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72v1wd | why do some sites require credit card ccv numbers, and others (like amazon) do not? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/72v1wd/eli5_why_do_some_sites_require_credit_card_ccv/ | {
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"The CVV2 number isn't *required* to charge the card, but it reduces the risk of fraud. If the transaction is fraudulent, the merchant might end up having to pay fees or fines to their payment processor, so merchants have an incentive to check CVV2s. But if they don't want to and are willing to risk more chargebacks, they can decide not to require it (which is what Amazon's done)."
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fhu5ht | how do viral test kits work? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fhu5ht/eli5_how_do_viral_test_kits_work/ | {
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"A technique called qPCR. You use an enzyme called Reverse transcriptase to convert viral RNA into DNA. Then followed by another enzyme called DNA polymerase to clone it multiple times.\n\nMix that with fluorescent DNA primers (short glowing chunks) that are used by the enzyme to build the target DNA, and you can count how much viral DNA there is based on how much fluorescence is given off under UV light.\n\nThere are other techniques but this is the easiest and most common."
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5pp8b2 | how did ancient people find/define constellations when there was no light pollution? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5pp8b2/eli5_how_did_ancient_people_finddefine/ | {
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"The pictures you see are long exposure photos, which don't accurately represent what you see when you look at the night sky without any light pollution. [This photo](_URL_0_) much more accurately represents what you see with your own eyes than [this photo](_URL_1_). As you can see, it's very easy to discern specific stars in the first photo.\n\nI suggest going out on an actual stargazing tour, it can be mind blowing."
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4pv0i8 | are vegetables alive? | Are fruits and vegetables alive once they are picked but not yet growing into a new plant? Do they have any biological process occurring at all? For example a carrot once picked and kept in the fridge will eventually rot but will not sprout or grow. So is it technically alive or not. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4pv0i8/eli5_are_vegetables_alive/ | {
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"Yes they are alive. The carrot you have in your refrigerator may not sprout given the best care possible. The top was taken off. It was washed repeatedly, and is at the end of its life cycle.\n\nThe sweet potato I bought last Thanksgiving and left on the counter sprouted a week ago. I threw it out today. It was probably still good to eat.\n\nMost potatoes can be coaxed to grow if they have not been peeled. Watch The Martian.\n\nYour canned vegetables are not alive anymore.\n\nThe more processed your vegetables are the less likely they are to sprout. \n\nApple seeds will probably sprout. Maybe orange seeds. Everyone is always growing avocado seeds.\n\n",
"Yes and no. Some vegetables like onions and potatoes will often sprout if left long enough, but other times they will rot. Rotting is the breaking down of organic matter. Putting something in the fridge will slow down the growth of bacteria, but eventually it will rot unless it sprouts. Many plants can survive outside of the ground, but without water, they tend to die. This is one of the reasons stores spray your produce with water. "
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1iecmg | why do i always wake up from a dream immediately before i suffer some kind of fatal physical harm (ex. someone shoots me, stabs me, hits me etc.) | Intentional human (or humanoid)-on-human harm. I've read the threads about falling off of cliffs and so forth but I'm not really talking about that. I've been attacked in dreams from everything ranging from a gun to a rolling pin and I always wake up right before contact, with the in-dream implication being it would be fatal. I thought it was just me but friends say it happens to them too. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1iecmg/eli5_why_do_i_always_wake_up_from_a_dream/ | {
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"It's because your brain is reacting to the fear of the situation. It's like \"Oh! Bad situation. Done!\" so you wake up. Your mind doesn't want to go through that, and you've never experienced it, so you also don't know how to react. :)",
"You don't. \nDeath in dreams is a leading cause for lucid dreams. ",
"Because that was the kick.",
"I have actually been shot in two separate dreams. It hurt like hell and I felt the warmth of the blood leaving my body. I even felt the shock and disbelief afterwards too. One time in the dream I felt I was dying and thought I did until I was revived later in the dream. I have never been shot in real life so I guess my brain was imitating what it imagined being shot would be like.\n\nEdit: Added a bit",
"Dreaming is just your mind filling in the next event in a story with your own expectations. When you are awake, You see, react, and anticipate what comes next. in a dream, whatever you anticipate, just happens. So, any time you're unable to anticipate what comes next, your dream falls apart and you notice, and wake up.",
"Important question: How would you know if you *didn't* wake up? I mean, you dream a significant portion of the night, but very few people remember any significant portion of that time. What if you're getting killed in your dreams on a regular basis, but only remember the times when you wake up?\n\nI think your \"every time\" is an example of [selection bias](_URL_0_).",
"I read somewhere that dreaming is the mind's way of testing situations to find an outcome. If you get into a situation where you're about to die clearly it wasn't a good out come so your mind ends the simulation",
"Your brain knows you have just a single life, impending death creates a hyper awareness in your body that the brain is unable to ignore. It takes no chances between real death and an unreal one as the tiniest misjudgment can result in a Game Over. Essentially, it is telling itself better awake than sorry.",
"In two of my dreams, I have been shot, the dream kept going; when I woke up though...I could still feel the gun shot pain.\nNow some people wake up just before the bad thing happen because the brain cannot input more information into the scenario; the expected pain, result after death, etc.\nSome people will keep on going because they have experienced the pain or something close to it or the brain will simply forgo it to keep on going for what ever reason it deems. ",
"Reading all your answers makes me wonder why sometimes I DON'T wake up when I suffer some kind of fatal physical harm.\n\nI've had a few dreams where I've been drowning. I'm panicking. Holding my breath for as long as I can. Until finally I can't any longer. So I breathe in. I feel water filling my lungs. And it's freaking me out. But, that's it. After I notice I'm still alive and breathing the water, I just go about the dream.\n\nSame thing happens when I get shot or stabbed. Should I just make a separate post on ELI5?",
"This definitely isn't universal though. I've had horrible nightmares most nights since I was 10. In the dreams, I will be violently killed in one awful way or another, die, then spend the rest of the dream looking at my corpse until I eventually wake up. ",
"I always believed that it was because you're mind couldn't imagine what it would be like to go through that kind of pain. Like a dream malfunction",
"I distinctly remember being stabbed in the chest by a rapier and dying in a dream\nAlso having my head run over by a train\n\nEnded up going to some zen garden after death. It was pretty chill",
"No offense to any of the contributors, but does anyone have a detailed, scientific/psychological explanation? I'd be interested to read a little in-depth about it.",
"The human body has it's fight or flight response in case of dangerous situations. When you perceive a dangerous situation in a dream, whether it be slender man chasing you through a forest, or someone shooting you, the cognitive part of your brain believes it to be real, and starts pumping adrenaline and non-epinephrine to get your body ready to deal with pain and either haul ass or fight. When you feel pain in a dream, it's either psychosomatic or a result from you muscles tensing in a particular area to deal with expected pain. However, these chemicals that you're pumping out are stimulants, and will rapidly wake you up because your body is going \"oh fuck, a lion is creeping on us while we sleep, WAKE UP DUMBASS! We need to start running!\" So you are launched out of sleep. You expect bodily harm, and your body activates your fight or flight response.\n\nSource: Lab Assistant Human Physiology Major"
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2aimrm | how can we show child sexuality in movies, books, and other media formats, but not in pornography? | I'm not a pedophile (not seeking material); this paradox is just something I noticed. In movies, like *The Virgin Suicides* and *White Oleander*, we're allowed to hear about children having sex. We even see a fourteen-year-old girl (in TVS), played by a minor, "grab" a boy.
Books can get even more explicit. Some literature, like *Flowers in the Attic* features full-on child sex scenes. Books have a bunch of stuff with minors having sex too (think young adult fiction).
Yet child pornography is illegal (not upset about that!!!) and sites like _URL_0_ can't even *mention* people under the age of 18 sexually. (And I've read some pretty graphic stuff about child rape in regular fiction, like Oryx and Crake). Why??! How can this be?
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2aimrm/elif_how_can_we_show_child_sexuality_in_movies/ | {
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" > In movies, like The Virgin Suicides and White Oleander, we're allowed to hear about children having sex. We even see a fourteen-year-old girl (in TVS), played by a minor, \"grab\" a boy.\n\nAnd none of that is pornography. It's not sexually exploiting children.\n\n > Books can get even more explicit.\n\nBecause they're fictional, and don't involve any actual children.\n\n > Yet child pornography is illegal\n\nBecause child pornography often involves **actual sexual abuse of actual children.**\n\nIt's the same reason that you can have a movie or book about a murderer, but you can't murder people in real life."
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25oco0 | is sleeping in a fetal position (curled-up back) as bad for your posture as slouching for 8 hrs a day? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/25oco0/eli5_is_sleeping_in_a_fetal_position_curledup/ | {
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"I would assume that it is *not as bad* simply because you don't have the same downward pressure on the arch when you are lying down as when you are slouching in a seated position. That said, it probably isn't great for your posture to sleep in a fetal position (I do the same thing, and slouch, and have horrible posture myself).",
"No. Slouching is bad because gravity is tugging the spine all day. Sleeping in any comfortable, neutral position is just fine.",
"im no scientist, but it seemed clear to me that the problem with slouching is that gravity is weighing down on you",
"They are right about the gravity and pressure on your back being bad.\n\nBut there's also the matter of muscle tightness that is important to be aware of. Most people in modern society sit often, so our bodies (mainly our musculoskeletal system) have adapted to a seated position. \n\nSo when you sleep in a fetal position, it is comfortable because your muscles are not being stretched, and are just going to their naturally tight position. \n\nBut the problem is that since most people don't stretch their muscles to even/balance them, your muscles will get progressively tighter and tighter. And if you sleep in the fetal position, your muscles won't be stretched during the night to counteract the tightness. If you had slept on your back, your tight muscles would be given a chance to loosen a little for a long period (hours while you sleep).\n\nTL;DR - It's not directly bad for your back, but its bad in the sense that it doesn't help prevent muscle tightening as much as sleeping on your back. The best bet is to sleep in whatever way you feel most comfortable (because sleeping well is super important) but to also do stretches and move around during the day so your muscles are stretched evenly and not tight!",
"My girlfriend is gone for the summer, I honestly have not left our bed for the last 3 weeks, gone so far to even pee in a bottle, and put the microwave and mini fridge on the nightstand. It's amazing.",
"I instantly sat up straight while reading this thread."
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2frhvr | why are people hiding ebola victims? | I keep hearing about how dangerous Ebola is, and how easily it is spread to caretakers like close family members and medical staff. Sierra Leone has made harboring the infected a crime, though I find it odd that such a step would be necessary. Why are people hiding the sick from those seeking to treat them, especially since it increases one's own risk of contracting the disease? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2frhvr/eli5_why_are_people_hiding_ebola_victims/ | {
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"Africa is a different place, with a very different culture than most people in the west are used to. There is a lot of distrust of hospitals there, and Ebola wards in particular. Most people there still believe in medicine men and traditional healing. So, people who are sick with Ebola or anything else, tend to seek help from traditional healers rather than real hospitals. These traditional healers treat people in their homes, aided by their families, and not take people to hospitals. Thus 'harboring' victims. The problem with this approach of course, is that people can;t isolate victims effectively in their homes, and this promotes the spread of the disease.",
"Africa has a long history of westerners showing up with some claim or other then screwing everyone over. \n\nEbola is real, we know that, but it sounds like just another scam to fuck with Africa. \n\nLike imagine if north koreans showed up in America and were all 'hey we need to take these people, they have a disease, TRUST US\". A lot of Americans would be all 'uhhh, no?\" too, even if it turned out in the end it was real. ",
"A person you've never met before, dressed in a spacesuit, walks into your home and tells you that your sick child must go with them. You have to walk miles to the hospital where they've taken her. They tell you she died. They won't let you see her. They won't let you have a funeral. They bury her in a plastic bag.\n\nAnd if you do go to a hospital this is what you find:\n\n > **There was blood on the walls, starving patients and hygienists using water that was “brown like mud.” Health workers moved from high-risk to low-risk areas without changing clothes;** “you never knew who was next to you,” Chenard says. “It could be a patient, suspected or confirmed … it could be hospital personnel.”\n\nThe President of Doctors Without Borders, Joanne Liu, said:\n\n > **“Ebola treatment centres are reduced to places where people go to die alone, ...\"**\n\nIt's a desperate situation and I guess they would rather die at home.\n",
"As crazy as it sounds a lot of people there do not even believe its a real thing. Monkey Meat and the Ebola Outbreak in Liberia: _URL_0_",
"The same reason people hide zombie bites in moves",
"Nothing is stopping me getting treatment for depression...but I don't. People are stupid."
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35tmik | what are the main differences between hydraulics and pneumatics? | I know that Hydraulics are with liquid and Pneumatics are with air, but why would you use one over the other? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/35tmik/eli5_what_are_the_main_differences_between/ | {
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"Air can move far more quickly than hydraulics. If you want something to move fast, air is the answer.\n\nAir is also compressible, if you want shock absorption (like air ride suspension in cars and trucks), again, air is the answer.\n\nHydraulics use an oil instead of air, but the way they work is almost identical. Hydraulic fluid moves slower, but can be compressed to far higher pressures. When you need to move big and heavy loads, and don't have to do it fast, hydraulic is the answer. This is why you see it on all those big machines (dump trucks, bull dozers, front loaders).\n\nSince fluid doesn't compress, there is no shock absorption, but that also means there is no \"bounce\". When something needs to be held steady (like an electric company bucket, or a fork lift balancing a load), again, hydraulic is the answer.\n\nThanks to these two properties, hydraulic is also more precise than pnumatic. When high accuracy is needed, you're probably going to see hydraulic. Believe it or not, even with a huge excavator, a good operator can pick up a coin or fold a napkin thanks to the incredibly accuracy a hydraulic system can provide.",
"Air is highly compressible, and so unsuitable for power transmission or operation at any appreciable pressure. It is cheap and clean though. Typical uses are low power actuators, valves, etc. Pneumatic systems are frequently employed in factory automation and automotive systems.\n\nHydraulics offer functionality at extreme forces and pressures, as well as superior cooling and lubrication, better position control and repeatability, corrosion control and power transmission ability."
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fdlzqo | why are non-real ids still available in the us? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fdlzqo/eli5_why_are_nonreal_ids_still_available_in_the_us/ | {
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"State governments just refusing to implement the new documentation requirements in a timely manner. Plus the process also involves some individuals having to physically visit an office to present documents before their current IDs expire."
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1hcl8o | how did obamacre kill jobs, if it really did? | I googled it and it seems like it has...but I'm sure it was because of health insurance or something? > _ > | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1hcl8o/eli5_how_did_obamacre_kill_jobs_if_it_really_did/ | {
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"I believe that arguments comes from one of the articles of the bill that requires employers that have a staff of certain size must provide insurance for their employees. If an employer might have trouble affording this cost, they might have to lay off workers or cut back hours in order to compensate.\n\nOf course, the counter-argument to this is that one of the main goals of Obamacare is to push down rising health care costs, so that offering it to your employees won't hit the bottom line so hard. As well there are tax breaks and incentives to help ease the costs. Other arguments for it include the cost savings of having a work force that is healthy. With health insurance, small health problems can be taken care of before they become large health problems. A person who comes down with influenza without health care may have to just tough it out, costing them weeks of missed work shifts or the chance of infecting their coworkers. With health insurance, he'd be more likely to see a doctor and get treatment, turning a long sick leave into a relatively shorter one. "
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8ufmte | how does type i diabetes develop so quickly in a seemingly healthy person, and how does this differ to the development of type ii? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8ufmte/eli5_how_does_type_i_diabetes_develop_so_quickly/ | {
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"Type 1A diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when you have a genetic predisposition for the condition and then something triggers the onset (most likely suspect is a virus). So you can have the genetic predisposition but never be exposed to the triggering event, and therefore never develop the condition. \n\nGenerally speaking, the average age of onset is 8, but you can be diagnosed with T1 diabetes at any age. If your father has T1, you have a 1 in 17 chance of developing T1 yourself. If a sibling has it, you have a 1 in 10 chance of developing it. Interestingly, it does not always occur concurrently in identical twins, which indicates that it’s partially an environmental issue. \n\nAs for the onset, it’s not believed to be as rapid as people think. TrialNet is a longitudinal study looking at people who have an immediate family member with T1 and are therefore at risk of developing the disease themselves. One thing that has been found through this study is that people who eventually go on to develop T1 diabetes have signs of it starting for upwards of several years (increases in their A1C, poor response to glucose tolerance testing, fluctuations in insulin production). Symptoms will only appear when blood sugar reach very high levels. \n\nThe term “diabetes mellitus” actually encompasses a number of distinct medical conditions, each with their own etiology. T2 diabetes is a completely different condition, one that has nothing to do with T1 other than increases in blood glucose levels. While T1 diabetes results in a complete inability to produce insulin (and the condition is imminently fatal if the missing insulin is not replaced), T2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder wherein people make insulin but are resistant to it (so their blood sugar rises). While there are lifestyle factors that increase one’s risk of developing T2 diabetes (being overweight, poor diet, lack of exercise), it also has a significant genetic component. This is why there are many T2s who are not overweight and why there are plenty of overweight people who never develop T2. ",
"In the simplest way I can describe it, with Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas isn't working right and not producing the insulin needed to lower your blood sugar. In Type 2 diabetes, you are almost constantly in a state of high blood sugar, so the pancreas is constantly churning out insulin. Because of all this insulin, your body develops a tolerance to it so insulin doesn't work as efficiently as before. Conceptually, it's similar to how drug addicts need higher doses to achieve the same high."
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7buzbs | what are neural networks? specifically rnns. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7buzbs/eli5_what_are_neural_networks_specifically_rnns/ | {
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"The little league team you coach just won the big game, and you ask them if they want to go out for pizza or for burgers. Each kid starts screaming their preference, and you go with whatever was the loudest.\n\nThis is basically how a neural net works but on multiple levels. The top-level nodes get some input, each detects a certain property and screams when it sees it...the more intense the property, the louder they scream.\n\nNow you have a bunch of nodes screaming \"it's dark!\", \"it's has red!\", \"it's roundish!\" as various volumes. The next level listens and based on what they hear they start screaming about more complex features. \"It has a face!\", \"It has fur\", until finally get to a level where it is screaming \"It's a kitty!\".\n\nThe magic part is no one tells them when to scream, it is based on feedback. Your little league team went for burgers, and some of them got sick. Next week, they might not scream for burgers, or might not scream as loudly. They have collectively learned that burgers might not have been a great choice, and are more likely to lean away from the option.\n\nA neural net gets training in much the same way. You feed it a bunch of kitty and non-kitty pictures. If the net gets it right, the nodes are reinforced so they are more likely to do the same thing in similar situations. If it is wrong, they get disincentivized. Initially, its results will be near random, but if you have designed it correctly, it will get better and better as the nodes adjust. You often have neural nets that work without any human understanding exactly how.\n\n",
"I'll try and start from a real simple overview-explanation and work my way down to more and more specifics.\nBasically, a Neural Network is a system that is able to learn a complex function from a large set of examples. Let's say you have a couple of thousand pictures of cats and another couple thousand pictures of dogs. Each image has a label, e.g. 'cat' or 'dog', although that would be represented by a number, so cats are -1 and dogs are 1 or whatever. You feed these pictures through the network, which for now is just a black box for us, and it gives you an estimate of what the picture shows. (It spits out a number between -1 and 1, in this simple case.) In the beginning of the training process, the result is going to be random. But the network is punished every time it gives a wrong answer and changes some of its parameters, and gradually, over time, the accuracy improves. After a couple of thousand training iterations (that is, feeding an image in, receiving an answer, punishing/rewarding the network, adjusting parameters) the network has learned to distinguish between images of cats and dogs. \nNow, how does that work?\n\nThe smallest part of a network is a neuron. A neuron is a really basic thing, it takes in a couple of inputs, sums over them and pushes that sum through a nice little function, a sigmoid for example or a ReLU. (You might wanna google these to look at a graph, a sigmoid is just a function that is shaped like an S. It squishes inputs from the real numbers to the interval between 0 and 1, for example) So, for example, five numbers go in and one number comes out. The simplest network you could construct contains only one neuron. This is where the magic happens: before the inputs are summed up, they are weighted, that is, multiplied with some real number. So, for example, our network receives the inputs 4, 5 and 6. Those might be the values of pixels in an image. They might be the height and length of the animal we are trying to classify. They might be < insert other example here > , doesn't matter, its just data. 4 is multiplied by -1.3, 5 is multiplied by 2.1, 6 is multiplied by 0.4. (You might be asking where those weights come from, I'll get to that in a minute) Now, we sum over those weighted inputs and push that through a sigmoid, out comes another number. In a really simple network with only one neuron, that number would already be the networks output: something close to 1 for a dog, something close to -1 for a cat. In more complex networks, the output of this neuron would be the input to the next neuron, in the next layer. There can be millions of neurons in large, complex state-of-the-art networks.\n\nThe important point to take home is: numbers are multiplied and summed up, the result is squished and then fed forward to the next layer. This is why this process is called feed forward. \n\nBut I promised to explain where the weights come from. Truth is: In the beginning, those are random numbers. Which explains why the output of those networks in the early stages is pure garbage. The interesting thing is how those weights are adapted, and for that we use an algorithm that is called backpropagation. What basically happens is that the output of the network is compared to the actual label of the image (or data point, to be more general). So, we calculate the error that the system made. That error is propagated back through the layers, and those weights that are responsible for the error are adjusted. (To be even more specific, ELIlikemath or so: The weights span a vector space called the weight surface. We can use calculus to relate the error that the system makes to the constellation of weights. There is a combination of weights that leads to the smallest possible error, and that combination of weights corresponds to a valley in the high dimensional vector space. We can calculate the gradient of the network function to walk downhill in that vector space)\n\nDepending on how the neurons are connected in the network, we give it a different name. What I just described is just a Multilayer Perceptron, MLP for short, the vanilla version. More complex version are Convolutional Neural Networks, CNNs, and Recurrent Neural Networks, RNNs. I am no expert on RNNs, the basic idea is that it is possible for information to flow through the network backwards as well, I think.\n\nEdit: added paragraphs, was not aware of the fact that you have to add a blank line",
"Let me give this a try.\n\nNeural networks are a computing architecture inspired by biological brains, although they are not an exact replica.\n\nThe brain is a network of connected cells called neurons. Each neuron takes input from other neurons. If the signal from all of the input neurons is strong enough, then it fires and sends its own signal to downstream neurons. Brains learn by creating and destroying connections between neurons, and altering the strength of existing connections.\n\nNeural networks are simpler than biological neurons, but they are inspired by the same principle. A neural network takes input in the form of numerical data. It passes that input through multiple layers of neurons. Each neuron adds up the input from the layer above it, and sends its own output to the layer below. Eventually the last layer in the stack produces an output.\n\nThe network learns by a process called back-propagation. To train a network, you show it samples of input, and the matching samples of output. Back-propagation alters the strength of connections between individual neurons so as to reduce the error between the sample output (\"what the output should have been\") and the actual output that the network produced when it saw the sample input.\n\nAfter many, many such training iterations, the network may have configured its connections (or \"weights\") so that it is able to make meaningful correspondences between inputs and outputs.\n\nAs a simple example, a neural network might learn to recognize cows by looking at a series of pictures. Some of those pictures are cows and some are not. The pictures are turned into numbers (pixel by pixel) and passed into the top layer. The output from the bottom layer will have a signal strength that is interpreted as \"yes, cow\" or \"no, not cow\". If the network got it right or wrong, the connections that helped/hurt the conclusion are strengthened/weakened accordingly.\n\nA recurrent neural network (RNN) is the same concept, with one extension. The neurons don't just process the input coming from the layer above, but also connect back to themselves so that they have a way to \"remember\" their prior states and prior input. There are various specialized neurons such as long short-term memories (LSTMs), gated recurrent units (GRUs), etc that accomplish this in fairly sophisticated ways. \n\nHope this helps? Happy to explain in vastly more detail any part that you like. I realize this answer isn't literally meant for a five year old but I hope it's accessible to most non-technical adults.\n",
"The current top analogy is so unrelated to neural networks that it doesn't help, so let me try expand on it:\n\nImagine someone is looking at an object, like a cat. They write down lots of traits that the object has - for example, \"four legs\", \"furry\", \"brown\", \"has whiskers\", etc. Now let's say you want to make a machine that, when given that list, will figure out what the object is. \n\nThe simplest way to make that machine is obvious: make a list of qualities for every object in the world, and then have the machine check which of those lists matches the one you just wrote for that cat. It'd work, but obviously this is far too much work to do. So you think \"Hey, a lot of these objects have a lot in common - why do I need to make separate lists for each one?\"\n\nSo instead, you have lots of smaller machines that only asks one question. For example, a machine that checks \"Is this an animal?\", and it'll see if \"is breathing\" or \"has a heartbeat\" or such are on the list, and say \"Yes, this is an animal\". And then there's another machine that checks \"Is this a mammal\", and that'll ask the animal-checking machine for if it's an animal and then check the list for \"has hair\". Some machines would only check the list, and some would ask many other machines for their answers, and some would do both. And eventually, just from machines-asking-machines-asking-machines, you have a final machine that answers with \"Yes, this is a cat\".\n\n...Of course, even making those smaller machines is still too much work for categorising every object in the world, so instead you try have it build itself - using random guesses for what the categories should be - until you end up with a working system. This can result in crazy smaller machines, like one that might ask \"Does it have two legs, two arms, and nose hair longer than 3.5cm?\", but it should overall work fairly similar to the cat-detecting model I just talked about.\n\nRight, now as for Recurrent Neural Networks, it's pretty simple: it's exactly the same as what I just said, but where smaller machines can also ask questions from the *previous* list's answers. For example, in voice recognition, one machine might go the \"It is/isn't an 'ow' sound\" machine and instead ask \"Was the *previous* thing he said an 'ow' sound?\".\n\n(The one thing I didn't mention is that most small machines would actually have answers in a probability rather than yes/no, but that's not true for all neural networks.)",
"The insight behind neural networks is that if you take a bunch of simple equations that each do a tiny little bit of processing (like adding up the results of other equations and tweaking the value based on its size), and you stack enough of them together, they can do pretty much anything you want. You just need to find the right \"settings\" or \"weights\" for them so they do the specific thing you want instead of something else.\n\nWe've discovered special rules that let us take the output values we want and the input values we want and adjust the math in between to make the whole network more likely to produce the desired output when it's fed the desired input. Repeating this over many input-output examples eventually leads the network to \"generalize\" - i.e. to capture the structure of the information so well that it can work on inputs it hasn't seen before. \n\nA \"neural network\" is just a big stack of these simple equations that have been tuned using one of these special rules to map a particular set of input and output examples together. Once it's \"trained\" in this manner, it can be used on new examples to do useful work without needing human judgement. \n\nAn RNN (or recurrent neural network) is simply an extension of this, where the network is solving a problem that takes place over many steps, so many copies of the network are initialized in sequence, each being fed some information from the past copy like a colossal game of telephone, letting it preserve some \"memories\" from the past and make multiple outputs before stopping. \n\nAs an example, you can use an RNN to generate text. If you feed it text one letter at a time, and train it to predict the next letter of the text, it'll eventually get pretty good at it: it'll \"remember\" some information about the letters that came before, and use that context to make a guess at the next letter. Once it's trained, you can feed it its own output as input (basically telling it \"you were right\" after each guess) and it'll happily spit out line after line of text that structurally resembles the text it was trained on. \n\n",
"A neural network is a set of mathematical operations that maps a set of inputs to a set of outputs. They are useful because they can map _any_ set of inputs to _any_ set of outputs. The really interesting thing is that the \"weights\" of the network, which define how the inputs get transformed as they move through the set of computations, are adjustable. This means that you can take the outputs predicted by a network with one set of weights, compare them to the outputs it _should_ have given you, and then intelligently adjust the weights to get closer to the right answer next time. With enough repetitions of that process, you can \"train\" a neural network to do pretty incredible things, simply by showing it enough of the right data.\n\nAn RNN is a special type of neural network called a \"Recurrent Neural Network.\" A regular neural network can map one set of inputs to one set of outputs, and then it is done. An RNN takes the outputs from one \"time step,\" or one prediction, and feeds it back into the network along with the data for the next prediction. This gives it the ability to \"remember\" things it has seen recently in the context of new inputs. In other words, a regular neural network might be able to look at a picture and tell you whether there is a cat in it or not. An RNN could look at a series of pictures from a movie and tell you what the cat is doing in them.",
"ill try and eli5 this.\n\nbasically neural networks are ways to solve problems by recognizing patterns.\n\nso suppose i want to solve an addition problem.\n\n i can write a series of steps like you may you have learned. write the numbers one on top of each other. start at the right and add down. carry 1s if the result is more than 10... that is a definite way to solve it and you get the exact answer.\n\nnow some problems are really hard to write down such an exact method. things like identifying things in pictures.\n\nso you can use a neural network to figure out a pattern which can give you an answer. it maybe not be correct. but it tries. so you train the neural net with a bunch of inputs and correct outputs and it tries to learn the pattern.\n\ngoing back to the addition example. youd feed it data like.\n1+1 = 2\n3+4 =7\n100 + 200 = 300\n...\n\n\nthe more samples you give it to learn the better chance it has of a good answer. also the bigger the neural net (nodes) the better chance of a good answer\n\nsuppose i just gave it the 3 values above to train on.\nthen i asked it what is 50 + 10\n\nit might come up with the answer 100. its not correct, but its not a bad estimate.\n\n\n\n\n",
"I'm going to try for an actual ELI5-level answer... artificial neural networks (or ANNs) are magic boxes that are full of magic numbers. These boxes have the following properties:\n\n1.) They take some numerical inputs and give some numerical outputs\n\n2.) They know how wrong their output is (\"error\")\n\n3.) Based on their error, they know roughly which direction each of their magic numbers should be adjusted to be less wrong\n\nAlthough these properties are actually the result of fairly straightforward algebra and calculus, neural networks can be surprisingly powerful for certain problems, especially when a bunch of them are stacked on top of one another (this is a \"deep\" neural network and does \"deep learning\"). \n\nRNNs (recurrent neural networks) are the same as vanilla ANNs, except that they care about the order and context of their inputs. This makes them good for things like text processing (a regular ANN wouldn't care about the difference between \"the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog\" and \"the quick brown dog jumped over the lazy fox\"). \n\nThe name and \"biologically-inspired\" label are sort of misleading... ANNs used to be called weighted matrices (and a lot of other things) a long time before they were associated with anything biological. It was only after we found out that they were particularly good at many of the same kinds of problems brains are (particularly vision and speech-related tasks) that we started calling them \"neural networks\". Also because it sounds cool.",
"Imagine you needed to write a program that would model the relationship between a temperature in Celsius and a temperature in Fahrenheit given a set of example conversions. Well that's easy because the relationship between the two is linear, you can just find where it intercepts 0 and what rate at which one increases with the other and plug it into y = mx +c. You can in fact model any linear relationship with that equation, as can you model parabolic relationship with y = ax^2 + bx +c, and as you go to further degrees you can model more and more complex relationships, but it gets harder and harder to intuitively find the values a, b, and c, etc etc for however many variables you want to introduce.\n\nThis is where learning algorithms come in; using enough data points and maths, you can model extremely complex systems with just one massive equation and thousands of dollars in hardware, electricity, and time to compute the constant values.\n\nFirst things first, we need to solve the problem that the y = ax^1 + bx^2 + cx^3 ... form of equations only have one input and output, X and Y. And complex systems might need many inputs and outputs, so we use matrices!, if we allow the input values to be matrices, you also allow the output values to be matrices, and therefor give many values out, matrix multiplication allowing you to multiply two matrices together and get a different shaped matrix, taking you from as many inputs as you like, to as many outputs as you like.\n\nNeural networks use a different form of equations, based, incredibly loosely, on neurons in the brain, but let's completely ignore that right now, basically the form is & delta;(A * W + B), which is Activations times Weights plus Bias, then you get the result, and call the function again with the output of the last call as the new Activations.\n\nSo our formula looks like this & delta;( & delta;( & delta;( & delta;(A) * W1 + B1) * W2 + B2) * W3 + B3), and you can nest as far down as you like, I'm ignoring most of the maths, but what I will tell you is that if you have a large enough W matrix (w is a matrix remember) and you nest enough levels deep, this formula has been proven to be able to **approximate** *any* function, so if you can find the values for every element inside matrices W_1 to W_n, and the biases, you can essentially do anything. But of course, as we mentioned earlier, the more values you have to find, the harder finding those values becomes. Luckily we have now have a learning algorithm, known as backpropogation that will find these values for you, using calculus.\n\nI hope that helped, and if it helped, there might be something wrong with you.",
"**Actual ELI5:** You know those stupid captchas? They have you select boxes--which ones have signs, which ones have trees, etc. By looking at them, you know which ones to select. Even if you could only see what's in each box individually, you would be able to figure out pretty well whether or not there's a tree there because we've seen trees before (training data). So, let's say we have an image and we know what trees look like, even when we can only see a little box of the image. Now, we have a new picture. We start off with a teeny tiny box--not sure, but we've learned something. Then, we get bigger boxes over the entire image--we've learned a little more. There's something that looks textured like bark, something that could be a leaf. Even a larger box now--okay, we can tell that those are clusters of leaves and here's an entire branch. Now we know it's a tree.\n\nLet's say that now, we have a video. We figured out that the picture is of a tree, but now we want to know if the next frame also has a tree. If you're smart, you think \"of course!\" not that much can change from frame to frame. So we look at the next picture in the video and do the process over again, except this time, we know, \"hey, this box said it had bark texture or a leaf shape last time\" and we can figure out if it's the same this time.\n\n.\n\n.\n\n.\n\nIf you want the tedious explanation: \n\n**Neural Nets:** an input (images, a sentence, etc.) goes into a series of nodes in hidden layers, which output what you want (yes/no, things that are discrete - classification, a regression - possibilities, various values, etc.). What happens in the hidden layers, broadly, is that in the first layers, features are made by some mathematical process. Further layers would generalize upon features, getting more and more abstract. A NN can be as small as 3 layers (input -- > hidden -- > output) or larger like what you see with CNNs.\n\nCNNs are a specific kind of NN that use convolutions of different sizes (matrix size) and strides (how far each convolution occurs from one another). Imagine a convolution as a box going over an image--it can be 5x5 pixels big or 25x25 pixels big or 2x2 pixels big and move over 1 pixel at a time or 20 pixels at a time. Each of these decisions end up affecting what features are output. There are other parameters to tune like learning rate (how fast things are learned--too fast and one bad training example can screw you up, too slow and it just takes forever to get a functioning CNN), momentum, weights, etc.\n\nIn networks, everything is initialized randomly. Then, as training data goes in, each layer of nodes gets their numbers changed by these mathematical processes. Epochs are how many times you run your training data through, you do it until you reach a plateau, which you can determine by the validation accuracy plateau-ing (95% would be good, but if you plateau at 30%, you know you need to fix something--you don't just keep training and hope it gets better).\n\n**Reccurent Neural Networks:** These are particularly useful for things like sentences and videos, where what comes before and after are important. This is a broad area, so I'm not going to explain each one. RNNs are basically just NNs where the input data is not only your training data, but also what the output of previous/posterior nodes has been. There's a feedback loop connecting it to past decisions so that those are carried forward. The issue with these are that there are so many operations--you know how 2^10 = 1024, but 2^20 = 1048576. Imagine that, but on a huge scale, where the values of these nodes can quickly explode to huge numbers or vanish to near-zero. The following is supposed to solve that issue.\n\nLSTMs are a specific RNN that can learn long-term dependencies. We have a list (cell): they figure out which information we want to throw away from the list (forget gate) and what we want to add based on input data (input gate), and then update the list. As you run through it, some old bullet points of the list still make it through and some new ones are there too. But, how much the new items influence your list depends on a parameter you set. The gates start to learn how much data is supposed to flow and what should flow the way CNNs learn feature detectors.\n\nHow does this solve numbers exploding or vanishing? It does so by adding functions instead of multiplying. So if one of your numbers is smaller or larger, it's no(t as big of a) biggie. \n\nSource: PhD student, this is my area. I can expand on more, but I figure things would get too long and I skipped over things like backpropagation and gradient because I figured the layperson wouldn't care. I got lazier and lazier...so the latter is a lot less specific, sorry!",
"[These videos provide a decent introduction to neural nets in general](_URL_0_) (I'm not sure if the series is complete or if he'll go into further details in future videos)"
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6yi2we | how do people spend billions of dollars on water? | I was looking at a Google webpage that lists various charities, one of which was World Vision. They say $1 = 3 months of clean water for 1 child. So if you were to look at that on a macro scale that would be $4 billion a year to provide clean water to 1 billion children. Why does water cost so much, who is making money off the sale of water, and how do they come by owning water to begin with? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6yi2we/eli5_how_do_people_spend_billions_of_dollars_on/ | {
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"That is incredibly cheap, $4 for a whole year of clean water. How could it be cheaper?\n\nThe costs are mainly for digging wells and installing pumps -- and then filters if the water isn't clean.\n\nIf you don't mind your water dirty and 50 feet underground, can have it for free.",
"Purifying packaging and transporting water is where the costs come from. Bottled water is popular here becauae its convenient and we can afford it. It's a necessity in places without potable sources and infrastrcture.",
"Water doesn't cost much. Potable water being clean of bacteria, viruses, harmful chemicals is expensive relatively. Take a bucket of water from a pond and drink it, you'll most likely get sick. Probably get some new work friends in your stomach as well.\n\nTreating a million gallons of water is no small engineering feat. You need to build a water treatment plant and keep it staffed and maintained. In established countries, this is paid by the government who is in term paid by the citizens. My water bill paid to my county is about $40 a month. There's almost a million people in my county. So that's a monthly operating budget of $40 mil for the public works department. "
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5jyk9t | why do people who are going to be executed not put up a fight when they know they are going to die either way? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5jyk9t/eli5_why_do_people_who_are_going_to_be_executed/ | {
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"Unless you've been captured by a terrorist group/drug cartel, most executions are made quick and painless out of respect. If you put up a big fight, your captor is more likely to make you regret it by torturing you and/or killing you slowly. ",
"you see the execution. you didn't see the entire month before when they'd be beaten senseless non stop, starved, humiliated, and tortured",
"By the same logic, why would you fight? It's not going to change the outcome. Might as well make your own death quick and painless instead of making it a struggle by fighting."
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3lz32k | why is it socially acceptable to make as much noise as possible while riding a motorcycle? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3lz32k/eli5_why_is_it_socially_acceptable_to_make_as/ | {
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"It's not generally acceptable, if a bike is loud it's because the owner made it that way.\n\nSome m/c groups like to think its a safety device, but in reality it's because they think it sounds cool.",
"Cars can be loud and some are with performance exhaust but it can be expensive. Aftermarket exhaust for a motorcycle is relatively inexpensive and in many cases provides better aesthetics at the same time.\n\nEdit: thanks for pointing out my typo, pretty funny",
"A guarantee that the reader opinion page of some daily newspaper somewhere in the world is covering this topic right now. Loud motorcycles aren't socially acceptable. They're actually socially controversial and they motivate noise bylaws in every city that has noise bylaws. I don't think I could find a more \"complaint from an elderly neighbor\" topic if I tried.\n\ntl,dr: like most ELI5, your premise is fundamentally flawed. Loud motorcycles aren't socially acceptable.",
"They aren't socially accepted. Most everyone bitches about it, except for those who own the same kind of motorcycle. People makes arguments that it's safer. But that is bullshit. Motorcycles get in accidents typically when someone pulls out in front of them. Or when someone switches lanes and the motorcycle is in their blind spot. Both of these scenarios being loud does nothing for the biker. ",
"Social context plays a lot into the acceptance. Tearing down a suburban street on a Harley with straight pipes males you an asshole no matter what, most bike owners try to be as quiet as possible in situations like this but a few bad apples spoil the rest. As far as why, there is the benefit of being heard before you are seen, but the reality for most is its simply more thrilling. The sound of a v-twin or tuned 4 cylinder bike moter, feeling the motor through your body, the wind on your face and smell of the air, it's all part of the experience. Could you imagine silent fireworks? It would be cool but there is something inherently exhilarating about the feeling in your chest you get from the concussion. Loud motorcycles, cars, stereos, guns, they all follow along those same lines...",
"Wow, what shitty responses.\n\nIt's not socially acceptable. There is a reason why South Park made a whole episodes calling Harley riders faggots. Also stock factory mufflers keep these bikes quiet. Even from a legal standpoint, you will get ticketed for noise pollution if your bike is too loud. Don't buy the whole thing about \"loud pipes save lives\" bullshit. The bikes aren't actually that loud when cruising. The issue is apparent when they are at WOT (wide open throttle).\n\nSo the question is, why is it so common? Because the crowd that enjoys bikes is not much different from the crowd that enjoys fast sport's cars with modified exhausts. However, it's a lot cheaper and practical to do it on your bike. It's not just the fact that bikes themselves are cheaper. They are also cheaper to modify. Not to mention they are primarily weekend \"toys\" where it makes more sense to make it obnoxious over your single daily car.",
"They CLAIM it's so that people in cars can hear them and avoid hitting them. They are typically the same people that, if they do own a car, it has a bumper sticker prominently featured that says, \"Look Twice Save A Life\" even though most of them don't even bother wearing helmets or any protective gear at all and demonstrate no interest whatsoever in taking precautionary steps to save their own lives, as they feel that responsibility belongs to everyone else on the road.\n\nIt's like how gun nuts say they own it for protection when they really own it because they like guns. These bikers don't have loud bikes to improve safety, they have it because they like being louder than everyone else and getting attention for it, even if it's negative attention.",
"As a long time motorcyclist I agree loud exhaust pipes as a safety measure is ridiculous. If the riders want to be really safe, they would wear brightly colored leather or high tech clothes, not dress in black and jeans, have bikes that are maneuverable rather than the heavy rolling death traps they ride. I live in the mountains with lots of sharp turns. Lots of those big heavy Harley's don't make the turns, not because of excessive speed, but because of poor handling characteristics. And if they want to be safe, how about not drinking and driving. Sorry, but really, why not enforce the noise ordnances. My Mom sold her home in Florida because of the incredible motorcycle exhaust noise as bikers accelerated to go over a bridge near her home. A BMW or Honda was barely noticeable. It is really annoying, but the folks that have those loud bikes know that and enjoy annoying people and animals -why else would they do it other than herd mentality. Rant officially ended-that is all. ",
"I just want to know why a Harley can tear down a quiet subdivision at 3am but I get a ticket for excessive noise if the cop can hear my car stereo. ",
"Wow, really, you need this explained? The reason some motorcyclists make a lot of noise is *because* it isn't socially acceptable. That's the point: they're outlaws, misfits, anti-social, et cetera et cetera.",
"The police seem to look the other way for bikes, but if a car was that loud, you'd get a noise ordinance ticket. \n\nAnd what's up with Harley guys at stop lights? They just keep reving their engine like it will die if they don't. ... Will it die if they don't? Because it's really annoying and it makes their bike look like a piece of shit that has to work *really* hard just to stay running. ",
"I live on a hill, a block above an underpass, where people love to rev their bikes/cars as they pass under. It makes me so fucking ragey, especially at 1 in the morning. \n\nThis doesn't provide anything relevant to the topic. I just fucking hate it. That's all. ",
"I drive a motorcycle myself and don't understand this. My motorcycle has a nice sound to it, but I don't rev it more than I have to. This weekend there was a bike gathering that I did not know of outside the local harley shop and a multi bike brand shop. I passed the crowd and parked in the far end where you had to drive in to the parking lot. When I came out again, there was a Harley dude pulling out to the street and he reved the Harley all he could the couple of hundred feet there was to the roundabout. I can't understand how the person on the bike probably had a feeling of accomplishment after doing this.",
"Right before I read this a motorcycle came tearing down my quiet side street spewing a deafening roar that could tear through the very fabric of reality. Sure, it got me really pissed off having to hear that while relaxing in my house, but at least the whole neighborhood stopped what they were doing to receive a nice ear raping! As he weaves in and out of traffic with a total disregard for other cars, he can rest assured that we are feeling a terrible twisting sensation in our stomach and fighting the urge to punch their stupid face in. He didn't stop at merely being audible, this fudge-tard felt that the crew of the ISS needed to be aware that he was coming through and outfitted his hog with a sustained Horn of Valere, so he could make sure he was even pissing off the dead heroes of ages past! \n\nI get that you want your bike to be loud enough that people are aware of you, especially when some bikers drive like douches through traffic the way they do. But it gets to the point of absolute absurdity with the level of sound some of these bikes put out and then drive by my house at any time; day or night. At this point they are just ignoring everyone around them and being self-centered scumbags who don't give any consideration to those around them in the least bit. Find some other way to get attention which doesn't involve forcing your presence on me and my family in the most abrasive audible manner possible.",
"The people who chose to forgo the customary steel cage when flying down the highway amongst similarly equipped travelers (some of whom are texting) would like you to pay special attention to them because the lack of a steel cage makes them especially killable and they choose to behave like obnoxious children to help with that. ",
"It's not. Most of us hate the guys that rip around like morons one gear too high or that obnoxious pipe. Harley riders are the worst. I choose not to associate with them.\n\n/crotchrocket rider",
"Girl Harley rider here. I will say from experience, \"Loud pipes save lives\" is a legit thing. I have lived in three major cities and it's essential to be heard in dense traffic with a bunch of Priuses trying to kill you. I can't tell you how often I've thankfully been seen because I was heard first. \n\nHowever, you can get nice middle-ground sound without being an asshole. It also helps if you're not an asshole to begin with.... ",
"There are very few actual answers here, so I'll give it a shot. \n\nMotorcyclists are generally much more into their bikes than a car driver is into their car. Motorcyclists are more likely to modify their bikes because their bikes are a much larger aspect in their lives than a car drivers car, generally speaking. They like to have their own spin on whatever they do, like all people. \n\nMotorcycles generally come with quiet exhausts and because slip-ons are so easy to use and motorcycle exhaust systems aren't very complicated anyway, it is one of the first points of modification. There is a modicum of truth to \"Loud Pipes save Lives\" in that a person is more likely to hear something than see it as our hearing has a 360 degree range and our sight is near 180 degrees on the best of days, focused field of view is really much smaller than that but it is difficult to test at my desk. That being said, pretty much all motorcycles come with stock exhausts that are plenty loud enough to be heard by a motorist. Some 250's are very quiet and there is some argument to be made there, but even if you ran a 250 with no exhaust at all it wouldn't be too bad, like a lawn mower really. \n\nWhen you get down to it, if people are into vehicle modifications, specifically exhaust, they will have a loud vehicle. The fact that there is not a single rider in the United States that doesn't love riding coupled with the super duper ease of Exhaust mods on bikes makes for loud bikes most of the time. If you leave your bike alone it will be perfectly civilized 100 percent of the time. \n\nUnless it is a dual sport, those always sound like turds but I love them so. \n\n\nEdit: I forgot to mention, the noise limit is actually quite high, in PA it is 82 dB for motorcycles, which is the sound level you'd expect at a concert, a rowdy concert. ",
"While lane splitting the louder bike gets noticed more. Or just at lights, intersections.\n\nNo one looks for bikes, but if they hear you, they may look out for you\n\nYou run the risk of startling people of it's too loud or scary.\n\nI have a Harley and it is a bit loud but I usually coast down my street in neutral to cut it off early and be respectful. I never rev it at intersections sitting still. Where I will give it some noise is when someone starts creeping into my lane or someone starts making a turn, someone cuts me off, someone opens their door etc. my horn doesn't make any noise. I hate guys who rev bikes at stop lights. Most are just trying to get attention. Some are doing it to keep their bike running because it has a low idle and will stall otherwise. ",
"I used to work at a Harley dealership. I hated it when some douche got new pipes and would sit outside revving it for 10 minutes. My bike is louder than most and I don't do that. \n \nI built my bike from the ground up. I have a big engine and straight pipes because who buys aftermarket pipes with mufflers? I don't even know if you can. I also noticed that nobody runs me off the road anymore. ",
"Most responses ITT miss OP's point entirely by simplistically joining the circle-jerk and saying \"it's not acceptable!\" \n\nBut it is acceptable... At least, *relative* to how acceptable it is for cars. So you asked quite a fair question, and are deserving of real answers. Here you go:\n\n~motorcyclists have a rebellious image, much like smokers. They know what they are doing is dangerous, and they don't care because they're so cool. Sort of like how smokers are mostly too cool to not litter their butts. Acting like you don't give a shit goes with the image, and society expects that from \"bikers.\"\n\n~due to the aforementioned danger, bikes tend to attract more youthful and less-responsible people. This means that on average, bikers are less likely to pressure each other to conform to the rules of polite society. I would absolutely ridicule an adult peer for modding out his car, but I don't think my teenage son would do the same.\n\n~bikes are much cheaper than cars. Cheaper things are usually owned by younger/poorer people, which correlates to nonconformism.\n\n~bikes are easier to customize. Switching a bike exhaust takes probably a quarter the work and equipment as a car.\n\n~bike exhaust and emissions systems are decades behind cars in terms of complexity, since they're a smaller target for smog control legislation. Cars have gotten VERY complex with computer controls, whereas by comparison, Ducati didn't even introduce *fuel injection* until after the year 2000. My point being, removing the emissions system from a new Volkswagon is waaaay more illegal than doing it to a Harley.\n\n~motorcycles are by design, far more powerful for their size than car engines. It's not unusual to get twice as much power per liter from a sport bike engine compared to a modern car. For that reason, bike engines are genuinely straining harder than your accord's, and making more noise is more natural for them.\n",
"I love the low iqs who rev their bikes over & over at red lights. We know you aren't cleaning. You are a loser begging for the little attention you can force others to barely give to you. No one is impressed. ",
"I can only post from my experience. I'm a younger guy and ride a Suzuki SV650S with an aftermarket exhaust. One of the reasons I need a loud bike is so when I'm on the interstate, the dumbass on his phone texting/talking is able to hear me roar by as I'm revving and shifting up. Sure, at highway speeds with the windows down he might not be able to hear me, but it's better than the giant tin can I had on my bike previously.\n\nOther reasons are performance and reducing weight, as well as aesthetics. I'm in a college town so people are always on their phone talking/texting/listening to music. They might not hear my weak horn, but they'll hear my exhaust.\n\nIt also cut off probably 15-20lbs of weight off my bike by removing the factory muffler and I haven't had any issues with inspections or noise complaints. Most of the other guys I ride with that have crotch rockets also have some sort of aftermarket exhaust or another, and that's even the case with some cruisers we ride with. Thankfully, no obnoxious Harley riders to deafen me as I'm riding."
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1o92ed | how does renting a property with option to buy work? does your rent go towards the down payment? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1o92ed/eli5_how_does_renting_a_property_with_option_to/ | {
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"Usually these are case by case basis, whatever the renter/buyer and the landlord/seller agree to, there must be some legal contract with the terms spelled out and everybody signs or somebody is going to get screwed and it will probably be the renter. Normally it is the case though."
]
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4brmo8 | why do some speakers have "mini" speakers around the large ones? | Image for context.
_URL_0_ | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4brmo8/eli5_why_do_some_speakers_have_mini_speakers/ | {
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"Those parts of the speaker are called cones. The little cones, known as tweeters, reproduce the high frequency parts of the music. \n\nThe larger cones, called woofers, reproduce the mid and low frequency parts of the music.\n\nThe size of the cone corresponds to range of frequencies it can reproduce. That's why sub-woofers that can produce the really low notes often have very large cones.\n\nThere is actually a little filter circuit called a crossover that is built into the speaker box that separates the incoming signal into the parts that go to each cone. If you open your speaker box up you'll see the little circuit board. ",
"Loudspeakers (the whole box) often have several *drivers* in them...which are those parts that vibrate and make sound. The larger ones are called *woofers* and are used for low-range sounds, while the small (\"mini') are called *tweeters* and are used to make the higher frequency sounds. Inside the loudspeaker there is an electrical circuit called a *cross over* that takes the input signal and \"splits\" it into high and low frequencies.",
"Sound engineer here, the smaller speakers are called \"tweeters\". They are responsible for producing sound frequencies on the high end, thus why they're called tweeters, as birds tweets are higher in pitch. Conversely, the larger speakers are called \"woofers\", they are responsible for your bass, which is why they're called woofers, after a dog's bark. If your tweeters are blown, you will notice a significant difference in audio quality and your music will sound like absolute shit.",
"Big speakers play low pitch sounds, like the steps of a big monster coming to you. Small speakers play high pitch sounds, like the one a little mouse makes.",
"There are two parts to a speaker, the tweeter (small) and the woofer (big). Inside the speaker is a crossover that decides which speaker will play which notes, with the tweeter playing the high notes and the woofer playing the low notes",
"Essentially, it's a matter of mass. The highest high pitch sound a human can hear is around 20,000 hertz, or cycles per second. The low end for most speakers is around 20 hertz. The smaller, lighter tweeter has to move a small amount of air really, really fast to produce 20,000 hertz. The larger, heaver woofer has to move a whole lot of air really slow. The tweeter just can't move enough air to do 20Hz very well, and the woofer is too large and heavy to vibrate at 20,000Hz.",
"Imagine you have a set of bells. You know how the smaller ones ring with a higher pitch than lower ones? Its similar with speaker drivers, smaller ones can resonate at higher frequency easier. Larger ones at lower frequency. Having multiple sizes of 'mini speakers' (drivers) means that the sounds that each is best at making can be sent to it. It ends up making a speaker that sounds clearer and has better response across all frequencies than ones that try and do it all with one driver.",
"The smaller ones play the same track at a lower frequency for dogs and other various pets to be able to also hear the audio being played, this way they won't be confused when they see their owners dance or in any other ways react to the musi... Wait a minute this isn't /r/shittyaskscience is it.",
"The large speakers are like the Daddys, and can sing the low notes very well. The clusters of small speakers are like the kids, with higher voices. The kids are the only ones that can sing the highest notes, so they do. Together they are a musical family that lives in a box."
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3o8z3z | how do electronics spin in full circles without getting their wires tangled? (example in text) | [Example!](_URL_0_) Obviously the lights on the fan are getting energy from somewhere since they're lighting up. What gets power to the lights? If it's wires how do they not get tangled? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3o8z3z/eli5_how_do_electronics_spin_in_full_circles/ | {
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"The rotating portion receives electricity through a device like a \"rotary electrical connector\" or a \"brush slip ring\". They allow current to pass through two concentric rings, one inside the other, separated by an insulator, and depending on how fast it's intended to rotate, possibly sealed and lubricated.\n",
"Some use a metal wire brush that rubs against a metal ring, the current is passed through that way as it spina",
"To add onto what others have said, the lights on the fan are probably wired into a little chip in the center part of the fan. That chip will get power from the slip ring connector."
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2y0tf2 | whats going on with the racial motivated rape gangs going on in europe? | Its still an issue? I heard about it months ago, people havnt been prosecuted yet or are there even more of these gangs?
Also, Any update of the same groups in Rotterdam and the rest of netherlands? And of course those in Britain which seem to be some of the worst with hundreds of victims, most of which being underaged and white? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2y0tf2/eli5_whats_going_on_with_the_racial_motivated/ | {
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"I am Dutch and I like to think I keep up reasonably well with the news here and I've never heard of any racially motivated rape gangs. To be hones, this sounds like the same sort of bullshit as the Sharia triangle bullshit we had on the news here a while back. Basically fear mongering from people who can get an advantage from people being fearful. (aka politicians with certain policies and reporters that want the next big scoop)",
"Im guessing you mean Rotherham (UK), not Rotterdam. At least that's what it says in the article you linked. The stories are still floating about, but the main bulk of the interest from the public is more relating to how the police and child protective services made systematic failures, many resulting from not wanting to come off as racist."
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3puxao | how to move out of my parents house (aka. downpayments, interest rates, credit) | Basically how to move out, if you were explaining it to a child. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3puxao/eli5_how_to_move_out_of_my_parents_house_aka/ | {
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"Unless you are in no hurry and already have a lucrative job you expect to keep for many years, I would not try to buy a place just to leave your parents house.\n\nSave up a few months worth of income and then rent something. If you rent small, close to work/school, avoid car ownership, and always - every month - spend less than you earn, you'll be fine. One day when you have that lucrative job you can look at buying if it makes sense. \n\nDon't get sucked into the myth that renting = poverty and buying = easy street.\n\nGood luck\n"
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1hijix | why when you get sunburned you get sleepy/tired? | When you get sunburned it seems to make you tired, why? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1hijix/eli5_why_when_you_get_sunburned_you_get/ | {
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"Sunburns usually come with dehydration as well. Mix dehydration and your body trying to repair a sizable chunk of skin, its quite draining. "
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1mouo5 | english bill of rights | I am awful when it comes to history and would love it if someone could break down The English Bill of Rights to me. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1mouo5/eli5english_bill_of_rights/ | {
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"The Bill of Rights is to do with establishing England (and later Great Britain and then the UK) as a constitutional monarchy, and formally sets out the relationship between monarch and parliament:\n\nIt states that Parliament is the ultimate decision-making and law-making body in the land. Parliament makes rules in the name of the monarch, but the monarch can not and must not interfere in Parliament's work or decisions, and specifically mentions that:\n\n* Parliament is the only body that can impose taxes on the population. In particular the monarch cannot set up his or her own private income stream based upon taxation.\n* The monarch cannot declare war without Parliament's say-so\n* MPs and Lords cannot be sued for libel or slander for things they say in Parliament -- it is the only place in the UK to have absolute freedom of speech\n\nThe Bill of Rights also introduced for the first time a written requirement that the monarch must not be a Roman Catholic, nor married to one -- a ruling that has only very recently been rescinded.\n\nThere is a lot more in the actual text of the document, but the above points are the most important ones with regard to modern-day Britain."
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1d6gvq | why can't enemy combatants on the ground hear apache helicopters (or whatever) before they strike? | I'm referring to the countless videos on YouTube and LiveLeak of Apache helicopters ambushing groups of combatants. Wouldn't they be able to see/hear a hulking death machine circling around for the several minutes before they strike?
I tried googling for the answer, but I wasn't finding the most thoughtful responses. Hoping to get a little insight on how these raids work.
[Example](_URL_0_) (Black-and-white NSFL)
Also, I'm hoping all the military acronyms can be extended if they are used in this ELI5 thread! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1d6gvq/eli5_why_cant_enemy_combatants_on_the_ground_hear/ | {
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"If you look at when they fire that missile, there's about 2.5-3s between launch and impact. Wikipedia lists the speed of the [Hydra 70](_URL_0_) rocket as 2,300 feet per second. That puts the chopper over a mile away from the target - plenty of distance for the sound to die out.\n\nThe camera footage you're looking at is zoomed in considerably, making the soldiers appear far closer than they are in reality.",
"I live under a helicopter tour company's flight path, so I have a lot of exposure to them. I find that the sound waves change considerably depending on the aircraft's orientation. If they are flying level and going forward towards you, they are very quiet. I assume that the rotor wash is going down and slightly behind them to propel them forward, and the exhaust points up or back. When they turn and go the other way, it's a *lot* louder.\n\nIf you couple those characteristics with the training the military pilots must get, they probably use the geography to their advantage as well to disperse the sound waves [hills, valleys, buildings, etc.] to gain the advantage of surprise."
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1t2de9 | the psychology of a troll (serious) | I'm relatively new to Reddit and today I've been noticing so many accounts with tens of thousands of negative karma points. Are these people getting off on being contrarians? Is it like with kids who don't get enough attention, any attention is attention? I understand why some people try hard to get positive karma, but I don't get the negative karma.
Sorry if this seems like a dumb question to you internet vets, but sometimes the trolls get to me and maybe if I understood why they do what they do, I could just roll my eyes instead of letting them bug me. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1t2de9/eli5_the_psychology_of_a_troll_serious/ | {
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"People like to feel powerful. When you're desperate enough for it, even power to fuck people's day up is better than nothing.",
"They've never outgrown the childish mindset that 'any attention is good attention,' basically. If you're angry at them, you're paying attention to them, and attention and validation is what they crave - and if negative attention is the easiest kind to get, then it's the kind they will seek.",
"I believe it is because those people are just reeeeally bored with their lives and find humor in screwing with others. It also may be fun for them to see disaster/controversy stirred up and know that theyre the cause of it.",
"It's really the basest way to get acknowledgement on the internet. Whenever you write a well thought out response, you're putting yourself out there to be ridiculed. You put in your ideas, your insight, maybe take the time to reread and edit, and then post; for all that, someone can easily just say \"nope\" and downvote. And that downvote - as far as karma goes - essentially negates all your work. \n \nWhen you troll, especially with troll accounts, you're just changing the goals of your redditting. Instead of saying \"I have something thoughtful to contribute\", you say \"I'm just going to be incendiary\". If your only goal is to agitate people, that's pretty manageable. Each downvote represents an occasion when you've gotten a reaction out of someone. ",
"To play the Devil's advocate, downvotes do not necessarily correlate with trolling. Reddit is self-famous for upvoting stupid shit (racism/misogyny, sensationalist articles, anything involving a bear or puffin or duck). Some people are \"contrarian\" trolls just to illuminate this trend.\n\nBut the real answer is that attention is attention. *It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia* summed it up best:\n\n\"It's my character. I'm the TRASH MAN! I come out...I throw TRASH all over the ring! And then I start eating garbage! And then I pick up the trash can and I TRASH the guy on the head!\"\n\n\"I'm not gonna be the ref! **I'm a villain, doncha see?!\"**"
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3xglx2 | why is it that illegal aliens are routinely arrested and deported but legal action is rarely if ever taken agains those that employ illegal aliens? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3xglx2/eli5why_is_it_that_illegal_aliens_are_routinely/ | {
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"So since this is already heading into THEY STEALING ER JERBS territory lets break it down. \n\npretty much every company in the USA pays at least minimum wage and auto deduct taxes. That's a whole lot of liability coverage since good luck proving they knew the person was undocumented. Also they probably actually don't know in the first place since there isn't much incentive for those companies to hire undocumented workers what with the minimum wage thing. Their papers looked good, and it's not your employer's job to conduct the kind of in depth and expensive background check needed to spot the issues. Got a SIN number? You can work. \n\nFor everyone else, most undocumented workers are doing cash in hand work. In which case good luck proving they were employed in the first place, or that they knew the persons immigration status especily since A: everyone is getting paid cash in hand, and B: no one is expected to even check a SIN number when you hire for casual day labor since they're only in your employ for a short time.\n\nFailing that sort of work, they also self employ. Quite a few of them actually. One LLC registration later and now they've got their own business doing whatever they care to do. ",
"What makes you think action is rarely taken? You can't judge by relatively publicity, because not every case of someone reaching a plea deal over hiring illegal workers will make the news.\n\nBut searching for \"hiring illegal works sentenced\" turns up a fair number of hits. This [Washington Times article](_URL_0_), from March, describes two owners of a hotel who were sentenced to jail for hiring illegal workers. It also mentions that the Justice Department has shifted to targeting employers instead of the illegal workers, but doesn't give any background or details on that assertion. "
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2njnwm | how withdrawl from drugs causes severe illness? sometimes death? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2njnwm/eli5_how_withdrawl_from_drugs_causes_severe/ | {
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"The body has been trying to compensate for the disturbances of the drugs by slowly making changes in hormone levels. Sudden withdrawal results in a body with lethal levels of these hormones still circulating. This is why a long term alcoholic suddenly deprived of alcohol may suffer fatal seizures. ",
"The worst withdrawal symptoms seem to be from drugs that are sedating: narcotics, alcohol and benzodiazepines. \n\nThese types of drugs tend to alter the amount of signaling via various neurotransmitters and their receptors. When one receptor is constantly activated by a drug then it will often be \"down regulated\" to try to bring things into balance. Other counter regulatory pathways may also get upregulated. But then when the drug or alcohol is suddenly stopped - you generally get activity that is the opposite, more or less, of what the drug was causing. \n\nWith alcohol and benzo withdrawal this can be really dangerous - marked increases in sympathetic nervous system activity (fight or flight) occurs, heart rate and blood pressure go up, and seizures may occur. If these reactions are severe, death can occur.\n\nNarcotic withdrawal may cause severe discomfort - but generally not life threatening without other health problems: anxiety, sweating, aches, diarrhea, nausea, cramps and dilated pupils - many of which are from nervous system activity that is essentially the opposite of what you get with the drug itself.\n\nIn contrast, after prolonged stimulant use, stopping leads mostly to sleepy folks who are in a bad mood all the time. But not usually very ill from a medical / vital sign perspective.\n\n\n",
"Lets look at Opiates:\n\nWhen you an ingest an opiate (Oxycodone, Morphine, etc) it is essentially putting an excess of certain neurotransmitters in the brain that are normally regulated and produced as needed. Over time, the brain begins to produce less of these neurotransmitters because they're being put into the brain from an external source. When you abruptly stop the use of an opiate, the brain goes into a sort of neurochemical shock where the levels of these neurotransmitters are now too low to function normally and thus produce a wide variety of unpleasant symptoms.\n\nIn the case of benzodiazepines (where W/D can be fatal), the neurotransmitters involved can cause fatal seizures when in a state of withdrawal and their levels are out of balance.\n\nTried to keep this as simple and light as possible."
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37nvyb | why is the triple crown in horse racing so rare? | Since 1948, there have only been three horses to win the Triple Crown, and none since the 1970's. I imagine horse racing is as competitive as any other sport, but how is it possible that nearly 40 years have elapsed since one horse won those three races? Shouldn't a dominant horse be more common? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/37nvyb/eli5_why_is_the_triple_crown_in_horse_racing_so/ | {
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"Because they allow a horse that hasn't raced in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, to compete in the Belmont and stop a horse that has raced all three from winning. Stupid ass rules. ",
"The three tracks are different lengths. So it's similar to asking why no one wins the 100m, 200m and 400m gold medals - horses, like people, specialize at certain distances."
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2zk56z | unix vs macosx/windows/linux | I've read that UNIX is an operating system, but why don't we hear it like we hear of the MacOsx/Windows/Linux OSes.
Please eli5 Unix and how it compares to the 3 OSes i explained | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2zk56z/eli5unix_vs_macosxwindowslinux/ | {
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"The answer is complex. Unix is a very old operating system (actually, a group of operating systems) that was designed to operate on pre-personal-computer-era machines.\n\nHowever, Unix has consistently been praised for its simplicity and ease of portability. Unix is a \"pocketwatch\" in an age of overblown digital alarm clocks.\n\nLinux is very similar to Unix and carries over many of the concepts of Unix to the modern PC environment.",
"Unix is an old OS developed by Bell Labs in the 70s. Since it was copyrighted, there have been many clones that have since grown and branched off. Linux is a notable example, BSD is another one which in turn is what OS X is based off of. These are called Unix-Like operating systems. Windows is something totally different. \n\nedit: One thing worth mentioning is that Linux itself is not an entire desktop OS. This is why we have distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Red Hat, etc. These are all something you can install to your desktop and server and run but also very different in what they include. Linux is just the kernel (which you can think of like an engine in car).",
"In additon to what everyone is saying, it's important to note that you almost certainly use Linux in your day to day life. If you have a router, an android phone, any modern digital household appliance, etc., you're using linux. When you post on reddit, you're using linux. It's everywhere because anyone is free to redistribute it."
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4tugbx | what are the historical reasons for which english cuisine is usually regarded as "bad" whereas french cuisine is usually regarded as "good"? (at least i think this is how we see it in the us... | Is there something intrinsically good or bad in them? Why? Btw, I love fish and chips and hate cassoullet... does that mean there is something wrong with me? :p | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4tugbx/eli5_what_are_the_historical_reasons_for_which/ | {
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"They were culturally different. Also under Napoleonic rule, France controlled almost all of continental Europe (but obviously not Britain) which allowed French chefs to experiment with ingredients from all around the continent. \n\n\nThe short answer is simply that French chefs had the ingredients available and the cultural passion to elevate cuisine to higher levels than Britain had. It's not about skill it's about generations of tradition and availability of ingredients and culture. \n\n\n\nBrits love their curry though! Can find much better curry and Asian food in general in Britain than in France. \n\n\nUnrelated side note: Was in London last summer. Went past a noodle bar called \"Phat Phuc\"",
"French cuisine is particularly varied, and there's a strong cultural pride in their food over there.\n\nThe UK was the first country in the world to industrialise, and it happened pretty rapidly that people moved en masse from small rural communities to the growing cities. In the process many of our regional cultural traditions died out. This is why we're the only European country without a \"national dress\" for example. It also broke the connection with our traditional regional food culture as people just ate what could be easily mass produced and transported into cities. Other countries didn't experience this upheaval in such a rapid and extreme way.\n\nI have to say that I think post-industrial Britain is starting to love food again, and we do now value some of our iconic foods (cheeses, sausages, baked goods, beer) more than we have for generations."
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2wnco6 | why does my bottom lip get dry and chapped, while my top lip always remains smooth? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2wnco6/eli5why_does_my_bottom_lip_get_dry_and_chapped/ | {
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"I think because when you smile, your upper lip remains straight but wider while your lower lip gets wider and bends down, effectively becoming longer than your upper lip, i.e.: stretching more than your upper lip."
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ay3t85 | why can’t pc hardware run mac os but mac can run windows? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ay3t85/eli5_why_cant_pc_hardware_run_mac_os_but_mac_can/ | {
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"Windows software supports many hardware configurations, because many companies make Windows-compatible hardware.\n\nMac software supports many fewer hardware configurations, because Apply makes only a few hardware configurations.",
"They can, it's just that apple doesn't permit OSX to be run on unauthorized hardware, and the lack of included drivers for anything but authorized hardware can be a huge challenge to overcome.",
"They are. If you have the specific hardware combination, then you can run OSX on it (look up hackintosh setups), though you won't have some features. It's just a combination of 1) OSX is designed to run on specific hardware while windows must fit general hardware 2) apple is the big mean and intentionally makes it difficult for people to run OSX on unauthorized hardware."
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5ocbfg | why do different numbers of protons/neutrons/electrons cause such drastic differences in the elements of the periodic table? | Follow-up question: is it theoretically possible to transmute any element into any other element given enough energy and the proper chemical process? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ocbfg/eli5_why_do_different_numbers_of/ | {
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"You can think of them as chemical properties and atomic properties. \n\n~Chemical properties are mostly caused by the outer most ring of electrons (valence) orbiting the nucleus. You see electrons are lonely little guys and they like to be with other electrons, exactly 8 to be specific. If they can find a way to hook up with other electrons so there are 8 of them in an orbital, the resulting chemical becomes stable. \n\nFor instance you have Carbon, with 4 valence electrons but it really wants to have 8. But take 2 carbons and put them together and they can share each others electrons, 4+4 = 8 and bang, you have a carbon chain. Or take Oxygen, it has 6 valence electrons but wants 8. However if you took 2 Oxygen and a carbon, each oxygen could share 2 electrons with the carbon making 8 total, and the carbon would be sharing 4 electrons between the two oxygen atoms also getting 8. And bam, you have carbon dioxide. Or take 2 hydrogen each with 1 valence electron, add them to an oxygen which has 6 and 1+1+6=8 and you have water. \n\n\nSome atoms already have their valence shells full and neither want to give or take electrons. Because they are quite happy to be by themselves, they very rarely interact with other elements and we call these the noble gases. They are stable, and not very reactive because they already have a full valence shell. \n\n\n\n~Nuclear properties. The number of protons and neutrons affect the mass of an atom, which in turn affects how heavy that element is. For instance Hydrogen has one proton, and it's the lightest gas there is, and Uranium has 92 protons and 146 neutrons (in some isotopes) , so it is one of the heavier elements (and the heaviest naturally occurring one)\n\nAside from the mass of the atom, as the nucleus gets larger and larger, the ability for the nuclear forces to hold it together get weaker. Above a certain threshold the mass is so large, and the force holding it together so weakened that the atom can split apart and form 2 new elements. This is how radioactivity and fission works. \n\n~Transmutation is a fact of life, yes. For instance most of the helium in the world today is a byproduct of uranium and thorium decomposition. As the uranium radiates and splits into smaller nuclei it breaks down and helium and lead are the byproducts. Helium is so light it would float off into space if we didn't capture it so Earth lost it's original helium a long time ago. Most of the helium we use today comes from natural gas deposits, where the helium is released by decaying uranium and thorium and trapped with the natural gas for the same reason the natural gas is, it's a pocket of impermeable rock holding it all in. It's expected that gases under the earth should tend to collect together. \n"
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6xg3ut | how does the definition of "species" work in single cell organisms? | the definition i know of species is something that can mate and make fertile offspring. i dont see how that works in single-cell asexual organisms. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6xg3ut/eli5_how_does_the_definition_of_species_work_in/ | {
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"Traditionally, bacteria were classified by characteristics of theirs that were observed in a lab. For example, the most fundamental division of bacteria is between bacteria that are stained by a Gram stain and those that aren't. (This corresponds to important differences in their cell wall and membrane.)\n\nLooking at other features like morphology (what the cells look like under a microscope), colony morphology (what the blobs that grow when you put them on a Petri plate look like), metabolic features (what can it eat and what wastes does it produce; also, what vitamins it needs), and other lab tests, bacteria were further and further classified until the scientists were satisfied that they couldn't discern any differences within the last groups defined. Those groups were species.\n\nSo for a hypothetical example, bacteria in genus X might be Gram-positive (stained by a Gram stain) with spherical cells ~1.5 microns in diameter that form very flat greenish colonies and are catalase negative (do not make hydrogen peroxide bubble when mixed with it). Within genus X, species Y can use glucose, maltose, and lactose for food, while species Z can only use glucose.\n\nWith the advent of easy DNA sequencing, bacterial species are mostly defined by their genome sequence. But when the genome sequence databases were built, they made them by sequencing the genomes of bacteria classified by the old methods and assigning the sequence to the old species name.\n\nIn the end, \"species\" is not really a well-defined concept for single-celled organisms and it will always be a little fuzzy and inconsistent.",
"It is a bit different.\n\nFirst the microbiologists discovered that bacteria can exchange genetic material. It is not the sexual mating of multicellular organisms. But nuclear material does get transferred from one single celled organism to another.\n\n\"Species\" is a concept invented by humans. Linne did this. He enthusiastically started classifying living organisms into species. When he and his buddies got down to microscopic creatures he did not stop. They named them all. If a single cell organism looked like others, they were called members of a species. \n\nIt worked. Microbiologists could classify those little creatures. Studying them under the microscope they could name them by shape, rod, sphere, (cocci), twisty ones, (spirochetes). This really did help a lot. A scientist could describe experiments. Another scientist could duplicate these experiments.\n\nThey described the organisms they worked with by naming their species. Mostly the experiments worked. The experiments could be duplicated. They studied how they stained and what they grew on. So the species descriptions began to include phrases like gram negative lactose intolerant. It became understood that their were various strains of these species. If a scientist described an important experiment they would keep cultures of the organism used. Someone wanting to replicate the experiment could request a test tube of the organism.\n\nThis happens now too. Many species of bacteria have had their complete DNA sequences recorded.\n\n It is still important to name single cell bacteria as species. Vaccines are developed which will immunize against infection by named species. Reference strains are kept in laboratories to use to develop the vaccines. If the vaccine works against the reference strain it will work against what are called \"wild\" strains.\n\nSome strains of bacteria grown in culture in a laboratory must be periodically used to infect a lab animal. The bacteria in their blood is cultured and used to keep the strain virulent. \n\nSo single celled bacteria which spread a particular disease will have the same physical appearance and DNA. Recognizing an organism recovered from the blood from an infected person or animal is an important Eureka moment. Malarial species are still named. They also exchange genetic material. Part of their life cycle is asexual reproduction. Part is not.\n\n"
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2zgh5l | why do our bowels release when we are scared? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2zgh5l/eli5_why_do_our_bowels_release_when_we_are_scared/ | {
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"Bowel contents are not required in an emergency.",
"Your body needs to lose weight and save energy. \nIn instances of literally pants shitting, bladder empting terror, your body is likely going to need to move as quickly and agilely as possible. \nEmptying your bowls can immediately drop your weight by about 1%. \nIt also takes effort to hold it in. So all the extra oxygen/glucose the muscles of you sphincter is using get channeled elsewhere. And all the neurons controlling said sphincter stop hogging the blood that the rest of your brain needs to prevent you from being messily devoured."
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17syyj | the difference between libertarian economics and anarcho-capitalism. | I'm currently looking at various schools of though on economics. I'm confused on the difference between Libertarian Economics and Anarcho-Capitalism.
Could someone please explain like I'm five. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/17syyj/eli5_the_difference_between_libertarian_economics/ | {
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"Libertarians believe that a government should exist that supports property rights (e.g law enforcement (police), courts, etc) whereas, Anarcho-Capitalists believe that there does not have to be a government to protect property rights as everything associated with them (law enforcement, courts, etc) would exist without government funding, people would pay for their own security.\n\nSo just as Libertarians believe that government doesn't have to fund some things as they would exist privately (e.g, healthcare, education, etc) Anarcho-Capitalists go one step further and believe the same of law enforcement, thus there is no need for a government whatsoever.",
"Libertarians think the government is necessary. They want a much, much *smaller* government than the one we currently have, sure. But at the end of the day, libertarians think that we need a government to keep people from breaking the law.\n\nAnarcho-capitalists don't think this. They think that government isn't necessary to enforce the law; people could just shop around for dispute resolution services, and subscribe to the best one.",
"Libertarianism is an umbrella term, so you will not find much agreement on what libertarian economics is. Just [look at the wikipedia page](_URL_0_). It is a very wide grouping of ideologies, with economic subdivisions ranging from the extremes of capitalism to socialism.\n\nAnarcho-capitalism falls under the libertarian umbrella. It is the belief that private markets and voluntary interactions can provide all the goods and services a society needs to survive, with no need for a formal government.\n\nIn the US, the most mainstream libertarian ideology would be that of the libertarian party, which at its most basic is laissez-faire. The role of the government is to provide only public goods (those goods which cannot be efficiently provided by private action), typically providing courts, law enforcement, and national defense, sometimes including roads. Government should be minimally intrusive; private action provides all the proper incentives for an efficient economy.",
"Libertarians believe that the playground needs yard-duty teachers to enforce basic school rules.\n\nAnarcho-capitalists believe that the people on the playground are not children and can make their own decisions.",
"You may want to take a look at the Austrian School of Economics, whose ideas are very closely related to libertarianism and anarcho-capitalism: /r/austrian_economics ."
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205c0j | when a multi-billion dollar transaction occurs between two companies, how are the funds transferred/managed? | For example, let's say that American Airlines buys 50 Boeing 787-8 for the price of 50*$211.8M = $10.59B. Does a staff member of AA log in their system, enters the amount, then click 'Transfer' to Boeing's bank account, or is it more complex? Are the funds transferred by gradual amounts or in a single package? Are there special security procedures AA and Boeing must follow? Where do the funds end up? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/205c0j/eli5_when_a_multibillion_dollar_transaction/ | {
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"Yup. Just a bank transfer. They will - in this particular case and many others - be broken up into smaller transactions, but not exactly because of the volume of money, but because when you're doing that size of a deal you're going to have complex contracts with lots of smaller deliverable and milestones and payments associated with each. ",
"Typically by Wire Transfer. \n\nWire Transfers, unlike checks or regular electronic bank payments (known as ACH transactions in the US), are irrevocable once final -- even in the case of fraud. (That is, if someone authorized to make a wire transfer makes one, even if defrauded or illegally embezzling funds, the accountholder are still liable for the payment. If someone at the bank who isn't authorized to make a wire transfer illegally makes one, the accountholder is not liable.)\n\nThe idea is that businesses need finality when they receive payments, they can't just have money disappear from their accounts like if a \"chargeback\" or \"stop payment\" is done. If a wire transfer is made and you need your money back, you have to sue the recipient -- you can't just ask the bank to reverse the charge. For transactions between businesses, it's assumed that the need for finality outweighs the fraud protections that checks and nonwire electronic payments provide. (In the US, wire transfers are rarely used by consumers. Also why scamsters try to get you to wire money to them - people wrongly assume that wire transfers have the same protections as consumer payment systems.) Source: The Uniform Commercial Code Article 4A.",
"See venture Capitalism _URL_0_",
"Oh man, its so anticlimactic. Basically, the business folks and the lawyers from both sides get on conference call with all the banks involved. Both sides say they're ok to release the wire, then the buyer's bank wires the money through the Fed wire system to the seller's bank and the bankers confirm on the call that the money has been sent/received. Usually a day or two ahead of time, an email will be sent, cc-ing all parties, with the wire information so its all agreed to ahead of time. Then its done. "
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3bbmz0 | why won't youtube fix the issue of saving the video quality even though it's the number one complaint they get? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3bbmz0/eli5why_wont_youtube_fix_the_issue_of_saving_the/ | {
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"You mean when you start a new video? It's becomes HD every time I enter full screen.",
"YouTube Help Forum Top Contributor here. I don't know what you mean by \"saving the video quality\", but whatever it is -- no, it's not the \"number one complaint\".\n\nIf you're uploading gaming videos, then I suspect that you're complaining about compression artefacts. They practically unavoidable. That is, they *could* be avoided, but only by making it impossible for most people to actually watch the video.\n\nIn my experience, gamers are *extremely* sensitive about the slightest loss of quality, even if most other people would never notice anything \"wrong\".\n\nBut whenever you upload a video, YouTube has to transcode it into a number of different resolutions and formats for playback on a wide variety of devices. And it has to keep the file sizes as small as possible, partly to save bandwidth at YouTube's end (the cost of bandwidth alone is *insane* -- YouTube uses more bandwidth than the entire internet did ten years ago), and partly because most people on Planet Earth still don't have access to decent high-bandwidth internet (I get less than 6 Mbit/s). This *always* involves sacrificing a little quality, although it tries to make it unnoticeable.\n\nUnfortunately for gamers, the typical gameplay video is extremely difficult to compress efficiently. Things like lots of fine, sharp detail, fast action sequences and rapid cuts are the mortal enemies of efficient video compression, so those videos suffer the most, especially when viewed at lower resolutions.\n\nYouTube is currently switching over to the WebM video codec, a process which is pretty much complete, although many browsers still don't support VP9. But this should compress a bit more easily, so it should show at least some improvement in video quality."
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54zbhz | i know the 2 major parties don't want 3rd party candidates in presidential debates unless polling is at 15%, but why does the media let the parties control who is invited to these debates? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/54zbhz/eli5i_know_the_2_major_parties_dont_want_3rd/ | {
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"Because the media knows that the candidates can always take their debate to another network. Since both sides tend to agree to this idea, it's even easier to get the media to agree.",
"The media doesn't.\n\nThere's a non-profit organization who coordinates them, called the Commission on Presidential Debates.\n\nTheir rules for who appears on stage are based on the rules held by the League of Women Voters, which set a standard of \"must appear in 15% of reputable polls\" way back when.",
"\"The media\" is not invovled.\n\nThe debates are held by the Commission on Presidential debates. Which is run bipartisanly by republicans and democrats.\n\nCommission sets the rules and the parties agree. The media just covers the debate. ",
"_URL_0_\n\nThis is a petition to allow all qualified candidates to participate in the debates if you're interested! ",
"Cynical answer: They're all in it together, maaaaaan. They want to control your MIND.\n\nMore practically- despite literal decades of whining, everyone knows Gary Johnson wants to sell guns made of pot to teenagers for bitcoin and that Jill Stein is the sort of person that makes Bernie go on old man rants about the \"fuckin goddamned hippies\". We get it. Every four years, there's the mid-race think pieces, and interview, and \"THERES OTHERS OPTIONS GUYS\" as bored reporters think they're the first ones to discover this. \n\nThere's no public interest, theres no point, and Gary Johnson keeps doing unsettlingly weird shit. "
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563qls | why the english speaking nations are more successful than any other linguistic nationalities in history? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/563qls/eli5_why_the_english_speaking_nations_are_more/ | {
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"It's not *English* that does it. It's luck, mostly.\n\nEurope had the industrial revolution first. That gave it an unprecedented ability to conquer other lands, which many countries did. The Brittish Empire just so happened to be in the right place at the right time to spread its influence far and wide.\n\nThen came the United States. It had an ungodly amount of resources and land, which supported a *massive* population. It also was isolated enough that it could grow in strength before and during the world wars. All that combined to make it an economic superpower. The USA is in fact so big that it can swing the entire world economy to its whims. At the time when the US was rising to power, neither China nor India could really compete economically, and after WWII, the USSR dissolved, losing its power.\n\nGiven that English existed both in the USA and in practically every former Brittish colony, English quickly became the language of trade. If you spoke English, you could talk with all the big players, which is obviously a good thing if you want to make money.\n\nIf some other country, say Portugal, Spain, or France had settled the land that would become the USA, it might have been Portuguese, Spanish, or French that became the language of trade.",
"They werent in the 18th century, US has only been the leader since ~WWI but was tied with a lot of other groups like Japan the UK and France until WWII, the UK lost most of their power after WWI ~1920 as their economy got surpassed, new independence movements and their military shrinks. France was the world power until Napoleon ~1812 after Napoleon it went to the UK, before that Spain until their Armada's defeat in 1588 after that it was France. Before Spain it was the Ottoman empire, Mongol Empire, Byzantine empire, Abbasid Caliphate etc. etc. \n\nI left some out and the dates go backwards.",
"What about the Romans? Ancient Egypt? The Tang Dynasty?\n\nEnglish domination is relatively recent on a historical scale."
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abvgl1 | when a company commits a gross violation that affects people (physically/mentally/financially, etc.), why is the company forced to pay the government, instead of the people they hurt? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/abvgl1/eli5_when_a_company_commits_a_gross_violation/ | {
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"Usually they'll have to pay both. Fines levyed by the state is not meant to replace money companies have to pay for the damages they cause a person.\n\nLet's say a company causes you to lose a leg because of negligence, they might be fined by the state if they broke the law, but *in addition to that* they have to pay you money for the damages they caused you specifically.",
"The company pays the government for violating federal codes. They are punitive, not compensatory. Compensatory actions are done through the court system via individual or class action lawsuit, though the ruling that determines the fine will typically help the case for compensation for those that have been affected. They are separate actions. \n\nSame as getting into an accident while drunk. The state fines you for your crime along with any other penalties, the lawsuit by the person you hit will compensate them for their injuries, etc. "
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2hsgoq | what's the difference between killer bees and honey bees? | -As an Australian we don't have them over here. And in film and television shows they're pictured as the title implies "killer bees". I just want to know if there's something different in the venom or if they're just more aggressive, and if they actually kill. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2hsgoq/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_killer_bees_and/ | {
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"The \"killer bee,\" AKA the Africanized honey bee, is a hybrid bee created from Western and European bee strains.\n\nFor whatever reason (and I'm not a geneticist nor a beekeeper, so I don't know how this happened), the Africanized bee picked up a few nasty traits. They are excessively defensive of their hive, and will swarm much more aggressively in defense of it. They are also known to pursue more aggressively. Where normal honeybees will swarm a threat and pursue for a limited distance, returning to the hive once they feel the invader is no longer a threat, killer bees are known to swarm greater numbers of bees and will chase for a much greater distance. They're thus much more likely to inflict lethal numbers of stings than basic honeybees.\n\nSeveral swarms of these bees escaped captivity. The problem then became the fact that they compete more aggressively than European honeybees and tend to push them out when they compete for territory, meaning that the \"killer bee\" is rapidly spreading as wild swarms supplant the native wild honeybees."
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2ntri0 | i love that t-mobile does this, but how is allowing unlimited data for music streaming not a violation of nn? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ntri0/eli5_i_love_that_tmobile_does_this_but_how_is/ | {
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"Net neutrality says companies need to provide equal bandwidth access to all sites. T-Mobile is still providing equal bandwidth which conforms to NN. Data metering is different as you get a set amount of data you can use on any site. They just don't meter you for the music site they prefer. You're still able to use another streaming service if you prefer with the same download speed. \n\nIt does seem like a loophole to NN though. ",
"It is actually a violation of it. However, people aren't really fighting it because people like T-Mobile. Also, allowing unlimited music streaming scissor benefits people, so they like it.",
"This has nothing to to with network neutrality. \n\nAn example of a violation of NN would be if they, for example, wanted to make sure that you used their music service instead of iTunes, so they looked at every data packet you are getting, and decided to 'lose' or give low priority to the ones from iTunes.\n\nThey are just saying 'here, we have songs. Listen to as many as you want.'\n\nI hope you see there is a difference. \n\n",
"It would be very easy for T-Mobile in two years to say: \"Ok streaming services, time to pony up some cash if you want your streaming to still be free and unlimited\". So yes, this is a violation of net neutrality. Furthermore, what if a new up and coming streaming service pops up down the road? They will be at a disadvantage because T-Mobile customers will be less likely to use a service that is not part of T-Mobile's music freedom feature."
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3qwipr | how do they make boneless chicken breasts? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qwipr/eli5how_do_they_make_boneless_chicken_breasts/ | {
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"They take regular chicken breasts and take the bones out of them. There isn't any magic beyond that. They aren't growing boneless chickens out there."
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u4ds0 | how does amazon ec2 work? | I've looked into it a bit - but still confused. So you rent slots or something? What happens when traffic skyrockets on your site? etc. I've always been told this is what people are doing to address scalability nowadays. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/u4ds0/eli5_how_does_amazon_ec2_work/ | {
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"Amazon EC2 is a service that allows you to rent servers and pay for what you use in an easy to use way.\n\nWith the amazon ec2 you do not pay for a server by the month though, you pay for it by the hour. So let me create a scenario for you:\n\nLet's say you have a theory for the stock market that you want to test out. You've written some program to analyze historical data to see how accurate your theory has been throughout the stock markets history. The problem is there's a TON of data, and you only need to analyze it once to see if your theory will work. How do you do this? \n\nWell, you could do it on your home computers, but it will probably take forever and what if your program makes requests to webpages each time it analyzes a price? Something like looking up how many news articles were released about that company on that specific day in history. That would kill your internet bandwith and probably get your internet suspended by your ISP if you tried to run all that at home. \n\nSo the next logical thinking is, I know, I'll get a dedicated server to process all this. You head over to rackspace and quickly realize that they want a year contract for servers, and it's going to be EXPENSIVE. Before cloud computing services like the ec2, these were your only options. You could either shell out a bunch of money to test your theory, or you could scale it way down, run it on your own computer, and not get a completely accurate picture.\n\nNOW, with the amazon ec2, the way to solve this is to rent a server. Remember you pay by the hour, so if you rent a giant ec2 server with 16 cpu cores and 64 gb of ram, it wont take very long to analyze all that data will it? Maybe it would take 6 hours or so? Well, after those 6 hours, you can simply stop the server, and you will no longer be paying for it. Doing it this way makes it affordable (you pay to rent a giant server for a little while, instead of shelling out the money to buy it all month or all year) even for the little man. \n\nThere are numerous other benefits like easily making backups, changing network configurations instantly, and yes scalability (the problem i presented above is a scalability problem).\n\nWe use the ec2 and other AWS stuff heavily where I work, so if you have any questions feel free to ask."
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fzjnl6 | is human brain at it's limits? and are there other stages of human brain development that will lead to us getting smarter. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fzjnl6/eli5_is_human_brain_at_its_limits_and_are_there/ | {
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"A helpful way to think about the brain is not as a something that reaches 'capacity'. Our brains are very efficient, so as we develop and grow we keep reinforcing the neural pathways that help us the most in life - i.e. how should I interpret someone shouting at me, or someone crying.\n\nIf you grow up with a lot of exposure to learning, you'll create very efficient pathways that make you very good at lets say math, or writing, or critical analysis. This means that by the time we reach adulthood, we have very established connections which act as a kind of 'cheat sheet' for interpreting external stimulation - we see something and the brain draws on past experience to make sense of it. \n\nBUT what is very interesting is work being done on psychedelics right now. Essentially, under the influence of certain things in psychedelics our mind opens up and we can forge brand new neural connections much more easily - that is bits of the brain that weren't talking before can now talk to each other. This gives us new perspectives and insights and returns our mind to state like when we were young, that is when we were building our neural pathways. \n\nSo our brains are never at their limits because what they can build strong neural connections for are endless - they are just set in their ways."
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ar3l57 | why do governments, schools, and big businesses (mostly) always use hp printers? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ar3l57/eli5_why_do_governments_schools_and_big/ | {
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"So they? All I ever see is RICOH",
"hp usually gives away a lot of printers for free, but makes you sign a contract to buy supplies ie ink, toner, and paper from them. so businesses jump at this due to the low upfront cost since some of those higher end printers can easily cost 10k+",
"HP has payment plans for equipment. That includes computers and printers. Like a rent to own. They also do contracts where they will replace equipment X is Y years. Maintenance contacts are also available. The willingness of HP to work with the needs of the company is hard to beat. ",
"It's mostly Konika Minolta nowadays.\n\nIn any case, HP has / had a great tech support plan. Costly, but they offered \"our technician will be at your location tomorrow first thing\" as an option, 15+ years ago. Big businesses and governments want their stuff to work, so getting stuff fixed fast was a big deal."
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3tjtk3 | if shadows are the absence of light, why do you get different coloured shadows with different light sources? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3tjtk3/eli5if_shadows_are_the_absence_of_light_why_do/ | {
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"A shadow is generally not the total absence of light. It is simply an area where there is less light because a light source has been blocked by something opaque. \n"
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1vkdqj | why is there a stigma with google glass? | I posted a comment on [r/technology](_URL_0_) a while ago, and got some hate for defending Google Glass's camera. That's one of the main features, and some people want it removed because they don't want someone to take a picture of them without knowing. I get that some people don't want their picture taken without knowing, but if someone really wanted to, they could very easily take your picture with a smartphone without you knowing. I fell like until this stigma goes away, companies are going to be scared to innovate in wearable technology. Why do you like/hate cameras being integrated into wearable tech like Google Glass, Galaxy Gear, etc. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1vkdqj/why_is_there_a_stigma_with_google_glass/ | {
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"It's just rude to video tape people that don't want to be on video.\n\n",
"As with all emerging technology it's paranoia and fear. We've had cameras that you can't even see with the naked eye that can take decent pictures/video for a while now. We've had hidden camera tech going back decades that's gotten even easier to conceal and hide.\n\nThe thing is: No one gives a shit about you enough to record you. This is hard for some people to accept but it's the truth of things. There's plenty of already semi-discreet ways to take pictures/record someone with your phone without them suspecting anything.\n\nAnd sure, some people do. But Google Glass isn't really changing anything that wasn't already quite possible and easy to accomplish anyway. If you don't like being recorded in public, stay home."
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20hrtr | why did apple's iphone gain so much popularity but windows phones have seen such meager market penetration? | Pretty self explainatory | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/20hrtr/eli5why_did_apples_iphone_gain_so_much_popularity/ | {
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"The iphone had no competition, the windows phone did. The iphone has a positive market image, while windows phone does not.\n\n"
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5ub64q | when a person is attempting suicide (eg about to jump from a bridge) and gets saved by emergency services, what happens to them next? what's their follow up care? could they just walk away? | Follow-up question: Does this differ by county? Like would someone on a bridge in America be treated differently from someone in the UK/Europe? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ub64q/eli5_when_a_person_is_attempting_suicide_eg_about/ | {
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"Well I don't know about the American system, but I imagine it's similar to here in the UK. If you tried and failed at suicide, they would treat you for whatever damage you did in the attempt, after which you would see a psychiatrist who would almost certainly section you, so you would have to stay in hospital to be treated for whatever it is that is causing you to attempt suicide, until the psychiatrist thinks it's safe for you to go home. ",
"Just gonna leave this here: \n\n**National Suicide Prevention Lifeline**\n\n_URL_0_ ",
"I can't speak for other countries, but in America, you will be emergency petitioned, which is to say that you will be escorted to the emergency room. This is often by police, but it doesn't have to be. You will then be contained to the mental ward until the doctors decide you are no longer a threat to yourself. From there, you can go into therapy or back to therapy if you were already in it. ",
"In the US, most states have laws that allow anyone suspected of being mentally unstable to the point they might harm themselves to be put on a 72-hour psychological evaluation. They get confined to a facility for three days, and after that, they might be released on their own, released to under the supervision of others, or held for a longer period of time."
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emiox6 | how can you love yourself? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/emiox6/eli5how_can_you_love_yourself/ | {
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"If anyone ever is raised by their family *not* to love themselves, to have that voice in their head that speaks loving thoughts, then their family has failed them terribly (likely because they themselves were failed and so on..). No, that is not okay and not right and should be different. Everyone should work hard so that never happens.",
"A big part of the *how* is self-improvement.\n\nIf there’s something you don’t like, you alone have the power to change it. Change is not overnight, and often requires baby-steps.\n\nI struggle with this myself. All you can do is set small, realistic goals and take it one day at a time."
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5rzgyp | why people eat salty food then crave sugary food and repeat the cycle? what's going on in human body that causes this craving? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5rzgyp/eli5_why_people_eat_salty_food_then_crave_sugary/ | {
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"We need salt and sugar to survive. Salt is vital for water retention and brain chemistry. And sugar is used by the body as well and natural sources of sugar like fruit and veggies are extremely good for us. \n\nAlso sweet and salty I believe are two major components of our taste. So our brain rewards is heavily for getting those things into our mouth and into our system. \n",
"We've evolved in environments where sugar and salt were no where near as abundant as they are today, and because they're so vital for our survival we've evolved to enjoy the taste of them in order to make us want to eat them to get the nutrition we need(ed). Now, there's a bit of a mismatch because of how readily available sugar and salt are. Not sure if this explains why you'd crave one after the other in a cycle though. "
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m4ksf | all the different kinds of alcohol, what they are, how they're different, what each one kinda tastes like, etc. etc. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/m4ksf/eli5_all_the_different_kinds_of_alcohol_what_they/ | {
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"I'll go ahead and post this comment in place of the requisite reference to how five year-olds wouldn't exactly care-for or need these instructions.",
"This is something you kind of need to experience yourself but here goes nothing:\n\n* **Wine** is broken into two main categories: red and white. Wine is generally made from fermenting grapes. The color is mainly determined by whether or not the grade skin was strained out. It has a pretty low alcohol content relative to liquor, but a little bit higher than beer. 8-12% alcohol by volume is common. It tastes somewhat like grape juice but less sickly sweet (though some wines are very sweet, so called dessert wines). White wines are generally \"crisper\" than reds, but they all have such a wide variety of specific flavors that it is hard to generalize. Also in the wine category I am going to through champagne, which is basically really fizzy wine.\n\n* **Beer** is made from grains, and usually has a slightly lower alcohol content than wine. 5% for light beers, to 8 or 10 for regular. Some can get even higher. \"Bready\" is probably the best taste descriptor for someone who has never had beer, but again you really need to try it, and several different kinds.\n\n* **Liquor** is the last main category. Liquor is distilled, rather than simply fermented, giving it a much higher alcohol content than wine or beer. 40% alcohol by volume is kind of the \"standard\" content, but it can range from 20 up to 96ish. Different liquors can be made of different things, so I will address them in groups. **Vodka** is made from grain or potatoes. It is notable as a mixing ingredient because it has very little taste on its own. Good vodka is judged largely on how it feels in your mouth. It can easily be flavored with basically anything. **Gin** is basically vodka flavored primarily with juniper, giving it a \"christmas tree\" like taste. Very piney, with hints of citrus and other flavors. **Rum** is made from molasses, and has a complex flavor that can vary largely depending on the type. **Whisk(e)y** is made from grains, and has no one flavor. Some are described as smoky, peaty, but rarely fruity, if that gives you any general idea. It is broken down into Bourbon (usually from kentucky), Tennessee whiskey, Irish whiskey, Scotch (whisky), and Rye whiskey, broadly speaking, depending on where its from and what its made with. **Tequila** is made from the blue agave plant, and I really can't tell you what it tastes like because I have never had it straight. **Brandy**, **Cognac**, and **Port** are all basically fortified wines. This means wine was taken and distilled to a higher alcohol content. Brandy and cognac can be made from other fruits but they follow the same process. \n\nI probably missed a ton of stuff but hopefully this helps a bit.",
"People all over the world have basically been sticking whatever carbohydrate-rich local agriculture they have access to in a vat in order to ferment and get an alcohol content. (That means that yeast takes molecules and make them into other molecules, in this case alcohol). \nThese fermented agriculture drinks include things like beer, cider, mead and wine. \n\nThen, someone discovered that by heating this stuff to just the right temperature (around 70°C), you can get the alcohol to turn into steam, while the water and all the other stuff will be left behind. If you catch the steam and cool it down, it turns into liquid alcohol again, only stronger than before. These are destilates, such as vodka (potato-based alcohol steam) cognac (grape-based alcohol steam) whisky (corn-based alcohol steam) and rum (sugar-based alcohol steam). \n\nEdit: Carbohydrate-rich, not protein-rich.",
"Scotch tastes kind of like you lit a stick on fire, let it burn for a while, and then started chewing on it.... whether or not you put out the fire before chewing depends on how much you paid for the bottle.",
"Wow, I read the title of this thread and assumed OP wanted to know the difference between actual types of alcohol. Like ethanol, isopropyl, methanol, etc.\n\nIn fact, a literal reading of the title still seems to mean that. Though why you'd want to taste rubbing alcohol is beyond me.",
"**Mead** This is a very old and often forgotten drink. It is believed to be one of the first alcohols, beer would be it's contender. Mead is made from honey, with the addition of other botanicals as well. Many people refer to it as honey wine because of its taste and i would agree. It is usually sweet, but with a little twang at the end and can be flavored with different honey and fruits to make it even more exotic, some have even been flavored with hops and won beer medals because [of it](_URL_0_). The term honeymoon actually comes from mead. Back in the medieval times newlyweds were given enough mead to last a moon cycle in the hopes that they would consummate a baby hence honeymoon. overall they run between 8% and 15% abv.",
"**EDIT: A number of people have asked for more info, so here it is. I'm rearranging the article to make a bit more sense as well.** \n \nIf you want something done right... \n \n* **Wine** is fermented grape juice. Red grapes fermented in contact with the skins on make red wine. White wines are (usually) made from white grape juice that is fermented in the absence of the \"pomace\" (skins and pulp). Rose can be made by partly fermenting with the skins, from pink grapes (there are very few of these), or blending white and red wine (forbidden in some countries, I believe). Either red or white wine may be fermented and/or aged in oak, which gives them a 'toasty' flavour. \n* Adding a little bit of sugar and some fresh yeast just before bottling carbonates the bottle and makes **sparkling wine**. Champagne is the most famous sparkling, coming from the Champagne region of France. Sparking wine can also be made by pressurizing the still wine with CO2, or a few other methods. Force-carbonation is less than ideal, though, and mostly reserved for cheaper wines. Typically wine is 8-13% alcohol. \nRegardless of the style, grape or colour, the flavour of wine is generally a mixture of sugar, acid, alcohol, and (for reds) tannins. Young wines tend to be fruity and flowery, and as they get older, develop 'darker' flavours. Keep in mind that about 85% of wine produced is intended for drinking within a year or two of bottling. \n* **Fortified wines** are such things as Port (\"porto\"), Sherry, and Madeira. They are made by adding a hard alcohol (see below) to partly fermented wine. They tend to be quite sweet (with some exceptions!), round-about 20% alcohol, and are very unique. Sherry tastes somewhat like dates or prunes, Madeira is sometimes compared with soy sauce, and port tastes like...everything you ever dreamed of. (yes, I'm a port lover :-) OK, port is almost always sweet and fruity, often tasting the most like unfermented grape juice of all drinks. \n* **Sake** is wine made from rice instead of grapes. It has its own flavour, and I can't really compare it to anything else. All I can say is that it tastes like Sake. If anyone else want to chime in, I'd love some comparisons! \n* **Retsina** is resinated wine; that is, it's white wine made with pine resin added to the fermenting tanks. It has a VERY distinctive turpentine flavour and aroma that tends to overpower the base wine flavour, until you get used to it. \n* **Beer** is generally an extract of malted barley and hops that's been fermented. **Lagers** and **Ales** are made with yeasts that ferment on the bottom or top of the fermenter, respectively. Lagers are usually fermented slowly at cold temperatures, which gives them a crisper and often more complex taste than Ales, which tend to be more wine-like in character. These are very VERY broad categorizations. Beer flavours are driven by hoppiness (usually in the smell), maltiness, bitterness, and sweetness. Light beers can taste almost like carbonated alcoholic water, while some dark beers can taste like chocolate and woodsmoke. Note also that beer is sometimes made from rye, wheat, or rice. Also, Belgian (or Belgian-style) beers are an almost completely different category, often without hops, and with wild yeasts that give them a sour, winey flavour. Beer is typically about 3.5-6.5% alcohol, but can get as high as ~10%. Beer may be the broadest category of styles and flavours of all the different drinks out there, and is the oldest alcoholic drink we know of. \n* **Cider** is fermented fruit, typically hard fruits like pears and apples. (Note that in the USA, I believe this is called hard cider. Soft cider in the US is generally known elsewhere as unfiltered juice.) It tastes much like the fruit combined with alcohol, and is usually crisp and refreshing. \n* **Liqueurs** are usually manufactured drinks, that is they're made by adding alcohol to a flavouring. They can taste like absolutely anything - mandarin oranges, liquorice, pepper, vanilla, or anything else you feel like turning into a beverage. Alcohol content is all over the map, from ~20% to 50% or more. Most are made with neutral spirits (i.e. ethanol), but there are some liqueurs made from Whisky (**Drambuie** and Cream liqueurs such as **Irish Cream** are examples). \n* **Mead** is fermented honey, or honey wine. It can run from about 6-18% alcohol (typically 8-11%), and tastes like honey and when still young, wallpaper paste! It can be still or sparkling, dry(-ish) or sweet, and can have spices or fruit added. These drinks are called **metheglin** and **melomel** respectively. Mead always has a bit of an odd sickly flavour to it, and commercial meads are (sadly!) often sickly-sweet. \n\nI've got to head to work, but if there's interest, I'll do the hard liquors when I get there (~1/2 hour), and expand on any points above. I may be a borderline alcoholic, but I know my booze! \n\n* **Spirits, hard alcohol, liquor** are essentially cider, beer, or wine (or another basic fermented booze) that has been distilled. There are a huge variety of them. Mostly they are ~35%-45% alcohol, although some can be higher (cask-strength can get over 60%, and \"Everclear\" is basically straight alcohol). Because spirits are generally quite harsh when they're first fermented, they're often aged in oak (raw or \"toasted\", i.e. flamed inside, and sometimes barrels that have been used in other roles, such as red wine). \n* * **Vodka** is made from distilled anything--often potatoes because they're cheap and ferment cleanly. It should theoretically be a neutral spirit with no flavour other than the alcohol and water; but there are definite variations in quality, as well as flavoured vodkas. You can get things like chocolate vodka of course, but various regions around the world have traditional flavours as well - **Akvavit** is flavoured with caraway or dill, for an example, and **Ouzo** is flavoured with anise. \n* * **Gin** is vodka that has been flavoured with spices, typically juniper berries and assorted other components that are added at distillation time. It tastes...exactly like that. In the Netherlands (where Gin originated), **Jenever** is usually aged for a number of years and develops a soft nutty flavour. \n* * **Absinthe** is traditionally made in the same way as gin, but with fennel, anise, and wormwood. It is usually bottled at a very high alcohol level (~50-75%), but intended to be diluted with water and sweetened with sugar, ideally in an elaborate ceremony. It tastes quite spicy, and burns going down at almost any dilution. A compound (thujone) in the wormwood is a mild hallucinogen, and hysteria about it causing madness led to the general banning of absinthe around most of the world, until fairly recently. \n* * **Brandy** is distilled either from wine or from fermented pomace, the crud left behind from pressing the grapes. It is usually aged in oak for a number of years, but not always (many **Grappa**, for instance). Different parts of the world have the legal right to give their own regional name to their brandy, which is where **Cognac** and **Armagnac** come in--they are brandies from those respective regions of France. Brandy tends to be off-dry and have a rich caramel flavour in addition to the wine flavour in the background. \n* * **Fruit brandy** is brandy made from...fruit! That is, it's distilled cider. For some reason, these fruits tend to carry their basic flavour through more than grapes. **Calvados** is a (wonderful!) example of distilled apple cider. \n* * **Whisk(e)y** is, generically, a fermented grain that has been distilled. In other words, distilled beer. **Bourbon** is made from corn mash, **Rye whiskey** from (you guessed it!) rye, **Scotch and Irish whiskies** are made from malted barley (in fact, the stuff that goes into the stills in Scotland is very much like unhopped beer). **Canadian Whisky** is usually just called rye, but in fact is mostly made from rice. In fact, rice ferments and distills quite neutrally, so is added to a number of whiskies during fermentation to lighten the character. Trying to break down the flavours of these is almost impossible, since they're so wide-ranging. Depending on the region and methods used, Scotch Whisky alone can be sweet, dry, peaty, smoky, briny, astringent...it just goes on and on. Bourbon typically has a sweet vanilla flavour, whereas rye is usually a bit sour. What they all have in common is being strongly flavoured, and having a fairly pronounced flavour from the wood they're aged in. The spelling (with or without the 'e') is a bit of a mess. When in doubt, use whisky for Scotch, and whiskey for everything else, and you probably won't be beaten *too* hard. \n* * **Rum** is made from sugarcane juice, usually in the form of molasses. It has a (surprise!) characteristically sweet flavour, which becomes more pronounced in the darker (usually older) rums. White rum is fairly unique in that it's aged and then filtered of colour; most spirits are either unaged if clear, or coloured as a result of aging. This filtering renders it fairly light in flavour too, but probably not as harsh as if it hadn't been aged at all (NOTE: this is my own conjecture, based on grappa and the like). Also, spiced rums are exactly what they sound like--rum with spices added; typically cinnamon and Christmassy flavours, or coconut. \n* * **Tequila** is distilled from the Blue Agave cactus, and has a distinctive spicy, peppery, plant-like flavour. It can be sold unaged, or aged in oak for several years. Like any spirit, the harshness softens and develops more complexity as it ages in oak. \n \nThat's...well, lots of them. Certainly not all. There are a number of styles of coolers which are a base alcohol (vodka or wine) that have been sweetened and flavoured, and they taste mostly like the flavour that's been added. People have made wine from almost anything that ferments to a reasonable percentage (fruit, dandilion, lilac petals), and beer from any grain that grows (spelt, millet, sorghum...). There are drinks make from coconut (**arrack**) and from milk (**kefir** and **kumis** are two of many. Most likely by the time you get the chance to try them, though, you'll be far more knowledgeable about what to expect for flavour. \n",
"Everyone else has been explaining different kinds of alcoholic beverage, when the OP asked about different kinds of alcohol.\n\nAll taste strong. Ethanol is the alcohol in alcoholic drinks. Other alcohols (eg, methanol) can be harmful. Don't drink them.\n\nEDIT: corrected statement\n",
"A few people have said that the difference between lager and ale is down to the type of yeast used in the fermentation process and while that's a decent basic overview it's not a strict measure. Lagers will always use a bottom-fermenting yeast and what are termed 'real ale' will always use top-fermenting yeast, but many other ales are made with bottom-fermenting yeasts. Porter, a type of ale originating in London in the 18th century, is an example of an ale that can be bottom-fermented.\n\nI think the better distinction is in temperature.\n\nLagers are fermented at lower temperatures than ales. This is why most lagers are clean-flavoured and refreshing - but not necessarily simple or light. As well as the malted barley and hops that are characteristic of every lager, other flavourings and fermentable material can be used. Wheat, for example, provides some classic and superb wheat beers, quite different to the mainstream light gold fizzy liquid that is often associated with the label lager. Blue Moon is a wheat beer that also uses orange and coriander to add more flavour.\n\nAles are fermented at warmer temperatures. This is why ales usually have more complex flavours and aromas than most lagers. It's also why ales are traditionally served warmer than lager, because each is more suited to the temperature at which it was brewed.",
"Best way to find out is by experience. Trust me on this one ;)",
"I'll just talk about what I know: hard liquor. These are all 80 proof (40% alcohol) minimum.\n\n* **VODKA** is 40% alcohol and 60% water. Plain as it comes. It tastes like burning. Mix with whatever, or shoot it and chase with your favorite juice/soda, you girl. They drink it straight in Eastern Europe. My favorite: *doesn't matter, they all taste the same*\n\n* **RUM** is distilled from molasses. Spiced rum (e.g. Captain Morgan) is brownish and probably what you think of most often. White rums are purer and more vodka-like. Careful, some have been purified to ridiculous levels (e.g. Bacardi 151, 75.5% pure alcohol). My favorite: *Sailor Jerry* with Coke\n\n* **TEQUILA** is made in Mexico, and tastes like it. It's like a burro kicking you in the teeth while a Tijuana hooker squeezes your balls. If you buy expensive tequila, you want to sip it, the traditional Mexican way. If you buy cheap tequila, shoot it, the traditional American way: lick your hand, put some salt on it, lick the salt, take the shot, bite a lemon slice. Yowza. The first time you do this, you'll think \"that wasn't so bad,\" do six, and barf. There is a superset of tequila called **MEZCAL** which has a stronger flavor and sometimes a worm (seriously). My favorite: *Monte Alban* mezcal (the only mezcal sold at American liquor stores)\n\n* **WHISKEY** is the drink of classy motherfuckers and shameless drunks worldwide. It ranges from really good and expensive to really cheap and trashy. Subdivided into **WHISKY**, **WHISKEY**, **SCOTCH**, and **BOURBON**. Drink it straight if you're man enough. Nothing wrong with some plain old Jim Beam or Jack Daniels. The most popular Irish whiskey is probably Jameson. If you buy scotch, I recommend spending $50 on a good single-malt, it's really worth it. Don't drink it all at once. My favorite (that's not super expensive): *Bushmills* on the rocks\n\n* **GIN** is a horrible concoction drunk primarily by old people. In my opinion, any drink involving gin is improved by the substitution of vodka. Gin has a rather piney flavor. Personally I hate it.\n\n* **SOJU** is a Korean rice liquor that tastes like water and will get you absolutely wasted. It's considered rude to pour your own; let someone else fill your glass. Don't let them fill it more than 5 or 6 times though, because the Koreans are dedicated drinkers and excellent hosts. Shoot it straight, it tastes like nothing. My favorite: *no clue, I don't speak Korean*\n\n* **ARAK** is an Arabic liquor. It's clear in the bottle, and very strong undiluted, but you're supposed to mix it with a small amount of water in your glass and it turns cloudy. Tastes a bit like licorice. I've never had **OUZO**, a Greek drink, but it's supposed to be similar.",
"An alcohol is an organic compound (meaning it contains carbon) that has a hydroxy (OH- , think bases like NaOH) functional group attached to a carbon. People typically think of alkane alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and butanol.\n\nEach alcohol has differing characteristics and there are so many that I can't list them all here. But alcohols are generally toxic and very strong smelling/tasting. They're commonly used as solvents; some are used as polar solvents because the polar OH- group is able to overtake the non-polar carbon chain. These alcohols will mix into water. Others are used as non-polar solvents because the carbon chain \"wins out\" over the polar OH- group.\n\nBecause of the weak hydrogen bonding between the OH- groups, alcohols have higher boiling points than other hydrocarbons. Allowing them to be liquid at room temperature.",
"Not sure if it was mentioned, but all these different types of drinks are related: they all contain [ethanol](_URL_0_), which is a type of alcohol. In drinks, alcohol is a general term, but in chemistry there are many types of alcohols, just as there are many types of salts (not just table salt).",
"Just a minor correction to the things people are saying:\n\n**Gin is not juniper flavored vodka**, it's a spirit distilled from juniper berries with a couple of other spices for flavoring. Gin that's a neutral spirit with flavoring is called \"compound gin\" and it is terrible.\n\nDo yourself a favor. Only drink London Dry Gin. (I highly enjoy a locally produced gin called Clearheart that is especially citrusy, but Bombay Sapphire is enjoyable as well.)",
"No one's really approached what they taste like, so I'll give it a go.\n\n**Vodka** tastes like alcohol. It's not supposed to have a taste of its own. This makes it an excellent mixer.\n\n**Gin** tastes like a sparkly christmas tree. This is better than it sounds.\n\n**Whiskey** tastes kind of woody and sometimes a little like caramel. It is very enjoyable, but will always retain its presence in what you put it in.\n\n**Scotch** tastes like liquid smoke or lighter fluid. I am told this is enjoyable. It is always drunk straight. Wars have been fought over whether this should be done at room temperature or chilled.\n\n**Tequila**, when it's cheap, tastes like it has thorns. The good stuff is smooth, vaguely citrusy, and rather astringent. \n\n**Sake** tastes kind of like the sea. In my experience, it's much saltier than other liquors.\n\n**Absinthe** tastes like a particularly vicious black liquorice.\n\nMost liqueurs taste pretty much like what you'd think they would based on their ingredients.",
"again: you need to experience each. but... if i want to do it like we're all drunken kindergarteners, mixing sensations and tastes, here's my taste:\n\n* red wine: plums, grapes, and wood\n* white wine: bubbles, grapes, and sugar\n* beer: bread and burps\n* vodka: sharp and heavy\n* gin: sharp and fruity or bright\n* rum: mellow and round\n* whiskey: sharp wood juice\n* tequila: watery butter\n* brandy: see whiskey, but rounder\n* bourbon: see whiskey, but sweeter\n* port: dizzy raisins\n* sake: nail polish remover\n* cider: unsweet apple juice",
"The best drink in existence is the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster. The effect of drinking one of these is rather like having your brains smashed out with a slice of lemon, wrapped around a large gold brick.",
"I'll go ahead and post this comment in place of the requisite reference to how five year-olds wouldn't exactly care-for or need these instructions.",
"This is something you kind of need to experience yourself but here goes nothing:\n\n* **Wine** is broken into two main categories: red and white. Wine is generally made from fermenting grapes. The color is mainly determined by whether or not the grade skin was strained out. It has a pretty low alcohol content relative to liquor, but a little bit higher than beer. 8-12% alcohol by volume is common. It tastes somewhat like grape juice but less sickly sweet (though some wines are very sweet, so called dessert wines). White wines are generally \"crisper\" than reds, but they all have such a wide variety of specific flavors that it is hard to generalize. Also in the wine category I am going to through champagne, which is basically really fizzy wine.\n\n* **Beer** is made from grains, and usually has a slightly lower alcohol content than wine. 5% for light beers, to 8 or 10 for regular. Some can get even higher. \"Bready\" is probably the best taste descriptor for someone who has never had beer, but again you really need to try it, and several different kinds.\n\n* **Liquor** is the last main category. Liquor is distilled, rather than simply fermented, giving it a much higher alcohol content than wine or beer. 40% alcohol by volume is kind of the \"standard\" content, but it can range from 20 up to 96ish. Different liquors can be made of different things, so I will address them in groups. **Vodka** is made from grain or potatoes. It is notable as a mixing ingredient because it has very little taste on its own. Good vodka is judged largely on how it feels in your mouth. It can easily be flavored with basically anything. **Gin** is basically vodka flavored primarily with juniper, giving it a \"christmas tree\" like taste. Very piney, with hints of citrus and other flavors. **Rum** is made from molasses, and has a complex flavor that can vary largely depending on the type. **Whisk(e)y** is made from grains, and has no one flavor. Some are described as smoky, peaty, but rarely fruity, if that gives you any general idea. It is broken down into Bourbon (usually from kentucky), Tennessee whiskey, Irish whiskey, Scotch (whisky), and Rye whiskey, broadly speaking, depending on where its from and what its made with. **Tequila** is made from the blue agave plant, and I really can't tell you what it tastes like because I have never had it straight. **Brandy**, **Cognac**, and **Port** are all basically fortified wines. This means wine was taken and distilled to a higher alcohol content. Brandy and cognac can be made from other fruits but they follow the same process. \n\nI probably missed a ton of stuff but hopefully this helps a bit.",
"People all over the world have basically been sticking whatever carbohydrate-rich local agriculture they have access to in a vat in order to ferment and get an alcohol content. (That means that yeast takes molecules and make them into other molecules, in this case alcohol). \nThese fermented agriculture drinks include things like beer, cider, mead and wine. \n\nThen, someone discovered that by heating this stuff to just the right temperature (around 70°C), you can get the alcohol to turn into steam, while the water and all the other stuff will be left behind. If you catch the steam and cool it down, it turns into liquid alcohol again, only stronger than before. These are destilates, such as vodka (potato-based alcohol steam) cognac (grape-based alcohol steam) whisky (corn-based alcohol steam) and rum (sugar-based alcohol steam). \n\nEdit: Carbohydrate-rich, not protein-rich.",
"Scotch tastes kind of like you lit a stick on fire, let it burn for a while, and then started chewing on it.... whether or not you put out the fire before chewing depends on how much you paid for the bottle.",
"Wow, I read the title of this thread and assumed OP wanted to know the difference between actual types of alcohol. Like ethanol, isopropyl, methanol, etc.\n\nIn fact, a literal reading of the title still seems to mean that. Though why you'd want to taste rubbing alcohol is beyond me.",
"**Mead** This is a very old and often forgotten drink. It is believed to be one of the first alcohols, beer would be it's contender. Mead is made from honey, with the addition of other botanicals as well. Many people refer to it as honey wine because of its taste and i would agree. It is usually sweet, but with a little twang at the end and can be flavored with different honey and fruits to make it even more exotic, some have even been flavored with hops and won beer medals because [of it](_URL_0_). The term honeymoon actually comes from mead. Back in the medieval times newlyweds were given enough mead to last a moon cycle in the hopes that they would consummate a baby hence honeymoon. overall they run between 8% and 15% abv.",
"**EDIT: A number of people have asked for more info, so here it is. I'm rearranging the article to make a bit more sense as well.** \n \nIf you want something done right... \n \n* **Wine** is fermented grape juice. Red grapes fermented in contact with the skins on make red wine. White wines are (usually) made from white grape juice that is fermented in the absence of the \"pomace\" (skins and pulp). Rose can be made by partly fermenting with the skins, from pink grapes (there are very few of these), or blending white and red wine (forbidden in some countries, I believe). Either red or white wine may be fermented and/or aged in oak, which gives them a 'toasty' flavour. \n* Adding a little bit of sugar and some fresh yeast just before bottling carbonates the bottle and makes **sparkling wine**. Champagne is the most famous sparkling, coming from the Champagne region of France. Sparking wine can also be made by pressurizing the still wine with CO2, or a few other methods. Force-carbonation is less than ideal, though, and mostly reserved for cheaper wines. Typically wine is 8-13% alcohol. \nRegardless of the style, grape or colour, the flavour of wine is generally a mixture of sugar, acid, alcohol, and (for reds) tannins. Young wines tend to be fruity and flowery, and as they get older, develop 'darker' flavours. Keep in mind that about 85% of wine produced is intended for drinking within a year or two of bottling. \n* **Fortified wines** are such things as Port (\"porto\"), Sherry, and Madeira. They are made by adding a hard alcohol (see below) to partly fermented wine. They tend to be quite sweet (with some exceptions!), round-about 20% alcohol, and are very unique. Sherry tastes somewhat like dates or prunes, Madeira is sometimes compared with soy sauce, and port tastes like...everything you ever dreamed of. (yes, I'm a port lover :-) OK, port is almost always sweet and fruity, often tasting the most like unfermented grape juice of all drinks. \n* **Sake** is wine made from rice instead of grapes. It has its own flavour, and I can't really compare it to anything else. All I can say is that it tastes like Sake. If anyone else want to chime in, I'd love some comparisons! \n* **Retsina** is resinated wine; that is, it's white wine made with pine resin added to the fermenting tanks. It has a VERY distinctive turpentine flavour and aroma that tends to overpower the base wine flavour, until you get used to it. \n* **Beer** is generally an extract of malted barley and hops that's been fermented. **Lagers** and **Ales** are made with yeasts that ferment on the bottom or top of the fermenter, respectively. Lagers are usually fermented slowly at cold temperatures, which gives them a crisper and often more complex taste than Ales, which tend to be more wine-like in character. These are very VERY broad categorizations. Beer flavours are driven by hoppiness (usually in the smell), maltiness, bitterness, and sweetness. Light beers can taste almost like carbonated alcoholic water, while some dark beers can taste like chocolate and woodsmoke. Note also that beer is sometimes made from rye, wheat, or rice. Also, Belgian (or Belgian-style) beers are an almost completely different category, often without hops, and with wild yeasts that give them a sour, winey flavour. Beer is typically about 3.5-6.5% alcohol, but can get as high as ~10%. Beer may be the broadest category of styles and flavours of all the different drinks out there, and is the oldest alcoholic drink we know of. \n* **Cider** is fermented fruit, typically hard fruits like pears and apples. (Note that in the USA, I believe this is called hard cider. Soft cider in the US is generally known elsewhere as unfiltered juice.) It tastes much like the fruit combined with alcohol, and is usually crisp and refreshing. \n* **Liqueurs** are usually manufactured drinks, that is they're made by adding alcohol to a flavouring. They can taste like absolutely anything - mandarin oranges, liquorice, pepper, vanilla, or anything else you feel like turning into a beverage. Alcohol content is all over the map, from ~20% to 50% or more. Most are made with neutral spirits (i.e. ethanol), but there are some liqueurs made from Whisky (**Drambuie** and Cream liqueurs such as **Irish Cream** are examples). \n* **Mead** is fermented honey, or honey wine. It can run from about 6-18% alcohol (typically 8-11%), and tastes like honey and when still young, wallpaper paste! It can be still or sparkling, dry(-ish) or sweet, and can have spices or fruit added. These drinks are called **metheglin** and **melomel** respectively. Mead always has a bit of an odd sickly flavour to it, and commercial meads are (sadly!) often sickly-sweet. \n\nI've got to head to work, but if there's interest, I'll do the hard liquors when I get there (~1/2 hour), and expand on any points above. I may be a borderline alcoholic, but I know my booze! \n\n* **Spirits, hard alcohol, liquor** are essentially cider, beer, or wine (or another basic fermented booze) that has been distilled. There are a huge variety of them. Mostly they are ~35%-45% alcohol, although some can be higher (cask-strength can get over 60%, and \"Everclear\" is basically straight alcohol). Because spirits are generally quite harsh when they're first fermented, they're often aged in oak (raw or \"toasted\", i.e. flamed inside, and sometimes barrels that have been used in other roles, such as red wine). \n* * **Vodka** is made from distilled anything--often potatoes because they're cheap and ferment cleanly. It should theoretically be a neutral spirit with no flavour other than the alcohol and water; but there are definite variations in quality, as well as flavoured vodkas. You can get things like chocolate vodka of course, but various regions around the world have traditional flavours as well - **Akvavit** is flavoured with caraway or dill, for an example, and **Ouzo** is flavoured with anise. \n* * **Gin** is vodka that has been flavoured with spices, typically juniper berries and assorted other components that are added at distillation time. It tastes...exactly like that. In the Netherlands (where Gin originated), **Jenever** is usually aged for a number of years and develops a soft nutty flavour. \n* * **Absinthe** is traditionally made in the same way as gin, but with fennel, anise, and wormwood. It is usually bottled at a very high alcohol level (~50-75%), but intended to be diluted with water and sweetened with sugar, ideally in an elaborate ceremony. It tastes quite spicy, and burns going down at almost any dilution. A compound (thujone) in the wormwood is a mild hallucinogen, and hysteria about it causing madness led to the general banning of absinthe around most of the world, until fairly recently. \n* * **Brandy** is distilled either from wine or from fermented pomace, the crud left behind from pressing the grapes. It is usually aged in oak for a number of years, but not always (many **Grappa**, for instance). Different parts of the world have the legal right to give their own regional name to their brandy, which is where **Cognac** and **Armagnac** come in--they are brandies from those respective regions of France. Brandy tends to be off-dry and have a rich caramel flavour in addition to the wine flavour in the background. \n* * **Fruit brandy** is brandy made from...fruit! That is, it's distilled cider. For some reason, these fruits tend to carry their basic flavour through more than grapes. **Calvados** is a (wonderful!) example of distilled apple cider. \n* * **Whisk(e)y** is, generically, a fermented grain that has been distilled. In other words, distilled beer. **Bourbon** is made from corn mash, **Rye whiskey** from (you guessed it!) rye, **Scotch and Irish whiskies** are made from malted barley (in fact, the stuff that goes into the stills in Scotland is very much like unhopped beer). **Canadian Whisky** is usually just called rye, but in fact is mostly made from rice. In fact, rice ferments and distills quite neutrally, so is added to a number of whiskies during fermentation to lighten the character. Trying to break down the flavours of these is almost impossible, since they're so wide-ranging. Depending on the region and methods used, Scotch Whisky alone can be sweet, dry, peaty, smoky, briny, astringent...it just goes on and on. Bourbon typically has a sweet vanilla flavour, whereas rye is usually a bit sour. What they all have in common is being strongly flavoured, and having a fairly pronounced flavour from the wood they're aged in. The spelling (with or without the 'e') is a bit of a mess. When in doubt, use whisky for Scotch, and whiskey for everything else, and you probably won't be beaten *too* hard. \n* * **Rum** is made from sugarcane juice, usually in the form of molasses. It has a (surprise!) characteristically sweet flavour, which becomes more pronounced in the darker (usually older) rums. White rum is fairly unique in that it's aged and then filtered of colour; most spirits are either unaged if clear, or coloured as a result of aging. This filtering renders it fairly light in flavour too, but probably not as harsh as if it hadn't been aged at all (NOTE: this is my own conjecture, based on grappa and the like). Also, spiced rums are exactly what they sound like--rum with spices added; typically cinnamon and Christmassy flavours, or coconut. \n* * **Tequila** is distilled from the Blue Agave cactus, and has a distinctive spicy, peppery, plant-like flavour. It can be sold unaged, or aged in oak for several years. Like any spirit, the harshness softens and develops more complexity as it ages in oak. \n \nThat's...well, lots of them. Certainly not all. There are a number of styles of coolers which are a base alcohol (vodka or wine) that have been sweetened and flavoured, and they taste mostly like the flavour that's been added. People have made wine from almost anything that ferments to a reasonable percentage (fruit, dandilion, lilac petals), and beer from any grain that grows (spelt, millet, sorghum...). There are drinks make from coconut (**arrack**) and from milk (**kefir** and **kumis** are two of many. Most likely by the time you get the chance to try them, though, you'll be far more knowledgeable about what to expect for flavour. \n",
"Everyone else has been explaining different kinds of alcoholic beverage, when the OP asked about different kinds of alcohol.\n\nAll taste strong. Ethanol is the alcohol in alcoholic drinks. Other alcohols (eg, methanol) can be harmful. Don't drink them.\n\nEDIT: corrected statement\n",
"A few people have said that the difference between lager and ale is down to the type of yeast used in the fermentation process and while that's a decent basic overview it's not a strict measure. Lagers will always use a bottom-fermenting yeast and what are termed 'real ale' will always use top-fermenting yeast, but many other ales are made with bottom-fermenting yeasts. Porter, a type of ale originating in London in the 18th century, is an example of an ale that can be bottom-fermented.\n\nI think the better distinction is in temperature.\n\nLagers are fermented at lower temperatures than ales. This is why most lagers are clean-flavoured and refreshing - but not necessarily simple or light. As well as the malted barley and hops that are characteristic of every lager, other flavourings and fermentable material can be used. Wheat, for example, provides some classic and superb wheat beers, quite different to the mainstream light gold fizzy liquid that is often associated with the label lager. Blue Moon is a wheat beer that also uses orange and coriander to add more flavour.\n\nAles are fermented at warmer temperatures. This is why ales usually have more complex flavours and aromas than most lagers. It's also why ales are traditionally served warmer than lager, because each is more suited to the temperature at which it was brewed.",
"Best way to find out is by experience. Trust me on this one ;)",
"I'll just talk about what I know: hard liquor. These are all 80 proof (40% alcohol) minimum.\n\n* **VODKA** is 40% alcohol and 60% water. Plain as it comes. It tastes like burning. Mix with whatever, or shoot it and chase with your favorite juice/soda, you girl. They drink it straight in Eastern Europe. My favorite: *doesn't matter, they all taste the same*\n\n* **RUM** is distilled from molasses. Spiced rum (e.g. Captain Morgan) is brownish and probably what you think of most often. White rums are purer and more vodka-like. Careful, some have been purified to ridiculous levels (e.g. Bacardi 151, 75.5% pure alcohol). My favorite: *Sailor Jerry* with Coke\n\n* **TEQUILA** is made in Mexico, and tastes like it. It's like a burro kicking you in the teeth while a Tijuana hooker squeezes your balls. If you buy expensive tequila, you want to sip it, the traditional Mexican way. If you buy cheap tequila, shoot it, the traditional American way: lick your hand, put some salt on it, lick the salt, take the shot, bite a lemon slice. Yowza. The first time you do this, you'll think \"that wasn't so bad,\" do six, and barf. There is a superset of tequila called **MEZCAL** which has a stronger flavor and sometimes a worm (seriously). My favorite: *Monte Alban* mezcal (the only mezcal sold at American liquor stores)\n\n* **WHISKEY** is the drink of classy motherfuckers and shameless drunks worldwide. It ranges from really good and expensive to really cheap and trashy. Subdivided into **WHISKY**, **WHISKEY**, **SCOTCH**, and **BOURBON**. Drink it straight if you're man enough. Nothing wrong with some plain old Jim Beam or Jack Daniels. The most popular Irish whiskey is probably Jameson. If you buy scotch, I recommend spending $50 on a good single-malt, it's really worth it. Don't drink it all at once. My favorite (that's not super expensive): *Bushmills* on the rocks\n\n* **GIN** is a horrible concoction drunk primarily by old people. In my opinion, any drink involving gin is improved by the substitution of vodka. Gin has a rather piney flavor. Personally I hate it.\n\n* **SOJU** is a Korean rice liquor that tastes like water and will get you absolutely wasted. It's considered rude to pour your own; let someone else fill your glass. Don't let them fill it more than 5 or 6 times though, because the Koreans are dedicated drinkers and excellent hosts. Shoot it straight, it tastes like nothing. My favorite: *no clue, I don't speak Korean*\n\n* **ARAK** is an Arabic liquor. It's clear in the bottle, and very strong undiluted, but you're supposed to mix it with a small amount of water in your glass and it turns cloudy. Tastes a bit like licorice. I've never had **OUZO**, a Greek drink, but it's supposed to be similar.",
"An alcohol is an organic compound (meaning it contains carbon) that has a hydroxy (OH- , think bases like NaOH) functional group attached to a carbon. People typically think of alkane alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and butanol.\n\nEach alcohol has differing characteristics and there are so many that I can't list them all here. But alcohols are generally toxic and very strong smelling/tasting. They're commonly used as solvents; some are used as polar solvents because the polar OH- group is able to overtake the non-polar carbon chain. These alcohols will mix into water. Others are used as non-polar solvents because the carbon chain \"wins out\" over the polar OH- group.\n\nBecause of the weak hydrogen bonding between the OH- groups, alcohols have higher boiling points than other hydrocarbons. Allowing them to be liquid at room temperature.",
"Not sure if it was mentioned, but all these different types of drinks are related: they all contain [ethanol](_URL_0_), which is a type of alcohol. In drinks, alcohol is a general term, but in chemistry there are many types of alcohols, just as there are many types of salts (not just table salt).",
"Just a minor correction to the things people are saying:\n\n**Gin is not juniper flavored vodka**, it's a spirit distilled from juniper berries with a couple of other spices for flavoring. Gin that's a neutral spirit with flavoring is called \"compound gin\" and it is terrible.\n\nDo yourself a favor. Only drink London Dry Gin. (I highly enjoy a locally produced gin called Clearheart that is especially citrusy, but Bombay Sapphire is enjoyable as well.)",
"No one's really approached what they taste like, so I'll give it a go.\n\n**Vodka** tastes like alcohol. It's not supposed to have a taste of its own. This makes it an excellent mixer.\n\n**Gin** tastes like a sparkly christmas tree. This is better than it sounds.\n\n**Whiskey** tastes kind of woody and sometimes a little like caramel. It is very enjoyable, but will always retain its presence in what you put it in.\n\n**Scotch** tastes like liquid smoke or lighter fluid. I am told this is enjoyable. It is always drunk straight. Wars have been fought over whether this should be done at room temperature or chilled.\n\n**Tequila**, when it's cheap, tastes like it has thorns. The good stuff is smooth, vaguely citrusy, and rather astringent. \n\n**Sake** tastes kind of like the sea. In my experience, it's much saltier than other liquors.\n\n**Absinthe** tastes like a particularly vicious black liquorice.\n\nMost liqueurs taste pretty much like what you'd think they would based on their ingredients.",
"again: you need to experience each. but... if i want to do it like we're all drunken kindergarteners, mixing sensations and tastes, here's my taste:\n\n* red wine: plums, grapes, and wood\n* white wine: bubbles, grapes, and sugar\n* beer: bread and burps\n* vodka: sharp and heavy\n* gin: sharp and fruity or bright\n* rum: mellow and round\n* whiskey: sharp wood juice\n* tequila: watery butter\n* brandy: see whiskey, but rounder\n* bourbon: see whiskey, but sweeter\n* port: dizzy raisins\n* sake: nail polish remover\n* cider: unsweet apple juice",
"The best drink in existence is the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster. The effect of drinking one of these is rather like having your brains smashed out with a slice of lemon, wrapped around a large gold brick."
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1fn3kb | what's the deal with the uk independence party? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1fn3kb/eli5whats_the_deal_with_the_uk_independence_party/ | {
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"The uk traditonally had two main parties, Labour, left wing, and the Tories/conservatives , Right wing, Over the last few decades both parties have moved more to centre-left and centre-right. This is where the UkIP comes in. The Ukip is right wing party that aims to appeal to the more right wing members of the conservative party who feel disenfranchised by the Tories more recent moderate stance.\n\nOne of the Ukip's main positions is the UK should have more autonomy from Europe and European law. Possibly going far enough for the Uk to leave the European union.",
"AmazingEmmet has put it quite well. UKIP has been around for a long time, it's only major policy being 'leave the EU', and nobody paid it much attention. Since the last election, however, its significance has skyrocketed.\n\nMy personal view on this is that it's a result of the Eurozone economic crisis making people worried about us being a member state (as if leaving would help at all), conservative voters disappointed with their party's stance on gay marriage, Europe and other social issues, and people who voted liberal as a screw-you to the main two parties but now can't do that anymore because they're in government.",
"Bunch of twats."
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5fk5gh | graphic card memory | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5fk5gh/eli5_graphic_card_memory/ | {
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"Graphics card memory is RAM that's built directly into the video card itself.\n\nUnlike general RAM which can be used for whatever, this stuff is reserved for *just* graphics, and being hooked right to the GPU makes it fast and easy fo rthe GPU to use it.\n\nTypically, things like textures are stored in this memory. More memory means higher resolution textures can be stored, [which gives you nice graphics like this.](_URL_0_). Things like lighting and shadows also use memory, if there isn't enough memory available to remember what's in light or shadow the game may simplify or skip over how it handles lights.",
"The graphics card is like a small computer with its own processor, memory, bus, input and output. Notice that ASUS and Gigabyte are motherboard manufacturers while AMD and Intel are making both kinds of processors, both CPU and GPU. When you are playing the game there are different types of workload. All the logics of the game like the AI, game rules, etc. is best handled by a linear processor like the CPU. However drawing graphics (and physics but this is often using spare CPU power) requires the same operation multiple times and is best handled on a parallel processor like the GPU. This means that all assets needed to draw the graphics will be loaded into the graphics memory for easy access by the GPU so it does not have to go to the main memory all the time. The CPU tells the GPU where the camera and other objects are in the scene but the graphics memory contains all the polygons and textures in the scene. If you have more memory you can fit more details such as more polygons or higher resolution textures."
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17s69i | what would happen to italy if we got out the euro? | What would be the consequence on the economy? I mean, everyone on television says that if Italy (or any other country in the euro) should get out, there would be awful consequences on that country's economy.
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/17s69i/what_would_happen_to_italy_if_we_got_out_the_euro/ | {
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"No one really knows and that is what makes it so scary.\n\nOne problem is that your debt would still be in Euros, so going back to the Lira would not get you back in control of your debt. While debtors do not like the idea that you would inflate your way out of debt, they prefer that to the idea of default. So it is easier to borrow if you can borrow in your own money because debtors know that if push comes to shove, you can always print money to pay them back. But with you debt in Euros, lenders would worry about default.\n\nThere is also the problem of contracts written in euros. What would happen to those. Would a contract between Italians be translated into Lira? How about a contract between an Italian and a German. What about your bank deposits. You put Euros in the bank. But would you get Lira when you take it out? Probably so. It would probably all get translated into Lira at some rate. That means it all has to be done quickly and as a surprise to avoid a run on the backs because people would have more faith in the euro and want to get euros in had before the switch.\n\nAnd if Italy had to default on it debt in Euros, it might make it very hard for them to get new loans in Lira.\n\nSo the fear is that there would be confusion and chaos. \n\nBut it might be better the continuing with German demands for more and more austerity. The problem with austerity, is that every time you cut back on government spending to reduce the debt, the economy takes a hit, unemployment goes up, and tax receipts go down. The reduction in taxes offsets your cut in spending so that your deficit is no better but your economy is worse. There is no way to pay off your debts with so many people unemployed not producing any wealth to pay off the debts with. If you had the Lira, its value would be going down as people became worried about the debt, and everyone would take a hit. The whole country would be poorer because their money would be worth less, but the would still have their jobs and would still be producing wealth that lets you dig your way back out."
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1529d7 | - why do we only ever see white people with down syndrome | I have never noticed a black/mexican/asian with down syndrome, why is that?
Edit: im sorry, i truly have never seen someone with downsyndrome who isnt white | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1529d7/eli5_why_do_we_only_ever_see_white_people_with/ | {
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"Nobody is exempted from having Down Syndrome. But, there may be a variety of factors at play that have resulted in your lack of encounters with non-white people with Down Syndrome.\n\nFirst, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the mortality rate for black infants with Down Syndrome is higher than for white infants. \n\nSecond, there is some interesting sociological evidence to suggest something called homophily in general social networks, which means that people tend to interact, by and large, with people like themselves. I'm assuming some things about you with this explanation: You're relatively young, white, middle-class, and from the US. If my assumptions are accurate, your exposure to a wide enough range of black/mexican/asian folks is limited enough that you're less likely to encounter someone in those racial groups with Down Syndrome.\n\nThird, DS is fairly rare. 1 in 691 children, roughly, is born with DS. (again, according to the CDC). It occurs more often in children whose mothers are over the age of 35. There may also be some cultural/sociological issues at stake there too, younger motherhood rates amongst those populations in the US, for example. (That's just a guess on my part, though I wouldn't be surprised to discover it to be the case)\n\nBut, I suspect that the second reason is the most likely explanation, at least in part, for why you haven't ever noticed a black/latino/asian person with DS. ",
"Only 0.1 percent of the world's population have down syndrome. White is the most common demographic (in most western countries). The reason why you never see a black or Asian with down syndrome is because there are simply less people total to get the condition."
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4zwrt4 | why is michael jackson so associated with pedophilia? has he ever even been convicted of it? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4zwrt4/eli5_why_is_michael_jackson_so_associated_with/ | {
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"Michael Jackson reportedly had a large collection of 'paedophilic' content at his Neverland Ranch in 2003, according to police reports cataloging the property following a search. \n\nThis info was released to the public just recently."
]
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5fk0x4 | why is dreaming about not wearing pants such a common childhood nightmare? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5fk0x4/eli5_why_is_dreaming_about_not_wearing_pants_such/ | {
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"It's embarrassing in today's society to be naked. In a child's brain, which (among other things) is highly concerned with social groups and social development, the fear of being put in social situations where you are made to feel vulnerable and losing social status frequently manifests itself as nightmares. Of course, culture plays a role--you hear about how people get nightmares of being naked, and therefore you learn to fear that yourself.\n\n"
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48o3v3 | why do people tend to idealize the past and catastrophize the future? | Is it the nature of reality that things tend to get worse as time passes (i.e. entropy), or is this tendency a function of fear and anxiety? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/48o3v3/eli5_why_do_people_tend_to_idealize_the_past_and/ | {
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"It's good for us as species to pick stuff that were succesfull in the past and make decisons so that the same success continues in the future.",
"Entropy applies where thermodynamics are concerned, but as far as human civilization goes thus far, the overwhelming trend is that things get better. In general, people live longer, are healthier, wealthier, and less likely to die in particularly horrible ways (famine, war, disease) the closer you get to today. \n\nPeople tend to idealize the past because the past is a known quantity (or at least they think so). The future is unknown, and that naturally scares people. Also, people only tend to do this if their past was actually nice, which, compared to the world in general, is a startling minority of people. You don't often find racial or ethnic minorities, homosexuals, women, or people in developing countries romanticizing the past, because for them the further back in time you go the more likely they are to be persecuted, treated as property, or live in destitution. If you go back far enough, even us straight white dudes start to get that treatment. \n\nEDIT: If your grandpa is American, and is nostalgic about the mid to late 70s, he misses Muhammad Ali and Fleetwood Mac and the free, easy days of his youth. If your grandpa is Cambodian, and he is nostalgic about the mid to late 70s, he is probably a murderous psychopath. The mid to late 70s were a great time in Cambodia. A great time, that is, to be a murderous psychopath.",
"Look back at your high school years or college years. You probably think of those years as being fun and awesome (for at least some of us). People tend to remember the good times and not the small day to day shitty stuff. Sure you'll remember something that may have traumatized you or something that was really bad but mostly people remember the past as being a better time because they don't remember the bad. ",
"Ultimately, because the past is completely safe for us, no mattter how unpleasant it may have been, and the future is deadly. After all, there's a 0% chance that you will die in the past, and a 100% chance that you will die in the future (even if you have access to time travel, you can't die in your personal past, only in your personal future). So our brains interpret that as \"Well, we already know we can survive that; let's keep things that way!\"",
"Mainly because humans have a selective memory. They tend to forget bad things over a long period of time, or at least convince themself the bad things wern't that bad. At the same time, humans are way better to remember good things. \nThis doesn't happen over night tho, so memorys close to the present time are more accurate and, therefore more negative then old memorys. So the past always seems better compared to the present. \nThat is the idolizing the past part.\n\nI'm not one hundred percent certain on the future thing, but I would guess that it's partially because you think it can never be as good as the past - since in your memories, the present already is worse than the past - and partially because the future is something unknown, which scares a lot of people."
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8hijrh | the stomach has neurons, but what are they for? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8hijrh/eli5_the_stomach_has_neurons_but_what_are_they_for/ | {
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"most of your body has neurons, thats just what your nerves are called. Your stomach uses them to tell your brain if there is pain like any other neuron.",
"How would you feel if you had pain in your stomach or the temperature changes in your stomach.",
"Neurons are not only useful for sensation you feel but to allow areas of the body to communicate information to other areas. For example if the senses detect food it is helpful to be able to start up the digestive process such as salivation and increased stomach activity. Similarly the stomach is going to need to be able to sense when there is food inside it in order to digest it, both with muscle action and balancing acidity.",
"some opiate receptors are in the stomach, this is one of the reasons the chyme travels slower and leads to peristalsis or constipation.\n\npressing a receptor will do different things, enhancing mucus secretion or acid production, sometimes it will cause vomiting of a gag reflex."
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7pejjy | air quality index (aqi) reports | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7pejjy/eli5_air_quality_index_aqi_reports/ | {
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"There is no standardized way to measure \"air quality\", everyone is free to label it as they wish. The number indicated by one system isn't intended to be compared with other systems, but with itself over time. If the number is going up the quality is deteriorating, that kind of thing. It's like ranking temperature outside on a 1-10 scale, everyone has their own idea of what 1 and 10 represent. But at least we can all agree that a 6 is better than a 2, whatever they might be.\n\nActual concentrations of pollutants are always given with the unit of measurement included: parts-per-billion, milligrams per cubic meter, whatever. If you want to compare results, compare the actual measured concentrations, not the AQI.",
"The three factors that go into most aqi, or aqhi, are pm2.5, ozone, and NO2, all of whoch have health impacts.\nDifferent places can have different measurements (air quality, especially for NOx, is very volatile) or different weightings for the equations. A lot of east asian cities have SO2 included, which is pretty nasty, but SO2 levels in most western cities is functionally 0.\n\nAny major metropolitan area is not going to have great air quality, but just try to live a little away from a highway and/or tall buildings and you will be just fine.\n\nI actually research this stuff so let me know if you have questions about it."
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36bwic | why do hit radio stations, who have access to thousands of songs, seem to always play the same exact playlist all day, every day? | Like WTF? It's so annoying. Please explain to me why the hell they do this... Thanks!! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/36bwic/eli5_why_do_hit_radio_stations_who_have_access_to/ | {
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"Because in their (very measured) experience, they select the song rotation that maximize the number of listeners they have. What ou say you don't like is what people measurably DO like (or at least what measurably elicits the behavior the station wants).",
"Thats how they stay on top. People like listening to what they know so those stations play what they know. ",
"Record companies underhandedly pay radio stations to keep their artists' songs in rotation. Interesting article [here.](_URL_0_)",
"The answer is in your question: \"Hit radio stations,\" which are programmed differently from indie stations, oldies stations, classic rock, etc. They tend to stick to the Billboard Top 40, with an emphasis on the Top 10. \n\nIf they do play something that's not on the current Top 40, it will most likely be from a past Top 10.",
"One point being left out of the discussion is that most people don't listen all day. They listen in the car on their commute or their way to the grocery store or whatever. So it's the radio station's best bet to play a limited playlist people will definitely be interested in rather than a more risky variety to cater to the few people who listen all day.",
"I used to work in radio, and my program director once explained it to me like this: \n\nA radio station is like a can of pop. If you buy a Coke, when you open it, you wanted to taste like Coke. When you put a can of Coke to your lips, you have an expectation of what flavor sensation you will get. The same is true for a radio station. When you tune in, you have an expectation about what sounds you're going to hear. If you hear something that defies that expectation, you might metaphorically \"spit out the drink\" -- flip the dial, in other words, and try to find that thing you were seeking. This terrifies radio programmers to no end, so they go out of their way to program music that perfectly fits that \"flavor\" of their station's sound. Sadly, this usually manifests itself in a highly constructed and very narrow set of songs that a station feels \"safe\" to play.",
"I work in a factory where qe have the same shit radio station on every day Gem 106. Same songs every day without fail. That Ed sheeran one is twice a day and uptown funk can be three times a day in an 8 hour shift. ",
"For us it's like this (Wall of text inc.):\n\nWe make surveys on the phone where we play different 10-second soundbites of songs to people and let them rate it from 1 to 6 (German school grade system, 1 being best) and this determines how popular different songs are by making an average from these grades. \n\nThat means that the songs that are \"picked\" by the public are the best songs. So you play them in order to get listened to. \n\nHit Radio stations don't want to differentiate themselves with the music because that's the riskiest strategy. People who listen to these songs, actually like them. You and me may get sick of listening to \"Take me to church\" for the thousandth time but the target audience of the station likes to hear it when it comes on.\n\nRadio stations rather like to differentiate themselves via the program elements like \"We pay your bills\" or \"Answer the phone with our catchphrase and win money!\" because that is the safest route to go. \n\nTo sum up: Going with what is PROVEN to be the most popular is a definite hit while playing all different songs every day can be a hit or miss. Because you don't have data to back up the listeners willingness to stay tuned in. \n\nAnd that is your absolute livelyhood, people staying on your station. Because every quarter there is (here in germany) a big survey where people get asked which station they listen to.\n\nThese surveys determine how many listeners you have, which determines how much money you can charge for ads. \n\nIf someone only listened to you for a few minutes, he's not gonna remember/say your station name but if they listened for a few days, they're likely going to remember your station. \n\n\n\nTLDR: It's safer to go with what people want to hear collectively because that's how they keep the listeners and make money. \n\n\nHope that clears it up.\n\nSource: I work at a \"Hit Radio\" station\n\nEDIT: /u/abedmcnulty made a good point about people not listening all day. The playlists are designed so you only listen for a few hours and in those hours, nothing should repeat itself. \n\nalso great point by /u/wipeoutpop it's exactly like that",
"As people have noted, radio stations get paid by labels and most listeners probably listen less than an hour a day.\n\nBut really, they play the songs people *like*. If they didn't they would not be in business because no listeners = no ad revenue.\n\nIf you really like the Eagles, you will own all their albums and play those in your car. If you are a big fan of one or two genres that have no radio station? You will probably use your phone or an MP3 player to listen to your carefully selected playlists. Or maybe you will listen to books on tape.\n\nIf you enjoy the latest, top hits it is so much easier to listen to those stations than to somehow buy the next big album, every big album the week it comes out. Which does point out how circular top 40 is. Top 40 is top because its on the radio.",
"I work in London and the hit radio station is awful and plays the same songs literally 6 or 7 times a day, and then when i go the gym i have to hear it all again :(",
"A list = 25 plays a week\n\nB list = 15 plays a week\n\nC list = 10 plays a week\n\nThis is the case for BBC Radio 1 in the UK but I'm sure other big radio stations have a list of bands they promote more than others.",
"People still use the radio? ",
"Because they generally make money one of two ways:\n\nI) they take money from record companies to play their songs\n\nII) they make money from ad revenue\n\nBoth these conditions require them to maximise their audience so they play the most popular current songs that they know people like. They do this because they know what songs work right now, and then when the song stops working they swap it out with something else until they find a new hit.",
"I've been working in radio for just over 3 years after completing a radio broadcasting program in college. As much as most people want to believe in the giant record company twisting the pop music market to suit their needs, that honestly isn't even the biggest contributing factor. I work for a rather large radio company in Canada - but you'd never realize that if you came to my station. The other jocks, as well as the administrative side of the station, are all great people who have a lot of fun at what we do. Its hard not to like a job that is 4+ hours of Reddit browsing for potential show prep/news/ entertainment updates... and the people who enjoy discussing these topics and helping me build a better show is always a great environment. But, just like every other job; people find a way to create shortcuts. In short, there is a certain percent of certain songs we need to play every day. In Canada, 30% of music played during a broadcasting day MUST be Canadian. This is a big reason as to why Nickleback is so popular. They play rock, they are Canadian, and they consistently release generic music. They are the safe bet of the Canadian music world. On top of that 30%, there are also other obligations like Current Rock, Gold Rock, Top Rock, literally dozens of sub categories that need to be balanced, every hour, of every day. So put yourself in a corporate radio stations Music Director's shoes. You have to choose the music for 16+ hours a day, every day, while balancing different catorigies of music and a percent of Canadian music, and keep within the lines your broadcast company gives you for whatever reason. I'm not saying those reasons can't be money in their pocket - but it could also be because 1 guy had a busy week, and used the same old programmed day to save 20 minutes. Its radio; we like to have fun, not be evil. \n\nTL;DR - Google \"Payola\" ",
"What it comes down to is research. We subscribe to multiple sources that track down what people want to hear. Anything from the charts at Mediabase, to Rate the Music, PPM, call out research, and auditorium tests. \n\nThe mentality of radio is that we are getting new listeners every 20 minutes. The people that listen to the same station for 10 hours are a rare breed (I know this isn't necessarily true, but like I said it is the mentality). So in order to please the listener wanting to hear that hot new Taylor Swift song, we put it on a shorter rotation. \n\nTypically we have these categories\n\nA (Power)\nB (Medium)\nC (Light)\nD (recurrent)\nG (Gold)\n\nThe A category is reserved for the top current songs in the country and will typically only have about 5 songs in it, so if a station plays 2 As an hour, then you are getting a quick rotation on those songs. But that is what we want because then we are more likely to satisfy those listeners that are only in their car for a short period of time. They get their Swift and hopefully we get a nod. \n\nB songs are either on their way to A or on their way back down from A. This category usually has 8-10 songs in it, so the rotation is a but slower. \n\nC is reserved for new stuff. It can have anywhere form 5-10 songs depending on what the program director wants to do. A lot of PDs will use this category to introduce a new song from a well known artist before moving it up to B then A, or will use it to slowly introduce a new artist no one has heard of before. Either this new artist is successful and moves up the ranks, or it disappears. \n\nRecurrent is a category for those songs that have recently been successful, but are no longer \"new\" and have fallen down or off the charts. Keep in mind, songs in recurrent have a \"time limit\" which is dictated by the PD of the station. Usually this category has less than 50 songs. \n\nGold is the final category. Gold songs are old songs that were big hits at one point, but that isn't the only factor. They not only have to have been hits, but still resonate with the stations audience. The majority of songs that top the charts are forgotten, but the ones that fill this category are the nostalgic hits that make you smile and turn up the radio. So how many songs go here? around 200. \n\nThe goal is to play familiar and popular music for the listener who is in their car listening for that 20 minute increment. \n\nAnd FYI, it is illegal for us to get paid to play music. We have very strict payolla/plugolla rules in place that would see us fined and fired very quickly should this take place. \n\nAlso, if your wondering why your station never plays (insert artist or song here) it's because there is no popular demand for it. \n",
"What kills me is they'll never fucking admit it. I've called in requests to small \"independent\" stations for an offbeat song by an artist they play regularly. Sure enough, when my song comes up, it's the artist I asked for, but not the specific song. Just one of the same old songs they play by that artist regularly. I've asked via the phone and other means, and never an answer. It's like they either refuse to admit to it, or they're so deep in denial they think it's normal.",
"Yesterday I saw a big girl crying \n\nI walked up and asked \"what's wrong?\" \n\nShe told me that the radio's been playing the same song all day long...",
"Remember that radio stations are in the business of selling ads, not playing music. If they could get people to listen to ads all day, every day, they would. But they have to put some songs in between to keep people listening. They do extensive callout research to see what people want to hear, and then they play that. They plays the current hits simply because that's what the most people want to hear currently, which gives them the largest possible audience so that their real customers will buy more ads and spend more money for the higher reach.",
"Radio was destroyed by Bill Clinton and Congress when they deregulated it in the 90's, allowing for just a few corporations to buy up all the local stations. What's left is simply the rotten corpse being picked over by corporate vultures.",
"Oh wow, I can actually answer this one!\n\nOkay, so there are some good responses here as to why the \"Top 40\" idea has stuck, but no one seems to be addressing how this happened in the first place.\n\nIt came from a guy (think he was a DJ? I'll research it later and update) who during the 50's, would go to all the popular hang-outs for them crazy teens, and check the number of plays on the records in the jukeboxes. He realized that no matter where he went, there was always roughly about 40 popular songs that people listened to, and then the numbers dropped off after that. People can only handle so many songs being in, or hot, or whatever you want to call it, and the closest and easiest number was to use 40. He used that to shape radio shows, and it worked! These radio stations became very popular and have now solidified this tradition of Top 40 which we're still using today.\n\nAlso, fun other fact, the reason most pop songs are around 3 minutes, is because the original recording medium for these songs were essentially wax candles (weird, right?), and they could only hold about 3 minutes worth of music on each one.",
"Most of the media is owned by I think 3 make companies. Clear Channel dictates what plays on the radio. It's all corporate created lame music"
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1hrudk | why do large and already established companies feel the need to advertise their company in general? | I saw an ad for McDonald's the other day. It wasn't promoting any new meals, competitions, services or anything, just plain old McDonald's. Everybody already knows about McDonalds, so it's not like they're trying to create awareness. Why, then, would they create non-specific advertisements? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1hrudk/eli5_why_do_large_and_already_established/ | {
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"They actually are trying to raise awareness. They want to make it so that when you think about fast food, you think about McDonald's. That way, when get an urge to eat fast food, your first thought is to go to McDonald's. Most people don't want to spend a huge amount of time deciding where to go, so they will go to the first place that they can think of. If McDonald's didn't show ads, but Burger King did, your first thought would be to go to Burger King, and that's likely where you would go. This is also why many companies show ads that are funny, but don't actually do anything to convince you that their product is good. A funny ad is more likely to stick in your head than an informative one, which means it will influence your decision next time you want to buy something.",
"To help retain existing customers. Everyone knows who McDonald's are, but people may easily forget about them if some new exciting fast food brand starts advertising their products.",
"Sometimes the company paying for advertising is not so much interested in capturing the consumer's attention as it is controlling the media source by way of advertising contracts.\n\nFor example, you might see news channels with loads of ads for coal energy or weird things that a consumer has little interest in. Those ads are not always for you and I, they're more about controlling the news company who now has a huge amount of revenue to lose if they emphasize negative stories about a coal plant poisoning the local water source or whatever.\n"
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85y0n6 | why should i worry about companies (such as fb and google) data-mining my internet profiles? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/85y0n6/eli5_why_should_i_worry_about_companies_such_as/ | {
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"In the popular FB-deleting current trend, data was obtained from 50 million people. Psychological profiles were executed on these individuals. Based on their psychological type, targeted ads, even with fake news, were targeted towards these individuals to influence their decision on who to vote for. This can be dangerous, corrupt, and potentially immoral. \n\nThis is one example. I know people do research to see what color you prefer to buy from, so they can change their ad to cater to you. This seems somewhat manipulative, but not totally exploitive. Although the lines between these two examples are fine. \n\nPersonally, I just don't want someone to know much about me. I had a flip phone for the past couple of years but recently went back to the iPhone. I might switch back soon...",
"While a lot of people are a bit weirded out by unknown parties looking over their shoulders, the main point is that the data being used likely is being used in ways you don't recognize. It can also be used in ways we haven't seen yet, so far as we know.\n\nFor example you don't think you see targeted ads because you use an ad blocker. But are you **sure** you aren't seeing ads? For example when you open YouTube the videos you see suggested are based on your collected data and can subtly impact your behavior by adjusting the media you are exposed to. They might as well be ads.\n\nWhen you search for something on Google do you think the results are the same for everyone? Of course not! They are customized for your particular profile and they can steer you towards certain things; it might be that they predict you are looking to buy a table saw and prefer to steer you toward pages that include a brand that is paying Google for advertising. Or maybe they skew your search results toward pages that include positive language regarding a political candidate that would benefit the company.\n\nGetting money from you by predicting your desires is perhaps the most benevolent use of the data collected. They could make you angry about certain issues, or complacent, or ignorant, or change your mind without you even knowing. When political races hinge on a percentage point or two even a subtle tweak to the national consciousness can make all the difference, so even if you are convinced it could never happen to you because you are special and immune to manipulation, it can work on some people. Enough to make a difference."
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3qr059 | why is "whistleblowing" such a heavily punishable offense? | For example, why does Edward Snowden have hide in another country to avoid being charged for exposing human rights violations? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qr059/eli5_why_is_whistleblowing_such_a_heavily/ | {
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"Whistleblowing is usually the act of exposing the wrongdoings of the people in power.\n\nThe people in power - in this case, branches of the US government - do not want their wrongdoings to be exposed, so they use their power to discourage people from doing it.",
"Whistleblowing is not a punishable offence in and of itself, but the desemination of classified information is, especially if you agreed in your employment not to do so. Someone reporting the find, like Wikileaks, has done nothing wrong. But snowden violated a number of conditions in his contract that are designed to prevent him from leaking classified information since he was a member of an intelligence gathering agency. Right or wrong he committed a crime, the crime was not the whistleblowing itself however.",
"Well, to respond specifically for the case of Edward Snowden, because he broke the law in a pretty big way for exposing classified documents. Whistle blowing comes with a sense of sacrifice. \n\nAnd the reason for that is because it's incredibly difficult to craft whistle blower protection statutes. They almost always include provisions for exposing \"agency misconduct,\" and it's hard to define what that is. ",
"He's not in trouble for whistleblowing. He's in trouble for disclosing classified information, which is a crime pretty much everywhere.\n\nThe way he went about whistleblowing involved the felony he knowingly and willingly committed. He wanted to ensure that the information got out there -- and the only way to do that was to commit a crime. He knew this, which is why he was already out of the country by the time his crime was known."
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2mrqro | what is the point of ticketmaster if it just brings you to another site to but the tickets? | I don't really understand buying tickets for concerts online. Every time I do it brings me to different sites and I end up paying a good bit more than the actual ticket price. Does Ticketmaster have a fee just to send you to the website that is actually selling the tickets? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2mrqro/eli5what_is_the_point_of_ticketmaster_if_it_just/ | {
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"Ticketmaster gets a commission from every ticket sale made from another website. The cost for that commission is ultimately paid by you."
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2fkqpl | why is it so difficult for people to admit they are wrong about something? | Have there been any studies on this? Is it psychological, societal, or what? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2fkqpl/eli5_why_is_it_so_difficult_for_people_to_admit/ | {
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"I don't know about any studies, but I think it's probably something to do with either pride, or they don't want people to think badly of them for not being right",
"Very well understood psychology at this point:\n\n1) People hate loss more than they like gains.\n\n2) The harder you challenge someone's beliefs, the stronger they will cling to them and resist change.\n\n3) Dunning-Kruger effect: You can be so ignorant you don't know you're ignorant. This validates the old adage \"The wise are full of doubt while the foolish are cocksure.\"",
"Pride. The position you take on something becomes wrapped up in your sense of self. If you admit that you were wrong, it means that you yourself have failed, and others will think less of you. Of course that's not always true, but it's the psychology that most people fall prey to. ",
"In the States I believe it's societal, there's such a screwed up culture here of \"You're not getting over on me\" that it permeates and trickles down through just about all the lesser educated population which is to say a large majority. \n\nIt's a symptom of intellectual insecurity, and of course this is seriously exaggerated online where anonymity gives the idiots a free forum."
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284i5r | why do i sleep like a beautiful princess after i wash my sheets and make my bed? | Edit: I'm serious I actually want to know. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/284i5r/eli5_why_do_i_sleep_like_a_beautiful_princess/ | {
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"Check your box of detergent, if it says that it makes your clothes softer or includes a softner then you might have found a company that actually tells the truth.",
"After a shower and a shave - I'mma sleep till NOON. ",
"This should have a \"serious\" tag. Not many people are going to take this question very seriously. ",
"Because the [nesting instinct](_URL_0_) isn't actually limited to pregnant people, or women, for that matter. You've cleared the cave of debris, checked every rock for snakes and scorpions, and now you can sleep safely.",
"Your sheets are free of particles and crumbs."
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6j42tf | why it is metres per second per second instead of metres per second? | If a thing is moving 10 m/s^2 it means it is moving 10m every second, right? But the extra 'per second' means it is moving 10m every second every second, right? So why do you need the extra second? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6j42tf/eli5_why_it_is_metres_per_second_per_second/ | {
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"They refer to different things.\n\nm/s refers to a speed. How much distance you cross per second.\n\nm/s^2 refers to *acceleration*, or a change in velocity.",
"When you say m/s2 you're not talking about linear movement. You're talking about accelleration. This object is accellerating 10 meters every second.\n\nIf it's linear you'd just talk about m/s.",
"10 m/s^2 is an acceleration, not a movement, it means that for every second, it moves 10 meters per second faster.\n\n10 m = length\n\n10 m/s = speed\n\n10 m/s^2 = acceleration",
"You're confusing acceleration with velocity.\n\n10 m/s^2 means your velocity is increasing by 10m/s every second.",
"You're confusing speed (change in distance over time, i.e., meters per second, or miles per hour, or kilometers per hour) with acceleration (change in speed over time, i.e., meters per second per second).\n\nAn object can't be moving at 10 m/s^2, but it can be accelerating at 10 m/s^2. If it had no speed initially, it would be going 10 m/s after one second, 20 m/s after two seconds, etc.",
"Meters per second is a measure of velocity.\n\nMeters per second per second is a measure of acceleration. \n\nIf you are moving at 10m per second, you are moving 100m in 10 seconds.\n\nIf you are moving at 10m per second per second, you are travelling around 550m. 10m the first second, 20m the second, 30m the third, etc.",
"m/s^2 is a measure of acceleration, not velocity. It means the object's velocity is *increasing* by a measure of 10 m/s, *per second*.\n\nSay the object was starting at rest and accelerating at that rate. 1 second later, if you measure velocity, it is 10 m/s. Another second later, and it is 20 m/s. After a total of 10 seconds, the object is traveling 100 m/s.",
"Metres per second per second is acceleration. Metres per second is speed. Speed is how quickly your position is changing. Acceleration is how quickly your speed is changing. Metres per second means you are just moving. Metres per second per second means you are speeding up or slowing down."
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u8xg5 | shifts in what is considered attractive | Example: statues or paintings from past eras had chubbier women as the ideal of beauty, nowadays slimmer women are generally preferred | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/u8xg5/eli5_shifts_in_what_is_considered_attractive/ | {
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"Let's pretend you go to school 500 years ago. Not everyone had enough food to eat because a lot of people were too poor to afford a good meal every day. Then Clarice comes to school. She's a little chubby, so you can tell her parents have enough money to feed her every day. Which means your babies will have enough food every day. \n\nLet's say you go to school now. Clarice is chubby. That means her parents are poor, because they can only afford to feed her cheap, processed foods. Which means your babies will be fat and unhealthy. ",
"Another point is that now tan women are generally preferred because it means you have time to work/play outside as opposed to sitting in an office all day. However, it used to be considered attractive to be pale because it meant you didn't have to work outside in the fields."
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v4r2e | how come some countries' money is cheap and others' expensive? | I am speaking not about the numbers but about the value money represents within a country and then how that value reflects in the exchange rate. As in how come the average citizen of India has to work X amount of hours to buy a TV or a gallon/liter of gasoline or a pair of shoes while the average citizen in Switzerland has to work much less for the same? I find this geographical predetermination of the value of human effort somewhat disturbing. Please explain it to me. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/v4r2e/how_come_some_countries_money_is_cheap_and_others/ | {
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"What's stopping a country from secretly printing a lot of money and exchanging and buying things it needs from another country without the other countries realizing that they have been duped with their now deflated trade off?",
"Milton friedman won the Nobel prize for the quantity theory of money. Which says that the value of currency in a country is directly proportional to the production it can buy and inversely proportional to the amount of currency in that economy. The peso is worth less than the dollar because there is less goods for it to buy in relation to how many pesos are out there. This is why printing money doesn't create wealth it merely increases prices. Ever since we left the gold standard money has been created through government deficits and fractional reserve banking. With all this currency being created the dollar has lost 99% of its value since then.",
"Tehhunter's answer to this question, while not inaccurate in and of itself, I think is incorrect. What OP wants to know why it is that the average worker in India gets paid less than the average worker in Switzerland, and why the price of goods is generally lower in India (when expressed in dollars) than it is in Switzerland. \n\nThe answer to this question has nothing, or very little, to do with government or debt. The answer is about labour productivity, and the affect labour productivity has on wages. In ELI5 terms:\n\nWorkers in Switzerland and India have different levels of labour productivity. Swiss workers have higher labour productivity than workers in India, which means that a worker in Switzerland can produce more goods, and/or produce more higher value goods, than a worker in India. The dollar amount of the stuff a Swiss worker produces will be higher than the dollar amount of the stuff an Indian worker produces. \n\nThis is the case for a number of reasons, and is complicated by the fact that, more than likely, Swiss workers will be working with better and more advanced machines. But even if they had the same kind of machines, Swiss workers would still produce more. They're more educated than Indian workers, and have a greater ability to put to use knowledge which might improve output, even if they're working with the same kind of machines those in India are working with. Of course, there are lots of things aside from education which enable them to do this, and if you like you can look at average educational quality as a way of describing all the small yet significant things which make a worker in a specific country productive.\n\nWage rates, in general, are determined by labour productivity. It's really that simple. It's not a relationship which always holds, and it's strength varies over time, but in general it's true. As such, workers in India are paid less, because they're less productive. And so it's not geographical determination of human effort as such, rather it's the simple fact that Indian workers are less productive.\n\nAt this point you might be trying to apply this to a scenario in your head, and wondering how this applies to workers who don't even use machines. Why is it that even the local 7/11 shop attendant in India gets paid less than s/he would in Switzerland. I'm sorta worried that a full answer to this might complicate things a bit to much. In short, it's because wages in the sector in which the price of the good produced is determined internationally, determine to a large extent the wages elsewhere in the economy. I can expand on this more if you like.\n\nApologies if this isn't an ELI5 answer.",
"A citizen of Switzerland is more *productive* in terms of the global economy than a citizen of India. Not that he works harder, but he produces more wealth.\n\nMost of India's 1.6 billion citizens are farmers, and many of those subsistence farmers. For all of there efforts, all they create is what is leftover after they feed themselves.\n\nA Swiss citizen is more likely to work in manufacturing or finance. Making watches, testing pharmaceuticals, or matching borrowers to lenders, that produces more economical value than growing a small amount of food.\n\nSo when they go to buy a TV from Taiwan, they are essentially trading what they produce for it. It takes more onions to buy a TV than it does watches."
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13mlq6 | chicago note style (in academic papers) | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/13mlq6/eli5_chicago_note_style_in_academic_papers/ | {
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"If you want an actual guide to formatting, the [Purdue OWL](_URL_1_) academic writing lab is incredibly helpful as a guide. If you have Firefox, the [Zotero](_URL_0_) extension automatically creates perfect citations according to the official formats (for Chicago and other research citation formats) where you just input the information, so it is a very helpful tool (I personally used both Zotero and OWL in a major English research paper last year). I'll try to provide some background on why Chicago style exists. I am assuming that you know what MLA and APA are, what a bibliography is, and what footnotes/parenthetical citations are, since you are asking an academic research question.\n\nThe brief ELI5 answer on why people use Chicago over other formats: footnotes instead of parenthesis, and smoother-looking styles that appeal to humanities students instead of rock-solid formats that the sciences prefer.\n\nDetails:\n\nDifferent disciplines prefer different citation styles based on the demands of their own research papers. MLA and APA are popular with social sciences and the hard sciences, but Chicago is usually used with the humanities (English, history, etc). Chicago style gets its name from the University of Chicago where it was developed. It has the benefit of defining a format for footnotes *and* bibliography citations, which the humanities LOVE. Open any literature research paper, you will probably see footnotes. This is probably because the humanities like to have their reading uninterrupted by parenthetical citations (which, if I'm not mistaken, MLA and APA both have). \n\nSo instead of throwing all the citations right in the body of the paper, the humanities like to put all the sources on the bottom of the page and the bibliography at the end. This is why Chicago style is so helpful. The sciences prefer formats that use parenthetical citations because the more important aspect of science research is having evidence for every scientific claim you make. But for English, history, and similar studies, they prefer to read your academic work and understand your interpretations and conclusions, and *then* verify your sources.\n\nOh, and one nice thing about Chicago is that it just looks pretty. You get to write an author's name as \"Charles Dickens\" instead of \"Dickens, Charles\" and you can use italics on some parts, which makes things easier to read when surrounded by quotation marks, periods, and other funky things you commonly see in a bibliography."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.zotero.org/",
"http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/01/"
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||
d6gntv | how do the cells stay alive when you fall asleep on a body part for an extended period of time? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/d6gntv/eli5_how_do_the_cells_stay_alive_when_you_fall/ | {
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"Your arteries are high pressure hoses that stay open even if you compress them. They are deeper in your body too so they wont get compressed easily.",
"The numbness that comes from putting pressure on a body part is from compressing the nerves and disrupting their communication, not preventing blood flow, if that's why you ask."
]
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[],
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484hf0 | how did early television shows record episodes for later broadcast? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/484hf0/eli5_how_did_early_television_shows_record/ | {
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"There really was little thought of \"later broadcast\" (as in reruns) for very early TV, meaning late 1940s/early 1950s. Some \"live\" shows were filmed directly from a TV monitor screen (these filmed copies were called \"kinescopes\") for archiving and for rushing to the west coast for broadcast 3 hours later. Filmed shows (shot on 35mm or 16mm originally) were broadcast by running the film through a film chain, where the frame rate of the film was synchronized to the video camera to the frame rate of the film (24 frames per second) to eliminate the \"flutter\" of broadcasting black frames (the projector's shutter between frames).\n\nBing Crosby was an early backer of the development of video tape, which allowed more flexible time shifting. Video tape began to be employed during the late 1950s. "
]
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||
1jlt2g | how does a proposition become a law? | Hey,
I was wondering how a proposition goes from an idea to an actual law. Who writes it? Where does it get submitted? What's the editing process like? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1jlt2g/eli5_how_does_a_proposition_become_a_law/ | {
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"cbfxsfz"
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"score": [
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"text": [
"[Schoolhouse Rock: I'm Just a Bill](_URL_0_)"
]
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"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0"
]
] |
|
45i564 | the most modern understanding of human evolution/origin? | I read having Neanderthal DNA was linked to a increase in mental health issues.
I thought we all evolved from neanderthals? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/45i564/eli5_the_most_modern_understanding_of_human/ | {
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"Not quite. Neanderthals are more of a 'cousin' as it were, as the current evidence suggests that homo sapiens and homo neanderthalensis diverged from a common ancestor some 350k + years ago (that species, we believe to be Homo heidelbergensis).\n\nHere's a nice [graphic](_URL_0_) giving a generalized idea about the current interbreeding hypothesis between modern humans and neanderthals - basically we separated then came back together, co-existed for a while, and then we displaced the neanderthals and they went extinct some 40k years ago.\n\nEdit: A competing theory suggests that the neanderthals were 'absorbed' by modern humans through interbreeding, rather than displaced/gone extinct.",
"Nope! Neanderthals were actually a branch of hominids which died out.\n\nI think you are a little mistaken on how evolution works. For one, it doesn't have goals or aims, it just does things that work in the moment. If a species needs to change color suddenly for some reason, it will either do so or it will die out, and most of the time they die out. The same happened to Neanderthals. They weren't able to survive as the world changed, possibly due to competition from us. It seems that the branch of hominids which eventually became us were able to breed with Neanderthals, but were also significantly smarter than them.\n\nIn addition, evolution really cares about most common ancestors rather than lines of lineage. We aren't descended from Neanderthals (mostly), but we are both descended from a single common ancestor which lived somewhere in Africa several million years ago.",
"Neanderthals were either another species of the *Homo* genus or a sub-species of Homo sapiens. They went extinct around 40,000 years ago.\n\nGenetic evidence seems to suggest that Neanderthals did interbreed with humans; something like 1 to 4 percent of genes of modern non-African humans come from Neanderthals.",
"No, it goes like this:\n\n1. Homo erectus. A few H. erectus leave Africa (able to survive only in the tropics of Eurasia, lacked fire); some of these Eurasian H. erectus groups evolve into new hominid species.\n\n2. Meanwhile, back in Africa! Homo erectus has evolved into several new hominid species, most notably Homo heidelbergensis. A few H. heidelbergensis leave Africa; Eurasian H. heidelbergensis began to evolve into a new species, but that proto-species got divided across opposite ends of Eurasia so it ended up becoming two species: Homo neanderthalensis (Europe and Middle East) and Homo denisova (SE Asia, although the only surviving remains are in Siberia). At around this time the Homo erectus in Eurasia begin to disappear, possibly due to the Heidelberg/Neanderthal/Denisova clan.\n\n3. Meanwhile, back in Africa! Homo heidelbergensis has evolved into several new hominid species, most notably Homo sapiens. Some H. sapiens branches head down to SE Africa, and next to Central Africa. At this point a few Homo sapiens leave Africa for Eurasia. One branch begins heading out along the tropical coastline immediately; when this branch gets to SE Asia, there is some denisova/sapiens banging. Another branch later north through the Caucasus, where there is some neanderthalensis/sapiens banging, and then breaks up, heading west into Europe and east into East Asia.\n\n4. Meanwhile, back in Africa: no new species! We do have some hominid/hominid banging, possibly with two different species, but we don't really know the details because fossils don't survive in tropical climates, so we don't have any DNA from those species.\n\nMake sense? Both the main trunk of the human family tree and the Neanderthals (plus Denisovans) evolved from *Homo heidelbergensis.* Subsequently happenstance brought these cousins back together, and they were sufficiently closely related to have children. So a very large fraction of the world population is descended from two or three branches of this family tree; they're not *evolved from* Neanderthals, they *are* (part) Neanderthal, even though the majority of their genes come from the Homo sapiens branch."
]
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal#/media/File:Homo-Stammbaum,_Version_Stringer-en.svg"
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q3l4x | why whenever i eat fruits i still feel hungry, but eat fatty foods and feel full. | Thanks guys, great to learn. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/q3l4x/eli5_why_whenever_i_eat_fruits_i_still_feel/ | {
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"Well, for one, they just don't have a lot of calories. There's only about 60 calories in an entire orange. Fat is calorie-dense so you're just plain eating more.",
"Fats and proteins are recognized by your digestive system and a signal is sent to your brain (after a half hour or so) that you have eaten or are \"full\" (ELI5).\nFoods have different \"satiety values\" (not ELI5, but maybe ELI15), which determine when you are \"sated\", or full; fats and proteins determine this value by how much of them is present in the food you eat.",
"According to [this article](_URL_0_):\n\n\"When the fat remains stable in the acid environment of the stomach, it empties into the small intestine more slowly and increases satiety.\"\n\nHowever, for a more ELI5 version:\n\nThink of your stomach as a bonfire. When you put in a piece of paper (e.g. the apple) it burns it very quickly and it provides relatively little heat. However, when you put in a large log (e.g. the fatty meat), it burns slower and releases its heat slowly over a longer period of time. \n",
"Think about an apple. That apple is made of something called carbohydrates. Your body uses carbohydrates to fuel itself, kind of like a car uses gas to go down the road.\n\nNow, think about a hamburger. That hamburger has a lot of fat in it. Your body uses fats to give itself energy, kind of like that car using gas.\n\n\nNow, let's think about a couple of other things. You see a basketball and you can pick it up because it's light, like air. The carbohydrates are light in energy, kind of like that basketball.\n\nHave you ever tried picking up a bowling ball? They're super heavy and dense. The fats in the hamburger are dense with energy, just like the bowling ball.\n\nAny questions?",
"visit /r/keto :)",
"Fruits are almost entirely water. Leave an tomato slice on your table for a few days and it'll shrivel up into almost nothing.",
"[/r/Paleo](/r/Paleo) is a good place to ask this question as well.",
"Fruits contain sugars. Sugars create an insulin response. Insulin levels raise, and when they fall you feel hungry. Insulin also makes it possible for your body to store fat, by the way. This means that you get fat by eating sugar; not fat.",
"Incoming keto bombardment in 3...2...1...",
"Thats the [entire premise](_URL_0_) of a Keto diet as well",
"I'm not liking any of the responses I'm reading so here's an ELI20 answer.\n\nFatty acids and protein stimulate I cells in the duodenum which secrete Cholecystikinen in the duodenum. Also, G cells are stimulated to release Gastrin, and S cells (due to protons) are stimulated to secrete secretin, but that doesn't really differentiate fat from fruit. Satiety is complex notion to think about, but partly arises from the length of time food is in the stomach, how much GLP-1 is secreted due to food, etc. \n\nCCK, Gastrin, and Secretin all slow down gastric transit which keeps food in your stomach longer. Carbs do not stimulate I cells or G cells so gastric transit is faster. Additionally, fruits easily break down into their simple sugars and since they are already being worked on from amylase in saliva they can be rapidly absorbed in the proximal jejunum without much pancreatic juices. Fats however, although worked on by limited lipases in the mouth, need much more pancreatic juices to break down the food and thus gastric transit must be slowed down greater than it would need to be from fruits. As a slight addition, unless you are eating butter or drinking oil you normally have protein with the fat, and protein has the same effect on G cells and I cells."
]
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"http://youtu.be/FSeSTq-N4U4"
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4hnxu2 | how does a stylus work on a phone screen, but other objects won't? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4hnxu2/eli5_how_does_a_stylus_work_on_a_phone_screen_but/ | {
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"The screens are capacitive. Basically, things like your skin change surface voltages, and that's how it detects where you're tapping. It will work with sausages (though you'd get your screen greasy). \n\nIf something can't change the voltage (like a cotton swab), it won't register on your phone screen."
]
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||
s1aim | why does touching metal to a metal cavity filling hurt like crazy? | Why does touching metal to a metal cavity filling hurt like crazy?
Even if you barely tap it the pain is insane. What causes this? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/s1aim/why_does_touching_metal_to_a_metal_cavity_filling/ | {
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"so what happens is the saliva, metal and tooth form an electrochemical cell i think. and electricity flows from the tooth to the metal and back using the saliva as a little bridge. i would explain a little more but i have class right now lol here's a link for more reading: [Electrochemical Cell](_URL_0_)\n\nEDIT: i am a chem major... but a pretty bad one soooo, yea, i don't remember much from this topic",
"Have you ever touched a 9-volt battery to your tounge? Similar thing. Along with other stuff in your mouth, certain metals brought together make a very small and weak battery. While weak, you have sensitive nerves in your tooth, and the metal filling makes it very easy for the electricity to reach them.",
"The best short answer for the 5 year old is: it's magic! ;)\n\nThe best long answer for the 5 year old is: Metal A pulls Teeny Tiny Metal Bits (called electrons) off Metal B and the rushing of the Teeny Tiny Metal Bits makes a magic called Electricity which you can feel thru your teeth.\n\nThe grown-up answer is:\n\nGalvanic Corrosion (also called 'dissimilar metal corrosion' or wrongly 'electrolysis').\n\nThis refers to corrosion damage induced when two dissimilar materials are coupled in a corrosive electrolyte.\n\nWhen a galvanic couple forms, one of the metals in the couple becomes the anode and corrodes faster than it would all by itself, while the other becomes the cathode and corrodes slower than it would alone. For galvanic corrosion to occur, three conditions must be present:\n\nElectrochemically dissimilar metals must be present\nThese metals must be in electrical contact, and\nThe metals must be exposed to an electrolyte\n\nI hope this helps. : )\n"
]
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"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemistry#Electrochemical_cells"
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|
2yxnsa | how do large indoor spaces like warehouses have their own weather? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2yxnsa/eli5_how_do_large_indoor_spaces_like_warehouses/ | {
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"In short, they don't.\n\nThe Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral, the largest buildings ever constructed in terms of open interior volume, is the typical source of this urban legend. The rumor goes that its air conditioning system, which replaces the entire building-volume's air every hour, is less effective at dehumidifying the air than it is at cooling it. As such, the humid Florida air cools to under its dewpoint, causing internal clouds and even rain.\n\nThat's not what happens. Every air conditioning system dehumidifies as it cools. The water comes out at the air's coldest point: in the air conditioner itself. Air conditioners have varying strategies for what to do with the resultant moisture, but none of them simply pump it all back into the output air. \n\nIt's an urban legend, and an attractive one, but unfortunately it just doesn't happen."
]
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||
3cytk5 | what does 'bridge' mean in musical terms? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3cytk5/eli5_what_does_bridge_mean_in_musical_terms/ | {
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"A bridge is a contrasting section of music that prepares for the return to the 'original' section.\n\nIt is often used to contrast with and prepare for the return of the verse and the chorus of a piece of music.",
"A bridge is a short bit of music with somewhat different themes connecting two larger segments of music. "
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||
6eyvor | why do some medications have to be specifically taken or applied at night? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6eyvor/eli5_why_do_some_medications_have_to_be/ | {
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"Usually it is because they have a sedative effect (make you drowsy) so it's safer to take them at night when you are going to sleep anyway. \n\nFor some others it's because it times with bodily functions (cholesterol medication for e.g. because the liver is more active at producing cholesterol when you are asleep)\n\nSome are just more effective when you are less active.\n\n\nThis question would be much easier to answer if you had a specific medication in mind. ",
"Pharmacy student here, most of the facial scrubs that are applied at night are either to protect the medicine from the sun so it doesn't breakdown or to protect his skin from the sun. Many facial cleaners have chemicals that increase your skin photosensitivity causing you to burn easier. Can't sun burn at night. "
]
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28ekyj | why do republicans and similar think that president obama is directly trying to destroy america? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/28ekyj/eli5_why_do_republicans_and_similar_think_that/ | {
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"_URL_2_\n\n_URL_1_\n\n_URL_0_\n"
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"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradition",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias"
]
] |
||
835onc | how can concert tickets and big clothing drops seemingly be already sold out at the exact same second they go live? | For context:
Was just attempting to get Anderson .Paak tickets from TicketMaster however their site was already displaying that they were sold out at the exact same second they went live. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/835onc/eli5_how_can_concert_tickets_and_big_clothing/ | {
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"Either someone had access to buy before that, or a lot of buyers were just faster than you.\n\nThere's many examples of employees buying the entire stock before the sale goes live. And there's also many examples of people making software to buy tickets as fast as possible (seconds) as soon as sales opens, leaving little chance to people who buy manually.",
"People have systems in place to buy them all up for profit. Maybe they have a dozen browser windows open, maybe they straight up have bots, it doesn't matter - if there's a financial incentive to buy up a thing and resell it, people will.",
"Places like stubhub and vivid seats have bots that buy up the tickets within an split second. Im sure here are more companies that do this but those two come to mind. The answer is bots. CAPTCHA? joke. Its easy af to pay some Indian to enter the codes at lightning speed when they popup at his desk. It will screen shot it, send it to him and he puts his answer in the box it moves it to the seller. Sadly this is all perfectly legal and wont change."
]
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[],
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ehbae0 | why is the bathroom always the first room you see when you enter a hotel room? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ehbae0/eli5_why_is_the_bathroom_always_the_first_room/ | {
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"Well, the other option would be putting the bathroom closer to the window than the bed, and that would just give less wall space on which to put a window.",
"Mainly because that layout is cheaper to build. Having the plumbing all as close as possible, towards the hallways means a more compact and efficient layout than spreading it to the outsides of the rooms."
]
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[],
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||
212jqs | why is there a ball inside of guinness beer cans? | What's it called? So far I've seen it only in Guinness cans, why don't other brands have it? Is it typical for draught beers? How does it exactly work? Thanks in advance for answering! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/212jqs/eli5_why_is_there_a_ball_inside_of_guinness_beer/ | {
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"text": [
"It's to create a head on the beer when drinking or pouring, as guinness is ment to be drank that way, and it's actually a bottle shaped piece of plastic\n\n\nEdit*I couldn't remember the name of the ball/bottle thing, it's called a widget, \n_URL_0_\n",
"It's a [\"widget\"](_URL_0_) and it helps to form a better foam. \n\nBasically some gas gets pushed into the litte plastic dohickey when they pressurise the can and when you open it the gas in jets out from it forming a better head on your beer.",
"Basically it's definition of draught beer. In \"normal\" beer you have foam and bubbles because it's:\n\n1. Refermenting in bottle/can (Refermentation, by yeast, creates CO2 soluble in beer) \n\n2. Adding external CO2 (like in beer from kegs in pubs) \n\nIn draught beer you have ball with gas (i'm sure is nitrogen in Guinness, probably it's nitrogen in every draught beer, but I'm not 100% sure). When can is closed gas is inside the ball (high pressure keeps it there, basic physics), when you open it you are changing pressure inside (to atmospheric pressure) and N2 is diluting in beer creating bubbles and magnificent foam. \n\nEdit: You asked why. They are thinking that creating it this way is closer to pub experience. ",
"So you could play beer pong",
"Alright, thanks for your answers, everyone! I'm gonna have a cold Guinness now while listening to The Pogues, cheers!"
]
} | [] | [] | [
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"http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question446.htm"
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"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widget_(beer\\)"
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1eiipp | why does your body feel things to be bigger than they are? | For example I'm eating breakfast and a small piece of egg fell off my fork and hit my leg. Before I saw it I would've said it was about .5inx.5in but when i looked it was maybe .1inx.1in. Or when I get blisters if I'm not looking at them they feel massive on my hands/feet when in reality they're pretty small. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1eiipp/eli5_why_does_your_body_feel_things_to_be_bigger/ | {
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"Let's say you walk on a floor with tiles, these tiles hold a sensor that says YES/NO depending on if it's got a part of your footprint on it or not. \nIf you were to walk on a floor with plenty of small tiles, every tile will register a part of your footprint and the collected result will decide the size of your foot. But if you walk on big tiles that are larger than any of your feet, the tile will still say YES to if there is a foot on it or not, and the *whole* tile will register as being pressed. \nThis is **very basically** how our pressure-sensors in feet/arms/legs etc work. \nWhen it comes to blisters they don't just affect the immediate area of the blister - causing your body to tell you it's bigger than your eyes do.",
"If I understand your question correctly, you're curious why your tactile sense is not as accurate as your eyesight, right? Well it's tricky, but for a good reason, so brace yourself.\n\nYou have incredibly sensitive skin. Practically everywhere, really, but there are some localized differences. Here's an example: find a loose hair or pluck one and lay it over the bare skin of your knee. Try and do this without looking at it and just focus on how it feels. Not exactly that evident, right? Maybe a tingle over your leg hairs (if you don't shave your legs) but even if you shave, it's still probably not that noticeable.\n\nNow do the same with your forearm, again, without looking. This probably will be a little more sensitive, maybe enough to urge yourself to remove the hair, though not exactly irritating. You can \"feel\" that it's a hair or something like a hair, but it could feel the same as if you place a string or a strand of cobweb over it.\n\nHere's the last test: lean your head back, as if you were to add eye drops, close your eyes, and lay the hair across just under your eye to your nose (if you have bags or know the area that bags develop, lay it there). *This* should be a clearly different feeling. You know it's a hair, it feels like a hair, but it also feels like *something-the-mighty-devil-planted-on-your-face-and-has-to-go-away*. Instinctive alarms sound off that make you want to get it off your face, regardless of how patient a person you are.\n\nThe reason for these different sensations is survival, just like most everything else basic about the human body. You are far more likely to bang your knee than bang your eye into something. And you're also likely to bump your arm into something while walking around; since your hands, however, are vital tools to you, you're more concerned with them than your knee. This variation of desensitization is basically the difference between you kneeing a desk, reacting with \"Ow...\" and you kneeing the same desk and reacting with \"For the love of Zeus, this oaken beast is killing me!\".\n\nSo, essentially, this is designed by different kinds of hair and presence of nerves. You have hair everywhere. Literally, it's all over your skin (with the exception of the bottom of your feet, but that's a different kind of situation) and it's there to feel things. Things touch hairs, hairs talk to nerves, nerves scream to brain. The difference in the hairs is kind of complicated, but for simplicity, leg hair < arm hair < cheek hair in terms of sensitivity. On top of that, the same goes for presence of nerve endings. Your hairs on your legs are more spread out than your arm hairs and ever more so than your cheek hairs.\n\n*That* is why you have a hard time judging things by sensation. Your eyes are always the same distance from each other, so they always have the same conclusion when they see something. Your body hairs aren't always the same distance and type and can't make the same conclusion easily.\n\nAs far as your other example, about feeling a blister, that's a little simpler to explain: your brain's dumb. Not *yours* specifically, just the brain of anyone who is \"gifted\" with sight. Let's say I have a collection of wooden pegs, all of different diameters. I write on each one the size and show you this then have you close your eyes. If I held out peg after peg for you to feel with just one finger, you'd spend hours before finally giving up trying to determine their size. It's just not what we're designed to do; feeling is just the sidekick to sight when it comes to survival.\n\n**TL;DR You have a hard time judging size by touch because evolution wants to spare you some black eyes**"
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1os6xm | why are tank tracks so efficient at traction? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1os6xm/eli5_why_are_tank_tracks_so_efficient_at_traction/ | {
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"The purpose of tank tracks is not traction. The purpose is to spread the significant weight of the tank over a large area so they don't sink into sand or mud or whatever."
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22j4v4 | baudrillard's "simulacra and simulation" | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/22j4v4/eli5_baudrillards_simulacra_and_simulation/ | {
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"Basically, the treatise states that our world is \"fake\", and that our culture is made up of false symbols. In other words, reality is hidden behind a fake mask that we've created.\n\nIt's saying that most of our current society is a construct that we've created ourselves. It argues that the way we see of the world isn't the way it looks, but rather an exaggerated picture seen through the lens of mass media.\n\nIt describes how he felt society got this way, as well. At first, the symbols (e.g. news, descriptions, any sort of media) people experienced were accurate reflections of reality. People knew they were fake, but they could differentiate between them and reality.\n\nLater, people assigned more weight to the symbols. They became corrupted, but people still saw the symbols as accurate, and reality as wrong. For example, people would romanticize reality, and they (or others) would believe their romantic image over how reality actually is.\n\nLater still, the symbols became so different from reality, that they held no meaning at all relative to the real world, yet people still believed the symbols over reality. This is when media and culture start dictating people's beliefs without any relation to the real world, e.g. \"Brand X toothpaste is the toothpaste of winners! Buy our product and be a winner!\". At this stage, media determines people's \"reality\" more than actual reality does."
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6fom6c | 95% of the moving truck vehicles for families i see are uhauls. how did one company create such a monopoly over the moving business? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6fom6c/eli5_95_of_the_moving_truck_vehicles_for_families/ | {
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"One of the innovative things U-Haul did was franchise via gas stations. Existing infrastructure for fuel, office and garage space made the barriers to entry of a new franchisee really low. And there needs to be gas stations located strategically, so you get the coverage. \n\nAlso, the one-way rental is pretty huge, not sure if the other truck rentals have come up with anything similar that doesn't cost a fortune. ",
"There are/have been other competitors of scale... such as Ryder (they were negatively impacted after Timothy McVie used one of their trucks to blow up Oklahoma City federal building but do still exist), Penske, Budget, Enterprise all have truck rentals.",
"Uhaul is fairly well known for pushing a small vehicles frame near it's absolute limits. It seems they are getting better at this but some of their older small box trucks are literally bolted to the frames of small pickup trucks. Other rental companies use truck frames designed for the heavy loads. Uhaul is also known for running their trucks into the ground, which saves money in maintenance. Uhaul also advertises cheap rates but has many fees that most people don't realize until they read the contract. They even charge you for removing the dolly. Basically all of this has allowed them to offer the cheapest and shittiest experience but still give people something that will probably work in the end."
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3b6n19 | why do toiletry bags have handles on the side? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3b6n19/eli5_why_do_toiletry_bags_have_handles_on_the_side/ | {
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"It's for hanging. When you unzip the toiletries bag and hang it on a hook, you have easy access and may avoid having to place it on a damp counter, etc. ",
"I think the handle on the side is to give you something to grab onto when you work the zipper. I have made a few leather dopp kits: _URL_0_ and I put a small flap under the zipper on one side and a horizontal handle on the opposite side, so whether you are opening or closing the zipper you have something to grab onto to help you move the zipper."
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97vb7p | if i weigh 100 pounds and eat 50 pounds of food, do i now weigh 150 pounds? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/97vb7p/eli5_if_i_weigh_100_pounds_and_eat_50_pounds_of/ | {
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"Yes. If you somehow ate 50 pounds of food, you would in fact gain 50 pounds to your weight. Now this wouldn't last because you body wouldn't be able to metabolize this vast amount of food. You would probably be sick, gain a decent amount of fat, but in the long run you certainly wouldn't suddenly gain 50 pounds in fat mass.",
"Ignoring the impossibility to eat that much food, the answer is yes, assuming that the food was eaten instantly without any time for digestive functions to occur. Otherwise, you would weigh close to 150 pounds"
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2lqp3w | who are the "kurdish"? and why are their female fighters such a big deal in usa media? | I've just seen it pop up here and there and I'm just curious.. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2lqp3w/eli5_who_are_the_kurdish_and_why_are_their_female/ | {
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"They are a group of people that inhabit connected regions of Syria, Iraq and Iran. They are very pro-western and have long been persecuted in their countries. The reason they don't have their own country is because the British drew the lines in the middle east and they did so quite arbitrarily (which is a major reason why the middle east is a mess). \n\nI think the women fighters are a big deal because it is an Islamic society that treats women as equals. ",
"The Kurds are an ethnic group living mainly in western Iran, northern Iraq, and eastern Turkey. The Kurds want to have their own country called Kurdistan. Iran, Iraq, and Turkey are against this because they don't want to lose any of their territory. The Kurds are very against ISIS and have contributed some of the most vigorously fighting against ISIS.\n\nThe fact that they use female fighters is an indication that they embrace Western values and the Kurds, although Muslim, do indeed tend to be pro-Western. After all, the Middle Eastern countries they live under have never done anything for them.",
"The Kurds are an ethnicity of people who do not have a country to call their own. They are closer related to Persians than they are Arabs or Turks, and they have a language and history distinct from all three.\n\nThe nearly 40 million of them live in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. \n\nThe reason why the female fighters are so important is because not only is it a big deal that nearly 50% of their army is women, but of all regions of the world this sort of social equality is huge.\n\nIt is also a big story because it shows the Kurds as a people and not an army, all active bodies to protect their brothers and sister."
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1p3xdv | how does the liver function when we consume alcohol? | Sorry but there's more questions...
Is the liver like a sponge that soaks alcohol to prevent it from spreading to the rest of your body?
What happens if you drink a lot (6 shots in an hour) and your liver can't handle it?
Thanks! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1p3xdv/eli5_how_does_the_liver_function_when_we_consume/ | {
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"After alcohol is absorbed, it is distributed fairly evenly amongst the body's water reservoirs, so there is no concentrating effect in the liver. The liver's job is to metabolize the alcohol into acetic acid.\n\nNothing special happens when you drink a lot such that your liver can't keep up with the elimination - the alcohol concentration builds up. You'd be surprised to know that this occurs _easily_ - a standard drink (one glass of wine, one shot of liquor, one glass of beer) is enough to overwhelm the liver's enzymes. This is why for most blood alcohol concentrations, alcohol is metabolized in what's called _pseudo-zeroth order_ - a constant rate. In other words, your liver enzymes are already working at peak capacity. Otherwise, you won't be able to get drunk easily in the first place."
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li9nv | why do pc's need to be upgraded for newer games while consoles can handle newer games just fine? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/li9nv/why_do_pcs_need_to_be_upgraded_for_newer_games/ | {
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"When a game is made for a console, it has to be specifically designed such that it will run smoothly on the console. The development of the game is restricted by the system it is made for, and it will only need to be tested for this specific console. \n\nWhen a game is made for a PC, the developer does not have to restrict themselves in order to make the game run smoothly on outdated hardware (which is what consoles effectively are). Of course, they still do to some extent, because they want as many people to be able to run the game as possible. But because there are millions of possible configurations that might be running the game, the developers set minimum system requirements to test the game against to make sure it will run smoothly, and also commonly add settings to tone down the graphical performance of the game to make it run smoother.\n\nFurther, consoles are developed specifically to optimally run a game, only to run games, and to (usually) only run one game at once. Computers are not developed like this, and oftentimes, dozens of other processes are running at the same time as your game, negatively effecting performance.",
"Two reasons.\n\nThe first is that consoles sport 1 hardware configuration each. Every 360 has the same processor, same ram, same graphics card, and understands the same code. As a programmer, this is useful, because you can design your game right around the hardware. Optimization is much easier(and so is debugging, for that matter), and so you can squeeze much more performance out of a given console than its hardware equivalent on PCs. This is also why console games get better looking over the course of the generation even though the hardware does stay the same.\n\nThe second reason is that because PCs can vary in processing power, PC games typically have settings that enable them to far, far surpass anything that the current console generation can do. Case in point: I'm sure you've seen some of the trailers for Battlefield 3 by now. Most of those cinematic trailers, unless stated otherwise, are running the game on Ultra quality on the PC. The console version doesn't look nearly that good and never will. Based on what we know it will probably look somewhere between Low and Medium settings on PC. There are videos showing off the console versions of the game, so you can look and compare. In addition to straight up graphical quality, the resolution on a PC is also higher, meaning more detail is possible on the screen at once. If you look at [this chart](_URL_0_), you can see what resolution most console games run at by looking at the HD 720p box. PC games, provided you have the hardware and monitor to run it, can be as big as the biggest box in the picture. Big difference.",
" > Why do PC's need to be upgraded for newer games\n\nThey usually don't. If you want to run a brand spanking new game on hardware from 3 years ago, it will probably run, but it won't run on the highest settings.\n\nConsole games simply don't have highest settings because the hardware is always the same. Console hardware limits the progress of games, but widens the audience.\n\nIn short: With PC gaming you often get the choice of running games at acceptable settings or cutting edge settings; with consoles you are stuck with just acceptable after the first year.",
"Remember the expansion pack for the N64?\n",
"You're all missing a key point here:\n\nConsoles do not have the levels of AA (smoothing of jagged edges) and high resolutions that PCs have. These two settings at higher levels will HEAVILY drain on your video card/FPS.\n\nMy point: It looks better on PC because you have higher quality/settings and this requries more processing power.",
"Consoles *can't* handle newer games just fine.\n\nTo compensate, the games are heavily optimised for the ageing hardware, and features and abilities of the game engines are turned off or down.\n\nMoreover, PC's as of late have in fact *not* had to be upgraded as much for newer games. Not nearly as big of a problem as it was in the past. Why? Because the games, which have to be capable of running on comparatively shitty console hardware, are often designed for the console environment and then a few bits of tinsel are bolted on for PC. Not always, but often enough for it to be a problem (or saving grace, if you can't afford upgrades and don't mind the lack of progress).\n\nIt means that games can't truly tap the abilities of modern PC hardware because any game-centric features which tapped the power of tech like PhysX, DirectComputer, OpenCL and the latest gen of programmable shaders would make it impossible to replicate on the console, which lacks all the above. \n\nBesides, throw PC game piracy into the mix, and as a games developer, why *would* you care to do twice the work to make a game which gave each platform a solid workout? Ergo, a swathe games with mediocre visuals and generic game mechanics.\n\nAs the current generation of tired, outdated consoles drags on, it will become more and more evident to customers that the consoles are holding the gaming industry back.\n\n",
"This has been said multiple times but it can't be stressed enough: The current consoles are based on 4-5 year old hardware. There is no way to upgrade them, so there is only so much power you can get out of them. Once games advance enough past this point, console makers will make a new console generation with still static, but better hardware.\n\nThis all means that newer games have to be made so the aging consoles can handle the game and it's graphics. A lot of console games COULD have been made to look better, but then then the console wouldn't have been able to run it smoothly.\n\nAlso, a lot of PCs are at the level of the consoles already, so they don't 'need' to be upgraded per se. They can run the game just fine using settings equivalent to those on the consoles. But if at all possible, PC gamers want to see the game at its best settings. This requires a lot more power than what the current consoles can hope to do. This is why games run at max settings on PCs look better than their console counterparts.\n\nThis really depends on whether the PC version is just a 'port' of the console version, or if the PC version has been optimized to work on a PC. Among other issues, ported games tend to have limited abilities to increase graphics quality. The best you can do is play at a little above the console level. Games that get specifically designed to run on PCs often give more room to customize this.",
"The only reason consoles handle newer games is because the newer games are stripped out, have details removed, and have lower quality graphics to make them work well.\n\nTake the PS3 for example, the majority of modern games run at just 720p (1280x720) in order to run acceptably, which is poultry compared to the resolution of most PC displays (1680x1050 and 1920x1080 both being pretty common these days)\n\nThe PS3 uses an nVidia 7800GT graphics processor with 256MB video memory. A chip we used in PCs in *2005* - It's 6 years old at this point. Many newer integrated GPUs can outperform it. Now a GTX 460 with 768MB video RAM is pretty pedestrian for an entry-level gaming rig.\n\nSo while PC games are getting better graphics every 6 months, console gaming has stagnated and not gone anywhere - so there's been no need to upgrade (or rather, the lack of upgrades has caused the stagnation)",
"When a game is made for a console, it has to be specifically designed such that it will run smoothly on the console. The development of the game is restricted by the system it is made for, and it will only need to be tested for this specific console. \n\nWhen a game is made for a PC, the developer does not have to restrict themselves in order to make the game run smoothly on outdated hardware (which is what consoles effectively are). Of course, they still do to some extent, because they want as many people to be able to run the game as possible. But because there are millions of possible configurations that might be running the game, the developers set minimum system requirements to test the game against to make sure it will run smoothly, and also commonly add settings to tone down the graphical performance of the game to make it run smoother.\n\nFurther, consoles are developed specifically to optimally run a game, only to run games, and to (usually) only run one game at once. Computers are not developed like this, and oftentimes, dozens of other processes are running at the same time as your game, negatively effecting performance.",
"Two reasons.\n\nThe first is that consoles sport 1 hardware configuration each. Every 360 has the same processor, same ram, same graphics card, and understands the same code. As a programmer, this is useful, because you can design your game right around the hardware. Optimization is much easier(and so is debugging, for that matter), and so you can squeeze much more performance out of a given console than its hardware equivalent on PCs. This is also why console games get better looking over the course of the generation even though the hardware does stay the same.\n\nThe second reason is that because PCs can vary in processing power, PC games typically have settings that enable them to far, far surpass anything that the current console generation can do. Case in point: I'm sure you've seen some of the trailers for Battlefield 3 by now. Most of those cinematic trailers, unless stated otherwise, are running the game on Ultra quality on the PC. The console version doesn't look nearly that good and never will. Based on what we know it will probably look somewhere between Low and Medium settings on PC. There are videos showing off the console versions of the game, so you can look and compare. In addition to straight up graphical quality, the resolution on a PC is also higher, meaning more detail is possible on the screen at once. If you look at [this chart](_URL_0_), you can see what resolution most console games run at by looking at the HD 720p box. PC games, provided you have the hardware and monitor to run it, can be as big as the biggest box in the picture. Big difference.",
" > Why do PC's need to be upgraded for newer games\n\nThey usually don't. If you want to run a brand spanking new game on hardware from 3 years ago, it will probably run, but it won't run on the highest settings.\n\nConsole games simply don't have highest settings because the hardware is always the same. Console hardware limits the progress of games, but widens the audience.\n\nIn short: With PC gaming you often get the choice of running games at acceptable settings or cutting edge settings; with consoles you are stuck with just acceptable after the first year.",
"Remember the expansion pack for the N64?\n",
"You're all missing a key point here:\n\nConsoles do not have the levels of AA (smoothing of jagged edges) and high resolutions that PCs have. These two settings at higher levels will HEAVILY drain on your video card/FPS.\n\nMy point: It looks better on PC because you have higher quality/settings and this requries more processing power.",
"Consoles *can't* handle newer games just fine.\n\nTo compensate, the games are heavily optimised for the ageing hardware, and features and abilities of the game engines are turned off or down.\n\nMoreover, PC's as of late have in fact *not* had to be upgraded as much for newer games. Not nearly as big of a problem as it was in the past. Why? Because the games, which have to be capable of running on comparatively shitty console hardware, are often designed for the console environment and then a few bits of tinsel are bolted on for PC. Not always, but often enough for it to be a problem (or saving grace, if you can't afford upgrades and don't mind the lack of progress).\n\nIt means that games can't truly tap the abilities of modern PC hardware because any game-centric features which tapped the power of tech like PhysX, DirectComputer, OpenCL and the latest gen of programmable shaders would make it impossible to replicate on the console, which lacks all the above. \n\nBesides, throw PC game piracy into the mix, and as a games developer, why *would* you care to do twice the work to make a game which gave each platform a solid workout? Ergo, a swathe games with mediocre visuals and generic game mechanics.\n\nAs the current generation of tired, outdated consoles drags on, it will become more and more evident to customers that the consoles are holding the gaming industry back.\n\n",
"This has been said multiple times but it can't be stressed enough: The current consoles are based on 4-5 year old hardware. There is no way to upgrade them, so there is only so much power you can get out of them. Once games advance enough past this point, console makers will make a new console generation with still static, but better hardware.\n\nThis all means that newer games have to be made so the aging consoles can handle the game and it's graphics. A lot of console games COULD have been made to look better, but then then the console wouldn't have been able to run it smoothly.\n\nAlso, a lot of PCs are at the level of the consoles already, so they don't 'need' to be upgraded per se. They can run the game just fine using settings equivalent to those on the consoles. But if at all possible, PC gamers want to see the game at its best settings. This requires a lot more power than what the current consoles can hope to do. This is why games run at max settings on PCs look better than their console counterparts.\n\nThis really depends on whether the PC version is just a 'port' of the console version, or if the PC version has been optimized to work on a PC. Among other issues, ported games tend to have limited abilities to increase graphics quality. The best you can do is play at a little above the console level. Games that get specifically designed to run on PCs often give more room to customize this.",
"The only reason consoles handle newer games is because the newer games are stripped out, have details removed, and have lower quality graphics to make them work well.\n\nTake the PS3 for example, the majority of modern games run at just 720p (1280x720) in order to run acceptably, which is poultry compared to the resolution of most PC displays (1680x1050 and 1920x1080 both being pretty common these days)\n\nThe PS3 uses an nVidia 7800GT graphics processor with 256MB video memory. A chip we used in PCs in *2005* - It's 6 years old at this point. Many newer integrated GPUs can outperform it. Now a GTX 460 with 768MB video RAM is pretty pedestrian for an entry-level gaming rig.\n\nSo while PC games are getting better graphics every 6 months, console gaming has stagnated and not gone anywhere - so there's been no need to upgrade (or rather, the lack of upgrades has caused the stagnation)"
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ahfd0l | what are and how effective are sabermetrics, and can they be applied to other sports? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ahfd0l/eli5_what_are_and_how_effective_are_sabermetrics/ | {
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"Sabermetrics in baseball is a statistical analysis of performance. The idea is to shift away from aggregate measures like \"hits per at bat\" which have tactical dependencies that consider who's on which base and the overall state of the game. Instead, statisticians look at measures like OPS+ (runs per out relative to the league average). This measure can be statistically shown to be a better performance predictor than batting average.\n\nTo apply the concept to other sports you'd need three things: data, more data, and a game model. Baseball is a slow game, in terms of time between plays to write down data about what just happened. As a result, baseball statisticians have lots of data for many past years with batter-by-batter detail and recent data with pitch-by-pitch detail. This would be harder to do in a faster game like basketball or a game with more things going on at the same time (which makes the game model harder to interpret) like soccer or football."
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2ljk2n | what are the financial advantages for video game developers to make their game for one system only? | Why would the developers of "The Last of Us" want to make a game that is only for the PS3 users? I'm trying to figure out how it would be financially advantageous for them to sell to only one group, instead of developing the game for all platforms so that they could make more money. (I'm not trying to pick on "The Last of Us, I'm just using it as an example.)
Also, how would Porsche (or the NFL, MLB etc) benefit from only licensing their product for one video game only, instead of offering it to all video games who request it? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ljk2n/eli5_what_are_the_financial_advantages_for_video/ | {
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"People answered for consoles, I'll give my answer for PC.\n\nSome PC games will not play well on consoles. When the consoles got Civilization it was an entirely different game. If they tried to make a Civ gMe that works on consoles and PC the PC fan base would be pissed off because of the consessions needed for controlling the game with a gamepad. Console players would not like it because they see it as too slow paced.\n\nOther developers do not have the funds to release on consoles, and if they are an independent developer that releases digital only they will be shooed as far away as possible from the online store because consoles hate independent developers for no reason. One independent developer reported making almost no sales when they ported their game to one of the consoles.",
"Generally, they get a bucketload of money from some platform's parent company to release exclusively on that platform for some period of time, then they use that time to develop the versions for the other platforms.",
"Well normally the company that gets the exclusive rights have offered some money to get this, plus one system means a lot less development time, and it's far easier to focus on one piece of hardware. ",
"\nIt's almost always because of deal between the platform owner and the developer. There are a number of reasons to do this, but it usually boils down to money. You can guarantee X dollars for your game from the exclusive deal you sign with a platform owner, and that greatly reduces the risk associated with releasing the game. There's no way that Naughty Dog didn't release \"The Last of Us\" on PC or Xbox because of the costs associated with porting the game over, as many other comments here are saying.\n\nFor a less popular example, here's a pretty decent [blog post](_URL_0_) about a developer that decided to go exclusive on OUYA.\n\n > Also, how would Porsche (or the NFL, MLB etc) benefit from only licensing their product for one video game only, instead of offering it to all video games who request it?\n\nNamely, you can charge a ton of money for exclusive rights to an IP. If you share those rights with other people, then the value of those rights goes down substantially. I don't know how much EA pays for NHL rights, but I'd be willing to wager it's a boatload.\n\nThe secondary reason is that it prevents brand fatigue. If you whored out your IP to everyone who wanted it, then you'd be getting a crap-ton of games out there, many of which might not be very good. You'd potentially over-saturate your target market and, therefore, get greatly diminished returns on more and more titles.\n\n"
]
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[],
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"http://thatdragoncancer.com/post/61670610520/that-scapegoat-insert-people-group-here"
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|
6yaybj | what's the deal with those tar pits in the usa? | So I've been watching many shows and series made in the USA, some of them with a plot revolving around Hollywood.
Some of them talk about tar pits that are lying there. So.. what's the deal with that?
Are they man-made or by nature (and if so, what's the science behind it). | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6yaybj/eli5_whats_the_deal_with_those_tar_pits_in_the_usa/ | {
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"text": [
"Those are most likely the La Brea tar pits. It's a popular tourist attraction and they're in a public park, so they're happy to get the money.\n\nThe pits are naturally-formed (tar is naturally formed along with other petroleum from primarily plant biomass) but they're exposed due to the result of excavation. ",
"[The La Brea tar pits](_URL_0_) are natural, and pre-date current estimates of human colonization of North America.\n\nTar pits happen when oil leaks to the surface. Gases and lighter hydrocarbons evaporate, leaving the heavier oily and tar-like fractions. Being thick and sticky, over the millennia they've trapped careless animals. Excavations have yielded all sorts of interesting fossils.\n",
"Others have already answered your main question so I just want to say that when you come to visit Los Angeles, go to the Los Angeles Brea Tar Pits. There is a very nice museum and you can see interesting fossils, as well as the Tar Pits themselves. It's kind of weird to have this odd and smelly natural feature in the middle of America's second-largest city, but there it is. There is a lot of oil underneath Los Angeles and there are many oil wells throughout the city."
]
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"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Brea_Tar_Pits"
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