (for instance chili seeds right out of the fruit) never do. | [
"Chilis sprout. It's just that, like many of their relatives, they take their time. Multiple weeks would not be unusual."
] | [
"They can. In many cases fruit sold in stores is immature so they don't spoil during shipping. As a result the seeds don't sprout as often. Also some seeds need certain conditions before they will sprout reliably. Some need to be cold for a time and then warm to sprout -- so they will sprout in the spring, some nee... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How do we know that any one actually wins the contests advertised by companies. | [
"First, those companies *want* people to win. Having real, live people out there, from scores of $100 winners to the big jackpot winners they can put on TV, that too is part of the advertising strategy. Second, yes, running a fake contest would be a crime, and worse than that, if word got out, it would be extremely... | [
"The difference is based entirely on how many people are willing to raise Hell if you call their faith a mythology."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How is a film that is filmed at a certain resolution remastered to 1080p/blu-ray? | [
"Because film is/was much higher \"resolution\" than digital, we just never had a way to display it before. Now that we have HD televisions and monitors, and Blu-Ray, they can re-scan the original film negatives (assuming they still have them) and get the newer versions."
] | [
"You lose detail. How much detail depends on the resolution of the display. It is possible to have a high-resolution 4:3 display, however most 4:3 television displays have a low \"standard definition\" resolution of around 704×480 pixels (in the US/Canada) or 704×576 pixels (in most countries outside the US/Canada)... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Where do all the news companies get the popularity polling numbers for candidates on a weekly basis? Neither me, nor anyone I have spoken too has ever taken a poll, yet all of us intend to vote in the real election. | [
"> wouldn't these polls be pretty heavily biased based on the audience of that specific new organization? No, because these polls are conducted through random telephone calls. That's how they get a random sample that is statistically representative of the population. The result is that a few thousand responses can ... | [
"It is how the American presidential process works. We are still a *long* way from the election, and we have only had the first real political event two days ago (first debate). For this reason the person with the biggest name recognition is always the front runner. Sure there are big political names on the Republi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do movie theaters receive 4k movies? Are they giant laserdisc-sized disks or hard drives or what? | [
"[Special hard drives](_URL_0_). They're encrypted & plug into special computer systems that log every time the movie is started & stopped. This allows the film studios to audit the theaters and make sure they're only showing the movie when they should be showing it."
] | [
"Quick and dirty ELI5: the process changed over the years but magnets and tape were one of the more popular ways prior to laser on discs. Tape is still used today to store data as is magnets with disks (conventional hard drives)."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does Pepper's Ghost (tech behind the Tupac hologram) work? | [
"best ELI5 for this phenomenon goes to this magic school bus moment. _URL_1_"
] | [
"Holograms like in the movies use light to create moving images like recordings Actual holograms use lasers on a clay model to take pictures like a camera. They use special film to make it look like it's popping out at you [Here is the How It's Made on real world holograms.](_URL_0_)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
about basic greek/roman mythology | [
"I recommend clicking on [Zeus](_URL_1_) and going from there."
] | [
"I am no expert on the topic, but a wikipedia search of \"athenian forum\" may shed some light on Athenian politics. You can also use the \"simple english\" language mode for pre-made ELI5 types of encyclopedia entries. The same goes for a search of Spartan government."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
From Silicon Valley, are Weismann scores real? What do they measure? | [
"It's a valid metric that was created for the show. See [here](_URL_0_). It measures compression ratio versus compression speed. The Stanford professor who they hired is named Weissman. The algorithm the characters created that was able to dramatically shrink the file size of a large video in a matter of seconds is... | [
"Would you like to share the criticism from Kant?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Do police really have "quotas" to meet, such as X amount of tickets per month, or is this a misconception used to gear hatred towards them? | [
"Lurking forever and finally a question I can answer! I was a police officer in a suburban Nashville, TN department. I'll never forget a fellow officer that started the same day as I did asking if we had to write a certain amount of tickets a week. My Sgt. smiled and said \"Quotas are illegal, sir! However, if you ... | [
"Pragmatic function: Police departments make money by issuing fines and seizing property. Quotas are designed with this in mind, so that the department has a rough minimum expectation for how much money will flow into the department via fines. Incentivizing policing: Like any other field of work, management must en... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why didn't the Nazi's just kill the Jews instead of keeping them alive in Concentration Camps? | [
"The *Nazis* killed large numbers, shooting, gassing, injections. But you have to get rid of the bodies. They found that killing people in small quantities was inefficient and that it would take \"too long\" to get rid of them in that way. That's why killing was turned into an industrial effort. They did kill Jews ... | [
"They don't want to be known as the perpetrator of millions of deaths and ethnic cleansing."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about History:",
"pos": "Represent the argument about History:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
My neighbor recently gave me their key, and it looks just like mine. So, what's the difference? | [
"Your eye is incorrect. The grooves line up correctly; unless there's some badass novel security feature? A standard deadbolt responds to the pins being lifted up a correct height. A key lifts up specific pins to a specific height which allows the lock to turn. A standard lock has no cool badass secret sauce allowi... | [
"I believe it has something to do with the light setting off a reaction in the paint because of the materials they used when painting them. It causes it to decay and fall apart. I'm not entirely sure though, so if I'm wrong someone please correct me."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
What is it exactly about pet treats - cat cookies, dog bones etc that is so different from their regular food and makes them crave it so much more? | [
"Generally higher fat or flavor content. Its like doggie junk food, they love the taste but give them too much and its way to caloric to eat in large amounts."
] | [
"Sugar is not only about sweetness in flavor. It's also a quick and ready source of carbohydrates: energy. With that said: Not all cat foods contain added sugar. In fact many don't but some certainly do. It's a cheap and lazy way for manufactures to boost certain nutrition label figures to make the catfood look mor... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How do early investors find out about startups (Like Facebook, Google, Instagram) where they invest a few bucks early in stock and end up millionaires..while the rest of the world doesn't hear the company's name until after they make it big? | [
"They are often invited to invest. The creators of the companies will need extra cash to grow their business, and they will reach out to people. These could be friends, family, former colleagues etc. Facebook even gave out stock to people who provided services for free, such as [providing artwork for the walls](_UR... | [
"The same way every other startup affords stuff - they get stacks of cash from investors. The investors hope to get rich by either cashing in on an IPO or selling out to an industry giant like Google. The founders of the company were 3 early employees of Paypal, so they brought a fair chunk of their own cash to the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How can a surge protector turn one outlet into several safely, but plugging a surge protector into each of those outlets is unsafe? | [
"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... | [
"The main reason is that electrical outlets in North America usually have little bumps inside them and the bumps slide into the holes when you insert a plug, effectively gripping the plug so that it does not fall out easily. It also serves other practical uses. For example, you can install a locking mechanism on th... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Electrical plugs and their design:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Electrical plugs and their design:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Electrical appliances:"
} |
why Lcd monitors become hard to use when you tilt them 90 degrees | [
"Because when at 90 degrees you are unable to see the screen due to it being perpendicular to your line of sight. The only thing you'll be seeing is the side of the monitor."
] | [
"You can definitely perceive the difference between a 60hz, 120hz, and 240hz led tv. Maybe you are thinking of frame rate? I would not buy a 60hz led tv you'll definitely notice ghosting and stuttering."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What exactly went wrong when you have to use the pinhole reset switch on an MP3 player? What exactly does that little switch do? | [
"There are times when software gets confused and lost. When it is lost it doesn't know how to get back to home, and home the only place it knows how to \"be an mp3 player\". Pressing the reset button is like having a GPS tracker on someone who's lost - when you press it, you swoop in, pick the software up and plunk... | [
"How would you know which button was the bottom button if they didn't put one on?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Is Bottled Water a Scam? | [
"I think many people are losing the point of your question. When you ask if bottled water is a scam I am thinking that you are asking is there a real reason to drink bottled water vs tap water. This entirely depends on where you live. The tap water I grew up with was from a well and tested to be safe to drink. Drin... | [
"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 post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
What does DirectX do? | [
"Like you're five. Ok. Imagine you want to draw a picture, but you can only do it by plotting a single dot with a pencil at a time. If you want to draw a square, you'd have to put lots of little dots on a row to make one side of the square and then repeat that 3 times to make the other sides. DirectX (and OpenGL, t... | [
"> Is there anything more to it? Turn left."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
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