query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1 value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
What's the difference between someone who has a learning disability and someone who's just stupid/slow/dumb? | [
"I would think of it in terms of a computer. Stupid or dumb would just be someone with a slow processor. Everything works fine, it just doesn't work that fast. A learning disability would be a hardware defect. Maybe there is a problem in ram causing a corruption of data... the computer is working perfectly fast eno... | [
"Luck. Also a lot of the side effects of drug/alcohol abuse while pregnant are mental and don't start showing up till the kid is in school. Then it's really noticeable that they are behind the other kids. My mom is a special ed teacher and she's told me that a lot of the drug/alcohol babies end up being Forest Gump... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why did adding laugh tracks to comedy shows become the norm? | [
"Originally, the shows were filmed before a live audience, or just aired live with an audience, so people got used to the laughter and producers thought that they wouldn't like the silence. A fair number of modern shows still have the audience, actually. I'm not sure how many actually add a laugh track."
] | [
"Because they're popular. If the Simpsons bring in a lot of viewers, it would be a really bad business decision to cut them because they make fun of Fox."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Where does a thought go when it's forgotten? | [
"This is actually not too difficult to explain. When you have a thought, the signals are passed via neurotransmitter molecules that travel across the small spaces between the nerve cells. A simple thought can involve hundreds of thousands of neurons. When one of these thoughts are “forgotten”, the neurons... the ne... | [
"The sense that you will remember something is a lie you tell yourself before you forget said thing."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What makes something Machiavellian and what are some examples? | [
"Machiavelli wrote the Prince, which is a guidebook for political advancement through social climbing, manipulation and what we would now think of as branding or PR, and then instructions on how to consolidate and maintain power once you acquire it. In short, it's a how-to book for scheming your way to individual s... | [
"Previously, it was everything you needed to know to operate in political society, like poetry. Kind in mind, we are talking Roman and Athenian society. These days, it is everything not related to an actual career. History, literature, basic psychology, social sciences, etc."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why don't people run out of air in a submarine? | [
"Modern subs have machines called Electrolysers. Basically, these machines take seawater, and split up the hydrogen and oxygen molecules and the oxygen is then stored in tanks for use. Subs also have scrubbers that remove CO2 and recirculate the oxygen from when we exhale."
] | [
"You can hold your breath in normal air pressure, but not really in low pressure environments."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why my helium balloon stops floating after a few days | [
"Helium is an extremely small molecule, it will squeeze out through even the best the seals and through the tiny gaps in the balloon material itself. Eventually enough has escaped that the balloon is no longer buoyant."
] | [
"Helium is a very small atom, just two protons. Only hydrogen is smaller. It seeps out through the mylar\\rubber that makes up the balloon itself and escapes into the atmosphere. That's why helium balloons start to sag after a while, there's less gas pressure inside."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Why does the body wake up starving when it consumes a lot of food before bed, but wakes up fine if it doesn't? | [
"Hunger isn't always regulated by whether you have enough total energy. Other factors such as whether your body thinks its using up a lot of energy affect hunger as well. When you eat late at night, especially something sugary or filled with simple carbs, you get a boost of glucose in your blood before bed. Your bo... | [
"Because the body stores fat and will only use it for emergencies, so it doesn't really feel pleasant. Your stomach tightens up, immune system weakens, and other rough shit happens to your body. It's better to just eat less instead of not eat at all."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Sleep and its effects on the body:",
"pos": "Represent the comment about Sleep and its effects on the body:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why is Sex pleasurable and yet Childbirth is incredibly painful? [Likely to be NSFW] | [
"Sex drive is something all animals share. It's a basic, instinctual thing. Being able to even *understand* that there's a link between sex and childbirth is a uniquely human thing. Millions of years of evolution aren't going to change just because childbirth becomes unpleasant. ...and the main reason childbirth is... | [
"Yarr! Yer not alone in askin', and kind strangers have explained: 1. [What are the verifiable advantages and disadvantages to being a vegetarian? ](_URL_0_) 1. [ELI5: Why is red meat bad for us? ](_URL_1_) 1. [ELI5: Why do bad things happen when we humans or animals eat food from our species? aka Cannibalization ]... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
National socialism vs Democratic socialism | [
"National socialism is Nazism. Nazi is a sort of acronym for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or National socialist German workers party. It is all about building a strong centralized state with a unified (aka non-democratic) nation behind it, motivated by racial chauvinism and not really characterize... | [
"Republican: Economic freedom, social control Democrat: Economic control, Social freedom Facism: Economic control, social control Libertarian: Economic freedom, social freedom"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why can't they reuse the water at Fukushima? | [
"They are. The problem is water is constantly leaking IN to the facility. So they need to store it or clean it up and discharge it."
] | [
"If it works, why don't we have tourists from the future visiting us?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What does 1 degree Celsius really mean? | [
"One degree Celsius is one hundredth of the span of temperature between the freezing and boiling points of water at sea level."
] | [
"Asphalt softens in high temperatures. Concrete cracks in cold temperatures. That should tell you everything you need to know."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How Redbull racing, an energy drink continues to complely dominate Formula 1. While massive car manufacturers, Mercedes, Ferrari etc can't catch up? | [
"Vettel's car was built by Renault, Red Bull GmbH provides a good portion of the funding but they're working with a major car manufacturer."
] | [
"It takes a hell of a lot of money. Like most sports, participants start young, usually in go kart racing. From there, if you do well, you might pick up sponsorship which will possibly buy you a seat in a racing team. Or if you're quite good but don't have the backing you could find work as a team test driver. In p... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Formula 1:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Formula 1:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why did the US and Soviets continue to expand their stockpiles during the cold war, even after each side had the retaliatory power to obliterate the others' industrial centers many times over? | [
"The primary reason was so that they would still have enough to obliterate the other one even if the other one launched a surprise attack and destroyed most of them. Massively simplified, if the US thinks the Soviets might be able to destroy 90% of the US's warheads, the US needs to have 10x as many warheads to beg... | [
"Tactically speak, a surprise nuclear attack could wipe out a significant number of a countries nuclear arsenal. To maintain a nuclear deterrent, it is necessary to be able to wipe out your adversary with only a portion of it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
a company like apple reports profits in the BILLIONS. Where does that go and why are people disapointed? | [
"Let's say you earned $100,000 last year, and you reported you were able to put just $500 of that into savings. $500 might be a lot to the guy pouring your coffee at Starbucks, but you kind of suck at saving money, and your SO who wants to save up for a house is probably going to be pissed at you. Apple did the sam... | [
"same thing ignorant people have been putting on their beater truck for decades. Abolish the IRS and charge a flat % \"sales tax\" on purchases. Whats curious is that its the poor that support it. the ones that spend 100% of their income and would get taxed hard, while bill gates can bank 99.9% of his income and wo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it that parents go to great lengths to see that their children receive the best education available, yet do not take the time and effort to educate them as well? | [
"Depends on the parent. In my house it's the school's job to teach my kids specific information; it's my job to teach them how that relates to life. So when they learned about the Civil War, we went to Gettysburg. When they read *Hatchet* we went camping and built campfires with flint. When they learned about weath... | [
"Your children are not your property, they are your responsibility. As such, you are responsible for getting them adequately educated. Why should you have a right to ruin the lives of other people? Why should their being your children make a difference?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
how are the intensity and speed of wind related to the time of day? Aka why are winds calmer in the morning and pick up throughout the day? | [
"The sun generates heat and moisture in the atmosphere. Heat changes air pressure and energy. Changes in air pressure can generate wind. One of the reasons it’s often coolest just after sunrise as the air above you gets sun and warmth first, starts to rise, and the cool air come in under it to replace it (convecti... | [
"cooler air can't hold as much water vapor as warmer air. this is why there tends to be more mist at night and in the early hours of the morning"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
How is sound recorded in the grooves of a vinyl record? | [
"Sound is vibrations in air ( or any other medium ) Vibrations are picked up by a diaphragm which causes needle to move up and down in the same way to produce the sound frequency wave. Two channels are cut out each side at 45 degrees to each other to produce a stereo recording."
] | [
"By 'early' I presume you mean direct-to-platter recording. It was done with enormous acoustic horns, believe it or not. Performers would perform into the horn, and the sound vibrations would be carried down into the ever-smaller bell and concentrated into the stylus head. The stylus would cut a graphic analogue re... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does Starbucks allow people to sit there for a whole day even if they buy little to nothing there? | [
"Others mentioned that the store needs to look full, but the other part is that it makes perfect sense to invite people who will eventually want coffee into your store, instead of only allowing in those who want coffee right now. Doesn’t cost much extra cleaning to let people hang around, and now you have a ton of ... | [
"You know you are going to enjoy that coffee, even if you are going to enjoy only once. Part of your brain is craving that coffee and telling you to buy it. It's going to fill a coffee-shaped hole in your life. The absence of that coffee is going to cause you considerable discomfort and mental stress, so you had be... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why don't babies get morning breath? | [
"1) they don't have teeth yet/don't eat solid foods yet 2) their mouths stay moist most of the time (a big cause of bad breath is dry mouth) thanks to their natural nose-breathing/drooling 3) every night a magical fairy comes in & fills their mouth w/ Gypsophila, sort of like how your parents leave an air freshene... | [
"How do you know that you don't sneeze in your sleep?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do politicians not just choose the best scientifically proven policies based on statistics, instead of bickering about what their ideology tells them, rather than make the choices which will bring most prosperity, safety, opportunities, and happiness to its people according to science? | [
"Well, for one, academics don't always agree. But more importantly: because they're running to be elected by people who neither know statistics nor care about it and who would like to hear that a simple, intuitive solution will solve giant complex problems."
] | [
"A technocracy is a system of government where leaders are selected based on their knowledge of technology. A technocracy would be run by scientists and engineers instead of lawyers and businesspeople. A common criticism of this form of government is that technocrats have less understanding of people than lawyers o... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How is Foxconn able to to operate as it does? | [
"China doesn't enforce regulations. Lead in paint? Who cares. tl;dr Because China."
] | [
"People are speculating (perhaps right, perhaps wrong) that in the future they will be able to lower their costs or raise their prices, becoming suddenly very profitable. Amazon did that."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it that whats politically correct sometimes isn't the same as the opinion of the majority? | [
"Because \"politically correct\" is a term used to describe compliance with a certain set of values -- either liberal/progressive, or highly tolerant/sensitive, or something like that depending on the speaker. This set of values is not necessarily held by the majority of people. In fact some firmly oppose these."
] | [
"It assesses what each candidate's thinks the answers that make them sound like the best candidate for the job. Which is itself useful."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why is there a little symbol for a link to CandyBox 2 on the bottom left of /r/adviceanimals? | [
"The short of it is because there is a line of HTML in the page source: < h5 > < a href=\"_URL_2_; The < h5 > tag is being formatted by the css file [muRL57ENy-52RGha.css](_URL_1_): position:fixed;bottom:20px;left:20px;z-index:1000;margin:0;padding:0;text-indent:-99999px;display:block;background:url(_URL_0_);w... | [
"hi! there's always room for more info, but you can get started on this section of the FAQ* [Salting the Earth](_URL_0_) *see the link on the sidebar or the wiki tab"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How does the Obama administration justify removing the tax credit from the college 529 savings plan? | [
"> I realize many middle to low income families don't know about this and therefore don't take advantage of it That was pretty much the basis of the argument. 529's are overwhelmingly used by wealthy families, so they labeled it as a tax break for the rich."
] | [
"States and local governments create their own rules. At the federal level the funds go to anything other than personal use... Typically donated to another candidate, party or charity."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How do machines that accept cash payment determine that a five dollar bill is a five dollar bill, etc? | [
"Optical scanning. An optical scanner looks at the denomination Portrait, and other parts of the bill to reduce fraud. Optical scanning is a follow-on from magnetic scanning developed and commercialized by Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International) for bank check clearing automation. Look at the font at th... | [
"Others have already mentioned the criminal/counterfeiting risk, but the other important reason is that people generally don’t want those notes. In the days of debit/credit cards, online purchases, ATMs, and direct deposits there simply isn’t a need for high denomination bills. I mean when was the last time you act... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Counter steering on a motorcycle | [
"Here's how I think about it.. Because the bike is moving quickly and heavier than you, you can't exactly muscle the bike into a lean like a bicycle.... so you initially kick the bottom out from under you in the opposite direction to generate the lean you need for the turn. after the lean is generated the bars rev... | [
"Dreams, dont crush them. It helps with spacing on the speedometer. Also can be used as a standard template."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Technology:"
} |
What is the TeV mass scale and what does it have to do with particles beyond the standard model? | [
"When particle physicists talk about the mass of particles it's more convenient to use units of energy rather than units of mass. This is because in order to make the particles in an accelerator, they need to slam things together with a certain energy and then that energy is converted into the mass of the particle ... | [
"Things with no mass, like photons, move at the speed of light - things that have mass move slower. But why do they move slower? The current state of particle physics has an explanation: the Higgs field. Think of it as a thick pool of molasses that you have to push things through in order to get them to move. To pr... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
If electric fields produce magnetic fields, and our brain/nervous system operates electrically, how do we not have electromagnetic interference disrupting our entire body's operation? | [
"1. The brain/nervous system operates mostly *chemically,* with electricity being used as a bridge between chemical reaction sites. So it's much less susceptible to this interference than a purely electrical device. 2. The amount of interference absorbed is low -- notice that your computer and phone, which *are* el... | [
"Your brain's neurons communicate with each other through chemical and electrical activity. As with most stable systems, the electrical activity of your brain has a rhythmic or repetitive form. Any electrical system will create electromagnetic waves from normal activity, and we can detect them. So brain waves are a... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
How does sunlight fade colors? | [
"Sunlight is a form (or a combination of forms) of radiation. This radiation can excite atoms and break bonds in the molecules which cause colors, effectively fading colors."
] | [
"Does natural lighting, in fact, make it easier to concentrate?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why do people oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)? | [
"> Now, I haven't read the actual agreement (I'm a busy person), and I assume most people haven't either. Nobody has. Because the talks are held in secrecy - which most people think might indicate some funny business going on. Hell, even members of the European Parliament don't have access to recent papers - an Aus... | [
"Why is the US so upset over the labeling of US treatment of Native Americans as a genocide?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why do websites exist that take you from one sketchy set of links and data to another and another and another? Who is this benefitting? | [
"Your attention has commercial value. Every clickbait webpage you visit has some ads on it, and the publisher scores a fraction of a cent income from your visit paid by the advertiser, on the assumption that you notice these ads and there's a fractional chance you might buy the goods or services in question. To inc... | [
"In addition to the websites hosting the ad, the ad company who created the ad to display also makes money if you click on it. These \"work\" given the fact with how they are designed. They are designed and distributed such that you see them **all over the godamn place**. Statistically, a small population of people... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
how does currency/money work? If we donate 100 million to a country, it's not like we send a crate of money over | [
"Money is just a representation of value. Bartering, trading stuff directly is inconvenient. So we invented money as a \"value holder\", for example instead of trading my goat for your 100 apples. But I don't want 100 apples at once as they will spoil before I can eat them all. I instead get 100 apple tokens as a p... | [
"Because they get to keep that 5 mil euros/ dollars. They can pay with this money to import high tech or infrastructure from developing countries or medicine. It never gets converted to their own currency. A lot of developing countries import more than they export. Even if they did convert this money, they would ha... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about International relations:"
} |
How do the different baseball pitches work? | [
"Baseball pitch movement is often based on something called the \"Magnus Effect.\" Essentially, when a ball is thrown with a certain spin, one side of the ball is spinning in the same direction as the ball's movement and the other side is moving in the opposite direction. As a result, opposite sides of the ball are... | [
"It has a few different meanings in different contexts. What setting are we talking about?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about finance:"
} |
Why is French the preferred language for body care products. | [
"I don't have anything to back this up but for the North American audience stuff in French sounds more sophisticated and refined as shown by the use of French to refer to more refined versions of stuff like eateries are called restaurants, underwear is called lingerie, perfume, cologne, rotisserie and so forth"
] | [
"Many products in the US either come from or are also sold in Canada, where it's a requirement to have French in addition to English."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is it that double decker buses have only been used in North American for the past decade while they've been used in Europe for more than a century? | [
"lots of low bridges and efficiency are the main reason. A bendy bus can load and unload at twice the speed. Also less handicap accessible. The ones being use in the US are in very few cities or just for fun. I know the one that started up in Las Vegas, is more for fun than anything else."
] | [
"Hopefully some day very soon, \"miles\" will become history like it became in Europe in the 19th century when they ditched former Roman measurements. Ireland made the switch over a few years ago and now all road signs are in km and metres instead of miles and yards. The UK should make such a switch over as soon ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
What's the controversy with the Dalai Lama? (Specifically within China and Tibet) | [
"Tibet is a territory that's being ruled by China. according to Tibetan religion and law, the Dalai Lama is the spiritual as well as legal ruler of the land. That doesn't jive with China federal government, who want dominating rule over the area. Instead of the Dalai Lama appeasing the Chinese gov and being made... | [
"Interesting question. I studied a little bit of East Asian history in college, China's history in the 19th and 20th centuries is extremely interesting. Along the same lines as your question, I'm also curious to know: what were the driving factors that brought about the terms of the Joint Declaration in 1984? It se... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why don't actors use actual liquids when pretending to drink in films? | [
"After 20 takes you'll probably be vomiting from drinking too much water, coffee, etc."
] | [
"Cigarettes are usually pretty easy. Herbal cigarettes give the look of the real thing and are about as safe as inhaling smoke into your lungs can be. Depending on the actors involved and the area's smoking laws, real ones can be used, but I doubt it's common. If something like cocaine is snorted, it's usually lact... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How does it feel to have an Orgasm? | [
"you know the jack-in-the-box from when you were a kid? and as you turn the handle slowly the music pings through note after note. Each one slowly leading into the next.......the anticipation of knowing that the next note could be the one where it *pops*? That feeling of suspense, chills, eager anticip--------ation... | [
"How do you think they stay rich? ;)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How come uninstalling is faster than installing softwares/video games? | [
"The answer is pretty simple: When you install, you have to write all of the files in their entirety and decompress them from how they're stored in the installer, then make records of all the files and potentially entries in common places to tell the operating system how to reference specific files. When you uninst... | [
"Steam downloads files directly to the right location, so there is no other unpacking to be done. Or in other words, it installs as it downloads."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do you develop the ability to perform a backflip? How do you practice? | [
"Trial and error is the way, but they usually practice this with a 2nd person catching them if they go head-down to the ground or they give them an extra push to make the whole flip. Another option which is sometimes used at sports clubs is a chassis. It looks like climbing gear and swing combined. The ropes are el... | [
"ELI5 you say? Can you juggle? If so you took time to develop that skill. Can you tape a box shut? Yeah, most people can."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
How do you "clean up" a harbor? | [
"First you stop pumping fresh shit into it. Second you remove all the built up shit off the bottom and sides. Then you wait for the tides to exchange the water. Redo the side cleaning process as necessary until the harbor water is now as clean as the overall ocean."
] | [
"Why, when restored, don't they fix this then?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
What is exactly is a "gut feeling"? | [
"It's pretty much intuition. Many people feel this in their gut. You aren't sure why, but you \"feel\" like you know the answer. I usually feel a tingle behind my right eye, but sometimes feel a sensation in my abdomen. I'm speculating that this feeling has to do with release of adrenaline into the blood system. Ad... | [
"I read this as \"What is an erection?\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is the term "socialist" a dirty word in American politics? | [
"In most Americans' eyes, socialism is irreversibly tied to communism, which is synonymous with the Soviet Union, the US' geopolitical rival for most of the latter half of the 20th century. The USSR was communist, and also socialist, so both have always had a bad connotation. Most people don't understand that you c... | [
"There is no such thing as guilt by association in the USA."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Law and Entertainment:"
} |
why popular american fast food and snack brands are found nearly all over the world but we never see any popular foreign fast food and snack brands here? | [
"You may not be aware that some snack brands are foreign because you grew up with them. For instance, Nestle' is a Swiss company that licenses the Kit Kat bar, invented in England, to the Hershey company. Probably the largest foreign fast food place in the U.S. is Tim Horton's which is a Canadian doughnut restauran... | [
"uniformity. no matter what mcdonalds you go to, you're getting the exact same food prepared the exact same way every time. Other restaurants may be able to do that, but that's not the draw."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
How does the US have the most powerful military in the world if less than 1% of the population joins the military? | [
"1% of the US population is still a hell of a lot of people."
] | [
"North Korea spends a large percentage of the little money they have on their military. That's part of the reason why millions there are underfed. As of 1997 they spent 25% of their GDP on the military. This compares to 4.7% for the United States."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why is it so difficult to be fired from a job working for the state (in US)? | [
"There are 2 main reasons for the protections awarded to State Workers and public servants : 1) To protect them from political interference. Since they can't be fired, they do not have to obey unlawful orders. Political power can't put too much pressure on them because ultimately, they will outlast the political po... | [
"It's illegal in a huge number of jurisdictions already. Where do you live?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why is antibiotics prescribed for flu? | [
"Antibiotics are *not* (supposed to be) prescribed for influenza. It's possible that this is a case of a bacterial infection that a patient mistakenly called \"the flu\", when it wasn't actually the flu. It's also possible that the doctor prescribed antibiotics because the patient demanded it, and they didn't want ... | [
"Nobody is going to give you those kinds of antibiotics for an ear infection. What you should do is take all antibiotics as prescribed. That means finishing your prescription, not skipping days, etc. This will help prevent you from developing an antibiotic resistant infection."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why aren't police officers in the UK allowed to carry guns? | [
"In the US, regular beat officers are allowed to carry handguns, but not sniper rifles and submachine guns; those are reserved for SWAT teams. In the UK, regular beat officers are allowed to carry batons and pepper spray, but not guns; those are reserved for special gun-carrying teams. In both countries, it's poss... | [
"It might not be necessary in certain countries, but with the number of firearms and violence in the U.S., it would be pure anarchy if our police forces did not have firearms. Don't bring a knife to a gun fight."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
If I eat a lot before going to sleep, why do I wake up hungry? | [
"I am on board with you mate. I experience the same thing. You would think that since you ate more recently (and supposedly your metabolism slows down when you are sleeping) that you should be less hungry than if you went to bed on an empty stomach. * I would add as a followup question: Why am I NOT hungry when I w... | [
"It's usually dehydration. When you go 9 hours or more without drinking water you become dehydrated regardless of whether you're awake or asleep. Try drinking a glass of water before you go to bed and keeping another full glass by your bed so you can drink if you wake up during the night."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Sleep and its effects on the body:"
} |
How does a Tornado Intercept Vehicle avoid being sucked up into the air? | [
"Some of them have pneumatically-operated spikes that they drive into the pavement when contact with a tornado is imminent."
] | [
"When a tornado is over a body of water, it sucks up the water. When it does this, it’s called a waterspout. If there are fish close enough to the surface of the water, they’ll get sucked up too. Now, as we all know, what goes up must come down, but it doesn’t have to come down in the same spot it went up. So event... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Radio waves and how they send information. | [
"> Are there two separate waves? Sort of. That 96.5 MHz wave is what is called a carrier wave. It is combined with the wave that carries the audio wave, and they your receiver subtracts out the carrier frequency, leaving only the audio. This process is called modulation. There are two common forms of modulation, *a... | [
"Electromagnetic senses implanted in us during vaccination. When files send via Bluetooth it sometimes causes us to notice each other."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does an automobile depreciate in value the minute you drive off the lot? | [
"Let's say a brand new Ford Focus costs $16,000. Would you be willing to pay $16,000 for a Focus that someone bought, drove around for a little bit, and then returned for some reason. The average consumer is always going to choose the new car over the slightly used car, so dealerships are going to have to offer th... | [
"Its not too different from buying a car, except: You are required to have a certain amount of insurance to cover damages. There is often a allotment of miles you are allowed to go per year. Once your payment term is up, you give them the car back, or you can buy it from them outright."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How your voice sounds different to yourself when you talk versus when you hear your voice in a recording. | [
"So, when you talk, you hear the sound waves traveling through your skull and into your ears. Other people, or recordings, just hear the sound waves that travel through the air. As such, you hear your voice differently because you're hearing it filtered through your skull."
] | [
"To hear themselves better. Try it yourself. It mutes external sounds and your can hear your own voice better to ensure you're on key."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Language and Communication:",
"pos": "Represent the passage about Language and Communication:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why is radiation so damaging as it is? | [
"You are a very complex controlled chemical reaction. Ionization causes different reactions and products than are supposed to be inside you."
] | [
"The carcinogenic effect of those tests are negligible compared to other main factors like the sun or smoking. It's pretty easy to measure whether that particular nuclear radiation has spread and to what level. It's ionizing radiation and it sticks relatively close to the impact radius."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do advertisers hold so much power? A lot of sites like Reddit are trying to be "advertiser friendly", to make money, but do advertisements really pay that much? Are ads really so useful to to the company that they will splash that much money? | [
"For many entertainment platforms, advertisers are the *only* source of income, or the extreme majority of their income. If the advertisers are unhappy, than there is no money, than there is no show/website/ect."
] | [
"It largely has to do with advertising. Free porn sites need a method of generating income to stay online. However, most advertisers are unwilling to host their ads on porn sites because it reflects poorly on both the advertisers, and the reputable companies they represent. As a result, pornography websites have to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How is it possible for a person who was born deaf to understand spoken language the moment their cochlear implants are turned on? | [
"The video you linked is somewhat misleading. The woman is \"deaf\", not deaf. By which I mean that she was severely hearing impaired to the point that she is classified as deaf, but **could** hear (poorly) with hearing aids. In other words, she was never completely unable to hear. Thus she could understand English... | [
"There isn't any one cause. Mute just means someone can't speak, no matter what the reason. Kind of like a person who is blind may have been born with no eyes, or they may have lost their eyesight due to an accident, or they may have contracted a disease. Someone who is mute may have a cognitive impairment that pre... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What is happening when our nipples get hard? | [
"Body parts which can be become erect - nipples, penis, etc can do so because they contain erectile tissue, which is like a sponge. There are arteries which carry blood from the heart to the body, and veins which carry blood from the body to the heart. When at rest, the arteries carry the same amount of blood to th... | [
"Have you ever noticed how hyper sensitive your penis gets after orgasm? Same thing."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why is it that macro photos tend to only have a small portion of the entire photo in focus? | [
"Not limited to macro photography, but it is due the aperture of the objective, which basically means the \"hole\" the sensor sees through. The larger the hole is, the smaller the focused range is. The smaller the hole, the larger the focused range is."
] | [
"When taking pictures of small things we are used to seeing the focal point be at a specific spot with anything closer or further than that point being blurry. When taking pictures of distant objects everything seems in focus. So they trick the brain into thinking a large distant object is actually small and very c... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
The grammar in "I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" | [
"It's a valid, but archaic form of the [present perfect](_URL_0_) tense, which is used to refer to a past event that has present consequences. The archaic tone is fitting for a translation of the [Bhagavad Gita](_URL_1_), an ancient text. It's similar to how many people prefer the King James Bible over more accurat... | [
"Good enough guide to when to use thy thees and thous: Thou = you (is like) *I* \"Thou art brave\" Thy = your (is like) *my* \"Thy bravery is becoming\" Thine = yours (is like) *mine* \"These lands are thine\" Thee = you (is like) *me* \"My lands are near to thee.\" I am the veriest wretch, my hear... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
We're having elections here in Catalonia and we can tracks the results in real time using mobile apps. Why does it take a few minutes to count from 0 to 2% of all the votes, but it take the same time to count from just 98,10 to 98,24% of all votes? | [
"A bit of a guess because I don't know exactly how that count is organised, but at first you'll have all the counting locations counting results and reporting in as they go. Towards the end, many will have counted all their votes and you're left with the last few who had most votes cast. With only a few locations l... | [
"The votes ar weighted. To clarify for the [0-10] range 1 vote = 1 score, but after that it requires 2...3...10...100...1000 to move the score 1 point. Moving a post from 4631 to 4632 probably takes hundreds if not more than 1000 upvotes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why is zero multiplied by infinity not defined as zero? | [
"Infinity isn't a number (you can't point to it on a number line), and since both things that you're multiplying have to be actual numbers, you can't multiply anything by infinity. In general, infinity is not a valid term to use in any \"normal\" math. What you *can* do is take the **limit** of \"0 * x\" as x appro... | [
"There is no real number that would represent an even root of a negative number because any even power of a real (possitive or negative) number will necessarily generate a positve result. Therefore, we created the concept of the imaginary number *i* which is equal to the square root of -1. Therefore, any even root ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Mathematics:",
"pos": "Represent the answer about Mathematics:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How do pulleys make things lighter? | [
"Pulleys do not make things lighter Energy is expended in lifting a mass by a distance By using a system of pullies you reduce the movement distance that is travelled with each pull of the rope or chain or whatever The same mass is moved a smaller distance in each pull so less energy is expanded To move the obj... | [
"Torque is a rotational force enacted on an object. Basically the same force that lets you tighten screws, use door handles, and even pedal a bicycle."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why was Miami considered so cool in the 80's, and what happened to cause it to lose that status? | [
"There was an insane amount of money flooding Miami due to cocaine. Many drug busts later and it is what it is today. Check out the movie Cocaine Cowboys."
] | [
"If you're talking about America, that's simply not true. Go to any big Reddit thread and you'll see hundreds of comments talking about what a glorious socialist utopia Europe is. Many Americans also have varying degrees of obsession with British culture. Half the women in my family got up at 3 in the morning to wa... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
why are men required to register for the draft if it's mandatory and the government already has all of our information? | [
"Modern draft laws have their origins in World War I, back when the government didn't have everyone's information. It was entirely possible to be born on some farm, go to a rural school that didn't keep records, and grow up to be an 18 year old man the gov't had no idea existed."
] | [
"Because when the Selective Service framework was actually used, women were seen as weak. Many people don't think there should be a draft at *all*, so they would be very opposed to any change in the Selective Service Act except eliminating it. e: To be clear for anyone who doesn't know, the Selective Service is Ame... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How do they deliver liquid water to (and take sewage away from) homes and businesses in places that get really cold in the winter, without it freezing? native of Phoenix here, I don't get | [
"Water and sewer pipes in cold places are buried deeper, usually below the freeze line if the installers have half a clue. My hometown in Oregon freezes regularly but our mains are 8-15' below ground level and keep flowing."
] | [
"You're just used to it. You know it's going to snow a lot every winter, so the city naturally has a lot of plows and ice/sand trucks, along with the employees to run them. You know it's going to be -10 outside, so you dress appropriate to the weather, and warm your car up. People and municipalities are just prepar... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why rent a house when you can buy one and pay for it every month, when you move out just sell it and get profits? | [
"Buying a house requires one of two things: enough capital to buy it outright, or sufficient credit to get a mortgage. Not everyone *has* either of these things, especially when one considers that in the latter case it's only worthwhile if the interest rate is sufficiently low to make it a better option than rentin... | [
"When you buy something like that, you know that it's going to have the same value, if not more, in the future. It's not like you pay $1M, spend the next 20 years paying it off & you're done. You borrow the money to buy it, spend 20 years making payments on it & then sell it off for $1M when you retire. Actually pa... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why does my vision become slightly blurred after laying on my back while viewing a computer placed on my stomach? | [
"I'm no expert on this but having to, what I'm assuming you're doing, tilt your head on an angle to see the screen, means the blood isnt properly circulating to your head"
] | [
"Your eyes have muscles connected to them, and those muscles can become tired and/or sore if overworked for very long. I used to experience the tired eyes feeling quite a lot when driving at dusk, before I got polarized glasses . I'd feel like I just wanted to crawl into bed soon as I got home. But once I got home ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about Sleep and fatigue:"
} |
Why do planes fly both east and west if the Earth rotates at 1000 miles per hour? Wouldn't a plane need to fly over 1000 miles per hour to make any progress in one direction? | [
"We measure speed relative to the ground. So an object that appears stationary wouldn't be measured at 1000 mph just because it was on Earth. The air moves along with the Earth and everything along with it. If a plane had to fly over 1000 mph to make any progress, when you jumped, the ground would have move signifi... | [
"No, because hovering means staying stationary *with respect to the ground*. Remember, all speed is relative. Yes, the earth is rotating at about a thousand miles an hour -- and the air is rotating at that speed too. In order for the helicopter to go up, and have the earth move beneath it and land 24 hours later at... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why don't we use microwave waves for water heaters instead of natural gas? | [
"The speed at which a microwave works depends on the mass of the materials. That's actually a FAQ here (as in \"Why does my microwave take longer to cook twice as much food when my oven doesn't?\"). I timed this and discovered for my own stove and microwave, the break even point is just about one cup. The microwav... | [
"How do you intend to use the cool air to produce electricity? You can convert electrical energy into cool air easily enough, what efficient way is there to convert it back into electrical energy? Is is more efficient than other storage methods?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do birds not get electrocuted when resting on a power line? | [
"Electricity will take the path of least resistance. The electricity could go through the wire, or from the wire to the bird and back to the wire. People get electrocuted because they are touching the ground. The ground is low voltage and large, thus a very good receptacle for electricity. Even though a human is hi... | [
"Most of the overhead lines are not insulated, due to cost factors. They would be dangarous if you came too close to them while being grounded, say climbing up a aluminum ladder. You don't even need to touch them. If they are damaged, like flopping around on the ground it would definitly be a good idea to stay far ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What are the "voices" Schizophrenic people can hear ? | [
"Not all schizophrenics hear actual voices. More commonly, they simply have aberrant thoughts that seem like they are originating from someone else. This is probably why \"mind control rays\" and the like are such common delusions for schizophrenics. After all, if you are sane but start having thoughts that you wou... | [
"Because they aren't schizophrenics. Mediums are charlatans who know they aren't hearing voices of the dead. Schizophrenia is a valid disorder."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How does washing my hands protect me from viruses? | [
"You got it when you guessed it is removing them from the surface of your skin. In great part this is to help others as well since you have perhaps coughed into your hand or rubbed your nose/face and picked some up. The mechanical action of washing your hands causes many of these to be sloughed off and sent down th... | [
"Bacteria and viruses don't survive as long on cold surfaces. Making it a bit chilly saves lives from infection."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why are tabloids allowed to report seemingly libelous stories? | [
"For one, the requirements for libel for celebrities require the celebrity to show that the tabloid intended malice, and was not simply confused/negligent. Furthermore, cases against these tabloids can become costly as these companies are extremely powerful. The celebrity has a slim chance of proving libel, and the... | [
"In order for a tabloid to be deterred or forced to retract a story, a celebrity has to file a lawsuit. Those can get really expensive really quickly. Also apparently in the US the burden of proof is very high for the celebrity: if they can't show significant damage was done, they will lose. Usually a celebrity is ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Google Translate's forming its own language | [
"An article about it from Google: _URL_0_ Little bit about training neural networks: _URL_1_ An artificial neural network was trained for different language pairs. To much surprise, they found the same (or somehow similar) neurons activate for phrases with the same meaning for different language pairs. It's thought... | [
"Ad revenue from the site it sets your default search engine to. It's the same way Google makes their money."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why does a wet trampoline feel like it makes you jump higher? Does it actually do that? | [
"I recon it doesn't...the only think I can think of is if it is cold water, the trampoline fabric/springs might get tighter as the materials contract."
] | [
"Like you're 5; You have two balloons: One is filled to be bigger but is filled with air. One is smaller but filled with water instead. Which one is going to have more impact when thrown? Some people work out to make their muscles bigger, some work out to make them more dense."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why don't Mac's get viruses? | [
"They do, its just that there are a lot more Windows PCs out there. The entire purpose of a Virus on a computer is to cause as much trouble as you can before anti-virus updates and eliminates it. Ergo, if you want to cause as much trouble as you can, you write it for windows, not OSX or Linux. There are plenty of e... | [
"You don't mess with people who want to install Linux on their PlayStations."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why does bending material such as metal, plastic, i.e. eventually wear it down so much that it snaps off? | [
"Bending stuff actually breaks the inside of the material, but hopefully not enough to break the surface. Some materials like metal and plastic are secretly buzzing and jiggling around on the inside, and might even fix some of those breaks over time, when warm enough. Sadly materials like wood or bread don't jiggle... | [
"Some plastics can. Acrylic for example can cut like glass. It all depends on how flexible and sharp the material is. Some plastics bend easily so when they contact your skin they simply bend away rather than cutting through."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
why don't truck and car companies (like Ford) make new trucks with new technology that look like the older models everyone loves? | [
"Paraphrasing here, \"if I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse\" -Henry Ford"
] | [
"Old designs are not very aerodynamic, as a result will use more fuel than modern design if everything else is equal. > a more vintage style that people would spend crazy amounts on That would probably equate to a luxury car which by default wouldn't be produced in massive quantity. People also wouldn't pay as m... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why is it that almost all black guys I have met IRL and seen on TV always have their heads shaved? | [
"Because it's not the 90's anymore. Also Black hair on men longer then a half inch looks \"savage\" to many potential employers and clients, so professionally we have to keep it short. I had a luscious footlong Afro until I was looking for an internship this summer and one of my interviewers, a Black dude, suggest... | [
"Is this a serious question? I have honestly never met anyone who told me they think I am a terrible person because I have a board game collection."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
When checking out a library eBook via OverDrive, why is there a limit as to how many copies the library has when it's a digital format? | [
"I work at a library and do AP for bills like overdrive & similar. Each time the ebook is \"checked out\" we get charged. What we do is prepay the account for the year for the fees accrued from what's borrowed and also prepay a contract for the content on over drive and another for the use of the database. Basicall... | [
"The person who sells the book gave the library permission to distribute the book. The person who sells the book did not give the website where you downloaded the book the permission to distribute the book."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why can't we process ocean water so it's drinkable, instead of relying on rivers/lakes for our drinking water? | [
"We can. And in some areas we even do. It is incredibly expensive though. And seeing as that people like their water cheap, it is more advantageous to get it from lakes or underground sources than desalinate ocean water."
] | [
"I've seen varying figures, but basically 97% of the water on the planet is saltwater. Of the remaining 3%, which is fresh water, like 2.5% is somehow inaccessible because it's either currently frozen, deep underground, or up in the atmosphere. The .5%(ish) we can get to is being polluted at an alarming rate. Water... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
What happens to things that go in our eyes? Like where do all of the eyelashes go that we blink into oblivion? | [
"They fall out. Your eyes produce more tears to make the process of getting foreign particles out of your eyes easier. They just eventually fall out."
] | [
"Eyebrows keep the sweat from your brow out of your eyes. Eyelashes limit dust and whatnot getting into your eyes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Health and Wellness:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence about Health and Wellness:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
what is your body trying to accomplish when having food poisoning? | [
"All your body is trying to do is purge itself of whatever it is that's you've eaten that went off. Even once your stomach et al are empty, it's still feeling the effects of that food/drink and the only way it knows how to fix that is to keep trying to get rid of it."
] | [
"Because your body goes into survival mode in essence. If you dont have access to food what's the point to keep telling you you're hungry. So itll stop sending signals for awhile"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Health and Wellness:"
} |
why don't they put nutritional information or ingredients on alcoholic beverages? | [
"Alcohol is regulated by a different federal agency than food and non-alcoholic drink and said agency has not set those regulations in place."
] | [
"Perhaps it is a preservative in bottled juice. Check ingredient list."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why can one judge's ruling set a precedent? Isn't that too much power in the hands of one man? | [
"If one judge is making the decision, it's likely to be a trial court decision. Trial court rulings can be appealed, and appeals courts have more judges. At least in the US, trial court rulings also don't set binding precedents; other judges may be *persuaded* by the ruling, but they can ignore it if they are uncon... | [
"It's to avoid the politicization of the bench. Justices' decisions aren't subject to political pressure. They don't represent parties or positions on issues, their job is to decide whether actions taken by any part of the government is within the bounds of the law, and ultimately the constitution. You don't want ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
In those videos where they play opposing tones through a stream of water and they cause the water to take on an odd, often gravity defying shape that can only be seen through a camera, is that shape actually occurring or is it an illusion? | [
"It's an illusion sorta. It's tied to the pitch of the note and the aperture speed being exactly the same or relative to indicate the water freezing or flowing backwards. There are plenty of videos on this. If you have trouble finding one I think I have one in mind."
] | [
"They don't have individual bands of color, and do have a gradual color shift. You tend to interpret the gradual shift as individual color bands, but that is largely your brain that is doing that. You may be thinking of illustrations of a rainbow, where artists draw bands of color - but that is not what rainbows ar... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is GMO considered bad? | [
"First I want to say that there are some serious issues with our agriculture system. Now that that's out of the way, there are many different arguments against GMOs. 1. Naturalistic argument. \"Because its not natural its bad\". This can be ignored [\\(see here\\)](_URL_4_) 2. Infertility. A lot of plants are modif... | [
"What's so bad about having something made in Israel?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about science:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer about science:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
When i accellerate my car, why do i hear high-pitched noise through the aux input when nothing is plugged in? | [
"Its noise off the generator or alternator. Cords like that aren't shielded like other people have said. Its basically RF interference coming from that because its often not shielded. Its usually not something noticed, and the stereo itself has filtering to block it. But when you plug something unshielded into it (... | [
"Electromagnetic interference from the signals going to the phone goof with the electronics that pulse the speakers and make little buzzing noises if it isn't shielded well."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How do (usually paid for) fake social media likes, favorites, and followers actually happen? | [
"It's actually generally not controlled by a computer program, but sadly but people in countries with low wages, typically like Indonesia or sometimes the Philippines. Companies hire people and pay them very little to click \"like\" or \"follow\" or whatever on thousands of people's page/groups/companies/etc. that ... | [
"Social media accounts normally don't get paid \"per comment\" or anything like that, but a bigger and more engaged audience is going to be easier to monetize. If simple, relatable content can get a conversation going, that may lead to a critical mass of people and attention that could be good for business. The way... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How is North Korea so well hidden from our view when the US has such high tech satellite imaging? | [
"A couple reasons: 1. You and I don't have access to military satellite images. 2. Satellite images don't tell you anything about living conditions, secret facilities, or politics. It's easy to estimate population numbers, and how big the military is, how many planes and tanks they have, and those numbers are pub... | [
"The Blackbird was a spy plane. It's been made obsolete by modern satellites and drones. There's no reason to have a plane like that."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How do professionals know if a wound happened before death or post-mortem? | [
"Wounds are classified as post-mortum, peri-mortum, and pre-mortum. Pre-mortum wounds will have clear signs of healing, an indication that the victim was alive and well before being killed. Peri-mortum wounds occur during the death, and may have minor signs of healing but are mostly unhealed. They will have more bl... | [
"\"Natural causes\" is a catch all term for when somebody died from the natural progression of some sort of illness or medical event. Things like hypertension leading to stroke, or cardiovascular disease causing heart attack, dying from end stage renal disease, or finally succumbing to cancer. This is in contrast t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
why water tastes so cold after chewing gum or brushing your teeth. | [
"[Sugar alcohols](_URL_0_). According to Wikipedia: > The cooling sensation is due to the dissolution of the sugar alcohol being an endothermic (heat-absorbing) reaction, one with a strong heat of solution. ELI5: What this basically means is that when certain chemicals in your gum dissolve into the spit in your mo... | [
"Bacteria eats sugar and poops acid into your mouth which burns your teeth. Brush and floss and see a dentist."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Dentistry:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about Dentistry:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What is happening to our teeth so we have to brush them when we wake up? | [
"Our mouth isn't sterile, and overnight you aren't doing enough to stop bacteria from growing back. We brush in the morning to clean it off again, even if you already brushed it clean the night before"
] | [
"Bacteria eats sugar and poops acid into your mouth which burns your teeth. Brush and floss and see a dentist."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
The difference between ale and lager yeast | [
"The top and bottom fermenting is somewhat of a misnomer - they both ferment throughout the body of the beer. Ale yeast tends to form \"crops\" on top, though. Ale and lager yeast are different species and prefer different temperature ranges for fermentation. Ale yeast usually ferments at a cool room temperature, w... | [
"All beer is made up of four things: * Water * Grain * Hops * Yeast Yeast eats sugar from the grain, converting it to alcohol and carbon dioxide (bubbles). Hops add bitter flavor & aroma to the beer and help preserve it. The choice of Grain, hops & yeast determine the variety of beer. If you use a lightly toasted b... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
If individual federal campaign donations are capped at $2,700, how do billionaires donate hundreds of thousands, if not millions, to individual candidates? | [
"correct, it does not count if it goes to a super-pac. but super-pac money cannot pay for things like campaign staff salaries. they need both."
] | [
"They are political organizations that can campaign on behalf of an issue or candidate. In US elections, there are limits on the amount of money individuals are allowed to donate to candidates, effectively limiting how much money each candidate can raise during an election. These limits do not apply to super PACs, ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why do so many famous or successful people seem to be from South Africa? | [
"Care to name a few? I don't see that trend"
] | [
"What's a Tory, and why do so many people seem to hate them?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
absolute zero temperature. | [
"Temperature is molecules moving around like balls on a billiard table. The higher the temperature, the more moving around. Absolute zero is when they stop moving entirely."
] | [
"They are the same density as the drink more or less. _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why do animals never seem to roll an ankle or pull a hammy? | [
"Most animals walk on all fours, which is a very balanced way of walking. If something goes under one of their feet, they have 3 others on the ground that they can stand and balance on. Humans, on the other hand, have just about the most reckless method of transportation since we only walk on two legs. \"Walking\" ... | [
"I'm not certain that it hurts any worse than any other injury, per se; instead, you are just more likely to stub your toe badly than you are to do a lot of other painful things. You need a hammer to hit your finger with a hammer. You can stub your toe at any time, if you don't have closed toed shoes on. Does stubb... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do countries with small armies send their troops overseas to support countries with armies hundreds of times their size? | [
"Small army doesn't mean bad army. And when you add numbers from more countries it's pretty substantial number of soldiers."
] | [
"All countries (except Costa Rica) are constantly updating their armed forces. For the ones not at war with anyone, it's one of the ways they stay not at war; a well-trained and equipped military means taking you out would be painful, and hopefully not worth it, so you need never use it so long as you have it. For ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
the difference in sorting comments between "best" and "top" | [
"'Top' is purely 'highest voted', after the up/down delta. 'Best' takes into consideration much more, like how quickly a comment amasses upvotes, down/up ratio (not just the delta) and some other stuff."
] | [
"the upvotes are \"fuzzed\" see here: _URL_0_ search for fuzz your post never had 2000 upvotes, it had 1000 upvotes. you are shown bullshit numbers. Only the score matters."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
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