query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Why is it okay to call a guy a dick but it isnt ok to call a girl a cunt? | [
"Men have a history of being a more in power group so calling us a dick is calling us the more in power genital Similar to calling non whites a slur compared to calling a white a cracker. Yes its still a racial slur but as whites are more the more in power group its harder to be offended Tl;dr I have no idea what I... | [
"Christopher Hitchens explained it as men need to be funny to get laid and women don't. Men have to have all sorts of tricks up their sleeve to be appealing to the opposite sex. Women just have to show up. He said it's not that women don't have a sense of humour, it's just that men are naturally funnier than women.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Do i lose my information on the cloud if the data storage center where my data is stored is destroyed | [
"Typically, a good cloud storage provider will have data backed up/replicated to other data centers. Plus, multiple layers of redundancy throughout their servers, disks, network equipment, etc. I don't know the specifics of what Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc have in place. I would assume they could still withstand... | [
"Because the entire operating system must be downloaded before implemented. If it wasnt there would be no os to finish the download. Once the download is complete the os writes and is no longer taking up hd space, besides most of what the old os took up itself."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
If colors are defined by wavelengths of light, how do they combine to form new colors? | [
"The ear has many detectors with narrow response frequency for each detector. The eye has 3 detectors that each have wide ranges of frequencies that evoke a response around the peak."
] | [
"When we talk about \"colours\", we are actually talking about our perception of frequencies of electromagnetic waves. These enter our eyes, but only those with wavelengths 400-700nM are detected and signals sent to the brain. EM waves outside this range are not processed, but some animals can detect these, and see... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why is drawing paper grainy ? | [
"The surface texture of paper (especially drawing paper) is called *tooth*, and it heavily affects the mark that your drawing instrument leaves. A rougher (coldpress) tooth will more readily absorb watercolors, for example, which will prevent them from running or from blotting, giving you crisp and clean lines. You... | [
"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:"
} |
Why do some TV shows have a sign language interpreter on the screen? Why can't they just use subtitles? | [
"As far as the interpreter goes, though, some deaf people may prefer it because they're accessing information in their own language (one that is readily accessible)... English is usually the second language learned for deaf people, so that may be a secondary choice."
] | [
"Closed captioning is when the audio (dialogue and incidental music and side effects) is transcribed, usually intended for use by Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. If I'm not mistaken, \"closed\" means that it is already written as opposed to live captioning you might see on the news."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Can a person actually be scared to death? | [
"I think so. If someones physical condition is bad they might get a heart attack due to the adrenaline. Otherwise I think it is not possible. _URL_0_ Edit: link"
] | [
"To put it simply and briefly, your mind is going to freak out when you wake up and are unable to move."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Psychology:"
} |
How can companies like Samsung and Microsoft make commercials that defame the iPhone and iPad without any legal consequences? | [
"Well technically they are not 'defaming' the products, as that only applies to people (EDIT: and corporations). Commercials seem to have a lot of leeway. To get them in trouble, you would have to prove that they were lying, that they knew about it, and they couldn't just weasel out of it by saying that it was sim... | [
"Apple also creates their own operating systems for their phones, not just the hardware. If they feel they invented the concept of pinching to zoom before Samsung did and that Samsung stole that idea from them, then that's why they would sue."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
When driving, why can I come to a full stop by hitting the brakes, let go of the brakes, and have the car move forward for a bit by itself? | [
"It's not momentum. Cars with an automatic transmission will move when they are in drive, whether you are pushing the gas pedal or not."
] | [
"The 'emergency brake' has nothing to do with 'emergencies'. It's used to keep the car from rolling when you park on a hill. If you try to use your emergency brake at speed, normally you just burn it out."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why do people fidget? (like playing with a pencil, shaking their leg, etc) | [
"Some people explain fidget behavior as something that is self stimulating, and it's thought of as a behavior that helps to calm or regulate your system if there is a feeling of anxiety. It also can help you to focus. Some students with ADHD find having a fidget to keep their hands busy in class allows them to pay ... | [
"We generally like to either do something with our hands, or put them somewhere out of sight/mind. This includes folding our arms, tucking our hands behind our backs, or putting our hands in our pockets. Most people cannot stand holding their hands at their side for long as they believe it looks awkward."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why can't there be a company that starts mass-producing PCs so that all games are shaped to their standards(Like Xbox or PlayStation)? | [
"There's not a lot of room out there for a new console. Sony and MS (and I guess Nintendo) pretty much have the market on lockdown. There's a pretty significant financial barrier to entry in a new game console. Steam is trying to do exactly this with their SteamBox. It's success is TBD."
] | [
"Is taking that was originally played on a platform ie PlayStation or PC and making a version that can be played on on another like Xbox or on arcades especially older games."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why do batteries start working again if I roll them or turn the device off and on? | [
"A little bit of corrosion can build up between the contacts and the battery preventing electricity from moving through. Spinning or scratching them removes the corrosion and you get a fresh contact area and it starts working again."
] | [
"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 sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
If honey is pure sugar, why is it healthy? | [
"It's not, is the simplest answer. Honey is processed liquid sugar and isn't any better than drinking the same calories of mountain dew. It's especially bad for babies as it frequently contains botulism spores. Adults and older children can deal with them but babies will get very sick and possibly die. As far as ac... | [
"It's the sugar. Queen Elizabeth I had black teeth by the time she was middle aged due to her appetite for sugary sweets. Before sugar was discovered, honey was the universal sweetener. Yes, it's sugary, but also limited in availability."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How are ads like "you're the 1000000th visitor click here to claim your prize" legal? Isn't that like false advertising? | [
"they don't get reported. if you were in charge of declaring ads illegal, would you occupy yourself with technically harmless internet advertising? sucks, you wouldn't have a choice."
] | [
"Clickbait. Maybe it leads to a program where you 'just stay at home and send e-mails/letters!' Only you need to send hundreds or thousands a day to make any real money Maybe it leads to a 'Super awesome guide to making youtube money through google!' Except that guide costs you $5.99 to purchase Wherever it leads y... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Can a hand spinner break the wall of sound ? | [
"Aside: Non-native speaker? The term in English is usually \"the sound barrier\". There's no reason why not, in principle, but chances are you don't have enough muscle-power to get it spinning fast enough for the tip speed to be supersonic - quite apart from /u/Concise_Pirate's point about the mechanical stresses o... | [
"Friction, no air flow, and it's one of the warmer parts of your body. Cannot believe I answered that..."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How do illegal Immigrants live in the US. | [
"Regardless of their status, every child in America has a legal right to a K-12 education. There was a supreme court case that makes it illegal for schools to require anything only a legal citizen could obtain (social security number) or inquire about anything that may out their parents as illegal immigrants. Housi... | [
"Where do you mean? Europe? The US? Middle East? Africa? Eastern Asia?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What does but mean when my network says "Connected, no internet"? | [
"It means that you are connected to your home router, but your home router doesn't have any Internet connectivity. So, you can reach other things on your home network, just nothing outside of it."
] | [
"The network may have multiple access points, lots of devices will connect to a certain access point and hang on until they are kicked off. & #x200B; Disconnecting and reconnecting will force your phone to connect to the strongest source."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why do we (in the U.S.) have a National Forest Service AND a National Parks Service? | [
"No. They are very different things. A park is for people. It's about recreation -- going somewhere to do and see things. A national forest is for nature. Sure, people can go there and enjoy it, but tourists aren't the reason it's there. This is reflected in the fact that it's not just two agencies, but they are un... | [
"Ok this might get a bit complicated so I hope I can make it simple. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, CIA, NSA, DIA are part of the Department of Defense. Homeland Security is it's own Department it also contains the TSA, Border Patrol and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). FBI, ATF, Marshals, DEA are part... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
ExplaintomelikeI'm5 what is the difference between 3G and 4G connections | [
"Simply put, the difference is speed. 4G connections support faster data speeds than 3G connections."
] | [
"> ELI5: Why does turning down the radio help us 'see' the address better? ELI born today WTF the question is about."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does the air above a campfire always look wavy and distorted? | [
"4 Years old post, but it is due to refraction and differences in air density apparently _URL_0_"
] | [
"The atmosphere, or the air surrounding the earth, is made up of gasses. Do you know how when you look at a long distance, especially when it is hot, and the air looks like it is wavering or shimmering and objects are distorted? The same sort of thing is happening when the stars twinkle, the light is affected by at... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
When it is windy outside, why does the indoor toilet water swash around. | [
"It's because in order for you drains to work properly, they have to be vented. In many (most?) places, code says the vent goes up to the roof. Since the vent is, by definition, open to the air, the gusts of wind will change the air pressure in the vent, which translates to pulses of pressure in the pipes and up to... | [
"I put the lid down when I am done so that when I flush it doesn't spray particulate feces and urine across everything within five feet of the toilet. Nothing to do with females."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about Question about public women's toilets:"
} |
What is that low humming/ringing sound we hear shortly after a TV or other device is shut off? | [
"Every electronic device vibrates due to electronic collisions in the circuitry. It’s why you hear buzzing in overhead power lines. When electrons hit something, part of the kinetic energy transfer is lost as a pressure wave, ie, sound. In the case of TVs, radios, and phones, it just means the emitted pressure wave... | [
"Some kind of electromagnetic interference most likely. Same reason why speakers sometimes start making weird noises when you have the phone right next to them and receive a text message/call."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How do the chemicals in LSD change the way your brain sees life? | [
"First off LSD is a chemical by the name [Lysergic acid diethylamide]. (_URL_0_) Why does it change a persons perception? Simple answer is it temporarly changes a persons brain chemistry. Most every thing you put in your body has some effect on your brain. A candy bar might create a blood sugar spike affecting your... | [
"Psychoactive chemicals react with receptors in your brain and cause processes which produce pleasure. As a matter of fact, drinking does make you happier."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
What's the difference between logarithm and exponential equation? | [
"They are separate operations. If b^(x) = y, then log_b(y) = x. In the first equation, you're given b and x and need to determine y. In the second, you're given b and y and need to determine x. What you know determines which operation you need to do to find the unknown quantity."
] | [
"e is so special because the y coordinate of the function y=e^x at a certain point is also the slope at that point. So the slope at x=3 will be e^3. This property of e and the natural log are very useful when solving problems in calculus involving exponents and such."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about mathematics:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph about mathematics:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why is our first reaction to pain to grab the body part that is causing discomfort? | [
"This is called the \"gate control theory of pain\". Basically, non-painful input closes the \"gates\" to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the central nervous system. Therefore, stimulation by non-noxious input is able to suppress pain. More here: _URL_0_"
] | [
"Pain is your body's way to tell you to stop whatever you're doing. Pain from holding your breath is your body telling you to stop holding your breath."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Biology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Biology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What's the difference between the Canadian and American health care systems? | [
"In Canada heath care is considered a human right. In the United States it's considered a commodity."
] | [
"It's a big system. It also carries a bit from state to state. Are you interested in the application process? Policy? Logistics?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do cats swish their tails back and forth when they're playing with a toy or another cat? | [
"I strongly disagree with the two answers that have been given. The answer for cats is the same for dogs - a wagging/swishing tail means they are ready to interact. How they wag/swish their tail is a clue to how they plan to interact (to play, to fight, to discipline, to get attention/love, etc.). That is how their... | [
"Typically this is something that young kittens do to make milk flow more freely while they're with their mother. In older cats it's a sign of the cat being particularly at ease in its surroundings. Sometimes you'll even see a cat appear to lick the blanket at the same time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
When a download stops (e.g due to loss of connection) why can't someone continue where hey left off? | [
"You can, as long as your browser and the sending server support it. There is no technical reason why this shouldn't be possible."
] | [
"It has nothing to do with the file. It depends on whether or not the program says it's done with the file. Your word processor says \"hey I'm using this file\" for as long as it's open; apparently, your media player says it's done as soon as the song is loaded."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Facebook spam accounts that send you friend requests - who is making them and why? | [
"People pay for likes and promoting, so spam accounts are created and because they need to be believable they add random people, like a ton of stuff, but rarely have more than 1 or 2 photos."
] | [
"> and no matter how much I report them as spam, they won't go away. Well of course not. Someone paid Reddit to promote the posts, they aren't going to remove them because you report them as advertising."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What exactly is going on in Mexico right now in terms of the missing/murdered students? And why were they killed? What for? | [
"The students were on their way to protest some politician that was trying to get elected. He told some corrupt police that were under his influence to arrest the students. After arresting them, the students were turned over to a drug gang and the drug gang was told that they were from a rilval drug gang - the drug... | [
"I have a simple question. Why Paris, again? I understand why terrorists did the shooting at Charlie Hebdo last time. But why Paris this time? Do we know that yet?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does it seem like the character trope of "insane" conspiracy theorist always seems to be coupled with right libertarian values. (Both in fiction and reality.) | [
"Possibly because so many conspiracy theories involve anti-government themes. This would put the 'conspiracy nut' in agreement with much of the Libertarian party platform, though accidentally, given the the thought process and use of information. One theme involves world government, usually pairing up multiple head... | [
"Because they don't trust the government at all. That explains a lot of conspiracy theories. I know someone who hates the government (especially federal) and believes it was faked. Also a lot of his other beliefs are intertwined with his dislike of the government. But also, because some people just want to stand ou... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How come massive ice sheets covered most of North America, but not eastern Russia and Siberia during the Ice Age? | [
"As shown by [this image](_URL_0_) large portions of the area are covered, just not as solidly as North America. Note also that not all of nearby Alaska is covered either. Precipitation patterns greatly effect ice formation, if no snow falls the ice can't accumulate. So in the areas ice free the most likely cause ... | [
"You are basically correct. The global climate has changed many times, and parts of the Middle East used to be much more fertile than now. In addition, parts have moved around, and parts have come up that used to be underwater. Almost nothing was the same 100 million years ago."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about History:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about History:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
why after closing my eyes for at least 30 second in the sun makes me see the light of the sun white/blueish color not the normal yellow ? | [
"Because the light coming through your eyelids is more to the red end of the spectrum (flesh/blood filtering). Your red light receptors are a little \"depleted\" for lack of a better term, and when you open your eyes it take a little moment for the colour balance to be restored in your eye's receptors."
] | [
"The picture doesn't emit light to hurt your eyes, it's just white/yellow where the sun is in the picture."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why did the US care so much about not letting Cuba, parts of Latin America, Vietnam, and other parts of the world become communists? | [
"Basically, the view was that the Soviet Union was trying to take over the world and that it had to be contained. The communist world was seen as a monolithic bloc. If a country became communist, it was considered to be merely part of a vast Soviet empire spreading out across the globe. Communists in Latin America ... | [
"Same reason no one interfered with US invasion of Dominican Republic. It was our sphere of influence. Just like Eastern Europe was USSR's. No one was willing to risk global war. During the Cold War it was the countries more distant (Vietnam, Angola, etc) that were really up for grabs and fought over. The Truman Do... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is there blue raspberry flavored candy, but not the typical red raspberry flavored candy? | [
"Blue raspberry is not an actual fruit. It is flavored to taste of raspberry but colored blue to distinguish it from cherry, strawberry, and watermelon which are also shades of red/pink."
] | [
"There is a pink lemon, but it's not used. Pink lemonade is just normal lemonade colored pink. It's dyed using artificial dye, raspberries, cherries, red grapefruit, grapes, cranberries, strawberries, grenadine, or, as in the origin story, cinnamon candy. The flavor may or may not be different."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why can't we eradicate "pesky" species? | [
"At least we finally got rid of those pesky black rhinos. God I hated those things."
] | [
"Why are there so many questions that amount to \"why are people different?\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
What does it mean that the US dollar is backed by silver/gold? | [
"The US dollar is not backed by gold of silver any more. In the past, the dollar was backed by gold. You could take a paper bill to the bank and get a gold coin of the same denomination. The government promised to sell you gold at a fixed price. Now the dollar floats, like other currencies."
] | [
"> I know we have reserves of gold, which determine the wealth of the nation. No, our currency is a fiat currency. Its not backed up by gold. The gold at Fort Knox is a part of our currency. The wealth of the U.S. government is managed by the Federal Reserve. There isn't a \"bank account\". We lend people internati... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
If I was to cut my armpit hair in half, how would it know to grow back? | [
"It doesn't \"know\" anything that happens to it. It grows to a certain length and then stops. And then a little while later it falls out. The hairs would stay at half length for a bit and one by one, they would fall out and start re-growing. They wouldn't all fall out at one time. Some of the hairs you have right... | [
"Hairs don't stop at a maximum length, they just fall out when they've grown for a certain amount of time. Then a new hair starts growing in it's place. So the maximum length of a hair is the amount of time it can grow before being shed times its growth rate. If you have a dog or a cat you might have noticed that i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Biology:"
} |
Why can people admit to crimes on documentaries and not get convicted? | [
"They ~~couldn't~~ [Edit: probably wouldn't] be prosecuted on their statements alone. They would just plead the fifth and say they were lying before. To be prosecuted there would have to be physical proof of their illegal activity."
] | [
"Only mildly related, but when I saw that title, I imagined a boy band fighting an alien hunter in the jungle, and assumed it was a parody series. As for Chris Hansen and his hard-on (pun intended) for catching child molesters, I'm not 100% sure how legal it is. I imagine that these people are foolishly giving thei... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Law and Entertainment:",
"pos": "Represent the passage about Law and Entertainment:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What makes cabinets ridiculously expensive? | [
"Two things: First: they don't make a lot of cabinets. How many new kitchens (or remodels) happen each year? Second: your cabinets are made to order. Nobody sane would stock all 46 cabinet elements in the 20 possible stains and 35 possible styles. Things get cheaper when you can make thousands or millions of the ... | [
"The answer to your question is really VERY simple. It is cheaper to build bathrooms without floor to ceiling stalls."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Will Amendment 2 passing in Florida cause street marijuana prices to drop? | [
"Medical Marijuana here in Nevada passed a decade ago, but we didn't get dispensaries until about a year and a half ago (politics). With the prevalence of dispensaries here in Las Vegas that we didn't have before, it didn't affect the prices of street marijuana to change because what was obtainable in dispensaries ... | [
"1. Marijuana is not actually legal in Texas yet. The bill has not passed, only the people who decide what lawmakers are allowed to vote on said that they could vote on it. 2. Four states have legalized Marijuana. 3. The move is driven by small-government conservatives who believe that it's not up to the state to d... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why does it seem like most animals run away from humans but are fine being around all other animals? | [
"Because they have learned we have a pretty bad habit of murdering them?"
] | [
"We don't look or act like their predators. Its the same reason Penguins walk right up to us. They've also learned over time that we will go out of our way to not harm them. The same reason that birds in cities will often just hang around on sidewalks and not fly off when people approach."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
RGB lines when you take a picture of your monitor | [
"That's called a Moire pattern. _URL_0_ Your monitor has a certain resolution, which you can think of as a grid of squares. Your camera's sensor also has a resolution, which is a different grid of squares. When you overlay them, they won't line up perfectly. Some squares (pixels) on your camera might be filled comp... | [
"hmmm... I guess a very simple way of saying this is that the computer is ‘drawing’ all the things in each frame of the video."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does toilet paper get wrinkly as you near the end of the roll? | [
"Didn’t work with toilet paper but when I worked at a factory (think tape and other assorted things) I worked on a winder line. Sometimes when the rolls were not tightened on all the way (without getting into too much detail) they would wrinkle, but depending on what type of adhesive the tp manufacturer uses it cou... | [
"Get a paper towel and get it wet. You can wring it out, squeeze it, unfold it, and it retains its shape. Try the same with toilet paper, and you'll find that it just falls apart - you can't wring it out and get back to the original shape. Similarly, toilet paper breaks down in a toilet because it's supposed to br... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why does peanut butter only stick to the roof of my mouth, and not the other surfaces i.e. My cheek? | [
"Someone will have a much more scientific explanation, I'm sure, but do this test for me: * Open your mouth wide. Swallow any excess saliva. * Breathe in deeply a few times. Four or five times should do it, just until your breath starts to feel \"cold\" and you start getting the urge to close your mouth again. * No... | [
"If you lick your fingers or get them wet before touching the gum, it doesn't stick as much. It doesn't stick to the inside of your mouth because of the layer of saliva preventing it from coming in to direct contact with the surfaces."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why is it seemingly easier to port a PS2 game to PS4 than a PS3 game? | [
"The Playstation 3 had a very unique architecture that, when properly utilized, allowed performance far beyond what you'd expect from the hardware inside. The two big downsides were: * It's all unique to the PS3 and *very* low-level stuff, so porting a game means re-writing huge chunks of code that interfaced with ... | [
"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 Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The difference between the placebo effect and confirmation bias? | [
"Placebo effect is someone believing they are getting better even when they've been given a fake medicine...they get better simply because they think they're taking medicine. Confirmation bias is believing only those things that line up with a preconceived notion that you have, and ignoring evidence that contradict... | [
"They don’t. It’s been studied and the idea that they do is a combination of confirmation bias and misunderstanding of probability."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why are there so many Republican candidates, and only three Democratic candidates? | [
"Clinton has been the frontrunner for the 2016 nomination since approximately January 2009. Because everyone knew that a well-organized, well-funded candidate with high name-recognition going to run, long-shot candidates didn't want to sink a lot of time and money (plus make enemies) by challenging her when they ha... | [
"Nobody wants to challenge Hilary. She's got a huge pile of cash and one of the most recognizable names in the country. Beating her would be very difficult, which is why so few people are willing to try."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How did the US become the military powerhouse that it is? Has it been a military force since it's existence? | [
"I will explain like via the medium of pictures! _URL_1_ German factory in 1945. _URL_0_ American factory in 1945."
] | [
"The British Empire was arguably one of the vehicles that enabled the virtual extinction of the slave trade. That must rank fairly high in a list of good things. In India, Suttee and the rigid caste system were broken under British rule, and similar improvements could probably be found for most of the other territo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about World Affairs:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about World Affairs:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What is that pain in your stomach when you run? | [
"If I understand you correctly, you mean \"Side stitch\": The pain comes from the splen, after heavy physical exercise the increasing blood flow in the slen causes the pain."
] | [
"Why do the glands in my neck burn like high hell when I'm holding back tears?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How is Apple avoiding anti-trust laws in the E.U., while Google is under scrutiny for making their search engine the default? | [
"I'm not sure what you are asking. Apple doesn't run a search engine so I can't understand how they would possibly be considered to give it an unfair advantage."
] | [
"To quote the article you cited: \"Amazon’s decision to limit the sale of Google and Amazon streaming devices probably doesn’t rise to the level of an antitrust violation, because consumers will still have options for buying Apple and Google products at other places.\" Add in the fact that other devices from other ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why do we get those "scabs" in our noses and what's a good remedy for them? | [
"it's dry skin... that's why you get them during allergy season or the winter. i'm sorry i don't really have a good remedy. I'd be interested in that as well"
] | [
"Sounds like dehydration. It can do a lot of fucked up stuff to you. Headaches for sure. Do you breathe from your mouth when you sleep? The combination of both could probably dry out your throat quite a bit overnight overnight. Maybe look into a humidifier as well."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do modern cars not have accurate gasoline gauges? | [
"*Phil Pierron, Technical Expert for Systems Engineering in Core Fuel Systems for FORD MOTORS, “Our customers really didn’t want to run out of fuel when they hit ‘E.’ Customers do want some amount of fuel when they get to ‘E.’”* Essentially, customers demanded gas gauges that are innacurate. They like seeing it sta... | [
"Unlike gas, your car isn't designed to burn through oil. Putting a gauge on the dashboard that *shouldn't ever move* is just adding cost & clutter to the instrument panel. You've already got an easy way to check your oil levels - the dipstick in your engine compartment. Check it every time you buy gas if you're wo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
how can an illegal immigrant be put on probation? | [
"If the police deport illegal immigrants, anyone who hangs out with illegal immigrants will not want to talk to the police, for fear that their friends might get deported. So many local police departments have a policy of not dealing with immigration issues."
] | [
"Well, there's a difference between state and federal law in the US. If you break a state law and get sentenced to jail time - > state prison If you break a federal law and get sentenced to jail time - > federal prison"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
How can a company like Amazon that loses money have a stock that continually rises? | [
"Amazon only loses money in the sense it doesn't show a profit. It reinvests money back into itself making it more valuable they just don't take money out. Its like if you had a business making cakes and had $1000 of sales of which it cost you $800 in supplies, rent and paying staff, so you have an extra $200. You ... | [
"Mostly it is inefficiency in the market and demand for the stock. There are financial theories to support very high multiples, mostly related to the growth rate of the company. However, the company can grow faster than the industry for only so long and the industry can grow faster than the economy as a whole for o... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What determines the "shape" of the glare of a star has in a picture? (usually a "x" or a "+") | [
"They are caused by the aperture or support beams and are called diffraction spikes. _URL_0_"
] | [
"If the light source isn't an infinitesimal point, then around the edges of the shadow are spots where only *part* of the light source is visible. For example, the sun appears about half a degree wide from earth, so a shadow from the sun cast 10 feet will have a blurry area about 1 inch wide between the totally sha... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
What is black ice and how does it form compared to normal ice | [
"Black Ice is simply regular ice on top of a black material, usually asphalt. It does the same things, apply pressure and the top layer becomes water causing you to slide. It is considered dangerous because you cannot see it, as easily. edit:Grammar"
] | [
"A lot of it has to do with humidity, the surface the ice forms on, how quickly the temperature drops, cloud coverage, to sum it up, there are a lot of factors that influence the appearance of ice formations."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does confetti make the video quality go waaay down in a video? | [
"video compression works by identifying portions of a video frame which stay the same between the previous frame and current one, or by identifying portions which haven't changed in appearance much but have moved over a few pixels. taking advantage of temporal features like this is why videos are much smaller than ... | [
"You mean when you start a new video? It's becomes HD every time I enter full screen."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is taking an aspirin before the surgery harmful? | [
"It prevents your blood from clotting properly! Hence, if you want to walk out of the surgery without blood gushing from your wounds you shouldn't take an aspirin right before it :) EDIT: words"
] | [
"Aspirin stops the formation of enzymes that cause the pain sensation in the body. It is known as a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor. COX creates a compound called prostaglandins, some prostaglandins activate pain stimulation in neurons, your nerves. All aspirin will work in the same way regardless of which you buy. ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What is the science behind the feeling of butterflies in your stomach? | [
"It's caused by a reduction of blood flow to the stomach. This is a result of the release of adrenaline (when going into the “fight or flight” response) which causes increased heart rate and blood pressure, consequently sending more blood to the muscles."
] | [
"Try eating some food before hand. Some people experience pretty bad stomach aches when drinking water on an empty stomach."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What can happen to a person if they lie in bed for an extended period of time (they are not ill) (Personal Issue involved) [Serious] | [
"That's a weekend. It ain't gonna hurt her, unless maybe she isn't getting up to use the bathroom. Sounds like she may be depressed--or, if she *can't* speak, may be having a neurological episode of some other kind."
] | [
"What we consider to be normal behavior or the normalization of behavior is usually very conscious and the result of effort. Remove inhibitions from the equation and personality differences become more exaggerated between individuals and less consistent within a particular individual. Source: My mom is an alcoholic... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about alcohol and behavior:"
} |
Considering my understanding of the term only goes so far, what would a movie or video game played or filmed from a "second-person" perspective look like? | [
"The only thing I can really come up with is the old school text-based games. **You have full health** **You head toward a clearing in the east** **You are eaten by a grue**"
] | [
"I'm not sure I agree with your premise, other than as has been mentioned the subjective aspect of perception which is going to vary for everyone. But aside from that, why do you think a mirror and/or photographs aren't \"accurate\" representations?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
The link between autism and vaccination | [
"A doctor said it once, so celebs jumped on board and made a bunch of noise. It's been pretty much established that the doctor had no legitimate evidence -- he was even stripped of his license. Vaccinate your kids."
] | [
"This is an old wives tale. There is no evidence of cravings supplementing nutritional deficiencies."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do people hide their license plate when selling their vehicle but not always their VIN? | [
"The VIN number only shows who manufactured the car and what model it is. The licence plate tells you what state the car is in and, if someone is thorough, it can reveal the location. You don't want randoms knowing where you live."
] | [
"Many types of purchases can be hard to track down. For example, if a criminal orders a bunch of stuff to a random persons porch, and then swipes it, the online store won't know who ordered the package Or a gift card purchase using a stolen card/number: at best you will have a blurry camera picture of a random dud... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How does a computer know to turn back on after you tell it to restart? | [
"When a computer turns on, it is hard wired to check a small memory chip on the motherboard for instructions. Those instructions are very basic and tell the computer where to look for things like memory and hard/solid state drives. The computer checks out everything attached to the mother board and eventually check... | [
"Depends what you mean. If you press the button and let the system go through its shutdown process everything should be fine. If you hold it for a few seconds and force the system to just shut down in the middle of what its doing you risk data corruption."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Technology:"
} |
Where do governments borrow money from? | [
"There are a whole bunch of entities that lend governments money. The major ones are: * Themselves. One of the major holders of US government debt is the US Social Security system, for instance. * Other countries. You can simultaneously owe money to someone and be owed money by them, and there are a few countries (... | [
"Most police departments are taxpayer funded. Where do you think the money is going to come from?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What does our music sound like to our dogs/ cats, can they comprehend it beyond "sound"? | [
"\"Soft melodies\" like classical music or easy listening *can* be soothing to most animals because it's a soft sound that is persistent, but dubstep and bass-and-drum heavy music are less likely to be soothing, just like they are less relaxing to us — but with the fact that they don't know that human music is not ... | [
"Finally! Something I can answer! Notice many of the things you hate to hear a very high pitched? well just think, a human scream is about 3000 hz and most of the things that people \"cringe to hear\" are around that frequency. I think you can guess why you hate it! As always, it's all because of your ancestors!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Where do cities store those big concrete traffic barriers they put up during construction? | [
"[They're called k-rails, or jersey barriers.](_URL_2_). Nope there's a municipal or roadworks depot (maybe where you see those domes used for storing sand and salt) somewhere where there will be a big stack of them. They could be owned by the road construction company or the municipality, or the regional/highway p... | [
"Construction areas can be confusing, especially at night. People have a habit of following dump trucks off the pavement into the work area because the truck is well lit, visible, and moves like he knows where he needs to be. Source: I drive gravel trucks for a road crew in the summers"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How many bowel movements a day should an active physically individual have? | [
"Rule of 3s. Any more than 3 times a day seek medical help. Any less than once every 3 days seek medical help."
] | [
"It may be the result of some underlying medical problem like magnesium or potassium deficiency, but it might also be from something as simple as muscle inactivity. If I were you, I would just eat more fruits and vegetables and stretch every day. Are you an active person?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage about Health and Wellness:"
} |
How will the economy still function when automation takes the majority of jobs and nobody has money to purchase anything? | [
"Automation taking the majority of jobs will quickly lead to an economic situation called [post-scarcity](_URL_0_), where the majority of people's needs and most of people's wants will be satisfied at little to no cost. The capitalist economic system you're familiar with, with free markets and money, is fundamental... | [
"Automation HAS replaced a majority of the workforce already. How many people do you know that work on farms? Everyone used to work on farms no very few do. How many people do you know that make clothes? everyone used to do that now almost no one does. Automation isn't new, it's been replacing jobs for generations.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
What happens to all the single-use throwaway accounts on Reddit? | [
"They don't get recycled--there would be no point and it's not worth the risk since it could be a security issue if someone used their real information to register for a throwaway."
] | [
"Are all of your electronic made by Apple?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Prior to modern technology, how did humans know the Earth is round? | [
"The ancient Greeks famously knew it because ships leaving their nation would disappear bottom first on the horizon. Therefore, Earth cannot possibly be flat."
] | [
"The actual reason for this phenomenon is roughly understood. One of the leading theories for this behavior is that it imitates their spaceships. The ones they used over 2000 years ago to make contact with the ancient Egyptians and enslaved them to create beautiful statues."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why is the Grand Canyon so wide if the river that carved it out is so small? | [
"Well, the thing is that the river probably wasn't always a river. The true history of the canyon is the subject of some debate, and the most extreme data sets put its age somewhere around 70million years old (though a more conservative, and likely more accurate age is closer to 17millions years old), but it's very... | [
"All kinds of geologic forces push the fossils into the ground. Faults (earthquakes) usally bend and crack the crust that causes the fossils to become deeper. Also, layers of sediment end up on top of the fossils. Over millions of years the sediments really builds up and the fossils can end up very deep down. This ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do magnet links for torrents work? | [
"Basically, a magnet link for torrents is that something you download in one place by a particular name, will be the exact same thing as if you downloaded it somewhere else by the same name (I say \"name\", but in reality it is a \"hash code\"). For example, if on Pirate Bay you downloaded a torrent named Example12... | [
"The reason is that they do not host illegal files. They index them which puts them in the same grey area as search engines like Google and Bing. In fact, the pirate bay doesn't even host the torrent files, they provide magnet links. When they fail to respond to DMCA and other copyright takedown requests is when t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Evolution vs. Christianity? | [
"There is an \"theistic evolution\" argument that basically says, God set the process into place but as a science teacher, I would like to point out that religion and science are explaining things in different ways. Science is looking for a natural explanation and God is a supernatural being. Therefore, science and... | [
"Check out Robert E. May's *Manifest Destiny's Underworld*."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
how can you throw 59 missiles and only kill 6 people and also not destroying all the runway? | [
"The missiles are not that big and not designed to work efficiently on concrete and earthworks. The people on the base were warned before the attack and had either evacuated from the base or hidden in bunkers. And a runway is very difficult to completely destroy. A single missile can only make a small crater. And t... | [
"duuhhhh hire the best big oil drilling team alive to land a ship on it drill a hole deep enough to put a nuke in the middle and the blow it in half narrowly missing earth with both pieces"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How is time considered an illusion? | [
"An important thing to note is that time is just the process of change, which exists instantaneously through the fourth dimension. Think of yourself as a centipede moving through time, linked only by the fact that you're one static form. That's how time actually is. As we perceive it though- through stored memorie... | [
"In general it is the belief that there is no inherent purpose or value in existence."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why do sandwiches taste better when someone else makes it? | [
"Because you're not very good at making sandwiches, apparently. I don't agree that a sandwich made by someone else is better, all ingredients being the same I always prefer a sandwich that I made myself over one made by someone else."
] | [
"Do you also cough when eating popsicles and frankfurters/hot dogs? If so, it might be your technique."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do clocks sometimes tick one second backwards? | [
"I'm at work too ;) Is this a real thing, I have experienced it but I don't think they generally tick backwards?"
] | [
"They didn't. Even modern mechanical watches need to be reset once a week or so, and it was common for early clocks to gain or lose 15 minutes a day. You just had to set it a lot."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why do people put a shirt or towel in the window of their abandoned cars on the interstate? | [
"It means your car broke down and wasn't abandoned. Your hazards will only work until the battery dies. It let's the police know your intent to come back to retrieve the car. As long as it's off road, or not on private property you may buy yourself a few days without getting towed."
] | [
"Hello, This is very popular in Korea! They are drying the beans that they grew in their garden for making soups and other stuff. Your neighbor is very considerate to put them on a car. Here in Korea, they just lay a tarp out and place them in the middle of parking lots and on side walks. It gets very chaotic."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What does DJ Khaled do? | [
"He's a producer, but a particularly obnoxious one. Many rap producers use \"producer drops\", which are basically little sound loops and samples they repeat in all their songs, kind of like their signature. One of the more obvious examples I can think of is \"la musica de Harry Fraud\" or (on most Chief Keef songs... | [
"How do you think they stay rich? ;)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why Military aircraft so expensive? (up to 700m$!), it is just jet engine and metal and some electronics (not talking about ammo) e.x:The Galloping Ghost (aircraft) = 2B $ | [
"I think you're grossly trivializing the effort required in aerospace manufacturing and the engineering process. Ultra-light and strong metals are incredibly expensive and costly to manufacture. They also have to be engineered with incredible precision. And these jets have to be hand built. It's not like there's a ... | [
"Not that small. _URL_1_ And built to a much higher standard and of course cost considerably more. In the range of 7000.00 per tire for say a Boeing 747 _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
How does control of internet domain names work? | [
"Assigning domain names, much like the telegraph, post, and telephone, are regulated through treaties which are negotiated through working groups at the international level. Although this was originally done by engineers, since 1998 the major international domains (.com, .org, etc) have been regulated by policy thr... | [
"Because .com and .net are being controlled by the US and those websites don't want to deal with US laws since US copyright law is pretty strict."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do most alcoholic products not list their nutritional information? | [
"Because they are not considered food. They are regulated by a different federal agency than what food is regulated by and so they have different requirements."
] | [
"Cigarettes aren't food, and thus are exempt from needing to print an ingredient list."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
is it really true that cockroaches find humans repulsive? | [
"Cockroaches don't have the neurons required to feel revulsion, or much of anything, really. They're little machines with a bunch of hardwired responses and little to no ability to actually make decisions. That said, one of their responses is to remove foreign smells from their bodies. The oils on your finger quali... | [
"It's more the mixture of two people's sweat, stank, and juices that constitutes \"the smell of sex\" than pheromones."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How can "mediums" like John Edward advertise themselves as real psychics when there's no evidence for their claims? | [
"There is no official accreditation required to offer one's \"psychic services\". Would also have a hell of a time \"proving\" that a medium did not contact your deceased relative to make a claim of false advertising or failure to provide services. There's also a lot of parallels to religion here. Minimal hoops to ... | [
"There have been. There have also been studies on people claiming to have supernatural powers. Literally none of them have ever had their effects confirmed scientifically."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is it that when your hands are cold, it feels like your joints are stiff and hard to move? | [
"When our bodies are cold, our muscles tighten up causing stiffness in joints, that is way when you plan on doing work in the cold, it is recommended to do a \"warm up\" On a related note, barometric pressure also can play a role in joint stiffness and pain, so when you grandfather would say \"My knees hurt, must b... | [
"Depends on the wound. Let's say you close your finger in a car door, like I've done. Blood vessels break inside the finger, filling the skin like a water balloon. Boom, your finger just became a too-full water balloon, and it's hard to bend. In some cases, like on a crick in your neck, the muscles spasm and seize,... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How can certain animals eat only one type food, like meat or grass,and be healthy while humans have to have such a diverse diet to get all the nutrition we require. | [
"We are omnivores and as omnivores we are designed to eat a wide variety of food. Our digestive system is designed to be decent at digesting a lot of different things, but not great at digesting any one thing. This means we have to eat a lot of different foods, but it also means we are more flexible and can adapt t... | [
"No they do not need to eat vegetables. They cannot digest vegetables. Their digestive tracts (enzymes, gut bacteria, etc) cannot digest plant matter and extracts all nutrients that they need from meat. That is the definition of Carnivore. Herbivores on the other hand cannot digest meat, for the same reasons. Omn... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How do solids dissolve in liquids? | [
"Everything is made out of molecules, which are little \"pieces\" of something. Dissolving usually occurs when the pieces of the solvent (usually the liquid, the stuff that does the dissolving) like the pieces of the solute (the solid, the stuff that dissolves) much more than the pieces of the solute like each othe... | [
"The oil always floats to the top because it is less dense than water. Oil and water don't mix because water molecules are more attracted to each other than to oil molecules. Oil molecules are non-polar, while water molecules are polar. Being less dense is why oil floats on water. You could easily demonstrate it to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why when it’s dark can I sometimes see things better by not looking directly at them? | [
"Your retina has two types of cells for detecting light -- rods and cones. Cones are used to perceive color and fine details, while rods are bad at color and details, yet very sensitive to low levels of light. Those two types of cells aren't evenly distributed in the back of your eye. Since we'd want to have our be... | [
"The light on your side had to be darker than the light inside the tank because otherwise it would be very difficult to see in. when it's dark outside you can see in through people's windows, but they can't see you outside."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is marriage equality an issue of state law rather than federal law? | [
"*The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.* That's the 10th Amendment. Since the Constitution to the US does not explicitly define marriage, it is left to the states to decide."
] | [
"The argument isn't over marriage, it's over the logic the court used to make the decision. Scalia in his dissent was the most vocal about it, and Roberts the most cordial, but essentially they argued that the Constitution says nothing about marriage and it's the job of Congress or the states to make marriage equal... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do we wake up in the middle of the night even when not triggered by dreams or external stimuli? | [
"You cycle through different stages of sleep, ranging from lightly asleep to hardcore asleep to dreaming: N1, N2, N3, REM. N1 is light sleep, the transition between awake and asleep. During the night, you move up and down these stages. Sleep isn't an on/off switch--it's a super complicated system. A lot of differen... | [
"Totally. And it can wake you up out of a dead sleep. Reason? Any number of reasons, something tickling your nose, allergies, respiratory infections."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Sleep and fatigue:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Sleep and fatigue:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does metal make a "ringing" sound when you hit it, but stuff like plastic doesn't? | [
"Its because the metal you are hitting is is very elastic. When you hit a piece of metal, you are bending it in some way. THe metals eleasticity makes it snap back towards its neutral state, and over corrects making the metal vibrate. Stuff like some plastics wont make a sound because they will just absorb the impa... | [
"> most sounds seem to be made by objects bumping into each other Where does this come from? Sounds are made by objects vibrating. Banging them together can cause vibration, but plucking or rubbing or moving air can also cause sounds. Look in the orchestra; sure the drums are impacts, but what about the flutes, vio... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
What do surgeons do or rather, what happens with the extra fat off someone whose had lipo or skin removal surgery? | [
"If there's skin attached, say from a breast reduction or pannectomy (overhanging belly skin), it is sent to a pathologist for gross examination. Basically, they say, \"Yep, this is 2.5 kg of breast tissue\" and it gets documented for record keeping purposes. Then it is incinerated. For liposuction, the adipose (f... | [
"They don't always, it's just that sometimes when women have to have parts/all of their breast removed to get rid of the cancer, the nipple is part of what needs to be removed."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why can't a company worth 18 billion dollars offer more than $800 to a passenger before beating them? | [
"When you have the \"legal right\" to throw people off the plane, then perhaps spending more than $800 to bribe someone may seem like a waste of money. Perhaps Delta is learning that there are other \"costs\". Booting off a paying customer in favor of employees is a big difference than the \"employees only exist to... | [
"I don't know how many people would want a 25% pay cut. Or are you seriously thinking that employers are going to pay the same for less productivity?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What is happening when you temporarily forget something you 100% know, such as a name? | [
"Your memory is organized in a way called \"associative\", which is kind of like looking up things based on \"tags\" in things like email. But there are so many things with so many different tags that the tags get \"weighted\" by how many times you have used them before. when you try to remember something that you ... | [
"Alcohol blocks your short-term memory from getting committed to long-term memory. It's like forgetting what you were about to say --for everything."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Neuroscience:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Neuroscience:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How are terrorist groups able to post execution videos on YouTube without being tracked? | [
"Vanderlinden, First most videos aren't uploaded to YouTube. It is an American company and naturally subject to oversight and warrants and such. In the past most have used .ru (Russian) sites and even hacked accounts of unsuspecting people on various other services. Why can't we track them? Well there are several w... | [
"There's a law that exempts companies that allow users to upload content from being liable for the content they host that is uploaded by users. So if someone sends a snapchat containing illegal images, Snapchat isn't liable for hosting the image since they don't check individual images. If they discovered something... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
If you looked through a telescope to mirrors far into space could you theoretically look back in time? | [
"Yes. A mirror seven light years away would show you an image of Earth 14 years ago. Really any time you're looking into deep space you're already looking \"back in time\" because that light has been in transit for years. Of course you would need an unreasonably powerful telescope to see the reflection of earth in ... | [
"If you mean that the light from our planet reaching that star would be 65 million years old, yes it would be. But e would need something beyond a very powerful telescope to see the dinosaurs as telescopes work by gathering as much visible light as possible to allow an image to be seen. Light that traveled that far... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about Science:"
} |
How does light pollution prevent us from seeing stars? | [
"The light from the stars is very faint. The light from cities, streetlamps, and so on, washes it out. While you may not be looking directly at the light source, it is scattered in the atmosphere. This means that, similar to the blue sky during the day time, wherever you look light is coming at your eyes and fainte... | [
"To keep dirt and dust from falling into our eyes, to help shade the sunlight and give us a perception on how close something is to our eyes so we can react fast enough before it hits. Pretty cool stuff."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument about Science:"
} |
Why does a house smell different when it hasn't been occupied for a while? | [
"Like you're five: Your nose has little traffic lights in them. These traffic lights send signals to your brain to tell your brain if the smell is good or bad. When your nose finds new smells the traffic lights turn green, and new smells start to move in. After smelling a smell for awhile your noses traffic lights ... | [
"You get used to the smell. Ever walk into someone's house that stinks to you but the person that lives there doesnt notice it? Same deal."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What the different URL means | [
"They're just supposed to denote what kind of organisation is using the website. The usual .com was originally intended for commercial sites, .org for nonprofit organisations, and .net for networking technologies (guess what .tv was supposed to be used for?), but they ended up being unrestricted so anyone can use m... | [
"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:"
} |
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