query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1 value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
If wood pallets are in such demand, why are stores giving them away? | [
"There are two types of wood pallet: hardwood and softwood. The hardwood ones are in true demand, and are reusable. These are generally painted. The softwood ones are, for the most part, considered disposable and those are the ones you will find for free. Be careful where you get your pallets. Many are loaded with ... | [
"Recycling still has an environmental impact, although less than manufacturing new plastics. Not all plastic can be recycled either, and recycling is not very profitable. We used to export a lot of our recycling to China, but they don't accept it anymore, leading to a shortage of places to process it. So while recy... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Why are none of the major news websites reporting on the Ukraine riots? | [
"I feel the Ukraine riots is well coverd in the media, but I have not visited many international news-sites. But the main reason for this is simply money. News-sites base their content on what \"news\" gets the most clicks on their website. The more clicks equal more advertisement money since each click on a articl... | [
"It's still going on but isn't getting the same level of attention is was a few years back. According to the news, they've moved on to Iranian vessels."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why are carbon and oxygen so ubiquitous in living organisms | [
"To be useful for life atoms need two somewhat opposite characteristics; they need to be reactive enough to be readily changed when needed, but not so reactive they degrade by themselves e.g with moisture. Carbon fills that role perfectly. Carbon based molecules will on average hang about a long time, but when cal... | [
"Yes there is. Organic compounds are molecules that consist mostly of carbon and hydrogen (though they can contain other elements such as sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, etc). These compounds can be naturally occurring (methane) or artificial (plastic). Non-organic compounds can also be naturally occurring (f... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
If most money is just numbers in a database, how come we don't hear of hackers who break in and just increase their account balance? | [
"Accounting and balance sheets. Every debit has to have a credit, and every credit a debit...or it will show up as out of balance. If there were to be a balancing entry in the respective offset account, then maybe it would go undetected...but nonetheless it would still show up as an entry that someone is eventually... | [
"automated financial markets trade kajillions of dollars in one second. If the clocks don't all sync up, one computer would have an advantage over another and bad stuff would happen in the stock market. If you're investing money, or your parents are investing money, or you don't want earth to look like mad max, you... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How does a lightning strike crumble buildings even when they are made of meters and meters of non-conductive materials? | [
"The amperage and voltage difference between the ground and clouds are so large that it doesn't really matter what the thing is made of. If the path is connected, the electricity flows. Resistance causes a big chunk of that energy to turn into heat, which spells out a thin cord-like volume that briefly reaches temp... | [
"Because brick, stone, and concrete are also easily demolished by tornadoes. They are that powerful. To make a Tornado proof above ground bunker you have to build extremely thick steel reinforced concrete walls that have no windows and a very limited number of doors that are also heavily reinforced. Standard concre... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
How does a headbutt work? Wouldn't it hurt you just as much? Is there any practical reason to utilize it? | [
"You use your relatively strong forehead to strike in a less strong part of the head, ideally the bridge of the nose. Also, even if it does hurt you, you are expecting it, and can use that surprise to your advantage."
] | [
"I really don't think there is much science behind it or a link to an evolutionary trait in tribal times, and I have never heard or seen someone do this in real life. It is probably a trait that has been applied to television and repeated several times, giving people that impression. The only practical use it would... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Is intermittent fasting healthy? | [
"There is some evidence that intermittent fasting is beneficial in humans (e.g. improved insulin sensitivity), but the bulk of the work has been done in animals. The idea is that the longer your body is in a \"starvation\" state, the better. Valter Longo at USC has done a lot of work in this area, using what he cal... | [
"Most likely you would survive, but it's not clear if you would thrive. Only a registered dietician would be qualified to properly assess your health, lifestyle, and habits and determine whether that diet would be appropriate and healthy for you. Seek professional advice before choosing a diet so unusually limiting... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How do federal housing programs like FHA/USDA loans work and why do they exist? | [
"A typical non-FHA/USDA loan usually requires 20% downpayment because the lender doesn't want to be too exposed in the event of a foreclosure. The government loans tend to be more forgiving in regards to credit. The two houses we've bought over the years have been FHA because we didn't have 800+ credit scores and 2... | [
"When you have a mortgage (in the US) - the interest you pay is tax deductible - the property taxes you pay are tax deductible (off your federal income tax) - the principal you pay goes towards YOUR equity in the house these things do not apply if you are renting-to-own The \"requirements\" for buying a house are h... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why is it the vast majority of rainbow flags do not have violet in them? | [
"Newton was the one to popularize the division of colors in the rainbow thanks to his work with prisms. And Newton was very religious and superstitious, and saw a great significance in the number 7. So he decided that there should be 7 colors in the rainbow, which led to him breaking the blue end of the rainbow int... | [
"Depends on culture. Romans used purple to signify royalty. Indians view pink as lucky and it is worn by both sexes. Different colors mean different things to different cultures. They aren't universally symbolic generally. As to the specific origin of the symbols you're asking about: I dont know. I'll leave that to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Plea deals in the US - why are they used so much and how do they work? | [
"Trials cost money, both for the accused and for the people who are represented by the prosecution. Meanwhile juries can be fickle creatures, and you really cannot count on them to reach the right conclusion (look at OJ Simpson, 99.9999% chance he did it, but walked away with an innocent verdict). Better to skip t... | [
"Most trials are called 'bench trials', and happen without a jury. In these trials, guilt or innocence is determined by the presiding magistrate. This is the most common form of trial in, to my knowledge, every legal system around the world. What does differ between countries, however, is how willing they are to al... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What does "HTTP 2.0 to be HTTPS only" mean and what are the implications of this? | [
"HTTPS means that the web page and the requests for the web page are encrypted in transit, meaning that people listening in on your computer (or the remote servers) traffic can't analyze them and steal personal information. Standard traffic is done over HTTP which isn't encrypted and people can intercept these comm... | [
"You can, as long as your browser and the sending server support it. There is no technical reason why this shouldn't be possible."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why do deep burps sometimes sting the nostrils? | [
"Because you've been drinking something carbonated. The CO2 gas from the carbonation continues to be released in your stomach, and actually speeds up its release since there are a lot of nucleation sites, which the glass/plastic didn't have. (Side note, nucleation sites is fancy talk for an irregular shape that gi... | [
"Your sinuses are draining into your throat instead of out your nostrils. When you wake (stand) up, it will start coming out your nostrils again."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
What about a base-10 numbering system makes it so good? | [
"Keep in mind that any base system is base-10 (ONE ZERO). If we used a base 2 system we would describe it as base-10 as well. There is nothing mathematically special about a base-TEN system. Humans probably started using it because we have ten figures. Base 12 and base 60 systems were once very common because they ... | [
"How many fingers do you have? edit: further answering: > Would any constants/calculations/formulas (pi, phi, etc) be easier if our system was based on another number / constant? Well, in computers we use octal, hex, and binary depending on what's trying to happen. So yes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Mathematics:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Mathematics:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Mathematics:"
} |
How do air bubbles in a needle kill you if you don't get them all out before injecting? | [
"I think that's mostly a Hollywood invention. A large amount of air injected into a vein can kill you, but a little bit won't. Imagine my surprise when I was in the hospital and saw a few air bubbles go into my vein. I freaked out and thought I was going to die, but absolutely nothing happened."
] | [
"Your veins and arteries aren't \"completely full\". They are able to constrict and dilate, similar to your pupils. This is what causes high or low blood pressure. So yes, there is room in your blood vessels to inject things. Please don't inject things yourself. See a doctor or a nurse and get advice before playing... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
From 1954 to Blu ray | [
"It's kinda a strange concept, but since old movies were taken on real film, the film itself is basically HD (It's not that hard to realize either, if you look at some film, it's very very high quality picture) As long as you have the old film, it'll be convertible into HD into at least the near future (Past the ti... | [
"Ballot - Please choose one (1): 1. Beloved Leader: May He Reign for 100 years! 2. Horrible torture."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
People who understand NSA stuff: why don't they have a better lead on Jim Dimaggio? (California Amber Alert) | [
"IF he was trying to flee, he would have taken a different car, or disabled his GPS Nav system, and from that point he would stay off the grid. | They do use it for the domestic good, remember the Boston Marathon manhunt?"
] | [
"Does it anything to do with the US citizen member of Al-Queda killed this year?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
After time in the sun, why does my hair get lighter but my skin gets darker? | [
"Your skin can react to a stimulus. It adds more pigments to protect you. Your hair is mostly dead cells and thus cannot react, so it gets bleached in the sun just like paint or plastic."
] | [
"It's not staining, it's pigmentation. It isn't always brown either. It's the same sort of thing that causes the skin around nipples to be a different color than the rest of the skin."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Inflation target is roughly 2-3%, is any lower than this bad? If so, why? | [
"Moderate inflation provides incentives for people who have money to lend it out to borrowers. These borrowers generally spend this money in the short term, which fuels economic activity and all that comes with it (higher production, lower unemployment, etc.). In short, money is put to work rather than just sitting... | [
"I would argue that *both* Japan and the US want inflation right now. Both are in recessionary situations (though the situation has persisted in Japan for much longer) and both could use a bit more nominal spending, which means more inflation and more growth. Over the medium term, Japan has settled on an inflation ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If i deposit 1 dollar into a bank, what are all the options of where that 1 dollar could end up? | [
"Do you mean the idea of the dollar or the physical currency? The dollar becomes two entities on the banks balance sheet: one dollar on deposit that they owe you (a liability) and one dollar in cash. They can then use their cash to buy securities (short and long term), as funding for a loan, to pay a depositors wit... | [
"I have a dollar bill, I deposit it in the bank. The bank loans out 95 cents to someone. That person uses 90 cents of that to buy some service from you. You put 85 cents from that in the bank. The bank loans out 80 cents from that to some other person. In this scenario, there's only a single dollar bill in the \"e... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
why people from the United States love to have guns that aren't just hunting rifles. | [
"Same reason people have cars that can do double the speed limit. Fun."
] | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How come it feels infinitely more perilous walking down an icy incline than it does walking up one? | [
"My guess, going downhill if you slip you will fall backwards and won't be able to catch yourself and possibly hit your head, going up hill you will fall foreward and be able to use your hands to catch yourself"
] | [
"For the same reason you can easily step out of a parked car, but would have a less fun time stepping out of a car going full speed down a highway"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why can't we artificially inseminate endangered species like pandas and rhinos in order to raise their numbers? | [
"Increasing their numbers doesn't solve any problems. They're being wiped out in the wild, through habitat destruction, poaching, etc. Having 'more to die' doesn't fix the 'to die' part. Additionally, artificial insemination isn't a surefire mechanism, and once your population is low enough you run into problems w... | [
"When elephants reach an age where they can no longer reproduce, often they will fight with young males who are still fertile and prevent them from impregnating female elephants. Hunting these old infertile elephants can be a net gain for the overall elephant population. Also, hunters have to pay money to get hunti... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How does the Nuclear Fusion produce cheap, reliable energy and ELI5 how the new data produced in Livermore, CA help us? | [
"_URL_0_ Original story in which I am inquiring.."
] | [
"We have already built nuclear weapons that harness the power of fusion energy. What remains is to figure out how to control it. See: hydrogen bomb"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Can anyone explain why when you sit for an extended period of time your knee will start to bounce up and down? | [
"This actually doesn't happen to everyone. If it happens all the time and feels like it's out of your conscious control, and really severe, it might be Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), a neurological disorder which causes a strong urge to move your legs. It might also simply be a symptom of impatience or boredom or, i... | [
"Don't know why but if you stretch out your leg and pull your toes back towards your shin it will make the cramp instantly go away. This has saved me so many times."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Health and Wellness:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument about Health and Wellness:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
what is going on with Adrian Peterson | [
"He hit his kid with a \"switch\" (usually thin tree branch with the leaves ripped off) as a way of discipline, but apparently it left some pretty bad marks which makes it look like he went too far with corporal punishment and possibly crossed into abuse. Hard to say exactly what could happen with his career, but ... | [
"Sorry I'm a youngster. But what is this masterbation scandal that you speak of?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
How can services like Google Drive offer so much storage for no charge? | [
"Google offer 'free' services to lock people into using Google, this in turns makes people use other services such as search and gmail, where they do make money for people clicking on advertisements. It's also another way of gathering as much information about people to enable them to target specific types of adve... | [
"Most email services these days are free, but they tend to make money by charging extra for additional features and services like larger file size limits for attachments and greater email storage space. Ten MB is pretty low for today's standards though, most free email services I believe have been offering 20 MB or... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
The Cheryl’s Birthday Logic Puzzle | [
"/u/MultiFazed gives a great drill down. In general, these sorts of puzzles rely what is called *metaknowledge*, what you know about what someone knows. You aren't just using the clues Cheryl gives you, but the fact those clues are insufficient for one person to solve the problem. To look at a simpler example of ho... | [
"Star Wars Episode VII: The Jar Jar Binks Adventures"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
why do lightbulbs seem to go bad only when being turned on? | [
"The filaments in the bulb get thinner and thinner with more use. At some point they are thin enough that the surge of electricity when turning on the bulb is more than the filament can take."
] | [
"Thermocycling affects the life of the filament in bulbs. Every time you turn on and off a bulb the energy pushed through the filaments weakens it. If you have a bulb that always stays on and a bulb that you turn on and off every day, the bulb that always remains on will last much longer. I have bulbs that I never ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Electrical engineering:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument about Electrical engineering:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about Electrical engineering:"
} |
Why are most SQL error messages useless? | [
"They're not useless. They give you the exact line the problem has occured on and the nature of the error. It is assumed that you know what you're doing and are competent enough to be aware of which keywords exist. Why did you cut off the rest of the error message you quoted: ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error i... | [
"Why are empty threads showing up on the front page? This makes no sense."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Why do large semis shake your car when you drive past them? | [
"[Vortex shedding](_URL_0_) Because semi's are not very streamlined the air rushing past them ends up in a series of vortices. As these vortices pass you, your car is alternately sucked toward and blown away from--hence the shaking motion."
] | [
"Why would they? The air in the car is moving along with them. When you're coasting on the highway at 65 if you put your hand up in the air does it get thrown back behind your head? No because your arm is already moving at 65 MPH."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How are cranes on the side if buildings built during construction? How is the last crane disassembled? | [
"A crane can build and disassemble itself. They build what they can on the ground and then let the crane take over. There is no way I'd be able to explain it better than this video. _URL_0_"
] | [
"They're jacked up and additional columns slipped in at the bottom as necessary. Check out a timelapse video of skyscraper construction and you can probably see what I mean."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Why does everything you mix together turn brown? | [
"Pigments absorb some colors and reflect others. Mix a bunch of different ones together and it ends up absorbing most of the color and then reflecting some of the light so you get a dark mass of brown"
] | [
"Because most people don't want the drink to be less sweet."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why do we still have court reporters? | [
"Transcripts. Every legal action is based on a transcript, the written word of what happened in court, and also at depositions (witness interviews taken under oath outside the courtroom). So anytime a hearing is at issue or deposition testimony is needed, the court or court of appeals needs a transcript to review w... | [
"We're not supposed to use our phones at gas stations?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What is the difference between a voxel and a pixel? | [
"A pixel is part of a 2-D image - like all the dots that make up your screen. A voxel is a 3-D element, like the cubes that make up Minecraft."
] | [
"Is it possible to get a better picture with a little more light?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How can a person break cement blocks with a fist? Surely there is no training that makes bones as tough a concrete? | [
"The dirty secret of concrete is that it's weak in *some* ways. Like natural rock, it's great at withstanding compression. However, it is very poor at withstanding tension (pulling). Which means that it's also poor at handing bending, which imposes compression and tension in different regions at the same time. To m... | [
"Same way body builders can have a delicate touch, control over their strength. Now, what I want to know is if Superman has a strong body that makes regular punches and bullets fell like almost nothing, why does an equally strong opponent make him go flying? Shouldn't he react to it like a normal person getting pun... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are college grades so test taking oriented instead of grading us on our ability to work in teams and research information on topics? | [
"> Colleges claim to prepare us for the real world This is not in fact the objective of advanced colleges and universities. Their job is to teach you how to think and how to learn, and also to to provide you with a large foundation of background knowledge and general skills such as how to express yourself or organi... | [
"Because western countries focus more on creativity, individual achievement and social development? Many eastern schools produce children who can recite facts but not know how to use them. Many western schools have kids who are great at creative thinking but can't participate in a formal setting. Neither is strictl... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
. If I watched 15 minutes from a 90 minute YouTube video, do I get charged data for the entire 90 minute file ? What about the ads . | [
"you don't stream the entire file at once. Youtube doesn't stream the entire thing to you anymore, just sightly ahead of what you watch. They want to save data too, after all. yes, ads do use data too. they are not magical."
] | [
"I know YouTube stopped doing this as many people were not watching all the way through, so they now only pre-load in segments, say 30sec intervals. What may what happened to you is the player is incorrectly showing the buffer."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Clive Bundy and his ranch | [
"The big stand off last year with bundy and the government was over his use of public lands. Ranchers that want to use public lands like the one in question here are expected to pay a fee to the government and in exchange they can graze their cattle on it. Bundy had not paid the fee for (iirc) years and the governm... | [
"Their top execs worst secrets from being exposed."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why do people have different skins tones, face shapes, body shapes etc from different continents? | [
"Indications are that a lot of those features, the key reason Europeans and Asians are different is because of interbreeding with neanderthals and denisovans. The neanderthals and denisovans had lived in those regions for a long time and had gradually adapted to the environment of the climates, and the interbreedin... | [
"Genetics, some people have the genes for chest hair while some don't, it can also vary between races and ethnic groups."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about biology:",
"pos": "Represent the document about biology:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If America has the best colleges in the world and some of the hardest working people in the world, how are foreigners able to take our jobs? | [
"They will work for less money. It's primarily jobs for low skill workers that are leaving the US. A factory worker in China will cost about the equivalent of $1.36 hour. Even if they are slightly less productive, it's still more cost effective, even after shipping the goods to the US. It's about $2000 per shipping... | [
"It will be much, much harder to get certain jobs. If you go to a vocational school, you should be able to get one of those jobs just fine. There's not really any reason for 100% of students to go to college. There are more students with a college education than there are jobs that require one."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Every picture we take is a rectangle, so is the sensor inside our digital cameras. So why are the lenses of our cameras round? | [
"It is not the case that every pixel have a single point on the lens collecting its light. Every pixel gets light from all parts of the lens. You can try this yourself by covering up parts of a lens and observe that the light in the other end of the optics only gets darker but not obscured. You can even try this on... | [
"The lens on an iPhone camera is equivalent to a 35mm lens on an SLR. 35mm is a fairly wide angle, which is why people tend to have to move so much closer to their subject with an iPhone to fill the frame."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How does my penis know I’m looking at something sexual? | [
"Your brain finds whatever you’re looking at arousing and as a result releases endorphins and sends blood to the penis to make it erect"
] | [
"Your body releases chemicals that calm you down and eliminate your sex drive after you ejaculate, so all you are left with is looking at what you just found arousing and odds are it's pretty weird. ;)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about Psychology:"
} |
Why did the communist structure of the USSR fail while China still continues to grow under the banner of the CCP? | [
"The USSR tried to liberalize their politics without liberalizing their economy. China is allowing the economy to liberalize into a more capitalist system, but maintaining strict control of the politics. Freedom of politics tends towards freedom of economy, but freedom of economy doesn't always lead to freedom of p... | [
"China is not communist. Communism entails that there is no private ownership of the means of production. Currently in China, private individuals have the ability to own the means of production. This is an economic system known as capitalism, and is prevalent throughout the entire world. China previously were more ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do people taste flavours in cigars and whiskey? | [
"It's an acquired taste and it requires a fair bit of learning before you get it. It's not like normal tastes, it's not like a lemon tasting like lemon. It's really hard to explain, but it amounts to trying to look beyond the first, strong flavor and experiencing the nuances behind it. The reason it's so hard is be... | [
"1. A cigarette is made of dried and fine tobacco leaves wrapped in thin paper while pipe tobacco is made of coarse tobacco leaves placed in pipes for smoking. 2. A cigarette has two flavors, regular and menthol while pipe tobacco has many flavors, ranging from spicy to fruity to sweet. 3. The flavor and aroma of c... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
In traffic, why do cyclists by default have to use the road instead of the sidewalk? Aren't motor vehicles and cyclists a bigger danger to each other than cyclists and pedestrians would be? | [
"Bicycles and cars are supposed to follow the same rules, and both drivers and riders are responsible for maintaining situational awareness. This is intended to create a predictable flow. As others have mentioned, while there are notions about how best to walk on a sidewalk, there aren't really any rules or regulat... | [
"1) Safety. I'd argue that the main point of a crosswalk is safety, not efficiency. You say in one of your comments that people could wait until a safe time naturally occurs, but what about the old lady or the guy on crutches who need more time? They could end up waiting for a while. 2) Driving is a privelage. The ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How is using someone else's Wi-fi not considered stealing? | [
"It is; it probably falls under theft of services."
] | [
"A VPN is a tool that can be used for legitimate purposes, too. I'd draw a comparison between a VPN and a ski mask- both are tools, and both are usually used legitimately. If a criminal disguises his identity with a ski mask we would never even consider holding the manufacturer accountable. Likewise, if a criminal ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Do dogs have bonds within their families? | [
"I am not at all an expert on this but I can say that I have seen two dog siblings go straight murder-mode on each other over a toy or food on several occasions. Maybe there is some explanation for this?"
] | [
"Most of these animals are herd/pack/family animals. They interact socially based on trust, affection and mutual benefit, same as humans. A human carer provides an animal with activity, food, treatment, training, and leadership. Pack animals have a need for all of this, same as humans. We don't really know what goe... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why is it that before an orgasm you have a feeling willingness to do anything, but as soon as the orgasm passes you come to your "senses" (NSFW) | [
"According to some studies about human psychology, our disgust response is literally reduced the hornier you are. Which makes sense. Sex isnt really the most hygienic thing in the world haha. But once you're done, your disgust feelings return to normal."
] | [
"because each experience and sensation is unexpected. When you touch yourself your brain is prepared for the touch, and kinda dulls the sensation cause it's not as significant a stimuli (for survival from an evolutionary sense)... why pay attention to the things you do to yourself when that attention is better spen... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about NSFW:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about NSFW:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Was Bill Clinton impeached? | [
"Yes he was impeached for perjury (lying under oath) and obstruction of justice. Impeachment refers to any official being accused of illegal activity. So while impeached he was not removed from office. Richard Nixon was also impeached though he resigned before the trial."
] | [
"The only president not to issue an executive order is William Henry Harrison, who was only president for a month. FDR issued the most (3,522), then again he was also president for the longest. Following him are Woodrow Wilson (1,803), Calvin Coolidge (1,203), and Theodore Roosevelt (1,081). Obama has issued 193. O... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How is NASA able to download data from from satellite like Hubble telescope and Juno? | [
"There are antennas on Juno that send out the information and giant dishes in different parts of the world that can pick it up no matter what side of Earth is facing Juno. It takes about 48 minutes for the signal to make if from Juno to Earth at the speed of light."
] | [
"There are orbiter probes that serve as relays. Currently, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Express missions are the primary means of communications relay with the surface."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Science and Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Science and Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Science and Technology:"
} |
Why does digital data have to be stored on a physical medium? | [
"There is no such thing as \"the digital space\". Everything persistent is physical. Everything. The only non-physical things are signals such as radio or microwaves, but they too require amplification and boosting which again would require more hardware."
] | [
"No, it is not. A USB drive stores data in the form of electrical charge and it doesn't have any practical weight on the scale of the device."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Technology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Technology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is the first episode of a series always called "Pilot"? Why not giving it a real title even though it serves as a pilot? | [
"Most pilots do have a title, or at least a working title. But the word pilot is used as an adjective meaning \"done as an experiment or test before introducing something more widely.\" It's importance to the series is in getting its foot in the door so to speak."
] | [
"What do you mean, you tried but got lost? Do you mean you watched some episodes of the [current] third season of a show and had no idea what was going on or who any of the characters were? Well yeah, obviously, try starting with season 1. Or do you mean you started watching the first few episodes and didn't unders... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why big tech companies aren't using their lobbyists to stop SOPA. | [
"I remember hearing on a podcast the idea that since many of these companies are quite new, they haven't had the time to lobby and make the connections the more established companies those in the RIAA/MPAA have formed."
] | [
"More or less a way for corporations to literally be above the law and do whatever they want, among other things. Cross your fingers it doesn't go through."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
why laptop charging cords have two parts. | [
"The specifics of mains power differ greatly depending on where you are, so power bricks are usually made to handle a wide range of input voltages and frequencies (usually 100-240V at 50-60 Hz). This is because economies of scale make it less costly to make a whole lot of one slightly more expensive part that's muc... | [
"Damaged electrical plugs? Because this happens with the usb adapter for my phone charger. Not a loud sound but if my head is close ish to it I hear it. I would also like to know."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
How can we be certain that there isn't another 'Earth' on the opposite side of the sun, always out of view of our telescopes? | [
"Its gravity would have an effect on our planet, the other planets in the system, and even(on a very small scale) the sun, as well as all the comets and asteroids constantly cutting through our solar system. As we have not observed any such gravitic effects(and we'd notice, because it would screw up trajectories fo... | [
"You mean to be hidden by the sun? It would, but it's gravitational influence on other celestial bodies would give it away. In other words, it's not necessary to actually *see* a planet to detect it's presence. Most of the outer planets were, in fact, *predicted* to exist long before they were actually detected wit... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about astronomy:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument about astronomy:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Who owns a lot of the undeveloped land? Can someone just go off into the mountains, build a home off the grid with no repercussions? | [
"All land (in the US) is owned by someone. Most of the undeveloped land like you described is owned by the government. Interestingly most of this land the government will sell you for dirt cheap. So you could purchase it and live off the grid, but that is a very hard way to live."
] | [
"Assuming by \"rural\" you mean not in any city or town: In America you can buy any plot of land that is for sale that you can afford, no application required. Building on it on the other hand is subject to various regulations by a plethora of government agencies. In unincorporated areas the regulations are minimal... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The Trayvon Martin shooting. Was out of the loop for a day or two. | [
"Trayvon Martin was a young African-American male. His father lives in a gated community in Florida. Martin left the home to walk to a nearby convenience store. On the way back a community watch person(think neighborhood watch) called 911 to report him as suspicious. When officers arrived they found Martin dead of ... | [
"I just want you to know you're not alone. This happened to me every damn time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does someone stricken with Alzheimer's forget names and memories, but retain math skills and advanced vocabulary? | [
"They don't actually necessarily keep all of those. Vocabulary is *very* frequently affected by Alzheimer's, to the point that it can be part of the testing or a warning sign."
] | [
"Different memories are stored in differing parts of the brain, with differing degrees of permanence. If the amnesia affects only one part of the brain, then memories stored elsewhere are unaffected. In fact, when trauma happens to the language centers of the brain, a person can \"forget\" how to speak and understa... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Copyright / "Fair use" - how does it work? | [
"\"Fair use\" isn't something that is clearly defined. It is something that is determined in court if you are sued for copyright infringement. Only a qualified attorney could give you advice as to whether something could be considered \"fair use,\" and even then, the final decision is up to the courts of law in the... | [
"Yes. Copying a copyrighted item is illegal, no matter how you do it. That's what \"copyright\" means."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Since a compass is a magnet, why do compasses always point towards magnetic north, but not a typical household ceramic magnet? | [
"The needle is long and floats on a bearing. Put your ceramic magnet so the North and South poles are parallel to the ground. Float it on water somehow and wait. It will orient itself with the magnetic field in your vicinity. Compasses orient with the magnetic field. One end points to the North magnetic pole, the o... | [
"The same as any other magnet - spherical magnets still have north poles and south poles. Most often, they're just split roughly down the middle, like the equator dividing the earth into two halves. The top half acts like magnetic north and the bottom half acts like magnetic south."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why do publishers have to pay royalties to voice actors when re releasing a game those VAs performed in? | [
"Because it's in their contract. A voice actor does voice acting in return for money. The terms of this are specified in the specific contract they sign. Contracts may be set up so that the voice actor forfeits all rights to their performance, or retains some rights, and they may be paid all at once, or per sale,... | [
"> How is covering a song less of a legal problem than sampling a song? In the US music industry, there is something called mechanical royalties. You can cover any song you want, but you have to pay the original artist a portion of what you make on it. > Also, if they don't have final say on their intellectual pro... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
why do we sometimes wake up accidentally when our bodies are still obviously tired? | [
"It's more important to be able to respond to threats than to get a good night's sleep, and while modern life may be safe, this was not always the case."
] | [
"Your body is mostly paralyzed while you sleep, which does most of the work, but that doesn't always work, I used to roll of the bed quite often when I was young."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Sleep and its effects on the body:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Sleep and its effects on the body:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What happens behind the scenes when a person is clubbed and blacks out? | [
"Have you seen those videos where someone gets punched or slapped in slow motion? You ever notice how their face moves, then their skin kind of morphs trying to catch up with it? The same kind of thing can happen in your head too. If you get hit in the head really hard, your brain might squish a bit and actually bu... | [
"It would be after the fact. Basically someone who uses the same restroom as you accuses you of being the wrong gender for the bathroom, calls the police, you get arrested and then it's hashed out in court."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What do modern spies do? | [
"OK, first, take whatever picture is in your mind, and make it about 50x more boring."
] | [
"What do you want to know about them exactly?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If I renounce my U.S citizenship where would i be deported to? | [
"You cannot revoke your citizenship while inside the country. The first step would be to leave. Assuming you were just visiting somewhere and then renounced your citizenship, that country may still be able to deport you back to the USA, just as a noncitizen. This would make some things like travel and work very dif... | [
"The idea is to prevent wealthy Americans from avoiding taxes by living overseas. If you're an American who wants to live overseas but not pay US taxes, you'll have to renounce your citizenship. That's the idea, anyway."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
U.S internet costs a lot due to lack of competition. Why aren't many competitors in the U.S opposed to places like Korea? | [
"You have the cause and effect backwards here. It is expensive to be an internet provider because you have to physically run the lines and run the servers. In countries like South Korea the distance that you have to run things is short because the country is small. They also have a large percentage of the infrastru... | [
"ISPs have local monopolies. They're often the only service provider in the area. Google is attempting to change this by pushing Google Fiber."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why does crickets chirp at night? | [
"They try to hide from their most common predators by staying quiet during daytime. And then come out during the night to attract a mate when it's too dark for birds to hunt."
] | [
"How do you know that you don't sneeze in your sleep?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why would a British Candy bar have different nutrition facts when sold in the USA on the exact same bar? | [
"1: they aren't the same bar, just because they're called the same thing. 2: different regulatory requirements for what needs to be listed and how accurate it needs to be. Maybe the US doesn't require decimal places but the UK does and so they round for the US?"
] | [
"The glass bottles are ususally the Coke manufactured in a place where sugar is used as the primary sweetener, rather than corn syrup. (Usually Mexico if you are in the United States)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why can Red Bull still advertise that it "gives you wings" and not get sued for false advertising? | [
"The legal doctrine is called \"Puffery\". If a claim is so absurd (like giving you wings) or un-verifiable (like X's best burger) that a reasonable person would not consider it to be an objective statement of fact, then it's not false advertising. _URL_0_"
] | [
"It entirely depends upon whether that particular substance has been put through the rigorous multi-year testing required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prove that said substance does actually help or cure the condition the company claims it does (and won't kill anybody in the process). That proces... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Why do people experience déjà vu? | [
"If I remember correctly, it's a cognitive short circuit - so to speak. The brain working diligently, transferring visual and auditory stimulus to the subconscious for processing, when a few bits of data slated for 'real time' end up getting tagged as 'past memories'. When the data comes full circle and is process... | [
"A follow-up question: Why do some people love that feeling while others detest it?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about Cognitive Science:",
"pos": "Represent the comment about Cognitive Science:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Newbie reddit user doesn't know where to start? | [
"Go back to lurking. its not safe here."
] | [
"/r/askscience ELI5 won't be able to help you, probably."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph about science:"
} |
You're not suppose to use Band-aids/coverings for a scarless and well healed tattoo. So why are they used for every other cut, scrape, or puncture for extended periods of time? | [
"For tattoos, the needle only goes a certain distance into your skin so it's not a full puncture. On top of this, the idea of a tattoo is to have the ink stay in your skin; if you cover it or use medicated ointment, you'll pull up the ink and ruin the tattoo in general. Since cuts, scrapes and punctures are wounds ... | [
"For a scrape, the ink shouldn't fade if the tattoo was inked deep enough. Shallow tattoos might not fare so well. I experienced this panic first hand when I scraped my shin and the tattoo going across it lost several layers, but it healed just fine and without fading as the ink was set pretty deep. As long as cuts... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why do Jewish people make up just 2% of the US population, yet they are very dominant in many industries (i.e. banking, Hollywood, corporate, etc.)? | [
"Connections, hard work and a cultural importance of a good education."
] | [
"Most elites are on the progressive side of the balance, particularly those that work in an industry focused on new stories, new visions, and new music. If you want to find conservatives, look in vested interests like banking, investing, and religion."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
what is the process of translation (microbiology) | [
"Translation is a very complex process.. anyway let me give you an outline Its like Lock and Key.. each set of 3 nucleotide corresponds to particular ammio acids..sometimes more that one type corresponds to particular ammio acid So ribosome starts to read your mRNA strand and accordinly you will get ammio acids att... | [
"different areas of the dna are modified in different cells so they are more or less accessible to the enzymes which transcribe it into rna. different patterns of accessibility = different type of cell. epigenetics yallllllll."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Reddit points, or why there are no posts with like 200,000, 500,000, or more upvotes | [
"[Because of the 1% rule](_URL_0_) Simply put, only 1% of the community creates content, 9% modifies or edits, and the rest just lurk (hence the term \"Reddit Lurkers\"). This is compounded by 1. You don't need to upvote to view content 2. You need to take an extra step to upvote (creating an account/logging in) 3.... | [
"Top sorts comments by the amount of upvotes it has. A comment with 500 will be above a comment that has 300 votes. Sorting by best would sort the comments by the amount of upvotes and downvotes it has. A comment that has 40 upvotes and 20 downvotes would be lower than a comment that has 10 upvotes and 1 downvote."... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why don't they run political debates like competitive debating, with rules and a panel of judges who deduct points for logical fallacies, factual errors, etc? | [
"Because the candidates would not agree to that. They're not obligated to debate at all, they do so because they think it's an opportunity to show the voters how great they are. No candidate would agree to such a strict format."
] | [
"The rules are always more-or-less the same. Six time segments of ~15 each to devote to major topics selected by the moderator, which will be announced a week before the debate. Each segment will be opened with a single question, after which each candidate has a 2 minute window to respond. Then they get a minute to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why does nearly every frozen food require the oven to be preheated at 400 Fahrenheit? What is it about 400 degrees that's such a sweet spot? | [
"The hotter the oven, the faster it transfers heat into the food. Water requires a large amount of energy to melt, and a huge amount of energy to change its temperature regardless of what state it's in. A cool oven won't melt the food fast enough to avoid drying out or overcooking the outside. A hotter oven will du... | [
"The reason is that it takes time for the earth to heat up, and the balance of daylight in July and August is still perfectly capable of heating the earth. Imagine you have a frozen pizza. You preheat your oven to 400 degrees and put it in. Every 5 minutes, you drop the oven temperature 100 degrees. So after 5 minu... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
suggestion for the mods: Please add a current events section to the sidebar. | [
"Interesting idea. But also remember: the first answer to a question isn't always the right answer. But reddit voting tends to push one answer to the top, and then it tends to stay, even if it's wrong. It's good to have a little turnover."
] | [
"Can you post said maps you wrote in the description?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do flies always land on my monitor? | [
"Confirmation bias. They may well land on your light bulb. But you're not staring at your light bulb for hours and hours on end, so you wouldn't notice it as much."
] | [
"You turn your head so you don't cough on your doctor."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
I don't understand the federal assualt weapons ban expiring and now possibly being re-introduced. What did it do? What was then allowed after it expired? If it's brought back, what then? | [
"The ban put some superficial limits on new weapons purchases, such as placement of grips, folding stock, extended magazines, etc. Essentially weapons that were \"souped up\" and/or gave a more dangerous appearance. If you already owned weaponry that met the \"assault weapon\" definition prior to the ban going in t... | [
"The background check legislation they are trying to pass now has no teeth in it at all, it wouldn't of stopped any of the shootings such as Aurora, Loughner, Sandy Hook, etc etc. You'd have to go back to the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting to find an example of where this background check legislation would of stopped ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Is it possible to have a solar panels system on a roof of a house and be fully energy self-sufficient? | [
"Absolutely. In some states you can even sell power back to the electric company for tax credits."
] | [
"You are lucky to get 30% efficiency from any heat engine. That said, if you use the waste heat to heat the building, the system as a wholecan be cost efficient. But it still needs to be done at some scale - maybe a whole office block, for instance, before it becomes worthwhile, and this often is done."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
If sounds passing through an object cause it to vibrate is it possible to create sounds such as the chirping of birds just by vibrating an object at the right speed or frequency? | [
"Yes. That is how speakers work. You induce them to vibrate in JUST the right way to produce the exact sound you want. You can turn any object into a speaker, but speakers are specially designed to not distort sound. If you try to turn a glass cup into a speaker, you will have distortions due to the natural frequen... | [
"When you flick the wine glass vibrations are made and the sound resonates inside the glass. When you wet your finger and run it across the rim you make micro vibrations, kind of like when a violinist runs their bow across the string. If by similar you mean that they have the same pitch its because the glass hasn't... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How do Fast Food Restaurants like KFC keep their recipes a secret, if they're distributed worldwide? | [
"They don't make everything from scratch in each restaurant. Things are made in a factory and shipped to the stores, similar to how you'd buy a box of Mac and Cheese. Inside they have a packet of \"cheese\" powder. You make Mac and Cheese at home when you open the box and follow the instructions, but that doesn't m... | [
"Are you talking about Secret Menus, or McDonald's Secret Menus in particular? McDonalds' sounds pretty low-key and dependent on whether the employee wants to humor the customer. However... Secret menus do actually exist in fast food. In-N-Out is maybe the best example. Half of their menu is \"secret\", meaning tha... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why do shoelaces lose their ability to stay tied up over time? | [
"The same parts of the lace always are in the knot so they get worn smooth by the action of tying and movement while beinng worn. The smooth parts don't grip each other as well."
] | [
"Put two rubber bands in the freezer and let them sit there for a while. Take one out and then yank it apart quickly. Most likely it will break because the rubber is cold and not very pliable or elastic. Take the second one out and pull it apart slowly and then let it retract. Do this a few more times and then yank... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is buying things in bulk cheaper? | [
"From a purely economic stand point, there are two types of costs: Fixed and Variable. Fixed is say your rent, or start up costs, so for example to buy a teddy bear factory costs 100 dollars, while variable costs for example are a teddy bears costing 4 dollars per bear to produce. So in order to make one bear your ... | [
"Because it's cheaper to have it made in other countries."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Are gatorade-like sport drinks actually effective as it seems they are? If so, how do they contribute to the athlete? | [
"Gatorade is basically salt water with a bunch of sugar and flavorants added to make it not taste terrible. When you sweat you lose water and salt. Sodium and potassium ions in the blood are necessary for nerve and muscle function. Gatorade and other sports drinks replenish them and rehydrate you."
] | [
"Why do you think this is a bad idea? Sports drinks are basically just fancy salt tablets dissolved in water with some flavoring and I am sure you think sports drinks are great. As long as you are drinking plenty of water along with your salt tablets it seems like a fine way to re-balance your electrolights."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do small dogs start to "swim" if you hold them above water? | [
"He's warming up for the eventual possibility that you are going to drop him in water. Why else are you holding him over the water anyways."
] | [
"Reflexive instinct tells them that their feet are in something, like deep grass or mud, so they're trying to step over/out of whatever their feet are stuck in. It's the same reason cats slouch when you put something on their backs. They're trying to walk \"under\" that thing they feel their back touching."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why does the government permit lethal habits like alcoholism and sometimes drug addiction? | [
"The government has no power to prevent alcoholism or drug addiction. They can make these things illegal, but anti-alcohol/drug laws have been shown to be ineffective. Prohibition didn't work and created a great deal of violent well-funded gangs and corruption. Today lots of drugs are illegal, but people still use ... | [
"People who are happy and secure generally don't drink to excess, or when they do, don't commit crimes. Germany has a strong economy, a strong social safety net, widely available substance abuse treatment, and a rather effective police and judiciary. As various attempts at alcohol prohibition worldwide have proved,... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
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} |
If the human mouth has so much bacteria that a bite is almost guaranteed to get infected, why do we want to put a fresh cut in our mouths? | [
"From what i'm aware of, the bacteria in our own bodies is safe for our body, so it wouldn't matter whether it got inside our own body. The reason we put the cut in our mouths is because it's an instinctual action because saliva has healing properties. Same reason why animals like dogs lick wounds."
] | [
"Once we open it and put our mouth on it it starts growing all sorts of nasty things, so unless you're also washing those disposable water bottles after a few days it will start becoming a health hazard to some degree."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Health and Medicine:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Health and Medicine:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Health and Safety:"
} |
How do large sea animals leap so high out of water? | [
"When you and I jump straight up, we can push ourselves upwards over the span of a few feet if we crouch down first. When a whale or a dolphin jumps, they can start off deep and get a \"running start\" towards the surface to build up speed. Humans can do this too, but only horizontally, which is why the world recor... | [
"Geese are not sea creatures. Their nests are located on land, and they stay there during storms. Dolphins spend most of their time below the surface, where storms have little effect. They need to come to the surface to get air for just a few seconds every few minutes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
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} |
How it is possible that we haven't ran out of possible melodies in music? | [
"The total number of possible melodies is finite, so we could theoretically run out of melodies, but it's a very big number. Define how long a sequence of intervals needs to be to be called a \"melody\". Let's say seven intervals, making the song eight notes long. There are twelve intervals, so 7^12 = 13.8 billion ... | [
"Listen to something like Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D. That is melodically very close to what a modern Pop song sounds like. Just with different instruments obviously. They didn't have electric guitars and DJs then. Also what the other guy said. There have been simple song through ages like drinking songs and fol... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
The reasoning behind the United States choosing to not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. | [
"At the time, the US position was that since certain developing countries such as China and India weren't being asked to sacrifice more that the US shouldn't have to sacrifice either."
] | [
"Texas, Mexico, and the US weren't signed members of an international organization where they agreed to respect borders."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why can't the weather be predicted with 100% accuracy? | [
"Greetings from your friendly neighborhood meteorologist: The short answer is chaos. The weather is physics, and the only way you can perfectly predict physical outcomes is if you can be sure of practically everything going INTO them. For example, the rise and set of the sun every day. We know what dictates that, a... | [
"The farmers almanac records the weather of each day every year. So lets just use the past ten years for example. So if on may 1st it rained 8/10 years they will assume its going to rain 80% of the time on may 1st. Now the almanac has been keeping records for a very long time so they can actually make pretty decent... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
why does the Republican Party want less government intervention economically but more government intervention socially (and the opposite for Democrats)? Why isn't there a consistent "more government" party? | [
"The Republican Party does not, categorically, want more social intervention--it is host to both libertarians and social conservatives, whose views widely differ. Some Democrats, for their part, advocate for some reduced forms of intervention as well (such as decriminalization of marijuana), but the party also has ... | [
"Do you think the government should generally stay out of the economy, but maybe it's necessary to have the government interfere in social issues in order to keep the country morally in check? Vote for Mitt Romney. Do you think the economy needs the government to regulate it to prevent the rich from exploiting the ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about history:"
} |
What causes an Ovarian Cyst? | [
"There's a large number of things that can cause a cyst, which are, simply put, an abnormal sack of fluid that collects and grows. Most ovarian cysts are benign, but they can also arise as a secondary effect from other conditions such as endometriosis. Cysts can also occur from menstruation where the follicle conta... | [
"Do you have Diabetes? There is also something called Maple Syrup urine disease."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why can't people who have had cancer in the past donate blood? | [
"Some cancers (like leukemia) go into remission. Other cancers (like melanoma) don’t go into remission; patients are considered “NED” meaning no evidence of disease. Doctors don’t see any cancer but it could, in theory, still be present. Cancers like melanoma can travel through the vascular (blood) system, so cance... | [
"> If a patient only suffers the failure of one kidney, why are they in need of a donor They don't. That would make no sense. You only need a new kidney if both of your kidneys don't function correctly."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
please ELI5 ... why is the headrest part of most car's seats designed to be so angled forward? | [
"Headrests aren't there to rest your head against, but to protect you from whiplash or worse if you're in an accident. When a car decelerates VERY quickly (like in a head-on collision) and you are wearing your seat belt, then your arms and upper torso will fly forward very quickly. The three-point seat belt keeps y... | [
"It's not so much the body curving inward but the wheels are. It straight vertical. Most cars are stances a few degrees."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Where does the color in food go once we consume it? | [
"Remember when you played with play dough as a kid. If you mixed all the colors up you just end up with a big brown lump?"
] | [
"Pour a bunch of sugar on a piece of paper. Put the sugar and paper in your mouth and chew it. Once you don't taste any more sugar, spit the paper out. Do you think you just consumed some calories even though you didn't eat any paper? The answer is yes. Same concept applies to gum."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why do some fruits have pits or seeds with cyanide in them? | [
"To discourage animals able to digest the seed (rather than just pooping it out) from eating the seed. In this way it is more likely to have the offspring survive, and thus reproduce themselves."
] | [
"Cucumbers and Avocados have their seeds on the inside. Strawberries have their seeds on the outside. Bananas are also technically berries, because when we don't breed them to be seedless their seeds are on the inside too."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Biology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about Biology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
How does one get from observing the present universe to deciding how things must have happened in the past and how things are going to happen in the future? | [
"Well, we aren't observing the present universe. The farther out we look, the farther back in time we see because it's taken the light that long to reach us. When astronomers look at a galaxy 13 billion light years away, they're seeing it as it was about 13 billion years ago. This also means that we have a window t... | [
"There are a couple of arguments against free will. One is this: You know how you can predict the motion of say, a thrown ball, using the laws of physics? Well, what if the whole universe were that way? What if every single atom and every single ray of light that will ever exist is completely predictable as long as... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
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