q_id
stringlengths 5
6
| title
stringlengths 3
296
| selftext
stringlengths 0
34k
| document
stringclasses 1
value | subreddit
stringclasses 1
value | url
stringlengths 4
110
| answers
dict | title_urls
sequence | selftext_urls
sequence | answers_urls
sequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5tm0sd | who decided we needed different timezones? why couldn't 1am be the afternoon in parts of the world? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5tm0sd/eli5_who_decided_we_needed_different_timezones/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddng8t8",
"ddngcif",
"ddnge3p",
"ddnh87n",
"ddnhkoe"
],
"score": [
2,
16,
6,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because one of the purposes of time is to give us a reference for our progress throughout the day. With timezones, you have a built in method for understanding where most people will be in their daily lives. If everyone used the same time, all the time, how would you know when a business should be closed, or when people are most likely to be home?\n\nTimezones facilitate global communication and business. ",
"Because that would be inconvenient, especially if you travel between time zones often enough. It would be frustrating to check the time and see that it's 1pm and think it's lunch time, only to realize that the sun is setting and you have to go to bed in order to be up for work.\n\nNoon was designated to be the time when the sun was at its highest point, so 1 pm is one hour past that time. It's been like that for thousands of years, ever since timekeeping became a thing.\n\nConsider this: Right now, if a business lies across time zones, it can still have consistent times that it's open. For example, it could be open 7am to 2pm. And this would be basically the same time of the day across the country. However, if there were no \"time zones\", then each area would have to have its own opening hours set in order to be open around the same time of day as the other locations (let's say it's a breakfast and lunch-type diner) and so you wouldn't be able to advertise \"Open at 7am every morning!\" across the country, but would have to make separate advertisements for every single area your business is in with their own hours (\"Open at 1am every morning!\").\n\nAlso consider: It's 4pm where you are. With time zones, you can check what time it is in Australia, and see that it would be an inappropriate time to call there. However, if you didn't have time zones, you would have no way of knowing unless you looked up some kind of additional chart to see what part of the day that would be.",
"Before timezones everyone set time locally. Noon was when the sun was directly overhead and all other hours were set accordingly. Timezones formed because of trains and the need to have more accurate and consistent timekeeping for the arrival and departure of the trains. The timezones were designed so that noon stayed roughly overhead at mid-day in each timezone as to not disrupt work schedules and life. \n\nThe suffix pm means \"post-meridiem\" meaning after midday. The suffix am means \"ante-meridiem\" meaning before midday. AM times cannot be in the afternoon because that is \"AFTER NOON\". ",
"Businesses that operate all over the world do use [Zulu Time](_URL_0_), also called UTC. But at the local level, people want to eat breakfast in the AM and go to bed in the late PM, and it roughly corresponds to the sun. Note that at high latitudes, the time of year has a huge impact on the position of the sun at different times.",
"It is! GMT is \"the\" time, everything else is an offset. This is how planes can fly between countries and manage their times, they do everything in GMT (aka UCT or Z/Zulu).\n\nTime zones however didn't really need to exist before railways - it was the time where you were, when you were. A stick's shadow would be shortest at noon. It could be 12:00 in Oxford and 12:11 in London. In fact one of the main clocks in Oxford is still set to local time (and is 11 minutes away from 'the' time). Trains made it necessary to coordinate time so timetables could be printed, and drove the establishment of zones."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/timezone/zulu"
],
[]
] |
||
1pogtq | why is it the cradles of mankind are generally dry, arid deserts? | Unless i'm totally mistaken about where our species came from... why is it that North Africa, and the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, even Greece, where the earliest great human kingdoms originated (egypt, babylon etc..) are all desert-like, dry and arid, and totally unlikely places for a species to thrive? Were they once lush vegetated areas that were desertified by millenia of agriculture? Is it possible we are the catalyst to the desertification that is now the Sahara Desert? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1pogtq/eli5_why_is_it_the_cradles_of_mankind_are/ | {
"a_id": [
"cd4cm1j",
"cd4ef1a"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"[Satellite photo of the Nile and its delta.](_URL_0_)",
"As stated, they're not infertile. The Fertile Crescent--areas between the Tigris and Euphrates--remains extremely productive, as does the Nile Valley.\nHowever, I also believe that the presence of civilization--these areas have hosted civilizations longer than any other area on earth--has been somewhat detrimental to the land. For starters, early attempts at irrigation were not perfect: the early extensive irrigation projects caused the salinity of the soil to increase, contributing to infertility of the soil and desertification of the land. This wasn't just attributed to humans, but over time, the climate changed somewhat, contributing to the decline in fertility of the soil. When civilization was just beginning, it was coming at the waning days of the last Ice Age, when the glaciers were rapidly retreating, contributing to rapidly changing climate patters. The biggest example was the Sahara: about 10,000 years ago (just before the first civilizations), the Sahara was a lush savannah.\n\nTl; dr: climate change and irrigation projects contributed to the decline of arability.\n\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://science.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/science/photos/valleys-gallery/nile-river-valley/"
],
[]
] |
|
5udwzd | why do you want to get 'married' | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5udwzd/eli5_why_do_you_want_to_get_married/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddtb5a6",
"ddtbenn"
],
"score": [
2,
3
],
"text": [
"For me it was half practical and half sentimental reasons. On the practical side, just all of the things it makes easier from a legal standpoint, taxes and joint property and automatic inheritance and all of that kind of thing. It's also easier having his last name and just being The Marrieds\" when people refer to us.\n\nOn the sentimental side, the usual reason of being so in love with him that I am proud to share his name and be connected to him in all ways possible. One of my reasons isn't even about him... I also simply adore my father and always looked forward to the day that he would walk me down the aisle.",
"My wife and I have been together for 16 years; we got married two years ago. We got married because a) it makes lots of things easier (and cheaper!) in terms of inheritance, banking, insurance, tax, etc, b) it's a great excuse to have a big party, and c) it was a way for us to 'formalise' and reaffirm our relationship, and d) it gave our relatives a chance to go through some of those sentimentally important processes; we were able to get married in front of my 94-year-old grandfather and our parents got to do all the things that they've consciously or subconsciously had in the backs of their minds for over 30 years. On top of all of that after a decade of numerous funerals it was good to get everyone together for something celebratory.\n\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
1ryiw9 | how can i downloads torrents safely without using a vpn | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ryiw9/eli5_how_can_i_downloads_torrents_safely_without/ | {
"a_id": [
"cds603l"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"I would recommend using private trackers that requires an invitation to join."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
dcrsit | how do remote control things work? how can i press the up lever on a controller and make an rc car move across the room? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dcrsit/eli5_how_do_remote_control_things_work_how_can_i/ | {
"a_id": [
"f2ajbfr",
"f2ak1rp"
],
"score": [
2,
11
],
"text": [
"what you have as a RC remote it is basically a radio. Think like it sends some sounds through this radio frequency and the logic at the RC just listens for that. When you hold down forward key, remote just sends some beeping sounds meaning \"forward\" command for the other side(which is the RC car)\n\nTV remotes work a bit different, only with infared light. Just like you can't hear radio signals, you can't see infared light. There's an infared LED at the tv remote and one light sensor at the TV. when you press a button at the tv remote, it blinks the led accordingly and tv picks that up. Think that one like a morse code.\n\nThese are the 2 most basic remote things. There are more complex remotes like A/C remotes who also show temperature at the remote. But they are not so much different at the basic level.\n\nedit: epic typo fails",
"Pressing the lever on a remote control device, activates a mechanical switch that powers part of a circuit inside the controller. That circuit then powers a wireless transmitter to broadcast a wireless signal (like a radio) which the antenna on the car picks up. And much like a radio the car has internal electronics which interpret and translate the signal to perform some function, in this case the signal sent when the controller's left lever is pushed up tells the car to power the motor in a forward motion, so the car moves forward.\n\nJust like a video game controller, each input on the remote control sends a different signal to the device, which is in turn interpreted into different operations within the car: \"turn the wheel servo's left\" \"engage the drive motor in reverse\" etc.\n\nThere are a number of ways in which we can wireless transmit input signals: Bluetooth, UHF, RF, Infrared, etc. These are all different methods of wireless transmission, and require the receiving device to be capable of receiving the signals, and then in internal computing circuitry is programmed to understand and react to the received input."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
3ctgrq | where does the idea of faithfullnes in marriage come from? | From an evoloution standpoint. Humans are not the only animals that sometimes mate for life.
But we seem to be the only animal that as an idea that you stay together with life and mating with someone else is wrong.
(unless you are a rich dictator or something)
Is there a possible explanation from an evolutionary standpoint or is it something we have purley made up in our mind due to our inteligence? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ctgrq/eli5_where_does_the_idea_of_faithfullnes_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"csys1as",
"csytg67"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Yes, our intellect is far superior to other animals, this to say that we are able to attribute ideas, and feelings, thoughts etc into things, and this is one of them. We humans are not biological machines such as other animals, with other animals, the cycle is Eat, Mate, die and their life ends, with ours we dig deeper, and try to find meaning. A result of that ends with us putting our thoughts and feelings into mating, we marry for love (most of the time), and with that comes the fact that you as a human are selfish, and want whats yours to remain yours, especially someone you love. There is nothing evolutionary about it because applying two dimensional thinking to three dimensional humans is not comparative.",
"There are many marriage/mating strategy... some are monogamous, serial monogamous, polygany, polyandry etc... Each strategy could work depending upon the culture. There is a culture in Asia... I forget which one... that is serial monogamist and it is a matriarchy. The woman finds a partner, introduces him to her family, that couple will stay together for a while and maybe have kids. They will each remain in their mother's households as will the children. It is the mother's brothers who act as father figures to their sister's children and the father is like a close family friend with no responsibilities. The parents may break off and make new relationships. The children will always be cared for by the mother's family.\n\nWestern culture however is built on Christianity and Christian principles. A nuclear family also provides stability for children to grow up. In an individualistic culture like ours, it would be difficult to ensure that all children are taken care of if both parents can mate with anyone. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
mr7u0 | discrete math: reflexive, symmetric, antisymmetric, transitive | for example, is x + y = 0 symmetric? why?
what about
x - y is a rational number?
x = 1?
x = ±y?
x = 2y? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/mr7u0/eli5_discrete_math_reflexive_symmetric/ | {
"a_id": [
"c337c4m",
"c337c4m"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"A *binary relation* is a function of two variables that is either true or false. I'm going to use Rxy to notate the relation R applied to x and y in that order.\n\nA relation is *reflexive* if Rxx is true; that is, if both variables are the same the relation always holds.\n\nA relation is *symmetric* if Rxy = Ryx; that is, switching the order of the arguments doesn't change the value.\n\nA relation is *antisymmetric* if Rxy never equals Ryx for distinct x and y; that is, switching the order of the arguments always changes the value (unless the arguments are the same, in which case it obviously can't).\n\nA relation is *transitive* if Rxz is true whenever Rxy and Ryz are. Equality is the simplest example of this; if you have x=y and y=z, then you can conclude that x=z.",
"A *binary relation* is a function of two variables that is either true or false. I'm going to use Rxy to notate the relation R applied to x and y in that order.\n\nA relation is *reflexive* if Rxx is true; that is, if both variables are the same the relation always holds.\n\nA relation is *symmetric* if Rxy = Ryx; that is, switching the order of the arguments doesn't change the value.\n\nA relation is *antisymmetric* if Rxy never equals Ryx for distinct x and y; that is, switching the order of the arguments always changes the value (unless the arguments are the same, in which case it obviously can't).\n\nA relation is *transitive* if Rxz is true whenever Rxy and Ryz are. Equality is the simplest example of this; if you have x=y and y=z, then you can conclude that x=z."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
3k05zj | why do we put "the congo" and "the bahamas" but we don't say "the canada" or "the japan"? | Is there a reason some countries have "The" in the beginning while others don't?
Ex.
"I just came back from a vacation from the Bahamas and next week I am going to the Congo"
"I just came back from ~~the~~ Canada and next week I am going to ~~the~~ Japan" | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3k05zj/eli5_why_do_we_put_the_congo_and_the_bahamas_but/ | {
"a_id": [
"cutph7t",
"cutpkpt"
],
"score": [
6,
3
],
"text": [
"Congo and Bahamas are regions (the Bahamas refers to the entire region including other islands) \n\nCanada and Japan are countries \n\n\nYou might not say the Canada but you would say the North ",
"The Bahamas are islands in an archipelago. The Congos I think refer to the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, two different countries.\n\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
3wobg4 | failed suicide? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3wobg4/eli5_failed_suicide/ | {
"a_id": [
"cxxoxex",
"cxxp2q8",
"cxxp2rt",
"cxxp3o1",
"cxy7x59"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
17,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"I think it's up to their family. If they don't have any, for whatever reason, I think the doctor or nurses are left to decide. ",
"I think it would depend on what country you're in.\nGenerally in North America I believe your next of kin would have the say to take you off life support if your injuries were permanent.\n\nIf you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call a help\nline or talk to someone. Do not do it, it will get better. ",
"If you're asking because you're contemplating it, then please, speak to someone about it. The national suicide hotline can be reached at 18002738255. It's always worth seeking help. Your friends and family will thank you.\n\nThat being said, I think if you're in a state where you can't make decisions for yourself, there isn't a set law or rule, it's basically at the discretion of your parents/partner/next of kin. Which, would undoubtedly be unbearably difficult for them.",
"They would be placed in a hospital and cared for in most places. A note, by a mentally ill person, isn't enough for a doctor to let you die or to kill you. A person that tried to kill themself would automatically be listed as ill.\n\nYou'd need to be checked out sane by a doctor and likely have a lawyer and notary present..... that's assuming your country even allows doctors assisted deaths.",
"In the US you can get something known as an Advance Directive, that details how you want things to be handled should you ever become incapacitated and unable to make/express your decisions.\n\nThere is also a document called a DNR, which means \"Do Not Resuscitate.\" If you have one of these on file, they are required to let you die if it comes down to a matter of revival being neccesary.\n\nAs far as I know, you can't just leave those in a note. You would need to get them legally notarized and filed."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
ejpyff | why is the assassination of qassaem suleimani such a big deal? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ejpyff/eli5_why_is_the_assassination_of_qassaem/ | {
"a_id": [
"fczmrlo",
"fczmtf5",
"fcznlpo"
],
"score": [
3,
5,
7
],
"text": [
"He was the leader of the Quds force. 2nd in command of Iranian army. The news outlet incorrectly compares him to the US chiefs of staff but he would more likely be compared to VPOTUS. This sets up another proxy war with Iran, if not direct.",
"1) he is an incredibly adept political/military mind who has coordinated proxy wars in the ME across nearly every country for 25+ years. I’m not sure if it’s possible to capture his influence but it’s safe to say that at the time of their deaths he had far more strategic/day-to-day influence than Bin-Laden\n2) he was about as close a confident as Khomeini had. I’ve heard it described this way, “he didn’t implement Iran’s strategy, he was Iran’s strategy”\n3) while Iran has certainly been emboldened recently as evidenced by regional aggression against US/US forces/US aligned forces, the idea of retaliation actually hitting him was literally ridiculous. It was outside the realm of possibility. To see it happen is something no one saw coming and thus there is a ton of guesswork in terms of figuring out what the reaction will be. \n4) in sum it’s just a crazily unexpected and bold move. It will be years, perhaps decades before we truly understand how it has impacted the ME and the world",
"Imagine if China bombed London Heathrow Airport and killed Mike Pence. We and the brits would both be *livid* - that's how Iranians likely feel.\n\nGeopolitically our allies are very unhappy with this sudden and unprecedented show of force, and they're even less likely to back us in future conflicts. Meanwhile, Russia is going to be mad and Iran is probably going to support terrorism openly.\n\nOn the upside, the Saudis are probably quite happy with us."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
6a66o8 | how are some animals able to sit and run across power lines, but sometimes they are electrocuted and killed by them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6a66o8/eli5_how_are_some_animals_able_to_sit_and_run/ | {
"a_id": [
"dhc0hb8",
"dhcanj9",
"dhce35k"
],
"score": [
9,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"The power lines never cause electrocution unless the animal is able to connect it to the ground. Which isn't really possible unless the line is damaged. The place that would probably be most likely to electrocute an animal would be somewhere on the telephone pole near the transformer (that silver garbage can looking thing) That's what takes the thousands of volts from the grid and converts it into the 120/240 volts for your house. In theory, if a squirrel touched the right leads on that thing at the same time it should get a good zap.",
"Your average power line has 1 or 3 phases/cables and an earth/neutral.\n\nYou get electric shocks from being at a different potential/voltage to something. Electricity sees the easiest path to ground.\n\nWhen a bird lands on a bare steel/aluminum power line, it is only bridging a small area (its feet are very close together) of the same phase, meaning the potential/voltage across it is very low and the electricity takes carries on though the easier path that is the cable. If that bird was to stand on two different phases/cables it would be electrocuted as there is a large difference in voltage/potential between different phases. The same applies to between phases and the earth. Where cables come together at the end of power lines and form into one cable, birds can and will touch different phases/cables with their wings and get fried.\n\nIf you hold a bare live wire in one hand the electricity would go though you, down your arm and out your feet into the ground. If you were wearing rubber boots the path is interrupted and it can't get there, so it stays in the cable leaving you unharmed.",
"Current flows when there is a conductive path between two areas of different voltage. Each wire has a single voltage at any particular time and so touching only one wire is not dangerous. The wires are different voltages from each other and from the ground. Touching a wire and simultaneously touching a second wire or the ground will lead to two body parts at different voltages and current flowing between those parts, potentially killing the animal. Contrary to several comments, the high voltage lines at the top of the poles are rarely insulated and are usually bare metal."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
24hnet | where did the phrase "1 mississippi 2 mississippi" come from? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/24hnet/eli5where_did_the_phrase_1_mississippi_2/ | {
"a_id": [
"ch77kzl"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"The idea is that it takes one second to say Mississippi. \n\nSo if you want to time something in seconds, you count it out while saying Mississippi. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
1x92cz | how did russia become the host for the olympics? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1x92cz/eli5how_did_russia_become_the_host_for_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cf97aaz"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Every two years, cities around the world make bids to the International Olympic Commission (IOC) to host the Olympic Games. Originally most Olympics games, especially the Winter Olympics, were selected on the strength of being a popular place for winter sports like a ski resort. Today, cities are selected through a much more rigorous process.\n\nAny city that wants to host the Olympic Games puts in its name to the IOC and is considered an \"Applicant City.\" For the next ten months, the IOC investigates the city on several points:\n\n1) The city must prove that it is big enough to handle the Olympics. With the games come a huge number of tourists, athletes, journalists, and politicians. They must show that they can host the games in new stadiums and venues, they must house all the people in adequate hotels, and they have to transport everyone from one place to the next with a reliable mass transit system. They also need to show that they can handle the high level of security needed at the games.\n\n2) The city needs to convince residents that the expenses of covering the Olympics (which may be covered by raising taxes) are worth it in city improvement and new jobs.\n\n3) The cities needs to maintain a highly positive media exposure to carry the games. Fourth, the tangible effects of hosting the Olympic games may not prove beneficial if the bid committees do not exercise proper judgment in developing the city to host the Olympics.\n\nIf the IOC decides that a city has fulfilled the three points above, the city is considered a \"Candidate City\" and goes into the second phase of the process. After submitting an application and an application fee, the IOC makes a final judging on which city is the best candidate for the coming Summer or Winter Olympic Games."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
ffppfp | why does the geiger counter makes that sound? and why it's always the same sound? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ffppfp/eli5_why_does_the_geiger_counter_makes_that_sound/ | {
"a_id": [
"fjzycno",
"fk0cal1"
],
"score": [
24,
5
],
"text": [
"The way a Geiger counter works is pretty complicated to explain. But basically, a Geiger counter uses a Geiger-Muller tube to detect radiation. That tube is actually a gas filled tube that produces an electric pulse when ionized by radiation. That means that the sound heard is like mini lightning strikes and are typical with all Geiger counters because the detection actually makes the noise rather than the radiation measured being converted into a noise by a computer or other electronic",
"This is entirely historical. The idea of the Geiger counter is that every time a particale of radiation hits the gas in the Geiger-Muller tube, there is an electric discharge. This electric discharge can be used to power some kind of signal to the user. \n\nIn 1928, when the Geiger counter entered widespread use, there were 3 options for the read out : Basically a voltmeter, a light bulb or a speaker. A voltmeter and light bulb would require the user to keep their eyes on the device, which is not desirable when moving through possibly dangerous radiation filled environments. Hence a speaker was used. The speaker is connected in series, and every time a electric spike is created, it just clicks (or pops).\n\n & #x200B;\n\nThe thing is, people using Geiger counters got pretty good at interpreting the clicks ....how fast the clicks came and what kind of click occured to distinguish radiation types such as alpha, beta and gamma radiation. So while modern Geiger counters have digital electronics , the clicks are something every Geiger counter user is trained to do.\n\nThis is something like why does \"green\" mean \"Go\" in traffic lights all over the word. It could be any color...but now after so many years, green is sort of universally understood by people and there is no reason to change it."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
k6psq | - how do newly-hatched chickens know what to do immediately? also, for babe mammals to reach for the 'food'? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/k6psq/eli5_how_do_newlyhatched_chickens_know_what_to_do/ | {
"a_id": [
"c2hxaf3",
"c2i0bps",
"c2hxaf3",
"c2i0bps"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Newborns don't know anything at birth but have just enough motion and memory to discover and remember. Newborn animals have the very simple ability to keep moving and biting until they stumble into something that feels better, like a warm spot, or tastes better. Once they've discover a resource like warmth or food, they can remember how they got there and do it again as needed. Gradually they explore more, discover more, learn new tricks, find better food, and grow from there.",
"There are certain responses which are instinctual to mammals. You can take a group of healthy babies, put them in water, and they will all show some form of a swimming reflex. They will attempt to kick and paddle despite knowing nothing about water or what drowning means.\n\nThere is a reflex for sucking as well. If they are presented with a nipple they will react by suckling. The baby doesn't visually identify the nipple and understand that it will get food from it, as if it recognized the concept of food or bodies. Over time it will learn that the senses it associates with the nipple or feeding are positive and that it quells whatever it senses as hunger.",
"Newborns don't know anything at birth but have just enough motion and memory to discover and remember. Newborn animals have the very simple ability to keep moving and biting until they stumble into something that feels better, like a warm spot, or tastes better. Once they've discover a resource like warmth or food, they can remember how they got there and do it again as needed. Gradually they explore more, discover more, learn new tricks, find better food, and grow from there.",
"There are certain responses which are instinctual to mammals. You can take a group of healthy babies, put them in water, and they will all show some form of a swimming reflex. They will attempt to kick and paddle despite knowing nothing about water or what drowning means.\n\nThere is a reflex for sucking as well. If they are presented with a nipple they will react by suckling. The baby doesn't visually identify the nipple and understand that it will get food from it, as if it recognized the concept of food or bodies. Over time it will learn that the senses it associates with the nipple or feeding are positive and that it quells whatever it senses as hunger."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
p4x1v | sumerians | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/p4x1v/eli5_sumerians/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3mn1a6",
"c3mjc0b",
"c3mkyya"
],
"score": [
2,
19,
4
],
"text": [
"One of the 2 civilizations (the other being Egypt 500 years later) that didn't evolve into a society, but sprang up out of nowhere with fully developed culture, language, math, architecture, religion, and agriculture from day one, and slowly devolved from there. Weird.",
"Once upon a time, a *very* long time ago, there were people called who lived in the part of the world that we now call Iraq. We call them the \"Sumerians\". They're important partly because they were one of the first people to live in a country that had multiple cities, and partly because they invented writing about 5000 years ago!\n\nModern scholars can learn about them because of things they made that survived all those years: things like cups, storage jars, foundations of buildings, and also some things with writing on them. They didn't write the way we do, but clever scholars have managed to work out what they wrote.\n\nA bit over 4000 years ago the Sumerians gradually faded away after being conquered by another people, called the Akkadians. Our name for the Sumerians actually comes from the Akkadian language. One of the stories that the Sumerians told each other was a story about a king named Bilgames. The Akkadians liked this story too, only they called him Gilgamesh.\n\nThe end. Now, [go the fuck to sleep.](_URL_0_)",
"One of the very first known civilizations if not the first. Written language, mathematics and architecture set them apart from everyone else. Part of the reason people don't think that the world is older than 6000 years is because this civilization is one of the first and it is only 5000 or so years old."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CseO1XRYs9I"
],
[]
] |
||
1i3iqd | what is sickle cell anemia? | My friend told me that he has Sickle Cell Anemia, but it's not terminal. I don't know what it is, so please help me out with the basics.
What causes it?
How common is it? (how many people have it?)
What are the symptoms of it?
Is it preventable or curable?
Also, please include sources so I can do further reading.
Thanks! | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1i3iqd/eli5what_is_sickle_cell_anemia/ | {
"a_id": [
"cb0mtyt"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Red blood cells are normally shaped kinda like donuts. With sickle cell anemia, they're shaped like sickle or crescent moon. The regular shape makes it much easier for the cells to move around and reduces the chance of circulatory problems.\n\nThe cause of sickle cell anemia is caused by a specific point mutation in a hemoglobin gene. The gene codes for hemoglobin, the protein that enables red blood cells to bring oxygen to different parts of the body. Because it's caused by genes, most treatments can only make the disease more manageable rather than curing it. However, a bone marrow transplant can act as a cure, since blood cells are made in the marrow. \n\nIn the US, the odds of having sickle cell anemia are 1 in 5,000. However, different groups of people are more likely to get it than others. For example, people whose families came from Sub-Saharan (southern) Africa are most susceptible. This group of people gets the disease most often because the disease is an adaptation to prevent contracting malaria, a disease common in that part of Africa. \n\nFor sources, you can check out Wikipedia, the [NIH](_URL_0_), or just Google what you are looking for. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/sickle-cell-disease"
]
] |
|
rdil3 | what is overdrive in my car and how does it work? | [ELI5] What is overdrive in my car and how does it work? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/rdil3/eli5_what_is_overdrive_in_my_car_and_how_does_it/ | {
"a_id": [
"c450znj"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"In a EL5 way, somethings will be generalize and overly simplified.\n\nFirst of all, you'll need some basics understanding of transmissions. Just imagine there's 2 gears: Input and Output gear, like on your bicycle.\n\nIn 1st gear, the Output gear is a lot bigger than the Input gear, like your bike. So when the Input gear turns once, the Output gear will only turn a fraction of a turn. That's great, because it'll give your bike more power (torque) to get your bike (car) going.\n\nNow, once you get the car going, you'll gain speed and a thing called momentum. As you gain momentum, you'll also need less \"power\" to make the car go faster. So if you switch to a slightly smaller gear (ie 2nd gear) then you can continue to gain more speed and momentum.\n\nOnce you gain enough speed and momentum you can switch to 3rd gear, a even smaller gear. In a 4 gear setting, the 3rd gear (or the 2nd to last gear in most cars) will be the same size as the Input gear. One spin in the Input gear will have exactly one spin Output.\n\nNow here's the fun part. Once you gain even more speed and momentum, then you can switch to 4th gear (or the last gear). Now as you've guested, the Output gear is even smaller than the Input gear. Your car is now in Overdrive mode. Every spin in the Input will provide one plus spin in the Output. This is great, because your car has enough momentum that the input does not need to spin as much to keep the car going faster. It also saves fuel and reduce noise when the Input is spinning less.\n\nps. Input is the engine and Output is the wheels."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
3fny0x | why aren't all military uniforms/apparel bulletproof? | I know (most) soldiers wear combat armor, but why aren't the boots/pants/shirts made out of bullet proof material? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3fny0x/eli5why_arent_all_military_uniformsapparel/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctqbtvo",
"ctqbve9",
"ctqby6n",
"ctqc08g",
"ctqdcdt"
],
"score": [
14,
8,
5,
3,
5
],
"text": [
"Heavy, expensive, less mobility, unnecessary the majority of the time. I'm no expert, but those seem like logical reasons.",
"Bulletproofing materials are extremely heavy and expensive.\n\nIn addition to the practicality of it, it might actually be counter productive in some instances. For example, if the base you are on is attacked with a mortar, you're much better off being in lighter material that would make it easier for you to run to a reinforced shelter than to be slowed by armor that might well be ineffective against such an attack. ",
"Making stuff bulletproof is difficult. Making *flexible* stuff bulletproof is even more difficult.\n\nBulletproof materials are thick, heavy, and generally pretty stiff. The more flexible you want to make it, the thinner it has to be, and therefore the less protection it will give. This is why bulletproof vests are generally sleeveless - because sleeves have to be flexible. It's also why bulletproof pants are rare.\n\nSince bulletproof stuff is thick and heavy, it also gets very hot. Theoretically you could make a medieval-style suit of bulletproof armor, but you'd quickly overheat inside.",
"Well 'bullet proof' materials aren't bullet proof really, they're better called bullet resistant. High-powered shots still rip through them.\n\nTo be as good as they are still takes a lot of thickness because you need it to catch the bullets; you can't really make anything less thick than the vests are out of kevlar without sacrificing quality. \n\nAlso don't forget it's horribly expensive to outfit a whole army with that kind of equipment.",
"That would be a world of suck. An IBA with front and back plates for a person my size, 5'11, 185, weighs about 20-25lbs. Those plates cover basically just the lower half of your chest down to the upper half of your stomach and about the same amount of area on your back. So it's a relatively small area. They make side plates, and you could prob use plates on your thighs and shins, so that's already a lot of weight. Start adding thinner protective layers of pants and shirts to cover all the other areas in between, then tack on some heavy ass boots. Grab a full camelback, a couple canteens, a couple hundred rounds of ammo, a weapon (hopefully not crew serve in this case) grenades, ifak, etc, "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
3mi4sv | gasoline is finite, consumable, and its supply is rapidly decreasing. how can its price ever go down? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3mi4sv/eli5_gasoline_is_finite_consumable_and_its_supply/ | {
"a_id": [
"cvf480x",
"cvf4brz",
"cvf6cf4",
"cvf8sat"
],
"score": [
14,
6,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because the supply of crude oil went up. Yeah the total amount of crude oil in the ground went down, but the amount that we have ready to be sold on the market went up while the demand stayed the same. If producers sold the crude oil at the price that it was before, they would have a surplus. If they want to sell 100% of their inventory, they need to drop their price in order to increase the demand.\n\nIn reality, OPEC did not readjust their production because they're trying to (and successfully did) put other oil producers out of business. This way, in a few years, they'll regain a partial monopoly and will be able to control prices the way that they have been doing for the past century.",
"Petroleum may be finite, but not all of the world's petroleum reserves are currently in use. Companies have to extract the oil, and the rate of that extraction informs the price. The recent advancements in fields like fracking have increased the world's supply of accessible energy resources, resulting in falling energy prices.\n\nNot to mention that the law of supply and demand only works in a free market, and the petroleum industry is controlled by price-fixing cartels like OPEC. The price you pay at the pump does not necessarily reflect the true cost of oil.",
"Actually oil supply is pretty high right now, pushing prices down. \n\nAnd so is expected to remain for the next ten years.\n\nThis is the best article to understand the full picture of oil market right now: _URL_0_",
" > It also happens to be used up at astonishing rates. \n\nThis is your opinion. I, for example, am unastonished.\n\n > And the Middle East, where there's a lot of oil, isn't necessarily getting along too well with the United States at the moment.\n\nThere is also a lot of oil in Texas, North Dakota, Alaska, California, Canada, and Mexico. Also, we got along fine with much of the Middle East, or at least fine enough for them to cash our checks. Buying oil from someone doesn't require you to tell them that this dress doesn't make their ass look fat and lie about how much you like their mother.\n\n > But it's gone from $4.00 to $2.75;\n\nThe United States has huge amounts of oil that they can get at through a newish technology called fracking. \n\nAlso, Saudi Arabia has huge amounts of oil which is cheap to get at, and they are willing to sell it for cheap so that they can prevent their mortal enemy, Iran, from making a lot of money off of Iran's own oil, which is less cheap to get at.\n\n > Is it taking into account the fact that future generations may be low on gas?\n\nNot explicitly. But anyone with money who wants to stockpile oil today to sell it to those future generations can do so. \n\nBut alternative fuels are only going to get more popular, so it is hard to see how the future generation can be low on something which they don't even use anymore. Are much do you worry about your own shortage of horse shoes, green silage, and hog oilers?"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/business/energy-environment/oil-prices.html"
],
[]
] |
|
3n2rur | why do new people i meet look like people i already know? | I started college and noticed how many (not all) people look very similar to people I already know, even if I only knew them vaguely. Obviously they didn't look exactly like people I've met before, but their similarities do sometimes make me do a double take.
Is there some of kind of explanation for this? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3n2rur/eli5_why_do_new_people_i_meet_look_like_people_i/ | {
"a_id": [
"cvkdgte"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Your brain's ability to distinguish faces isn't something you're born with fully-ready. Instead, it's something that gets refined over time, as you see more and more faces. In other words, when you first see a new face, your brain might think it looks just like someone else's because it hasn't learned to spot the more minute differences. Once you spend more time with them, you get better at recognising them.\n\nIt's also where the \"all black people look the same\" thing comes from. If you've barely spent any time around black people, your brain hasn't figured out how to differentiate their faces."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
31m54k | why golfers need 100% silence during their shots? | It just dawned on me why this is the case. They're professionals, as well as any other sport with athletes. Other sport's do not require silence during any points of the game, so how come golfers need the silence? Should they not be "disciplined" and "skilled" enough to be able to perform normally with or without silence?
Was watching the news today and a clip showing a golfer who was unsuccessful at his shot "due to the camera clicking behind him in the crowd." Seems kind of silly that a professional golfer has their performance hindered by background sound. Same goes for any sport. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/31m54k/eli5_why_golfers_need_100_silence_during_their/ | {
"a_id": [
"cq2tnae"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Other sports are more \"dynamic\" or \"real time\", and don't normally allow the player time to line up a shot due to the nature of the sport. Even when they do, they often allow the other team to deliberately try to disrupt the short (for example, taking a kick at goal in either American football or rugby).\n\nCompare this to sports like golf or snooker, where the player is allowed as much time as required to line up the shot, and where the opponent is not allowed to interfere with the shot. In these cases, the players expect to be allowed to concentrate, and this includes the audience being silent. Sure, you could allow lots of noise, but then it would be a different type of game where noise and disruption are expected to be a part of the game."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
33nnyc | when you are programming a computer, what is physically happening on the inside? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/33nnyc/eli5when_you_are_programming_a_computer_what_is/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqmnhsc",
"cqmoikd",
"cqmok2j"
],
"score": [
2,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"If you imagine the computer memory that holds programs is like a huge bank of millions of on/off switches. What you are effectively doing is switching them all into the correct positions to make the computer do what you want it to.",
"Computers are equipped with a general purpose central processing unit (CPU). This CPU is able to take in instructions in binary (0s and 1s), like adding two numbers together or moving a piece of information from one memory address to another. The set of instructions a CPU can do allows it to do virtually any computation.\n\nWhen you start your computer, the CPU receives its first instructions from the computer's firmware (the BIOS, or EFI in newer machines) that directs it to read a program from storage (a hard drive, DVD, USB key, etc). Since you can change the content of a hard drive, or replace the DVD in the optical drive, the computer's behaviour will differ depending on what will be on that storage.\n\nWhen we program a computer, we first write code in a language that is understandable by both humans and a compiler. That code is stored on the computer in a plain text file, which will physically be a series of 0s and 1s (bits) representing each character of the text file. Usually, each character will be 8 bits, or a byte. The compiler will then read that text file, and convert it to an executable file, which will also be a binary file, but this time the bytes will represent instructions and the data and/or memory address they take as arguments instead of characters. Once that file is written at the beginning of the storage medium, it will be what the computer executes the next time you power it on.\n\nOf course, unless you are programming a boot loader, you will rarely actually write to the beginning of the storage. Instead you just compile an executable file, and it will be executed by the operating system (like Windows or Linux), itself executed by the boot loader that was executed by the firmware.",
"Generally when I program, I convert electricity into heat and compiler errors. \n\nAssuming you are doing it correctly, you are normally taking text of some language and running it in a interrupter or compiler. A compiler takes the language and converts it into steps the processor can follow such as add (add) , multiply (mul), compare (cmp), move (mov). The compiler then saves this data to disk to be used later. An interrupter just does the needed instructions in real-time, and continues following the file (s) you send into it. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
7fj8at | why are dams, like hoover dam, built in arc shape instead of straight line? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7fj8at/eli5_why_are_dams_like_hoover_dam_built_in_arc/ | {
"a_id": [
"dqc81ep",
"dqc81la",
"dqc9ls5",
"dqckk4y",
"dqcsd28"
],
"score": [
52,
7,
45,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"It is designed with the arch upstream so that the pressure of the water strengthens the dam as the water presses it against the foundations and abutements.\n\nEdit to add: PBS does a better job than I\n\n\"The Hoover Dam is a curved gravity dam. Lake Mead pushes against the dam, creating compressive forces that travel along the great curved wall. The canyon walls push back, counteracting these forces. This action squeezes the concrete in the arch together, making the dam very rigid.”",
"Arches and domes are much better at spreading force than straight lines are. The arched shape of a dam lets the force of the water run along the dam and into the supporting structure.",
"Cement/concrete is really strong against things that try to squish it and crush it, but really weak against things that try to pull it apart, we put rebar in it to help but it's still wayyyy stronger against squishing\n\nThe curve of the dam means that as the water pushes on it it will try to become straight, but becoming straight would require it get wider but there are cliffs that push back against that. This puts the load on the dam in the way it is strongest since pushing in the middle creates a squishing force on the dam materials\n\nIf you have a straight dam then the water behind would be pushing the middle outward, this will try to stretch the dam forward and it is very weak to that so it won't be able to hold as much water back",
"If you want a tactile analogy, try squeezing an egg along the long axis. You’ll find that it’s surprisingly difficult to crush. The curved shape of the egg distributes the load similarly to how the curve of a dam distributes the load. (Not an exact analogy, but close enough for illustrative purposes.)",
"Actually, gravity dams are more common, and tend to be straight.\n\nThe water is trying to push the dam downhill. In a gravity dam, the weight of each section of the dam is sufficient that friction keeps it from moving down hill.\n\nAn arch dam is just an arch, like the masonry arches which hold up bridges. It's just rotated 90 degrees, so that instead of pushing up and having the top of the arch up, it's pushing upstream and the top of the arch is upstream. The force of an arch dam is transferred to the side supports, like an arch holding up a bridge transfers the force to the pillars at the bottom.\n\nSince the compression of an arch is close to constant, it only provides a net force where the direction changes, hence the curve.\n\nYou can check this yourself by tying a string fairly tightly between two supports at the same level, and pushing down in the middle. Since the tension in the string will be the same on both sides the pull to the side cancels, but both sides pull slightly up, and your finger is lifted by the change in direction of the string where you press it. This is how suspension bridges work. Compression is just negative tension. Arches are under compression and do the exact same thing with the curve in the opposite direction.\n\nSince concrete is stronger in compression than under compression, arc dams always are under compression and hence curve so that the center part is upstream.\n\nHoover is actually a combination arch-gravity design, but the arch is clearly visible on the top.\n\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
80igxt | why do venomous predators such as texas coral snakes have bright colourful body? | Doesn't that give off their location to potential preys? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/80igxt/eli5_why_do_venomous_predators_such_as_texas/ | {
"a_id": [
"duvtycp",
"duvugpa"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Exactly, that's the point. Most prey are found by their heat signature, and high quality color vision isn't a feature of most snake prey.\n\nIf you're super poisonous and most birds would die if they bite you it doesn't do you any good if they have to bite you to find that out. You still get bit and that could kill or maim you. You want a huge sign that says \"Bite this and you die\" pointing right at you. But, birds can't read, so bright colorful bodies do the second best thing. \n\nBirds learn \"that's too easy to see, there must be a catch\". Even other snakes mimic your poisonous appearance, to scare away predators without the work of producing poison.",
"It's usually poisonous creatures that are colorful, its to display/ warn other predators that they are poisonous and not to be eaten \"don't eat me or you'll die\". Google \"Aposematism\""
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
69sc8f | if we as a society understand how prevalent divorce is, why is marriage still so common, even with such negative stigma? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/69sc8f/eli5_if_we_as_a_society_understand_how_prevalent/ | {
"a_id": [
"dh8z0jc"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"I think there's a degree of bias in regards to people in unhappy marriages are the loudest people in the room, drowning out the voices of people in happy marriages. Nobody wants to here you \"brag\" about how good your life is because you actually like your spouse, so you shut up about it. That being said, you don't have to wait to see a decline in marriage rates, it has already happened. People are less likely to get married now than they used to be, and when they do they are older than they used to be. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
ajb0o4 | if a star in its red giant phase absorbed a star similar to our sun would it refuel the red giant and make it go back into its main sequence stage? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ajb0o4/eli5_if_a_star_in_its_red_giant_phase_absorbed_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"eeu3mu6",
"eeu4lvf",
"eeu4riv",
"eeu6qd9"
],
"score": [
9,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"No. \n\nSo there are two problems with this idea, the first one being that the gravitational potential energy of two stars falling into each other will basically always trigger some form of nova. \n\nEven if we ignore this and assume the stars are gently lowered into each other, it's not like red giants don't have plenty of fuel left - they just can't burn it because the radiative pressure of their active core is so strong that it's pushing 90% of the star's mass tens of millions of kilometres out into space. Adding more material doesn't change this, it just forces the core to burn faster killing the star sooner. \n\nOh and to tackle the third option, magically teleporting the new star into the core... The core of a star is already so crowded that atoms that shouldn't *ever* fuse in the lifetime of the universe are being fused anyway due to quantum effects, doubling the amount of stuff in that volume would bring about near-instant stellar death. ",
"Probably multiple scenarios here depending on all the different factors. What phase of the lifecycle is each star, what angle/speed is the approach of the two stars, what are the differences in mass, etc.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nMy guess is that the more dense star (the one like our Sun) will stay more intact as they approach while the lower density red giant will have it's upper layers torn apart and flung into space. The cores will eventually merge but if they hit hard enough it could fracture the cores into enough fragments that fusion stops in one or both stars until it condenses back down into a single mass again (if it ever does).\n\n & #x200B;\n\nIf it is a less violent collision I think it would indeed create a new type of star based on the combined composition of both star's materials. That all depends on what type of red giant it is. If the red giant is of significantly more mass, the change in composition wouldn't do much to change the resulting end product star. If they are more similar it would depend on what type of red giant. If it is not fusing helium yet and the Sun like star is young, it could possible result in a middle-ages star. If the red giant is already fusing helium or carbon into heaver elements that might be less likely and the hydrogen rich Sun star would just add some additional fuel to these processes and extend the life of the red giant.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nTotal speculation, no math, just thinking out loud.",
"No. 1 star + 1 star doesn't equal the sum of those stars, it equals one hell of a collision, which will blow matter all over the place. It's more likely that the red giant will lose out on the event.",
"No, it will put it further away from that stage.\n\nIf you wanted to \"fix\" that kind of star, you would want to remove mass, not add it."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
3zof25 | the difference in application of a nail and a screw | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3zof25/eli5_the_difference_in_application_of_a_nail_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"cynr054",
"cynr9gu",
"cynsp4s",
"cynt07a"
],
"score": [
6,
6,
4,
19
],
"text": [
"Nail goes directly into something, a screw is more secure and \"bonds\" with the material it is going into. ",
"Nails go in more quickly and easily. Screws are superior fasteners. Nails are less detectable.",
"As I see it the fundamental difference is the direction of the load. You will most often see nails used to connect two objects set together so as not to separate from a 90 degree fore such as pulling a picture downward against a wall.\n\nOther example is 3 boards in an H formation where the only goal is to hold the cross section board from travelling downward or the vertical boards from travelling away to the sides.\n\nScrews are more commonly used when the load will be in various directions including but not limited to upward (horizontal surface) or outward (vertical surface) away from the screw location. Or, they can be used when there is expected vibration which will loosen the nails.\n\n",
"Nail: easier to install, good for when the expected stress is perpendicular to the nail. I.e. hanging a picture.\n\nScrew: tougher to install, better for when the expected stress is parallel. I.e. a drawer handle. Imagine how easily a nail would come straight out if you kept pulling on whatever it's attached to."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
es81j4 | how do planets "capture" asteroids? wouldn't any asteroid encounter be on a hyperbolic trajectory and need some kind of capture burn? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/es81j4/eli5_how_do_planets_capture_asteroids_wouldnt_any/ | {
"a_id": [
"ff8k988",
"ff8njlt"
],
"score": [
14,
5
],
"text": [
"In an euclidean reference frame this might be true, but the planets as the asteroid themselves orbit the sun. Thus any hyperbolic exit path from the planet will result in an altered elliptic path around the sun (unless the asteroid isn't this fucking fast to leave the solar system as well). Those elliptic paths will approximate in some point around the orbit again and alter the ellipse another time, and again and again. Everytime the bodies \"meet\" they exchange impulse. Some year, after many altered orbits around the sun, the asteroid and the planet have exchanged enough impulse that both orbits around the sun have approximated enough that the asteroid will stay long enough in the planets gravitational pull that it goes into orbit around the planet.",
"Another mechanism for capture is if there are two bodies gravitationally linked that then pass near a larger object like a planet. If most of the momentum is transferred to one of the objects then the other one can be quite easily captured. \n\nI think this is how Neptune captured Triton."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
37397r | why is marriage important or is it still relevant? why does the state give lots of "perks" to married people? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/37397r/eli5_why_is_marriage_important_or_is_it_still/ | {
"a_id": [
"crjax4t",
"crjayj4",
"crjb3qj",
"crjfnc3",
"crjk4cq"
],
"score": [
4,
2,
9,
29,
5
],
"text": [
"State recognition of marriage used to be about giving people a financial incentive to reproduce. Now it basically exists for its own sake, because it's open to anyone regardless of reproductive status.",
"Why do people care so much about marriage to begin with?",
"What are these perks? We don't get anything!",
"The state has an interest in raising the next generation of well adjusted children, and believes that occurs best in the context of marriage.\n\nAlso, many homes still have the breadwinner/homemaker structure, with one spouse focused on work, and the other focused on caring for the family. The homemaker takes on a serious financial risk, as they are sacrificing their ability to make a living to support someone who could leave at any time. Marriage enforces this commitment, and provides for the homemaker should the marriage dissolve. ",
"If you're in the military you get more pay if you have \"dependents\" (e.g. married or kids). You probably won't really see a profit if you have a bunch of kids, or if your spouse doesn't work.\n\n*But if your spouse is also in the military and neither of you want kids...*"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
8vkadj | how can people with chronic diseases become professional athletes? | With all the commotion surrounding Chris Froome right now (he had a high dose of asthma medicine), athletes like him and also Maria Sharapova use medicine against some kind of chronic disease, respectively ashtma and heart disease. I think it's weird that people with such diseases can be one of the beat athletes in their branch of sport. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8vkadj/eli5_how_can_people_with_chronic_diseases_become/ | {
"a_id": [
"e1nzzjs",
"e1o0bf1",
"e1o0l3q"
],
"score": [
3,
3,
5
],
"text": [
"Just because it’s a chronic disease doesn’t mean it can’t be managed and treated. All chronic means is that it’s long term/permanent. ",
"If the medication works well, the disease wouldn’t affect that aspect of their body’s functioning as much as you expect.\n\nTennis is also a great example of a game that’s both mental and physical. Reaction times and the ability to angle the racket to direct the ball require good coordination and awareness. Somebody could be exceptionally good in those regards without good cardio or breathing, though those aspects do matter, of course. So it depends on the sport, but exceptionally good performance in one area (mental or physical) can make up for deficiencies in other areas. \n\nAthletes are also constantly struggling with injury related to their sport. Tennis elbow is a well known example, of course. So in many sports (not just tennis), the top athletes are likely struggling with their own obstacles which aren’t chronic or well-publicized. If somebody with asthma is lucky enough to avoid tendon problems or a twisted ankle, they’re actually doing better than others! ",
"Athletes get very close medical attention. If Chris Froomieboi wasn't one of the world best cyclists, noone would have noticed that there's a \"problem\" with his breathing.\n\nModern medicine is amazing and some diseases can be treated very efficiently. Chris Froome would be fine without this medication but he wouldn't be the world best cyclist. (Albeit closely contested by Peter Sagan and Vittorio Brumotti)."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
2x5ou9 | why are there so many sects of christianity? | Hey Reddit,
In my religion class, we were talking about Christianity and my professor started rambling about all these different groups;
* Lutherans
* Catholics
* Baptists
* Eastern Orthodox
Just to name a few, I kind of stopped paying attention, he was belting one out after another, I got lost in all the different sects.
I know other religions like Islam have sects as does Judaism, but not to the extent the Christians have diversified their religion.
My professor said learning each individual sect would not be worth our time because they are all basically the same. He said the basic difference was one group followed the Pope and the other groups don't. If this is true, why are there so many different versions of Christianity? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2x5ou9/eli5_why_are_there_so_many_sects_of_christianity/ | {
"a_id": [
"cox4b6w",
"cox4bbx",
"cox4ly9",
"coxbcer",
"coxezi4"
],
"score": [
2,
8,
2,
8,
3
],
"text": [
"I don't think your premise is correct. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism seem to have a similar numbers of denominations:\n\n_URL_2_\n\n_URL_0_\n\n_URL_1_\n\nI'm seeing about 20 leaf nodes in the Islam chart, about 18 in the Christianity chart, and 13 in the Judaism infobox.",
"All the different sects are based on small theological differences, as well as traditions and governing practices. If you want a description of the different groups, you can't do better than [this comment](_URL_0_) by /u/thoumyvision. \n\nAs for the reason, well, because those theological differences exist, and it's the most popular religion in the world, so there's room for diversification. It's not unique to Christianity, either, Islam is portrayed as much more monolithic than it really is, there are dozens of different sects. The two that everybody knows, Sunni and Shiite, are really just categories, like Catholocism/Orthodoxy and Protestantism. \n\nNobody talks about diversification in Buddhism because the Buddhists almost never really argue about it, that's just kind of their way, but it does exist. Judaism is not popular enough to have lots of different sects, but it does have some. ",
"Because of the protestant reformation and a little piece of the gospel where Jesus said \"I am where ever two faithful chose to gather.\" Or something to that effect.\n\nAfter laymen started reading the Bible following the protestant reformation, literally any Joe Schmoe could start up his own church independent of the Catholic church's hierarchy.\n\nGranted, it was generally actually kings that were sick of the pope's shit that started the new churches for political reasons, which also contributed to the fragmentation of Christianity.\n\nNote: eastern orthodox broke away from the Catholic Church about 500 years prior to the reformation, but it remained relatively unified.",
"It's like why there are so many distros of Linux. Some guy really liked most of what he had, but there was some small number of issues that he **really** didn't like, so he just made a new one with those small variations.",
" > He said the basic difference was one group followed the Pope and the other groups don't. If this is true, why are there so many different versions of Christianity?\n\nWell it isn't true, so there's that anyway.\n\nThe one-word answer to your question is \"History.\" \n\nIn slightly more detail, Christian theology is *complicated*. There is a set of theological questions which have proven to be both very important and particularly difficult to answer. Different people have come up with different answers to these questions over time, and sometimes this leads to the creation of distinct traditions within Christianity.\n\nSometimes, someone proposes an answer which is so obviously wrong to pretty much everyone else that the answer disappears as anything but a historical footnote. [Sabellianism](_URL_0_), or Modalism, would be one such answer if you're looking for an example. It was proposed in the third century as one answer to the question of the nature/relationship of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but within a century it had been rejected by pretty much everyone. As far as I know, there has never been any significant Christian tradition which has espoused Sabellianism/Modalism for any length of time.\n\nBut sometimes an answer is intuitively compelling on a certain level to a sufficient number of people that it persists to the point that disagreements over the answer lead to groups of people going their separate ways. Western Christianity believes that the Holy Spirit \"proceeds from the Father and the Son,\" while Eastern Christianity believes that the Holy Spirit \"proceeds from the Father\". Baptists believe that Christian Baptism is for professing, adult believers, while basically everyone else believes that it is also for the infant children of Christian parents. Protestantism, Orthodoxy, and Catholicicism have different beliefs about the nature and procedural workings of church authority. Etc. \n\nAs to denominations, those are basically organizational units *within* a broader tradition. The Protestant tradition is made up of several sub-traditions, e.g., Lutheranism, Presbyterianism/Reformed, Anglicanism, and one might say Evangelicalism. But each of those sub-traditions consists of Bob only knows how many distinct organizations. Distinct organizations often arise over doctrinal splits like the ones described above, but as long as the disagreements remain sufficiently minor to keep both sides within the same broader tradition, outsiders often can't really tell the difference. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denomination",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_religious_movements",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_schools_and_branches"
],
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2icys6/eli5_the_differences_between_the_major_christian/cl16uzp"
],
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabellianism"
]
] |
|
9i56f8 | why are there so many trans women (m2f) but we don't see or hear of any trans men (f2m) in the media? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9i56f8/eli5_why_are_there_so_many_trans_women_m2f_but_we/ | {
"a_id": [
"e6gxbtf",
"e6gxgrt",
"e6gyi22"
],
"score": [
6,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Media thrives on the fear factor so it's easy to sell to people that M2F trans people are pedophiles in disguise",
"Not an academic expert on the matter, but it's worth noting that (at least until recently) most of those representations of trans women were as punchlines - see the \"secretly a man\" trope - or specifically to be the victim of a violent crime. So there might be more stories featuring trans women, but I think it's fair to say that, historically, the quality of that representation has been up for debate. \n\nHopefully that sheds some light on it for you?",
"Yeah, certainly Chaz Bono hasn't been a major figure in LGBTQ rights over the past 20 years. \n\n & #x200B;\n\nIt's also a matter of a general societal acceptance for women who want to deviate from the gender norms without needing it to impact their sexuality. Tomboys and other women who want to present as more masculine don't face the same levels of ostracism and ridicule that effeminate men do. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
1yf548 | why do beards sometimes hurt? | And can it be explained?
I've been growing a beard for about 2 years now, but about 7 months ago decided to not trim anymore. When I sleep on my beard, sometimes it hurts. It feels like my hair is bent or something. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1yf548/eli5_why_do_beards_sometimes_hurt/ | {
"a_id": [
"cfjyhel",
"cfjzc17",
"cfjzucg"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Odds are you're just pulling the hair as you move around in your sleep. This happens with my beard, too. It's more of a problem with facial hair than the hair on your head, since facial hair is (usually) stiffer.\n\nOr, that's how I remember it. Been a while since I had much hair to speak of.",
"Longer hairs = stress on you hair follicles. This is also why people with long hair can get mild headaches. ",
"I can only assume this is very much related.\n\n_URL_0_"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1umb6w/eli5_why_does_moving_my_hair_sometimes_hurt_my/"
]
] |
|
6qww8h | if i drill a hole directly from one side of the earth to the other, then throw my sister down it, what would happen to her speed and trajectory as she approached/crossed the dead centre? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6qww8h/eli5_if_i_drill_a_hole_directly_from_one_side_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"dl0k74r",
"dl0k7b0",
"dl0k8g4"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"She would hit the side and die horribly.\n\nIf you threw her in a better direction or put her in a capsule with rollers on it she would hit the liquid core of the Earth and die horribly by being instantly cooked.\n\nWhat a brother you are!",
"If the Earth was still and your hole was a vacuum, she would accelerate until she passes the core then begin to slow down, eventually stopping as she came out of the other side. Energy in = energy out.\n\nIn reality though, she would slam violently into the side of your hole due to the Earth's rotation long before she made it anywhere close to the center.",
"In theory, she would fall towards the centre of the Earth. Once she was at the centre of the earth, she would move past it but slowing down. Eventually she would be held in suspension directly at the centre of the earth. Think of a YoYo swinging back and forth until it stops in the middle. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
7dvnjy | what are the main differences between popular opiates and why do people choose to do some over others for recreational purposes? | To clarify, I’m not looking to do any. I’ve known quite a few people in my life whom have gotten hooked on various opiates and today I was wondering, what makes them want to do fentanyl over heroin for example? I understand prices are a factor but as far as effects are concerned, what’s the difference between oxy, hydro, heroin, fentanyl, codeine, etc.? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7dvnjy/eli5what_are_the_main_differences_between_popular/ | {
"a_id": [
"dq0q8uv",
"dq0qkct",
"dq10g9m"
],
"score": [
8,
41,
2
],
"text": [
"There's little to no difference between the ways the opiates interact with your body. Though some batch of other of an illegal street drug might be cut with something else that has other noticeable effects - eg kerosene or cocaine - typically because they are cheaper.\n\nDelivery can matter - injection feels different than snorting or eating.\n\nFentanyl is all the rage because it's super-potent and cheap. It's so potent you can overdose by getting the purified version on your finger and rubbing your eyes. It's so cheap because the Chinese are making it 'legally' - the Chinese government unofficially allows dedicated Fentanyl labs to produce product for export as long as they don't sell to other Chinese. (and bang-bang in the back of the head if they sell to Chinese - the Chinese do not fuck around with drug dealers)\n\nBeyond price it's just how the opiate is packaged, some things are easier than others. Oxy comes in a pill form and it's medically pure and known dosage so it's easy to think it's safe to start taking. Codeine can be bought by teens over the counter, so that's what they do. Heroin is 'bad' but cheap. Fentanyl is dangerous - your underground chemist really needs to know how dilution dosing works or he'll produce a batch that will kill people.",
"To my knowledge, as limited as it may be (opiates are not exactly my DOC) it mostly boils down to three things, two of which are closely related. Strength, availablity, and price. The latter being the related ones.\n\nCodeine is basically what i call the tier 1 opiate. It makes you feel nice and airy, puts you in a good spot, but it also has some side effects like itchiness, plus its usually pressed with APAP which is no good for the liver at high doses. So; codeine- plentiful, somewhat cheap, kinda weak, but still enjoyable.\n\nHydrocodone is, for me, where we move up to tier 2. Now ive \"heard\" that hydrocodone is 6x as potent as codeine. Whether that number is accurate or not still gives credence to hydro being the second tier of opiates. Hydrocodone will criss cross you right the fuck up if you take enough, and *typically* without the itchiness (although this can usually be abated with a simple antihistamine.) So; hydrocodone- a little more expensive, much more enjoyable, stronger, less APAP in your system (ideally)\n\nOxycodone. Tier 3. Now, unfortunately, this is where my knowledge runs thin. Ive only tried percocet once, and i know they were pressed, so i cant give you much, but to my understanding, this is the shit. This is the drug people take before they move up to heroin (if they feel so inclined). Hard to find, expensive as fuck, and very strong.\n\nNOW.... *fent*.... too dangerous, too risky, too unreliable for my taste. I mean, look, mere days ago an up and coming rapper DIES because of fent laced bars. This shit is DEADLY. I dont know what its like, because i havent tried it, and i dont plan to. Im sorry to you fentanyl fanboys, but i just cant get behind it. Ive known people that have OD'ed and i just cannot and will not toleralte this recent influx of fentanyl laced presses. It scares me, and it saddens me.\n\nHeroin is... well......heroin. Never done it, but i imagine it to be pure fucking bliss. Maybe one day, (hopefully not, maybe). We skip to tier 5 for our mistress, Lady H\n\n\nAnyway, thanks for reading and asking your good question, hope you all have a wonderful day!\n\nSorry if this is a bit jumbled im very much in the zone right now. Peace!",
"If you really want to tier beyond just the basics:\n\nLowest to Highest strength (obviously dosage and method of ingestion contingent)\n\n1.Tramadol\n2.Codeine\n3.Hydrocodone with APAP\nOxycodone with an OTC painreliever\n4.Morphine\n5.Hydrocodone w/o filler\nOxycodone w/o filler\n6. Hydromorphone\n7. Oxymorphone\n8. Fentanyl\n9. Heroin\n\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
fv1gux | how do people monetize on "likes", "follows", "views", and such? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fv1gux/eli5_how_do_people_monetize_on_likes_follows/ | {
"a_id": [
"fmfue8e",
"fmfugcu"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Generally through sponsorship (meaning: a company paying the person to have them promote something)\n\nLikes, follows, and such give an indication of about how many people see your posts/Instagram/etc. This is valuable to advertisers. The more and \"better\" people to see your stuff means the more and better people will see their stuff if they pay you to advertise it on your page.\n\nSay I'm advertising some new makeup product. I'm looking at some girls who do fashion stuff on instagram. Well, the girl with 50 followers, meh, I don't care about 50 people. The one with 500 followers, still, thats not much. The one with 2.1M followers who posts every day and gets a lot of comments -- now, hot damn, I'd love if she showed off her love of my new lipstick on her page to her 2.1M followers, thats a lot of people to show my new product to. Of course different products and companies will have different thresholds on where that numbers is. In a small market, 1000 follows may be a pretty great option, especially if those 1000 followers are exactly the kind of people that need to hear about your product, but generally, bigger is better, and/or \"better\" followers are better.\n\n**tl;dr**: More followers means more people to advertise to. Companies will pay to advertise to more people.",
"You rack up a million fans, then a company figures \"we'll give you a $30k car if you shout our name to your million fans\"\n\nYou hype their brand, they get exposure."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
3r4fyl | is weight loss really just calories in/calories out, or do other things matter? (like metabolism, what time of day you eat, ect) | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3r4fyl/eli5_is_weight_loss_really_just_calories/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwkshcu",
"cwkvq5i",
"cwkw6qx",
"cwkw7vl",
"cwla0l9",
"cwlb4yj"
],
"score": [
9,
26,
3,
5,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Weight loss is mostly just calories in vs calories out, but some behaviors and diets make it a lot easier to happily sustain a a negative calorie balance to lose weight. ",
"[Metabolic rate,](_URL_0_) and [time of day you eat,](_URL_1_) don't really matter much. It's honestly just as simple as calories in, calories out. Obviously your general health will be better if those calories are \"good calories\" like veggies and proteins, but in terms of weight loss, you really just need to eat at a calorie deficit. ",
"Other things matter.\n\nThe best diet is one that you can actually stick to.\n\nWhen you are dieting, you are by definition not eating enough food to maintain your weight. Your body responds by giving you a feeling of hunger. Eating low fat high carb gives you much more of a hungry feeling, because when you eat more carbs that translates into higher blood sugar, which means you have more of an insulin response. Then your blood sugar levels crash and you feel really hungry again.\n\nGetting your energy from fat instead of carbs means you have much more stabilised blood sugar levels and don't get the same 'white knuckle hunger' even when you're eating the same amount of calories.\n\nSo undereating/dieting with primarily carbs makes you feel hungrier, which makes it less likely you will stick to your diet.",
"Lost over 60 lbs by eating whatever I wanted, at whatever time I wanted. I just made sure I had a caloric deficit at the end of the day. (AKA, I used moderation)\n\nAlso, I feel like I remember a professor from Kansas proving you could lose weight with gas station food?\n\nAnyway, for me it's really simple as calories in and calories out.",
"Calories out already accounts for all possible factors such as metabolism and time of day. At the end of the day its not even a matter of biology so much as it is simple physics. If the amount you consume is less than the amount you expend you are a net loss and vice versa.",
"Yes and no. Its correct but not very precise, there are way more things that effect weight loss but for simplicity sake cals in/out is the golden ruler. Simply put.\n \n1. If you eat more/less than your body need, you will gain/lose weight over time (There are no one day diets).\n\n2. There are many diets, most of them attempt to utilize the body natural mechanism to help you burn fat faster. But regardless of the diet if you keep to #1 you will loose weight over time.\n\n3. While things like Genetics/metabolism/etc effect how much your body needs (just like there are tall/short guys, there those who need 1600/1500 cals a day), rule #1 still applies. And mostly its just excuses paddled by over-eaters to pretend its out of their hands \n\n4. The key is overtime weight management not just one-time weight loss i.e. if you don't work on making some life style changes eventually you'll gain the pounds back, and if you do don't blame \"diets\"."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/metabolism/art-20046508",
"http://www.webmd.com/diet/diet-truth-myth-eating-night-causes-weight-gain"
],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
tulit | can someone please explain the difference between a 'closed' universe, and an 'open' and a 'flat' universe? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/tulit/eli5_can_someone_please_explain_the_difference/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4puw1h",
"c4pv3fj"
],
"score": [
6,
10
],
"text": [
"They're answers to the question \"what shape is the universe?\"\n\nIt turns out that, mathematically, \"what shape is the universe\" can be phrased as \"if you draw a really big triangle in space, what will the sum of its angles be?\" A closed universe is one where the sum is less than 180 degrees, an open universe is one where the sum is greater than 180 degrees, and a flat universe is one where the sum is exactly 180 degrees.",
"Assuming you understand the idea that the Universe has been, and still is, expanding since the Big Bang, the different \"shapes\" are related to how fast it's expanding and the amount it starts to collapse back in due to gravity from galaxies and stuff.\n\nAn analogy (that leaves out some big mysteries): You throw a baseball straight up (or thereabouts).\n\n You throw it hard, but eventually, it falls back down right in front of you. This is a \"closed\" universe. Not enough outward expansion, it eventually collapses back in on itself. \n\nYou throw the ball again, but with super mutant strength. The ball sails out into space, moving so fast that even though it slows down some as it leaves, it's going so fast that it never stops. The ball keeps traveling forever. This is an \"open\" universe, where expansion is so fast the inward pull of gravity can't stop it. A universe like this will eventually expand so much that everything will cool down into darkness. Kind of depressing, but not for trillions of years.\n\nOk, you throw the ball one last time with some help from NASA. You throw the ball with such perfect speed and direction that it coasts into orbit, like a satellite or the Moon. It never falls down, it never leaves. This is a \"flat\" universe. The balance of expansion and collapse are perfectly in tune, so the Universe reaches a certain size... and then stays there. \n\nAt this point it's still unclear which kind of universe we live in."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
3yhdbw | what does our body do when we go to sleep. does it enter some kind of maintenance mode? | Like does our heart slower down to a 'resting' peace
Our breathing pattern change from our every day pattern etc..etc.. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3yhdbw/eli5what_does_our_body_do_when_we_go_to_sleep/ | {
"a_id": [
"cydhn29",
"cyds3al"
],
"score": [
3,
10
],
"text": [
"Actually you just answered your own question.\n\nWhen we sleep, our brains don't ever \"shut down\" but they do slow down. Bodily functions like metabolism and heart rate slow down, and the body focuses on repair mode functions. Healing can be accelerated (not to super human levels) but enough to make it worthwhile. \n\nMotion across your body is suspended, giving your body time to relax from the stresses of moving around constantly for 7-15 hours a day.\n\nIt also gives your brain time to basically \"reset\" from the day. As you accumulate information and you exersize your brain, similar to your body, it does have to actively interpret the information and store it. Some theories do point to \"good sleep = good long term retention of memory\" as a direct result.\n\nSo all in all, sleep is good for our bodies, but how much and in what quantities vary from person to person.",
"**TL;DR- The primary reason we sleep is so our brains can clean themselves.**\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe human brain weighs only 3lbs, but it uses 20% of its body's energy. Because it uses so much energy, it produces a lot of metabolic waste. Our body gets rid of metabolic waste through something known as the lymphatic system. It essentially just transports chemical waste to your urine. The brain is too special to use the lymphatic system. It has its own cleaning system known as the glymphatic system. While we sleep our brain cells clump together, losing 60% of the brain's volume. Then spinal fluid is pumped through the brain to get rid of toxins that accumulated throughout the day. These toxins are then moved into the lymphatic system and removed with the rest of the body's waste.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFailure to sleep will result in an accumulation of toxins in the brain, like beta amyloid ( the compound that causes Alzheimer ). Within the first few days with little sleep, your frontal cortex with begin to slow down processing, you will fly in and out of focus, and simple mental tasks will become strenuously difficult. By day 4 with little, to no sleep, you will begin hallucinating and your executive function will become severely impaired. \n\n\n\n\nThere have been a limited number of experiments involving humans to stay up for unnaturally long periods of time. However, we do have a fair amount of experiments done on rats. In 1989, at Rochester University, researchers kept 10 rats awake to see what would happen. All the rats died with 32 days of sleep deprivation ( the first one died on day 11). The exact number of days it would take to kill a human is unknown, and is dependant on an individual's health before experiencing extended sleep deprivation, though it is known that eventually it will result in death. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOn the surface, sleep doesn't make sense. It makes us lose productivity, and makes us vulnerable to predators. Yet all mammals, birds, reptiles, and even fish sleep in some way or form. Evolution wouldn't sustain this trait unless it is absolutely necessary to a species's survival. It is. It prevents our brains from drowning in metabolic waste.\n\n\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
34813l | why does my house need gutters? | Here's the answer I'll get- you need them to keep moisture away from the houses foundation. I understand the basis but I think it's flawed. First, the slight overhang of the roof will make the water land on grass (or another porous) substance. So that should eat up the moisture. Then how much rain would it really take to cause damage and over what time period? I think odds are normal rain isn't going to cause damage. Which brings me to the reason for the post: isn't the cost of gutters AND maintenance far greater than the likely cost of realistic damages? The maintenance is a F'ing nightmare. Either invest in one of those products (gutter helmet) that doesn't work. Or pay someone to professionally clean in the spring and fall.
So explain like I'm five why I'm wrong. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/34813l/eli5_why_does_my_house_need_gutters/ | {
"a_id": [
"cqs4hg3"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Without gutters, your lawn or whatever is beneath where your gutters are now, would be flooded whenever it rains. All the rain that falls onto the area of your house/roof will be redirected to that very small area under the edge of your roof. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
1i2yap | why is netflix able to create three highly acclaimed shows, while basic cable has been struggling with every new show they create? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1i2yap/eli5_why_is_netflix_able_to_create_three_highly/ | {
"a_id": [
"cb0g39h",
"cb0h9eg",
"cb0hjhw",
"cb0loe0",
"cb0ohsu"
],
"score": [
4,
11,
4,
20,
2
],
"text": [
"Orange is the new black sucks dude... Also Jason Biggs will never in his life be taken seriously",
"A couple of reasons:\n\n1. Previously, Netflix only had content provided by others. It's new and novel for them to create their own content, so it gets a lot of attention.\n\n2. They had the good sense to make that content high-profile; A political thriller produced by David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey. A new series from the creator of Weeds. ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. That's gonna get attention.\n\n3. As others have pointed out, that's THREE series, compared to hundreds of thousands of hours of non-original programming. A cable channel, by comparison, will have to rely more on original programming (mixed in with syndicated shows and off-network reruns), and the more they produce, the greater the odds of that programming being of lower quality.\n\nThe more shows Netflix produces, the more likely it is that something will be of lower quality. Even if they continue to keep their model small, premiering one new series every few months, there's still the strong possibility that something just won't be that great. It happens.",
"All the reasons others posted (rapt audience to market to, big money investment, always available) and another big one: market research. Netflix has a very precise understanding of what their audience likes because their users review every movie and show they watch. Netflix invest heavily in analytics, so they knew, for example, people love political thrillers, and they love Kevin Spacey, and they love Fincher, so they worked to merge all those things together into a single series that is likely to be good.",
"Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Walking Dead. Three highly acclaimed shows on a single basic cable channel.",
"I'd disagree about the \"high acclaimed\" bit. House of Cards was good (though still not on the level as your average HBO show) but everything else they have put out has been poorly received. Even the new Arrested Development was mediocre although it's almost impossible to live up to that kind of hype."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
1p88ve | how can coca-cola be used as a rust remover but still be safe to drink? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1p88ve/eli5_how_can_cocacola_be_used_as_a_rust_remover/ | {
"a_id": [
"cczql3b",
"cczqsbp",
"cczr937",
"cczr9dn",
"cczs2q4",
"cd027h7"
],
"score": [
3,
12,
23,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"I'm sure it'd dissolve your teeth if you just let it sit in your mouth.\n\nFortunately, we swallow it, and our protective linings keep it moving, then break it down and digest it for us.",
"Well, that's a rumor but we actually regularly drink a chemical added to our water supply (known as *dihydrogen monoxide*) that's known as the *the universal solvent*.\n\nSome of its properties also include:\n\n* Major source of acid rain\n* Fatal if inhaled\n* Used as a corrosion accelerator \n\n",
"Because our insides aren't made of rust.\n\nSeriously - if you look at any cave or canyon, it was formed by water eating away rock, yet our bodies are mostly water. And our stomach is filled with a strong acid that would dissolve a lot of stuff (including our food). But it's okay, our bodies are able to handle these things, like we do Coke.",
"Your guts aren't made of rust",
"in my personal research beer is usually a safer and healthier drink than coke. ",
"Coca-Cola is not safe for us to consume. Who told you that it was?"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
5udp8f | if america isn't investing more money in space programmes why is privatisation a bad thing? | I recently seen a video of a lot of space travel legends testifying against the Privatisation of space travel by Elon Musk and Space-X. I don't understand what the issue with privatisation is? Especially when Armstrong and the likes are so pro space travel. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5udp8f/eli5if_america_isnt_investing_more_money_in_space/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddta2rp",
"ddtowww"
],
"score": [
7,
2
],
"text": [
"A big argument is [space debris](_URL_0_)\n\nWhen a rocket is in orbit, it ejects empty fuel tanks and boosters that will stay in orbit. These objects continue to orbit the Earth at incredibly fast speeds, and will cause huge damage to anything entering Earth's orbit in the future if they collide with new rockets. Every time this happens, future missions into Earth's upper atmosphere gets increasingly more complex, and entering orbit is always a key step in travelling further out.\n\nLet's say we want to send a rocket to Jupiter, we don't just point the rocket directly at the planet and keep the engines running until we get there. The rocket travels directly upwards away from Earth, then turns 90 degrees and burns its fuel until it enters a stable orbit. Then we keep burning fuel to perform a [Hohmann transfer, ](_URL_1_) orbiting space debris makes this process increasingly dangerous and we have to get further and further away from Earth before this maneuver is safe to perform.",
"/u/Draculix is right. \n\nBut I want to add another layer regarding privatization. \n\nNASA has a the best Return on Investment of any government agency by a milestone. [Here's a fun infographic](_URL_0_)\n\nThat is, for every dollar we spend on NASA, between $7 and $14 is returned to the economy. This means patents, research and discoveries made available to the public, and could be given a new applications by just about anyone. \n\nTeflon and memory foam come to mind. There are thousands of competing companies making non-stick pans and comfy mattresses. Hiring tens of thousands of people, all contributing to society, supporting families, etc, all because of NASA research. \n\nIf private companies did the kind of space research NASA did, the social and economic impact would be squeezed due to our intellectual property laws. \n\nIt's not about space travel. NASA is a loss-leader. When politicians see privatization becoming more viable, they'll wish to cut NASA's budget. And they do. Which is fair enough - private companies can hire better talent, for lower operations costs, and innovate quicker because they're competing with one another. NASA only competes with itself. \nHowever, economists would say a cut to NASA is a cut to the US Economy as a whole. Privatization of space is a threat to growth, in it's own weird way. As a man reading this thread with scratch-resistant lenses on his face, I can appreciate the arguments.\n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_debris",
"http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMAT6680Fa05/Bacon/Nikki's%20Site/Hohmann_transfer_orbit.jpg"
],
[
"http://www.21stcentech.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/NASA-Spinning-Off-Since-1962.jpg"
]
] |
|
7zn9gn | why do americans have a different keyboard layout than europeans even though they need the same keys? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7zn9gn/eli5_why_do_americans_have_a_different_keyboard/ | {
"a_id": [
"dup90hd",
"dup90yj",
"dup9guw",
"dupax1d"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
10,
2
],
"text": [
"Because they don't need the same keys. Most European languages have extra characters that are used frequently and don't exist in English language (i.e. German äüö). These keys have prominent places on the keyboard where the American keyboard has special chars like curly braces. ",
"Ah I know this one. \n\nShort answer: \nEuropeans need different keys!\n\n\nSlightly longer answer: \nEurope needs many different keyboards. The nordics use a different keyboard from Germany which is different from France and so on. This makes sense since they all type different languages which have different letters. \n\nI hope that’s ELI5 enough. Very basic but straight forward. I’m in Europe now and need to bring my American keyboard places because I hate the Europe layouts for programming :-)",
"The QWERTY layout was devised for mechanical typewriters. They used mechanical levers and \"hammers\", which flew up and physically hit an inked ribbon pressed against the paper. Sometimes these hammers got jammed and tangled up, but it was eventually realized that careful ordering of the hammers would make that less likely. And because these hammers had to be connected to the keys physically, by means of levers, that meant re-ordering the keys on the keyboard.\n\nHammers with letters that were used frequently together could be spaced so that they wouldn't get tangled. And so the T and G -- which in English are almost never used together -- were next to each other, but both a little further away from H (because TH and GH are frequent letter combinations in English). Remember, I am talking about the hammers, not the keys: on the keyboard, it so happens that all three letters are quite close to each other.\n\nBut different languages use different letter combinations. For example, in German, Y is used much less often than it is in English, and Z is used much more often, and so you'll find that on a German keyboard, Z and Y are swapped (so Germans use a QWERTZ layout).\n\nNot only that, but languages sometimes have letters that don't even exist in English. A German keyboard has to find room for Ä, Ö, Ü and ß, for example. On an English-language layout, those keys are used for punctuation marks, so a German keyboard has to put those punctuation marks elsewhere.\n\nAnd different languages use different punctuation marks. Until the invention of e-mail, the symbol @ was only used in English (it meant \"at\" when talking about prices, so \"4 items @ $10\" meant \"four items at ten dollars each\"), so German keyboards never used to have it. (Now they do, but it's a bit tricky: on a German computer keyboard, the right Alt key is replaced by a key labelled \"AltGr\" -- as it is on the US International layout -- and to get the @ sign you have to press AltGr+Q.)",
"Might I suggest The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard which is a keyboard layout patented during 1936 by Dr. August Dvorak and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Dealey. Several modifications have since been designed by the team directed by Dvorak or by ANSI. These variations have been collectively or individually termed the Simplified Keyboard or American Simplified Keyboard, but they all have come to be known commonly as the Dvorak keyboard or Dvorak layout.\n\nDvorak proponents claim the layout requires less finger motion and reduces errors compared to the standard QWERTY keyboard arrangement. It is claimed that the reduction in finger distance traveled permits faster typing while also reducing repetitive strain injuries, although that claim is controversial.\n\nAlthough the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard (DSK) has failed to replace the standard QWERTY, most major modern operating systems (such as Windows,macOS, Linux, Android, Chrome OS, and BSD) allow a user to switch to the Dvorak layout. Neither iOS nor BlackBerry 10 provide a system-wide, touchscreen Dvorak keyboard, although third-party software is capable of adding the pattern to both iOS and Blackberry 10.\n\n_URL_0_"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard"
]
] |
|
nvoy1 | how do tv programs work? | Is it preset on a computer somewhere that say, a sitcom is played at this time interrupted by a 'national' (Geico for eg) commercial is played, followed by a local (mom and pop store in my city) one, and ends exactly in 30 mins followed by the closing credits at the speed of light on one side of my screen and another program follows without interruption? how is all this controlled? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/nvoy1/eli5_how_do_tv_programs_work/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3cd3lw",
"c3cd3lw"
],
"score": [
5,
5
],
"text": [
"This is my first go at something like this...\n\nLet's say you have a class in school that is 30 minutes long. Your teacher will be in charge those 30 minutes and show you certain things at certain times. She will show you the chalkboard, the bulletin board, a book, and other things, every eight minutes or so she show you some toys.\n\nYour teacher is Master Control at your local TV station.\n\nSometimes, everyone in the country magically goes to the same class, but your teacher is still helping. Your teacher tells you when to look at the nationwide teacher. The nationwide teacher will usually only teach for 26 minutes and show everyone in the country the same chalkboard, bulletin boards, books and some toys. The nationwide teacher will send your teacher very specific times when he won't be teaching to come out and only show you toys.\n\nThe natiowide teacher is a networks (NBC, ABC, FOX) Master Control\n\nSometimes your teacher is a computer, sometimes she is a person.\n\nChalkboards and books are shows. Toys are commercials.",
"This is my first go at something like this...\n\nLet's say you have a class in school that is 30 minutes long. Your teacher will be in charge those 30 minutes and show you certain things at certain times. She will show you the chalkboard, the bulletin board, a book, and other things, every eight minutes or so she show you some toys.\n\nYour teacher is Master Control at your local TV station.\n\nSometimes, everyone in the country magically goes to the same class, but your teacher is still helping. Your teacher tells you when to look at the nationwide teacher. The nationwide teacher will usually only teach for 26 minutes and show everyone in the country the same chalkboard, bulletin boards, books and some toys. The nationwide teacher will send your teacher very specific times when he won't be teaching to come out and only show you toys.\n\nThe natiowide teacher is a networks (NBC, ABC, FOX) Master Control\n\nSometimes your teacher is a computer, sometimes she is a person.\n\nChalkboards and books are shows. Toys are commercials."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
9z2haj | - why do they say you can ‘sweat’ the commin cold or the flu out when unwell? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9z2haj/eli5_why_do_they_say_you_can_sweat_the_commin/ | {
"a_id": [
"ea5tb5i"
],
"score": [
12
],
"text": [
"Because they don't know what they're talking about. Fevers may be useful for combating some bacteria, but will not do much against the common cold or flu, which are caused by viral infections. People say this because they get sick, feel like shit, sometimes feel feverish or sweaty (though usually only lower grade fevers with most colds), then eventually feel better. They associate the fever and \"sweating out\" with getting better."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
1ybmj0 | pdf is an open standard - why there are plenty of free pdf readers, but no free pdf editors? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1ybmj0/eli5_pdf_is_an_open_standard_why_there_are_plenty/ | {
"a_id": [
"cfj33xw",
"cfj389x",
"cfj3m4x",
"cfj3w27",
"cfj4eu6"
],
"score": [
3,
10,
5,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"This isn't necessarily true. Preview, the default image and PDF viewer on macintoshes, can do basic editing of PDFs. Similarly, a google search lead me to [this](_URL_0_), which allows you to edit PDFs. \n\nThe better question is why are free PDF readers more common than free editors. The answer is simple: it's hard to make intuitive editors. While presenting something on a screen is simple, making it so that the user can manipulate it in a way that makes sense to the user is rather difficult to pull off. While free PDF editors exist, they are overshadowed by their paid counterparts because they tend to have significantly better user interfaces.",
"Simple answers: a) PDF viewers are easier, simpler programs to write than editors or authoring tools, and b) PDFs are designed to work well for viewing and printing documents, rather than as a way of storing editable versions.\n\nA couple of notes:\n\n* The PDF standard was designed as a way of storing **completed** documents, with formatting, images and fonts built right into the PDF file itself. That doesn't mean it contains enough information for you to edit the document. For example, if you create a document that just says \"Hello Reddit\" in a fancy font, the PDF will have the fancy font embedded in it - but only the letters H, e, l, o, R, d, i, and t. So you can print the document and it'll look exactly how the author wanted, but if you wanted to add some new text to it, you'd probably need to find the right font yourself.\n* Unlike a word processor, PDFs don't normally need to keep track of how sentences and paragraphs flow - they just treat the text as a load of characters positioned in certain places on the page. That's fine for printing, but can make it difficult to change a word in the middle of a block of text.\n* Note that there are lots of free or shareware tools to create PDFs. Macs have a PDF creator built into them (any OS X application that can print usually has a \"Save as PDF\" option on the Print dialog). There are plenty of freeware options for PCs too (I think we use PDF995 - google it - it's free but pops an ad up on screen each time you use it. Works very well for occasional use)",
"The PDF format is a format of documents meant for not been editable. This has several advantages, the main one been that no one can appropriate the document you created or use it in its owns. \nWhen creating a PDF document, one can choose easily to protect it through a password, to allow or disallow simple copy from the document, and a few others protections. \nAnother advantage of the PDF format is that the display of the document is not affected by the system you use : the document will appear the same way, whether you use an old Mac, a weird Linux or the last Windows. That's a huge boon. \n\nA PDF document is created from a source code : if you want to \"edit\" a PDF, you have to edit the source and generates again the PDF. This source code can be a Word document (for static documents), Adobe Acrobat (for dynamic documents, allow to turn your PDF-source to a word document), or the LaTeX editors (used mainly for scientific documents, powerfull but not user-friendly at start)",
"Actually there are free PDF editors, you have just been looking for them at the wrong place. I'll reveal the secret at the end of this answer.\n\nPDF as a file format is meant for something completely different than say Microsoft Word documents. Microsoft Word is a word processor, meant for editing text files. So of course it saves files in a format suited for this, that is, a format that retains all the information about different heading or paragraph styles, margins, captions, cross references and everything else you have.\n\nPDF on the other hand is meant for something different. It's meant more as a digital copy of an actual printed page. The idea being that what you see on screen is exactly what you'll get when you print it. In some ways it's closer to an image format, like JPG or GIF rather than a text document, although in some ways it's vastly different too. But the point is that it only has the information needed to output the page, the context of what the content means is gone. There may be a piece of text on a page but the PDF doesn't have the information of whether it's a caption, a heading, a bullet point or whatever, it only knows that there's this piece of text right here. Just like if you take a screenshot of a text file in Word. You still have all the content needed to print it or show it on a screen, but you lose the context of what each pixel means which makes editing it difficult.\n\nThere is a plus side to this though. The PDF format itself can stay pretty simple while being able to handle practically anything whatsoever anyone could ever imagine. It doesn't need to have special capabilities for 100 different styles of graphs, it only needs to know that you want to draw a line here, and another line there, and a curve there, and a filled box there, and some numbers over there. The fact that these things together happen to make a histogram is irrelevant to a PDF file. \n\nWhat's different between a PDF and say JPG is that PDF is a vector graphics format. Meaning that it stores things like letters not as pixels but as curves. When you have the equation of a curve, you can zoom in on it as much as you like and it'll still look like a smooth curve. This means that the PDF will stay sharp at any resolution you happen to use to print it, or look at it on screen. So you don't need to save the PDF at an absurdly high resolution just to have it print at a respectable quality. There may of course also be pixel-type images embedded in there too which won't magically scale up. But the text parts at least should. Although sometimes you come across PDFs which are just scanned pictures of some old printed document. These are essentially just many JPG or GIF or whatever image files bound together and won't scale up nicely. \n\nPDF does retain some aspects of a word document though. So it may still be possible to do things like selecting some text and copying it to clipboard. Or editing text to some degree. But there aren't really guarantees for that and those things aren't what the format is meant for.\n\nFor actual proper editing of PDF files, you need to look for software that's meant for what a PDF file is, vector graphics. Vector graphics editor usually are able to import PDF files. [Here's](_URL_0_) one. You can move all the elements around as much as you like. But something like editing a piece of text and have it flow around an image nicely is going to be a complicated task.\n",
"There are plenty of free and/or opensource PDF editors, they just aren't well known. And most of them aren't really good because editing PDFs is a complex task. For most uses a document-to-pdf printer service will suffice.\n\nExamples of free PDF editors: PDFedit, PDFSaM, LibreOffice to some extent."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfedit/"
],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.inkscape.org/en/"
],
[]
] |
||
arjsi1 | is it ok to eat a bunch of salt if i drink a lot of water to flush it down? if yes/no, why? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/arjsi1/eli5_is_it_ok_to_eat_a_bunch_of_salt_if_i_drink_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"egnnqkf",
"egnoncp"
],
"score": [
2,
3
],
"text": [
"You drink two litres of water in one meal? That sounds excessive to me.\n\nYou’re not really giving us enough to go on here ... do you also drink water in these quantities throughout the day in a short amount of time? Why so much in one sitting? Or is this an occasional thing you do??\n\nI’m more concerned about the amount of water you’re taking in as that could be causing you an electrolyte imbalance. ",
"It’s probably better to drink water than not, but excess salt intake over time leads to chronically increased blood pressure above your baseline, regardless of the additional water. This relationship is not linear though. If you routinely have 5g of salt per day and sometimes have 6, it will effect your blood pressure over time. But if you’re doing 2.5g on bad days and 2g otherwise, the additional 0.5 isn’t going to affect your blood pressure (or cause sequellae of high blood pressure like kidney disease, stroke, heart attack, etc).\n\nAcutely, if you’re healthy with good kidneys, you’d have to eat a pretty wild amount of salt on purpose to cause any damage."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
6z5ynr | why are hurricanes in the atlantic so much more powerful than in the pacific? | We hear all the time about the raw destructive power of hurricanes in the Atlantic, but honestly, I've never even heard of a hurricane in the Pacific.
Do they even exist, and if so, why are they so much less powerful? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6z5ynr/eli5_why_are_hurricanes_in_the_atlantic_so_much/ | {
"a_id": [
"dmsr7q1",
"dmsr893",
"dmsr9qa",
"dmsr9te",
"dmsrpea",
"dmsrr2o"
],
"score": [
2,
5,
4,
5,
2,
6
],
"text": [
"That's because mostly in the Pacific they are called typhoons or cyclones. They are the same weather phenomenon though.",
"Here are powerful Pacific hurricanes... category 5 Patricia was the strongest ever hurricane before hitting Mexico last year. \n\nHurricanes in the pacific tend to hit Mexico or go out to sea -- they don't often travel to the U.S.\n\nAlso, they often hit the other side of the pacific and threaten Japan, Philippines, etc but are called tsunami. Hawaii also get threatened from time to time.",
"There are plenty in the pacific, but because of how they form and then travel east to west, they don't often hit the continental US and thus never make the news. The only pacific ones you'll hear about on the nightly news are the ones that threaten Hawaii and since Hawaii is so small, the chances of a storm hitting the islands is fairly low. \n\nThe Philippines and China get hit pretty regularly by typhoons (just a different name for the same storm further west). ",
"If you lived in Hong Kong you would be far more familiar with Pacific tropical cyclones which are generally called typhoons instead of hurricanes.\n\nDue to the Earth rotating, most tropical cyclones travel westward which means California isn't at risk of getting hit by them but Hawaii and East Asia are. Pacific typhoons get ***huge*** and can inflict significant damage",
"There are plenty of Hurricanes/Typhoons in the Pacific, but they tend to hit Asia, so we don't hear about them as much here in the US. ",
"The hurricanes in the northern Pacific Ocean aren't as potent as those in the Atlantic because the water is much colder. That's what very few Pacific hurricanes have ever affected the United States."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
4byc4p | when my relatively new computer sits for two minutes thinking about opening word or chrome, what all is it having to process? | [deleted] | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4byc4p/eli5when_my_relatively_new_computer_sits_for_two/ | {
"a_id": [
"d1dguf7",
"d1dhvzs"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"It's probably just lots of background tasks, maintaining processes. Loading icons, checking for updates, etc. Generally, the more RAM you have, the faster and more efficiently your computer will be able to run these programs. RAM and the CPU are the biggest factors in simply running programs. The GPU (graphics card) is what transfers this processing to your monitor.",
"If you did a cold boot (meaning you turned it off and back on) and this problem persists you are either the victim of bloatware, virus or poor marketing.\n\n\n\n\n\nPerhaps this \"relatively new computer\" isnt as strong as you think it is. If you want this problem solved you gotta give me a little more to work with. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
7xe2qz | why do obsessed fans develop the desire to kill celebrities or the object of their obsession and idolization? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7xe2qz/eli5_why_do_obsessed_fans_develop_the_desire_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"du7lo5s"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"I'm sure someone with psychology credentials will come up with a much better response, but my guess is that it has something to do with a sense rejection. These people \"fall in love\" with the people they are obsessed with and feel rejected that the feelings they have are not mutual. In extreme cases this manifests in a real world way (e.g. they stalk their obsession and there are legal repercussions) but in many it's probably mostly imaginary or fantasized. Out of rejection-driven rage they get revenge by trying to kill their obsession and/or they attempt this based on the \"well, if I can't have you then no one will!\" mentality. In any case, I'm sure that there's also some undercurrent of jealousy in play as well."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
4rnqjd | why are planets so rare outside our solar system? | Our solar system has 8 planets, so for a long time I (logically) assumed this was a pretty normal amount of planets, and that most stars would have a few. However, it seems that the Alpha Centauri system has one planet (and even that is contested), and that most solar systems in fact have none or very few. Why do we have so many planets, and most systems have few? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4rnqjd/eli5why_are_planets_so_rare_outside_our_solar/ | {
"a_id": [
"d52menx",
"d52mnc6",
"d52npho",
"d52ny37"
],
"score": [
10,
2,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"They're easier to detect because they're much much closer in our solarosystem. But we've discovered a couple thousand planets with a couple thousand more potential ones. They are not rare.",
"Planets are very hard to detect. Uranus, Neptune and Venus were not discovered until we got modern optics and observation techniques. And we still do not know if there are only eight planets. Looking for planets in Alpha Centauri, our closest star system, is much harder and can only be done if the planet is big and close to one of the stars. It is also worth noting that the Alpha Centauri have three stars and are therefore more likely to kick out planets from its system.\n\nHowever by closely studying big groups of stars with the help of the Kepler telescope we can extrapolate how many planets there are. So far we have observed more planets then expected and it is likely that most stars in our galaxy have at least one planet in orbit.\n\nThe reason we have so many planets in our own solar system might also be down to selection bias. It is much more likely that intelligent life would develop in a system with more planets. Thus you would expect there to be more planets in our home solar system.",
"They're not all that rare. They're just very hard to spot when they're far away because they don't emit their own light like stars do. \n\nWe've only gained the ability to detect planets outside our solar system in the last 20 years, and we've cataloged thousands of them since then. We still aren't sure how many planets the average star has because our methods for detecting extrasolar planets are biased toward larger planets that are closer to the stars they orbit. The two main methods we use to detect them are observing their gravitational effect on their host star and observing a slight dimming of light when they pass in front of their host star. These methods aren't yet precise enough to catch small planets orbiting at a great distance from a star, so we're still trying to figure out exactly how common planets are. \n\nOne other thing to keep in mind is that it makes sense for the solar system to have an above average number of planets because the more planets available, the more opportunities there are for life to develop (assuming planets are specifically conducive to the development of life). So even though there are plenty of planets out there, we shouldn't be surprised if the solar system has more than what is typical.",
"it is estimated that there are [100 billion planets in the Milky Way galaxy](_URL_0_) alone. I don't think that qualifies as \"rare\" by any definition of which I know."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2233.html"
]
] |
|
5xjxp4 | what is going on when your period is late due to stress? can that also make it come early? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5xjxp4/eli5_what_is_going_on_when_your_period_is_late/ | {
"a_id": [
"deinqkq"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Stress can slow down certain hormones and functionality of organs/glands that release hormones that cause your period to start therefore .. slowing down the hormones that start your period. with this disruption happening in the body it would make sense for stress to cause your period to come early or late.. but from personal experience when stressed it normally comes late .. then earlier the next month"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
2vymgl | why does html5 use little internet data than gifs? | I also see that html5 is much faster and looks better than GIFs, why isnt the GIF obsolete and used side by side with html5? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2vymgl/eli5_why_does_html5_use_little_internet_data_than/ | {
"a_id": [
"com1hmq",
"com1v9a",
"com35uu",
"com35vb"
],
"score": [
6,
10,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"They use less data because they are modern and compressed (lots of pixels squeezed together). Gifs as a technology are old, obsolete and from before compression like this existed. With gifycat and imgur doing html5 compression, usage will slowly go down. That said there are millions of gifs out there, and being an image as opposed to video has a certain attraction.",
"GIF isn't obsolete because HTML5 isn't one format whereas .gif is.\nHTML5 is simply a way of embedding H.264, MPEG-4, or WebM format video files (that can potentially contain audio) in a webpage. Which one you get depends on your browser and what the website is ready to serve you, this is what Imgur's .gifv pseudo-extension does, it hides the specific video format from the user and serves up the correct one for your browser.\n\n.gif on the other hand is always the same, and all browsers support it. The guaranteed lack of audio is also a selling point for some in addition to the universal compatibility.",
"GIF is an *image format*. It was designed for images and simple animations with a few frames. It was never meant to be used for video clips. GIF compresses each frame individually. Each frame is effectively a seperate .gif image, all grouped together under one file. A dedicated video codec is able to take advantage of the similarity between subsequent frames to gain much better compression ratios.",
"GIF files are essentially flip books of low quality photos, from an era when 256 colours was good enough, and they were typically the size of postage stamps. It's truely astonishing how good modern gifs are considering the format hasn't changed since those early days. \n\nHTML5 provides a way of using the same compression tech that is several generations better than DVDs. It is truely astonishing that it has been this long (20+ years) and we have just gotten a second way to display an animated movie on a webpage without using Flash or QuickTime plugins."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
19icxc | wealth distribution | After I saw [this](_URL_0_) thread, I started to wonder why the distribution of wealth is an issue. Why does it matter?
I don't understand why it matters how many people each have some huge amount of money.
If you watch that video, it says that the top 1% own 50% of the US's stocks and mutual bonds. Is this because that top tier owns a lot of companies? Wouldn't all publicly traded companies be run by rich people (because they run companies worth a lot...)?
| explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/19icxc/eli5_wealth_distribution/ | {
"a_id": [
"c8oey03"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"The rich don't need anymore money. The poor need more money. But, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.\n\nMoney is power in today's world. In a perfect world we would have basic equality and everyone would get a chance in life. It doesn't work this way though, and some people don't get a chance.\n\nRandom note: As an ex-sociology major, we learned that this is largely the cause of both street crime and white collar crime, which could largely have been prevented if the 1% wasn't so greedy and would actually do something to help poverty. It's a problem is almost all countries."
]
} | [] | [
"http://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/19hrpr/visualizing_wealth_inequality_in_america_a/"
] | [
[]
] |
|
3nu85h | why is russia having such (perceived) success in syria and the multi-nation coalition (seemingly) failing? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3nu85h/eli5_why_is_russia_having_such_perceived_success/ | {
"a_id": [
"cvraalo",
"cvrcf54"
],
"score": [
11,
2
],
"text": [
"Two things: The multi-nation coalition is targeting ISIS exclusively. The Russian forces are officially targeting all anti-Assad rebels and have so far mainly targeted those not related to ISIS. More and also weaker targets makes it easier to make a big impact. \n\nBut the most important distinction is in the \"perceived\". The international coalition has targeted over 10,000 targets in Syria in Iraq ranging from oil infrastructure to military equipment to bases. The Russians have so far maybe hit 100 (but probably even less) targets.\n\nA final difference is that the Russian are actively collaborating with Assad and thus they can share a lot of valuable intelligence. The international coalition doesn't have this kind of inside information.",
"1) Russia is more directly involved, basing its forces in Syria.\n\n2) It is less worried about civilian losses and can attack in more places.\n\n3) It it working with the Syrian government, which has an active ground army to take advantage of the air support Russia is involved in and to use the ground armaments it supplies."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
dno7g3 | when using machine learning to teach a computer to finish a game, how does it determine intermediate goals? | I've seen machine learning used to play fairly complex games like Super Mario. How would one set the 'successful' condition in a fairly long game, i.e. you have to go through several worlds before finally beating a boss and ending up in some end game screen? And how does the learning algorithm know that it's making any progress towards that final goal? So how would it know that world 4 is closer to finishing than world 2, or even dying repeatedly? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dno7g3/eli5_when_using_machine_learning_to_teach_a/ | {
"a_id": [
"f5d26g0",
"f5d2bjv",
"f5d7r38",
"f5d890f",
"f5datsl",
"f5e5gbg"
],
"score": [
4,
3,
2,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"This is one of the difficulties of making a machine learning algorithm. In the case of, say, Mario, you might set the goal as \"go far to the right\". The farther right it goes, the better it thinks it did. Or maybe there are keys in a level - you tell it to get closer to each key in order.",
"In very simple terms, you would set up the machine with a few simple rules and then let it run. You can tell it that the end goal of Super Mario Bros is to get to the end of level 8-4 without dying, and that it must complete all the levels in between 1-1 and 8-4 in order to be successful. You can give it certain parameters and let the computer do the rest",
"For something more open ended, you could also set the machine to, say, \"seek novel content\", avoiding repeating actions it's already done. Much the same way you might walk back into a cleared dungeon and see all the enemies are dead and the treasure chests open, you'd know you've been through there already and look for something new.",
"You touch on one of the fundamental issues of AI. The AI today is limited in the sense that the objective is defined by humans. The AI doesn't understand nor question \"why\" is that the \"final objective\". The danger is that without proper constraints, the AI only measures it's effectiveness against achieving the objective and doesn't \"care\" about the means. The AI will not choose a \"right\" or moral method unless it is instructed to do so but how to make sure this \"moral code\" is foolproof is very difficult, some might say impossible, given the AI can find methods using the billions upon billions of iterations that no human could ever find.",
"So i follow this channel called “code bullet” he uses the same machine you mentioned to do stuff like beating snake or that dinosaur offline game\n\nI will explain you the recent technique to help computer learn better\n\nJust like how we teach dog if they are doing good or wrong by giving them treat, if they are close to goal the game will give ai a reward point and if not/or breaking rule of game or dying they wont get any reward, as for how they set the goal it depends on game tbh, if its racing game then ai will slowly understand whats to do after few thousand attempts, if it’s something like uncharted lets say then its alot more complicated \n\nHope that makes it as clear as possible but you should watch code bullet for much better explanation",
"Some machine learning systems use an error function to tell how far from the ideal system they are. In mario, this might use the score, or how far to the right the character has moved.\n\nThe idea is to choose an error function that will smoothly decrease as you get closer to the success condition. Then, you can use techniques like differentiation to minimise the value of the error function."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
3kvf2v | why does charge build up in a cloud? | Coulds are formed because of water evaporation which is a phenomenon at the molecular level. But charge is accumulation of electrons. So how does evaporation lead to charge build up? What happens in the cloud to result in this? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3kvf2v/eli5_why_does_charge_build_up_in_a_cloud/ | {
"a_id": [
"cv0vlko"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Bits of dust stick to the water or float through the air. The dust and water rubs against each other and every time they do, some electrons get passed from one to the other. Then the particles wander off again before the electrons get passed back. This goes on enough, and *tons* of electrons get thrown around until it builds up a very very large negative charge. The result is lightning: the charge gets explosively released. Sometimes this means from one section of cloud to another, or into the ground."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
47t9ve | if the majority of 9/11 hijackers were saudi, and the saudi govt funded the 9/11 attacks, why haven't we invaded them? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/47t9ve/eli5_if_the_majority_of_911_hijackers_were_saudi/ | {
"a_id": [
"d0fhmu3",
"d0fi1m9"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Invading Saudi Arabia would potentially entail attacks on Mecca and Medina, two of the most sacred sites in the Muslim religion\n\nI'm not a policy expert but pissing off 1 billion Shia Muslims might not be in the best interest of the US",
"The people who hijacked the planes on 9/11 would love to bring down the government of Saudi Arabia. They hate the Saudi royal family at least as much as they hate the American gov't. \n"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
61t611 | why do government drug schedules exist? in the us anyway. | From what I understand they separate out drugs based on medical use, addictiveness, etc. But why does that matter? I just see the schedules as more of a roadblock for scientists trying to study the effects of these drugs. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/61t611/eli5_why_do_government_drug_schedules_exist_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"dfh1iwq",
"dfh1mp6",
"dfh3q7b"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Some drugs present more of a public health risk than others. Aspirin for example is not a particularly dangerous substance as a child could ingest an aspirin accidentally with little to no danger. An aspirin could be secretly dropped into a drink at the bar and be no problem. Having morphine as easily available is likely to present far more problems. ",
"Officially its to have differing levels of control depending on the risk of abuse, but in reality it has become a clusterfuck due to polticians wanting to be \"tough on crime\" and \"broken windows\" etc. randomly increasing the controls on random drugs resulting in a mostly useless classification system, though it does still maintain some semblance of its original form and can be referenced if you take the classifications with a healthy dose of salt.",
"Drugs have effects on people. It is important to classify the dangers as they aren't equal. In theory the higher up the schedual the more risky the drug, in practise it is a lot of politcs (you can't leaglise drugs, think of the children), \n \nI'm personally in favour of the legalisation of all substances though I still think their should be a classification system \nClass A - Very dangerous compounds where cis/trans of the substance is toxic. \nClass B - Dangerous highly adictive and causes iratic behaviour. \nClass C - Moderate risk to health not overally adictive and safe for adults. \nClass D - Moderate risk to health not overally adictive and safe for older teenagers. \nClass E - Nearly no risk but you can not drive or operate under the influence due to risk."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
8k2syu | why is h2o so harmless and vital for life but h2o2 is toxic and harmful? what does that extra oxygen atom do that changes it so dramatically? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8k2syu/eli5_why_is_h2o_so_harmless_and_vital_for_life/ | {
"a_id": [
"dz4e4n6"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"The bond to the extra oxygen is very weak and the molecules much rather be in the normal H2O form. Oxygen is also really reactive and LOVES reacting with other substances, so it breaks off very easily from the H2O2 molecule to react with others"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
2xb3hn | can someone explain how a "pump and dump" works in the financial market? | I want to understand how [*this*](_URL_0_) happened. | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2xb3hn/eli5_can_someone_explain_how_a_pump_and_dump/ | {
"a_id": [
"coyj3kk"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Buy lots of stock at 5 cents a share.\n\nConvince lots and lots of people to buy it, usually with tall tales about how it will make them rich (pump).\n\nAll that purchasing drives up the price of the stock. Sell your shares when it gets to 50 cents per share (dump).\n\nYou've just made a 1000% return on your investment.\n"
]
} | [] | [
"http://www.reddit.com/r/investing/comments/2xa7bw/marijuana_investors_lost_233_billion_in_penny/"
] | [
[]
] |
|
3jvfia | how do psychologists who run into strange cases know that the patient isn't lying? | For instance: I recently saw a post about a woman who couldn't recognize any voice besides Sean Connery's. My reaction if presented with this case would likely be [something along these lines](_URL_0_). | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3jvfia/eli5how_do_psychologists_who_run_into_strange/ | {
"a_id": [
"cuslexj"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"So let's imagine that a patient came into your office and said a set of statements. We'll call them [x].\n\nWhat a psychologist will do is write down [x], then consult to see what happened with other patients who said [x] or something similar to [x]. Whether [x] is true or not isn't really relevant - if a lot of people come into the office and claim that the government is watching them, we can name that [x] 'paranoia', and it in no way implies that the government is watching them.\n\nIf someone is willing to walk up to a psychologist and say 'I can't recognize any voice but Sean Connery' then something is wrong with them. It's not immediately clear what, but they've definitely come to the right person, and the psychologist's duty is to figure out how to help them, one way or another. "
]
} | [] | [
"http://i.imgur.com/Ldt72.gif"
] | [
[]
] |
|
yusti | why is the us military in japan? | I'm guessing that the Japanese likes the US military presence? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/yusti/eli5_why_is_the_us_military_in_japan/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5z00qi",
"c5z031f"
],
"score": [
10,
3
],
"text": [
"_URL_0_\nAnd\n_URL_1_\n\nBasically, after ww2 we had Japan in a position where they'd fucked up pretty badly, so we told them they're not allowed to have their own military anymore. In exchange for allowing us to use their nation as a military staging ground, we'll protect them. ",
"It's a hold over from WW2 when we forced the Japanese government into surrendering. Under the surrender agreement, Japan could not have a military, so we set up shop to oversee the reconstruction and make sure they didn't go crazy again. Soon after, Russia turned against us and China followed suit, so our Japanese bases served as our platform for war operations in the east. To this day, the bases serve to show an American presence so, China and Russia don't try to take over democratic countries like South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_San_Francisco",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Treaty_Between_the_United_States_and_Japan"
],
[]
] |
|
a8njzt | do animals suffer from shrinking gene pools? | Different groups of animals can usually get secluded, and mate amongst themselves. So, is it common that a secluded population vanishes over time because of rampant inbreeding? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a8njzt/eli5_do_animals_suffer_from_shrinking_gene_pools/ | {
"a_id": [
"ecc6goj",
"ecc8y8n"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"It's not common but it can happen if it's severe enough. Inbreeding concentrates the genes present with each generation so you might get a population more resistant to a disease, or less (in which case they may be wiped out quickly if after a few generations, the gene that causes a susceptibility to x disease is present in most of the population). Just as one example - obviously this concentrating process is happening on loads of different genes so if one disease didn't kil them, maybe a hereditary condition would instead. Or maybe nothing would!\n\nIn some cases, where the population isn't too small so the effects of inbreeding aren't as pronounced, and the population remains isolated from other populations of the same period over a long time ( > thousands of years) a new species may form from that population. The name of this process escapes me right now (+ on mobile so not gonna go looking) but it's pretty interesting stuff!\n",
"Absolutely, it's called a genetic or [population bottleneck](_URL_0_). The first animal that came to mind is the cheetah."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_bottleneck#Other_animals"
]
] |
|
7quc44 | freezer frost | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7quc44/eli5_freezer_frost/ | {
"a_id": [
"dsrx8cz",
"dss21w3"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"There is moisture (water vapor) in the air, and alot of it. When it meets the colder air in the freezer some water condenses, because colder air holds less water vapor, onto the surfaces. The liquid water then freezes on the cold surface to form a layer of frost. \n\nIt's like when you wake up on a cold morning and see dew on the grass. ",
"This usually means it was left a little open. This provides a non-stop stream of humid air, to add more and more to the frost layer."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
38hmxu | why aren't a lot of jobs done from home? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/38hmxu/eli5_why_arent_a_lot_of_jobs_done_from_home/ | {
"a_id": [
"crv3pui",
"crv3qs2",
"crv3rw2"
],
"score": [
12,
10,
2
],
"text": [
"I love futurology and automation, but working physically nearby a co-worker is much more efficient than Skype and work sharing programs.\n\nAt least, in my job, working with a co-worker is much more than a webcam face to face with hindered ability to share/show work.\n\nFor your traffic problem, the more common trend city planners are striving for are \"micro communities\" that have residence mixed with commercial, so people aren't commuting 20+ miles.",
"It's mostly a trust/control thing. A lot of employers don't think they can trust employees to do their job if they're not there to supervise them. They think it'll be nothing but goofing off.\n\nI telecommuted 100% of the time for over a decade and I can tell you that yes, there's \"goofing off,\" as in if I feel like I'm not getting any work done I'll go and watch TV or play a video game. But the bottom line is my (and my fellow telecommuting team-members) projects got done on time, we always answered our phones and responded to email, etc. \n\nPlus they could get us to work 24/7. So blessing and curse all in one, there. ",
"What /u/Speciou5 says. Physical proximity makes contact much easier. Another reason is: control. Managers are often afraid, and it's difficult to let one person work from home because you know he's trustable, and deny it to another."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
oynfz | filing taxes | Please someone help me with this. I legitimately have no idea what taxes are as sad as it may be. I was never taught this in school, my parents have always refused to teach me, and now I'm having a difficult time trying to teach myself. I'm in college now and I've held many summer jobs in the past. The only thing I know is that I've gotten letters that say "Important Tax Document Enclosed" from every company I've worked for in the past (all min. wage jobs). What do I do with them?
There is also another problem, some of these letters were accidentally sent to my old address (where my mother lives) and I have no way of getting in contact with her (unlikely she'll respond to any e-mails, calls, or carrier pigeons) to have them forwarded to me. Is there any way I can get a copy of these documents?
**EDIT: I'd like to close this, I'm going to research this on my own because I have a lot to learn. Disregard this topic please =] Unless you want to throw something in, I'll still read it.** | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/oynfz/eli5_filing_taxes/ | {
"a_id": [
"c3l467u",
"c3l4858"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"Number 1, there is a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE misconception that doing your taxes is hard. If all you're doing is filing for some summer jobs, it will not be hard.\n\n* You'll file a federal tax return and a state return (unless you live in a state without income tax like Texas)\n* The \"important tax documents\" you're getting are forms called a W-2. This form gives you all the information you need to fill out your tax return. There's a common file format so that the same fields of information are in the exact same place on every form (salary, tax withheld, etc.) You need one from everywhere you worked during the past year (meaning the calendar year 2011 in this case.)\n* When you work, your employer takes your income taxes out of your check before you even get it. Once a year, you file a tax return to make sure the right amount was taken out. If you paid too much, you get a refund. If you didn't pay enough, that's when you pay it.\n* The deadline to file a return - and pay up, if you underpaid - is usually April 15. Your employers have to send your W-2 by January 31.\n* For missing W-2s, contact the employer and give them your new address and they will send you another copy. This happens all the time with everybody, they will absolutely know what you are talking about and how to do it. You have to include all the money you made, so get all of the W-2s, because the feds have that info even if you don't.\n* Look online for the tax form and booklet from the IRS and your state. If you're talking about some summer jobs - nothing too serious or well-paid - you can probably file the very simplest form. For federal taxes, that's Form 1040EZ.\n* The instruction booklet takes you through the return *line-by-line*.\n* Only worry about jobs where you worked/got a paycheck dated in 2011.\n* Always keep a copy for your records. They say keep 7 years worth. For tax returns, I keep them forever.\n\nRemember: it really isn't that hard. Taxes get hard once you have kids, real estate, investments, or lots of money generally.\n\nEDIT: Argh, I meant form W-2. Corrected throughout.",
"Don't sweat this too much. The IRS will help you for no charge. They are trustworthy. You could report with what you have on hand, and include a letter explaining why you are missing some W-4s, asking them to correct your return as necessary (they will correct it anyway). \n\nNow for the good news! You are probably owed a refund. There are credits (money to you) you probably qualify for. Happy tax refund day is in your future."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
b4jum5 | why do the numbers on phones have different tones when pressed? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b4jum5/eli5_why_do_the_numbers_on_phones_have_different/ | {
"a_id": [
"ej73cld",
"ej75wqt",
"ej77mfz",
"ej7e54y"
],
"score": [
10,
6,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"It's called tone dialing. Each number has it's own tone so the switching system can identify which number is being dialed.\n\nRotary (and early touch pad) phones used pulse dialing where each button press sent a certain number of pulses and the switching system counted those to identify what was being dialed.",
"This is DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) signaling. Each row has a frequency and each column has a frequency. No frequency is a multiple of another. The button presses are identified by looking at the frequency content of the line signal. If there is energy at 770 Hz. and at 1477 Hz. then the \"6\" was pressed. ",
"You will also note, cell phones don't have different tones because they are not based off the antiquated switching system.",
"To add to what has already been said here about DTMF, the telephone network used to listen to the tones. Pressing a button literally did nothing but generate a tone that the network would listen for. If you could generate the same tone you could dial without pressing any buttons. This is where “phreaking” started. When a coin was deposited into a pay phone it would also generate a tone. You could pay for a call simply by generating the appropriate tones. Look up the phreaker, who went by the name Captain Crunch. He found that whistles given as a prize in the cereal could be used to generate tones to hack the phone system. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
7ka9l9 | what's the difference between space opera and sci fi? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7ka9l9/eli5_whats_the_difference_between_space_opera_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"drcq3xh",
"drcr5ae"
],
"score": [
2,
8
],
"text": [
"Space Opera is a kind of Sci Fi. Space operas are generally something like a soap opera crossed with a World War II battle movie but in space.",
"Science fiction is any work of fiction set in the future that deals with technology more advanced than our own.\n\nSpace opera is a particular type of sci-fi that doesn't really care much about the specifics of the science and technology as much as it deals with grand narratives about galactic empires and grand heros.\n\nStar Wars is a great example of space opera. It has spaceships and robots and all that jazz but the story is really about good v. evil rather than the effects of that technology on society. You could tell the same story set in medieval/high fantasy world without really changing much.\n\nIn contrast, look at something like *Ghost in the Shell* (just to pick a 2017 movie). The technology is central to the plot and you can't tell the story without it."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
clrln5 | how are very large construction materials transported? | This thought began with transportation of street light poles and football stadium lights, but this question extends to any of the large materials used in buildings. For example, a long metal pipe or pole used for structural integrity, or a glass window spanning one whole wall of a building floor. How are those transported places? The point here is that those materials are too large even for a conventional truck. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/clrln5/eli5_how_are_very_large_construction_materials/ | {
"a_id": [
"evxcugn"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"ELI5: We don't transport the big stuff. We make them by gluing small pieces together!\n\n\nFirst of all, we do not transport huge materials (not usually). That would be expensive. Those glass walls you see are made with a group of small pieces. The reinforcement that goes in the structure are usually made out of 12m long bars. \nFor the large construction materials, we use specific trucks or even helicopters. But as I said, that's not usual! That is for very specific kinds or constructions"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
t88q4 | electroshock therapy | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/t88q4/electroshock_therapy/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4kdslf",
"c4kdxb3",
"c4kfbxj"
],
"score": [
10,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Ok this will be good revision for me trying to explain it to you i guess, Its quite a hard topic to simplify so i'll try my best.\n\nECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) is a last ditch treatment for people who are depressed and are at a risk of committing suicide. Its used when other therapies haven't worked. The process involves a very small shock lasting half a second which is passed through electrodes attached to your temples. \n\nThis produces a seizure which lasts up to a minute. The patient is unconscious for the seizure and a special agent is given to stop convulsion.\n\nPsychologists don't actually know exactly how ECT works but the main idea is that it changes how the brain communicates. A patient might have somewhere around 3-15 treatments.\n\nECT has been shown to be effective in its treatments but there has been some dispute over if its the actual shock that causes the change or simply all the attention a patient recieves when undergoing ECT.\n\nThere are also some side effects that can occur after ECT such as, headaches, anxiety and other physical changes.\n\nIf you have any questions feel free to ask and i'll try to clear them up",
"It's been while since I heard about it in the class, but I believe it \"reboots\" the neural connection by synchronizing it. When the shock goes through the brain, it essentially activates and depolarizes the neurons. When all the neurons are depolarized at the same time, all of them go through the hyperpolarized state where no impulses can be initiated. Then all the neurons have the chance to start working at the same time.\n\nBut that's only one theory, and I'm not even sure if that has any credibility.\n\nAnother theory is that after it hyperpolarizes all the neurons the neuron to neuron communication gets somehow reconnected, much like the way Ketamine does (read up on Ketamine and treatment of depression).",
"Have you ever had an electronic device that wasn't working right and you hit it really hard to get it running again? It actually worked sometimes, right? It's kind of like that.\n\nAlso, it's the grand mal seizures triggered by the shock that are thought to be doing the work."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
du71ju | what is it about human psychology that causes us to find games like candy crush, tetris, etc so satisfying? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/du71ju/eli5_what_is_it_about_human_psychology_that/ | {
"a_id": [
"f72it9x",
"f737owb",
"f73h4cc",
"f73oiml",
"f73s04z",
"f73v0uy",
"f740jvh"
],
"score": [
1076,
28,
26,
2,
3,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"These games are designed around having relatively frequent and very noticeable 'rewards' that stimulates chemicals in your brain that make you feel happy or satisfied. Particularly a chemical called dopamine. \n\nRather than real life where rewards take much longer and are far less in your face.\n\n The brain is sucked into a loop: getting reward 'points' or items or what have you;anticipate getting more rewards, do thing that gives direct and immediate rewards. That's why people can play it for hours. \n\nAccomplishing most irl tasks require much longer periods between reward and anticipation. \n\n//\nTl/Dr : the in game rewards make your brain release a lot of happy chemicals.\n\nMore info:\n\n_URL_0_",
"It’s called variable ratio reinforcement. Most people are familiar with continuous reinforcement through mentioning Paslov’s dog. In variable ratio the reinforcement is more random, but it isn’t actually random. For example when you first sit down at a slot machine you are very likely to be rewarded in the first few pulls, which teaches you reward. This learning schedule is the most effective for creating addiction like behavior because this ‘randomness’ leads our brains to release a larger dose of dopamine when you win. I would say candy crush would fall into this, but Tetris doesn’t really fit next to it. Tetris relies on an intrinsic motivation of skill acquisition for spatial reasoning, but I have tried the Tetris online for Switch (I think it’s called tetris99) and it’s much more random and closer to candy crush.",
"I wouldn't put Teris and its derivatives into the same category with Candy Crush, though. Tetris has a very good combination of dynamic, tactic and strategic components in a very simple yet very structured game universe. IMO that is what makes it addictive and such a long time survivor. Candy Crush and the likes - just a truckload of dopamine.",
"I would rather like to k kw why I found these games idiotic and infuriating to the point i cannot see a screen with that game on it without getting irritated.",
"With Tetris specifically, we (our minds) like the fact that the objects within the game are just 4 squares joined together by 1 or more of its edges (there is a specific name for this but I forgot it) because of how simplistic it is. I'm 15 (so please ignore sloppy terminology) and read something that follows along the lines of that above a couple of weeks ago and thought it would fit here!",
"Other than what others have said about the reward dopamine rush, I would almost swear that the sounds in Candy Crush are nothing short of ASMR too. The way everything sounds as the candies pop, then fall into place, or match to makes bonus... Gawd it's just amazing.",
"There is something called 'instant gratification'. I liked Simon Sinek's talks about instant gratification."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/SebastienSamson/20171113/309468/Compulsion_Loops__Dopamine_in_Games_and_Gamification.php"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
3itev0 | how did japan develop as a society to be so polite? | Sometimes it comes off as a facade.
Isn't it better to be genuine rather than fake
| explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3itev0/eli5_how_did_japan_develop_as_a_society_to_be_so/ | {
"a_id": [
"cujiab6",
"cujigcc",
"cujk0in",
"cujkvvw"
],
"score": [
4,
4,
2,
5
],
"text": [
"Are they polite? My friends that live there say they are mostly rude and insensitive - if seen from a westener's point of view.",
"For the Japanese, country and responsibility is more important than self.\n\nJapanese children are usually allowed free rein until they turn six. Then the responsibility value is indoctrinated into the young adult.",
"They are actually quite rude and arrogant. The seeming politeness is just a superficial thing just like a waiter might be polite to you in a restaurant. Just my subjective opinion - live there a year. ",
"Say you are a Japanese person. You have two different sides to yourself, the face you show the public (*tatemae*) and the side you show when you're in the privacy of your home or with close friends and family (*honne*). Japanese people feel that in order to get along in society you should squash any disagreeable desires and thoughts and keep them to yourself. The politeness is a requirement of society. They don't necessarily have to like you or anything, but the rules dictate that you shouldn't cause trouble for others by starting unnecessary squabbles.\n\n[More here.](_URL_0_)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honne_and_tatemae"
]
] |
|
5n8374 | why can tiger/lion hyrbids exist and yet no hybrid of a crocodile/alligator exist? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5n8374/eli5_why_can_tigerlion_hyrbids_exist_and_yet_no/ | {
"a_id": [
"dc9e2b9",
"dc9f2uh"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Species is a fuzzy term. It does not necessarily tell you what can, or cannot, interbreed, because 'species' does not define any clear cut line or difference. So some animals that we call different species can interbreed, and in fact some species cannot entirely breed within themselves (for an example, look up ring species). \n\nIf the genetics and physiology of the animals are similar enough, then they may be able to interbreed.",
"Tiger is Panthera tigris, Lion is Panthera leo, and both members of the same genus, Panthera. Being from the same genus means that it's relatively likely they can interbreed (there are lots of technicalities, as the specifics is a lot more complicated)..\n\nThe American Alligator is Alligator mississippiensis, the American Crocodile is Crocodylus acutus, they are not in the same genus, and are not likely to breed. They only share the same order, [Crocodilian](_URL_2_). To put it in perspective, we share the same order Primate with lemurs. A [Chinese Alligator](_URL_1_) shares it's genus with the American alligator, maybe a cross of them is possible, but you would still call it an alligator. Similarly the [Crocodylus rhombifer](_URL_0_) and [Crocodylus acutus](_URL_3_) share the same genus, and [they do cross breed](_URL_4_)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_crocodile",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_alligator",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodilia",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_crocodile",
"http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/06/110624-cuban-american-crocodile-animals-hybrids-science/"
]
] |
||
fxf9ld | how do we retain so much music in our heads even if its from a long time ago but unable to retain some text we read yesterday? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fxf9ld/eli5_how_do_we_retain_so_much_music_in_our_heads/ | {
"a_id": [
"fmtzbrr",
"fmu0314"
],
"score": [
4,
7
],
"text": [
"I might be wrong, but I always thought it was because it involves multiple senses ( not sure if that is the right word to use)\n\nYou dance - movement\nYou sing - auditory playback of what you are thinking and hearing\nYou listen - self explanatory\nYour inner dialogue participates - refer to previous dashes.",
"Those songs you remember you usually listened to many, many times. Compared to reading where it's quite rare that you reread something even remotely as many times. And if you do have to read something that frequently, you would probably remember it much more. Songs also tend to have rhymes and/or rhythms that create patterns our brains are much more likely to hold on to."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
3d97xa | what is stackoverflow, github, maven and how programmers use them? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3d97xa/eli5_what_is_stackoverflow_github_maven_and_how/ | {
"a_id": [
"ct2xo09",
"ct2xoo0",
"ct2ye9u"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Stack Overflow is just a programming Q & A website. People can ask any question regarding programming and anyone can answer them. Kinda like reddit, but only for programming questions.\n\nGitHub is a website that serves as a platform for source code management - when several people are working on the same project together, they need a shared repository to host the code for them, so that they can access it separately deliver changes to the code, so that every other programmer on the project gets these changes. [You can search this sub for GitHub](_URL_0_), as this topic has been asked about a lot.\n\nMaven is a build automation tool. When your project is made up of many components, you don't want to have build the entire project from scratch whenever you make a small change. For example if component X depends on component Y and you make a small change to X, there's no need to rebuild component Y. However if you make a change in Y you might have to rebuild X as well. A build automation system can do all of this for you, and much more.",
"Stack Overflow: A Questions and Answers website. It covers many topics including things like gaming, but in your context, programmers come there to seek for help on technical topics.\n\ngithub: Collaborative source revision control website. It's where programmers upload source code to share it with the public (or not, if they pay to keep it private). Source revision control is a system that allows storing the history of changes to files. For instance, it lets you see what another programmer on the same team changed, what are the differences between version 1.0 and 1.1, what you changed last week, etc. Github also is very convenient to share your work with other people, and lets other people help you out without even having to ask you first.\n\nMaven: Java build system. Handles compilation and packaging of Java code. Software projects of non-trivial size are made of several files, may use external modules, have specific packaging requirements, etc. Instead of having the programmer do the 50 things needed to package a new version, systems like maven automate that process.",
"Stack Overflow: QA community website.\n\nGitHub: \"Git\" is a \"Version Control System\" that is basically a database of source code documents. Changes to multiple files are saved to the repository as a collective unit, so you can track the history of changes by individual file or by the group of files that are all related to a particular change in the code. It can also track multiple parallel versions, say, if you had different versions of a file for Windows, Linux, iOS, etc...\n\nIt's also common for developers to perform complex work on their own unique version of the program (a \"branch\"), and then \"merge\" those changes into some authoritative branch later. This way they're not disturbed by other developers and their changes while working in tandem.\n\nGit is called a distributed VCS, a deviation from earlier VCS concepts which were centralized around a single repository on a server - the way these things work is built upon this assumption, and it's very limiting. Instead, everyone holding a Git project possesses the entire repository locally, along with its entire change history. We use this as a glorified Undo/Redo stack. On the occasion, we will synchronize our local copies of the repository with other developers, and more commonly with some \"central\" repository, which is merely an organizational convention.\n\nGitHub is a website and service that hosts Git repositories; it is the \"central\" repo for that project, and there are nice web interfaces on top to host a project site and support the dev community around that project.\n\nMaven: It's a build system. What is that? It ties into your repository, and when you commit a change, it kicks off processes that build the program for you. These processes can be quite elaborate - they may run tests against the software to check for bugs, performance profilers, document generators, package software installers, update the website, email people... Whatever you want or need it to do. And if some part of the automated system fails, the right people are notified.\n\nThis is part of what we call Continuous Integration, the idea is to promote development cycles that allow for frequent releases of the latest and greatest software, and to catch flaws early and quickly."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/search?q=github&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all"
],
[],
[]
] |
||
1p080z | how many calories does an average human have in their body, and what happens if they consume every last one of them? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1p080z/eli5_how_many_calories_does_an_average_human_have/ | {
"a_id": [
"ccxeida",
"ccxgeod"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"That's a bit of an oddly phrased question because a calorie isn't a physical thing, it's a unit of energy. So you don't really have calories in your body - you have material in your body that is capable of being converted into energy. You have fat (lipid) stores which are sort of a long term reserve of energy dense material, and you also have access to whatever food is currently in your blood stream in the form of glucose, whatever foodstuff is in your stomach being digested, and whatever other protiens and fats that are currently being used in every cell in every organ of your body.\n\nSo, basically, it would be impossible to pinpoint exactly how many calories you had access to within your body because it's a constantly changing number. Even if you starve yourself, the amount of energy producing material in your body doesn't go down in a linear fashion because your body will start tapping on all those reserves and once they run out it will actually start to eat itself - metabolizing its own protein for energy.\n\nIf you suddenly had no matter whatsoever within your body that could be converted to energy, it means you are dead.\n",
"An average human is 20% protein, 1% carbohydrate and 10% fat (plus 64% water and 5% minerals such as the calcium in bone) (Source: 1st pie chart in Google image search). Protein and carbohydrate is 4 kcal/g. Fat is 9 kcal/g. \n\nSo a 75 kg (165 lb) would have 127 500 Calories, which is enough to feed 5 people for 10 days (at 2500 kcal/day) or power ten 60 W lightbulbs for 10 days.\n\nObviously this will increase depending on the person's size and body composition. So someone who is 10kg too fat will have an extra 9000 kcal.\n\nSince the human body is made of edible protein and fat, if you consume all the edible calories you will just be left with a skeleton (plus a pool of water if you can distill it away). Actually, the skeleton contains calories too since it can be burned so what you would be left with is an urnful of ashes containing that 5% of minerals I mentionned earlier."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
||
659571 | why can't we just bomb a foreign power where they store their nukes? | Wouldn't that eradicate the nuclear issue with an enemy if we bombed and detonated their nukes on their own country? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/659571/eli5_why_cant_we_just_bomb_a_foreign_power_where/ | {
"a_id": [
"dg8f4vd",
"dg8f6xa",
"dg8f7ea",
"dg8f939",
"dg8htsj",
"dg8i2ck",
"dg8km05",
"dg8sawk"
],
"score": [
6,
8,
4,
6,
5,
33,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Nuclear powers hide their nukes, and tend to distribute them widely. That, and an attempt to destroy their nukes could trigger them to launch said nukes.",
"Nuclear weapons are stored across countries, so first off you run the risk of us not knowing where they all are.\n\nSecond, the moment a nuclear weapon is launched, the country will be aware through their own early warning systems and be able to fire their nukes back and then everyone is dead.\n\nSo no, you can't do that.",
"Believe it or not, our enemies thought of that. So they don't tell us where they put their nukes. And they put them under ground, or shielded, where you can't be sure a bomb will get to them. And if we don't get them all, they know they got nothing to lose and might use what's left.",
"Well...nuclear weapons are kept in large underground silos designed withstand attacks from other nuclear weapons. And they are designed not to go off of you just blow it up. It takes a very precise chain of events to detonate a nuke. \nSo no.\nIf you could find one out of its silo or its weapon storage facility at most you would make a dirty bomb. Yes you would destroy that weapon but if your talking about a larger country they have dozens if not thousands more and you just started a war. ",
"Also can I add in trident the UK nuke subs they are undetectable and can be anywhere in the world ready to launch ",
"Within the framework of M.A.D (Mutually Assured Destruction), a power with the ability to launch a nuclear attack that can cripple the enemies ability to respond has whats called *First Strike* capability. *Second Strike* capability is if a nation can respond in kind to a nuclear attack, the other side doesn't have *First Strike* over them.\n\nWithin the context of the Cold War and US v USSR, both sides were scared shitless of the other achieving First Strike capability and so were endlessly beefing up their own arsenals and technology to at least hold on too *Second Strike* capability. The only way to prevent the other side from attacking you, is to make sure you are strong enough to hit back, Deterrence Theory in a nutshell.\n\nThey did this in a lot of ways. To begin with (not long after WWII, the 50's roughly), there were just nuclear bombs, ICBM's (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles) didn't exist yet. The US set up a rotating system of bombers carrying nuclear weapons flying 24/7 near the Soviet borders ready to retaliate against a USSR invasion of Europe, with pre-written orders to be carried out if certain criteria were met. I dont know what exactly the Soviets had like this in turn but I imagine it was something similar, ready to attack European targets. So 24/7 you had a bunch of planes flying around with nuclear bombs, its not a simple task to just shoot them down in an age before ballistic missile technology was really all that developed.\n\nAround the 1960's, ICBM's were starting to become a thing, which made it a lot harder. Both sides developed a ton of them, hid them around their nation (and allies) inside fortified silos. To take them all out with your own missiles, you would need to \n\n* A) Know where they all are.\n\n* B) Be able to hit them precisely enough to do any real damage (this was a big issue early on, the first few generations of ICBM could only reliably hit something the size of a city).\n\n* C) Have multiple missiles for every silo the enemy had (they were tough).\n\n* D) Destroy them quickly enough that they cant fire back in time.\n\n* E) Have even more missiles to shoot at conventional targets like cities and military bases, because you need to do more than just blow up their missiles.\n\n* F) Have even more missiles on top of that, because both sides were also developing systems to shoot down ICBM's to defend themselves, the Soviets in particular. So you might need to dedicate multiple missiles to guarantee a hit on important targets.\n\nand both sides knew this, so they both just kept building more and more silos and missiles. \n\nSo pretty much at that point it became really unfeasible for either side to knock each others nuclear capability offline with their own strike, as you would need to quickly destroy their bombers and ICBM's. The development of Nuclear Submarines really put the last nail in the coffin and finished whats now known as \"The Nuclear Triad\". Submarines can get very close to a countries borders (limiting the potential of defense systems), can easily hide just by diving, are super difficult to destroy remotely and can potentially surface months after a nuclear exchange to launch their payload. At that point it became impossible for either Cold War power to cripple the others ability to respond to a nuclear attack.\n\nThis all relates back to The Cold War and covers theory surrounding world superpowers in conflict with nuclear weapons. Its not super applicable to the modern day scenarios of small states like North Korea, Iran, Isreal, Pakistan or whoever else attaining nuclear weapons.\n\nSo tldr; you cant just blow up the other guys nuclear weapons because its really hard and you get nuked back if you fail, so no one tried too.",
"Even if we knew where, e.g. North Korea or Pakistan were hiding their nukes, they'd be difficult to bomb them all. However, Israel did carry out a limited [strike against Saddam's nukes in 1981](_URL_0_), but that was on a specific target and Saddam's programme wasn't that far along.",
"To do so is called a counter-force strike and is one option in fighting a nuclear war. You can't detonate a nuclear bomb without properly arming it and correctly detonating the tamping charges, though, so even if you breach the fortifications and damage the unlaunched arms, at best all you'll do is set off the tamping charges, not the atomic charge, they don't actually arm until well on the way to a target for this, among other reasons. Others have explained well why counter-force is not the only option."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/7/newsid_3014000/3014623.stm"
],
[]
] |
|
1w4xm8 | why do i suddenly get the urge to pee when i play hide-and-seek? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1w4xm8/eli5_why_do_i_suddenly_get_the_urge_to_pee_when_i/ | {
"a_id": [
"ceypwah",
"ceyqhco",
"ceys3ia",
"ceytyos",
"ceyusg9",
"ceyvjym",
"ceyyhy4",
"ceyywj3",
"ceyzezb"
],
"score": [
74,
7,
2,
6,
9,
70,
7,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"I think the feel of \"excitement\" or \"stress\" is what causes it. It's known to happen to dogs, that is, some dogs immediately pee when greeting other people because of excitement or something like that.\n",
"It comes from excitement, i believe. And that is a normal thing because many people experienced it.",
"I read it was because your adrenaline glands are atop your kidneys and they vibrate from nervousness and anxiety while youre hiding thus making you have to pee. I have no source though.",
"It's not exactly when I play hide and seek, but I always get the urge to pee when I start looking for something. Whhyy?!",
"there's probably enough stimulation that on some level it activates the \"fight or flight\" reflex in you. \nvoiding the bladder may be part of this. ",
"There are two reasons to it. First when you are playing hide-and-seek there is some excitement, and stress to the game. The bladder muscles relax to prepare the rest of your body for a flight or fight response. Little kids really get into these kind of games so that is why such a large response is trigger. This is kind of like when you are nervous before a big speech and you feel like you have to pee. The second less significant reason is that hiding in small places means you are squatting down, or in the fetal position. When you do that you put pressure on your bladder making it feel like you need to pee.",
"Signed up to answer this question:\n\nThe way it was explained to me was that this is an evolutionary throw-back. Your overwhelming urge to urinate when hiding is a flight or fight response. In order to make yourself less-appealing to predators your body sometimes wants to soil itself (ie pee)\n\nSource: bane of my existence as a hide-and-seek enthusiast/child. Bane of my existence during military training. As explained by DS.",
"I remember being told (when i was around 5) it was to due with the humans natural 'fight or flight' reflex, and that it was due to the human body wanting to make itself physically lighter by excreting waste, don't know how true that is but.",
"Answering from having experience with anxiety. \n\nBasically when you're playing hide-and-seek, despite the innocent nature of the game, you're really playing, \"flight-or-fight\", but since you can't fight, per rules (and it's just mean), you're body is actually playing \"flight\".\n\nYou are a prey, being hunted. And though this game should not end in bloodshed, your body really doesn't know better. Your body thinks your best friend in cruising around with a giant butcher knife. So now you have a bit of adrenaline coursing through your body which is equally terrible when you're \"hiding\" when your body really wants to \"flee\". It's still a fun game, right?\n\nSure, but your friend is nearby and you can hear them!\n\nThen you get tensed muscles, because should you need to run, your tension is going to spring you forward.\n\nThen you get sweaty palms and fingers because should you need to grab something you can do so with better purchase.\n\nThen you try to remain still and quiet, but you swear you can hear and feel your own heart fluttering and it is in response to the adernalin in your body.\n\nYou may even find your vision changing a little because your pupils are now dilating, trying to take in as much light as possible. \n\nDid you feel that chill? That exciting shiver? Your blood veins are constricting to send blood to the important muscles. You might even feel cold. \n\nAnd now another symptom of this is to urinate.\n\nSome people believe it's because of the veins constricting and sending blood elsewhere that the extra fluid gets pushed into your bladder. In the same theory voiding your bladder helps to \"lighten the load\", and the lighter you are the quicker you should be able to run, and plus when you're running for your life the last thing you need is to use resources that you don't need. Your body shouldn't have to worry about holding in urine.\n\nLuckily for you we aren't prey creatures any longer and so we still have some voluntary habits during our otherwise very instinctual sympathetic nervous system. You should be able to refrain from peeing on the carpets, just as you're trying in desperation to be still and silent when your body wants to do nothing other than run away.\n\nThen your buddy finds you and you get excited, you might scream; you may even urinate here a little because you have less control temporarily as you suffer the repercussions of being caught. Maybe not. \n\nIt was all fun though, despite the stress your body temporarily suffered. Good thing for you when the game ends your body goes back to normal; breathing slows, blood circulation goes back to normal and your muscles feel less tensed, etc., etc. \n\nExcept, some people, the game never ends and people like myself feel constantly anxious, constantly needing to void, constantly going through life in a hypersensitive state. The overproduction of adrenal wracking our bodies. Limbs become numb and tingly, breathing is hard and difficult, our hearts palpate, reberating in our skulls and now we're light headed, feel faint and dizzy but we can't lay down because our bodies are prepared for some terrible thing we just don't know what. So we pace and pace and pace and pace..."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
3dvga6 | how would a smart phone go about orienting itself in space? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3dvga6/eli5_how_would_a_smart_phone_go_about_orienting/ | {
"a_id": [
"ct90mih"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
" \n\nGravity can be sensed in a couple different ways. one way used to be with mercury switches, which are now banned from use. Another way may be the orientation of weights- like a ball on a string always points down. Another but least likely way is pressure from weights. \n\nIn space, however, there is no gravity. It's like taking that ball on a string and just randomly pulling it in a direction by shaking the device. More accurately, that ball, or weight is on a pivot rather than a string and instead spins on it's axis point.\n\nEdit: I should include that as far as I know. most smart phones have a way to disable this function all together. And iphones actually uses a type of vibrating gyroscope I was unfamiliar with. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
4urh9h | why are there different types of clouds? | Does the shape they form depend on the atmospheric conditions present at the time or is it more random than I think? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4urh9h/eli5_why_are_there_different_types_of_clouds/ | {
"a_id": [
"d5s726k",
"d5srpvf"
],
"score": [
3,
5
],
"text": [
"It's completely dependent on atmospheric conditions. Humidity, temperature, air pressure, etc. all influence if water vapor will condense to form clouds and how. There is no randomness, but instead it's a very complex system as the conditions in any point in the atmosphere may be slightly different than conditions at nearby points.",
"First long post, here goes:\n\nWe usually speak of clouds in three different heights. You can tell which altitude the cloud is on by seeing how thick the cloud itself is. \n\n & nbsp;\n\n\nThe typical cartoon cloud with bubbles on top is called [cumulus](_URL_3_), this one comes typically on warm and (relatively) humid days. They are created by the sun heating up the ground, the ground will heat up the air directly over it, and the warm air will rise. \n\nNow that the air has a velocity upwards, it will continue upwards until it cools of and starts sinking again. Hot air can keep way more moisture than cold air can, so at some point this rising air will cool enough to let some of its moisture go, becoming droplets (what we see as clouds). The \"bubbles\" on top of the cloud is where the air couldn't rise anymore. \n\nYou can tell if the cumulus is [growing](_URL_0_) or [decaying](_URL_4_) by looking at how sharp the \"bubbles\" are. If air inside the cloud isn't rising, then wind/turbulence will destroy the sharp edges. \n\n & nbsp;\n\n\n\nThis explanation goes only for the low cumulus cloud. Here is a picture of an [Altocumulus](_URL_2_) (mid height) and [Cirrucumulus](_URL_1_) (top height), that can be explained differently. \n\n\nThere are a lot of cloud types, some are harder to explain than others, but they all depend on atmospheric conditions. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/images/498.gif",
"http://www.poseidon.pt/images/meteo/nuvens_altas_Cirrocumulus.JPG",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/Alto_cumulus,_Bergen,_Norway.JPG",
"https://coclouds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/single-fluffy-cumulus-cloud-sunny-day-2012-07-26.jpg",
"https://girlinclouds.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/cumulus1.jpg"
]
] |
|
bau81d | why do pigeons fly together? how do they communicate which direction to fly in? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bau81d/eli5_why_do_pigeons_fly_together_how_do_they/ | {
"a_id": [
"eke7lqm"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"They don't necessarily communicate to each other, it's more.of communal voting on where to go. There is some research to suggest the faster birds to lead more often, even if they don't rank high in the pecking order.\n\nThey tend to stay in the flock because there is safety in numbers. It's easy for a hawk to pick off a solo bird, in a flock it's multiple eyes watching, and in a group the weaker or slower ones are hidden."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
cvayz5 | how do car manufacturers determine the type of oil weight in there engines? | For example, changing the oil in my family car which is a 2014 Toyota Camry the recommended oil weight is 0w-20. However, my daily driver is a 1999 Mazda miata and the recommended oil weight is 10w-30.
How do car engineers determine whats the right oil for there motors? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cvayz5/eli5_how_do_car_manufacturers_determine_the_type/ | {
"a_id": [
"ey31w1v"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Higher \"weights\" means the oil is thicker.\n\nThick oil can be nice. It doesn't seep through small gaps as much so you can have looser tolerances and cheaper seals. It's also generally cheaper than lighter oils.\n\nThin oils can sneak through smaller cracks so you need better seals but it is easier to pump around and has less drag(friction) as it flows.\n\nIf you want an ultra efficient engine then you need to use light oil to minimize the power wasted pumping oil, but you'll also need to have tight tolerances and good seals throughout the engine"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
85tjx3 | how you'll get sick from eating cooked egg that has sat out overnight but you can leave biscuits that have egg in them on the counter for days and they won't make you sick | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/85tjx3/eli5_how_youll_get_sick_from_eating_cooked_egg/ | {
"a_id": [
"dvzzqok"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Are you sure you'll get sick from eating the egg? Hardboiled? Fried? Scrambled?\n\nI'm not certain you will."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
2b3dfn | can we actually notice a difference between displays at 1080p and displays at 4k? or is it just a placebo? | Like if we put two exactly shaped and sized displays together, one with 1080p and the other with 4K. Would people be able to say which is which? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2b3dfn/eli5_can_we_actually_notice_a_difference_between/ | {
"a_id": [
"cj1g0ag"
],
"score": [
18
],
"text": [
"It really depends on how far away you are, and how big the displays are. It's not really about pixel count alone, but the ratio of the number of pixels to the size of the screen.\n\nFor example, a 28\" 1080p monitor will have a pixel density of about 79ppi, whereas a 60\" 4k TV will have a similar density at about 73ppi.\n\nNoticeable differences in screen clarity come almost entirely from pixel density, rather than just resolution. So to answer your question, it would really depend on the sizes of the screens in question. However, a 4K screen will generally have a more clear image solely because it allows for more pixels than a 1080p screen of the same size."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
|
9q1jyp | why is water bad for infants? why is milk not? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9q1jyp/eli5_why_is_water_bad_for_infants_why_is_milk_not/ | {
"a_id": [
"e85xmxj",
"e86clqw",
"e86lzxu"
],
"score": [
6,
6,
10
],
"text": [
"Water is not bad for them at all. Milk is given to babies because it both meets their water needs as well as nutrition needs. The only problem is that with too much water, a baby might refuse milk and be malnourished. ",
"Water is bad for infants because they can only physically drink a certain amount of liquid per day.\n\nInfants need as many calories as possible so water with no calories can limit the babies growth.\n\nUnder certain circumstances (very hot weather) water is acceptable, but speak to a doctor first.",
"Babies who drink too much water can get “water intoxication”. That is, you can die of not having enough electrolytes in your body, which can happen if you drink too much water. Adults don’t do this because it’s really difficult to drink too much water. Babies are stupid and don’t know to stop drinking. What typically happens in these cases is that to save money, people will mix baby formula with too much water, so it will last longer. As a result the baby will get water intoxication and may die."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
fuid1c | what's keeping cultures around the world from utilizing locusts as a food source during plagues? | pretty self-explanatory, locust plagues has been around for a long time, why isn't it more common practice for civilizations to eat the locusts during a plague? surely preservation isn't that difficult, you could dry them/ground into flour/etc | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fuid1c/eli5_whats_keeping_cultures_around_the_world_from/ | {
"a_id": [
"fmcwycx",
"fmcxjlt",
"fmcxoig"
],
"score": [
5,
10,
3
],
"text": [
"You couldn’t catch enough. They love pretty fast and eat everything in their path. After they are gone, you have enough locusts to feed you for a week and then it’s back to the land. Except the land has nothing left that you can eat",
"There are actually multiple places around the world where it's considered normal to eat locusts. But if you mean why aren't people eating them during massive swarms, as a way to keep their numbers down, it's because there are just too many of them. Locust swarms, the kind you see on the news where the sky is just think with them and they're destroying crops, are made up of millions and millions and millions of individual bugs, and people just don't have the tools or resources to catch enough of them to make a noticeable difference. \n\n\nAnd if you mean why aren't people using them as a staple food source during things like quarantines, there probably are people in the world who do that, but eating insects is still largely seen as gross or dirty in much of the Western world. It really is pretty much a cultural thing, as far as how people think about bugs and whether or not they can be used as food.",
"The problem with locust swarms wasn't/isn't that they hang around your area, its that they fly through and eat all your shit before leaving the next day\n\nRemember that when the locust eats the plant it turns maybe 10-20% of its energy into stored locust bits which you could then eat.\n\nIf the locust swarm sweeps through when your corn is 80% grown and then eats it all it means you'll have no food in 2 months. Even if you capture 100% of the locusts that just at your crop you can get 10-20% as much energy out of your crop's loss as you would have gotten by directly eating your crop in 2 months, that means 80% of your people are going to starve in 2 months and there's nothing you can do about it.\n\nWorse than that, those locusts just at your neighbor's crops and you aren't going to catch them before they move on and eat your down wind neighbor's crops. An entire region has just lost their crops and there will be no well fed neighbors to trade with for quite a while"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
443lt2 | how should a college student go about learning politics? | This is the first presidential election I will be able to vote in and I'm having a really hard time figuring out who I want to win. What are some good sources to look at that are unbiased? How should someone go about learning about the basics of politics in general? Also, what power does the President actually have? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/443lt2/eli5_how_should_a_college_student_go_about/ | {
"a_id": [
"czn6tmu",
"czn6wfg",
"czn9bwn",
"cznowl3"
],
"score": [
30,
10,
5,
7
],
"text": [
"No sources are unbiased. Read a variety of sources on the Internet and draw your own conclusions. ",
"Read. Read everything. Several different sources for news.\n\nRead histories. Party, local, world. Need not be just books but documentaries on film. Check against other views. \n\nThink. Think about what is important. Vital issues to you, your community and your ideals. Then think about others, the future and what works. Think for yourself.\n\nDebate with others. Ask their views. \n\nResearch the candidates that seem the best to you. Then the rest. They will say anything but study their actual actions.",
"First, congratulations on both wanting to be informed and somehow not being biased already. You can go to any of the candidates election websites and find a link that will show their positions on certain issues. Of course, their own site is going to be biased, but you should be able to figure out who has a legitimate plan and a view that is close to your own. There's a website called _URL_0_, which shows you what each candidates position is on various issues are by quoting them. The powers the President has is a bit long, but some of it is explained in Article II of the Constitution (notably, executive orders aren't mentioned and have been controversial through history). It seems to me that it would be difficult to talk about politics in general and apply it to current politics because some of the candidates have wandered away from what their party is meant to stand for but you could look into any encyclopedia-like website and likely find unbiased information on the different political parties, the election process, Congress, etc.. The good thing is that you're already aware of bias, so you're already ahead of most voters. ",
"I wouldn't even advise you to read everything. What's the point? Literally every media outlet has an agenda and is more or less biased in some way, yet proclaim complete certainty over the things they write or say. Even if you read every article on politics for these upcoming elections, you would just have 500 different opinions that are all proclaimed with absolute certainty; how are you supposed to know how to disregard some \"facts\" and accept others? You can gain a better understanding of the issue as a whole, sure, but you will never find the objectively correct answer. I think that is the most important part of politics that is literally never ever ever ever addressed: Yes there is an objectively correct answer, but virtually no one knows what it is, even if they try to. The only objectively correct answers are discovered in hindsight, and acknowledging that no one knows the correct answers is a big step in coming to terms with everything that everyone spews. Ask yourself how it's possible that half the country thinks the other half is completely insane? It is also important to note that the reason that our political system seems like such a circus is because it absolutely is. Dividing an entire population into two groups that are meant to be fundamentally opposed to one another is possibly the stupidest thing that we have allowed our democracy to transform into. We are divided and weakened through the notion that we must choose one set of extremes over another. I refuse to be part of any political party because I simply resent their negative influence on people's ability to form their own opinions based on their unique perspectives. I find it so ridiculous that we have each politician claiming they know the right answer, and crucifying others for changing their viewpoints and \"flip flopping\" on issues; since when is it a bad thing to be able to objectively review your stance on a subject and constructively change it based on new information being processed that previously one was unaware of? If I were you I would enter into the world of politics with a clear understanding that the system in which you are forced to operate is inherently flawed, and therefore I'd advise you to mentally not just pick a side because that's what everyone else is doing. Understand it and be above that. Fuck what everyone wants you to think and think about everything for yourself. Don't be afraid to change your views when you learn more about certain subjects. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[
"Ontheissues.org"
],
[]
] |
|
29kcb9 | how does moving country change you initial accent? | I live in the UK and recently spoke to someone who moved to Australia and their accent had changed after 3 years of being there | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/29kcb9/eli5_how_does_moving_country_change_you_initial/ | {
"a_id": [
"cilq124",
"cilqaxt"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"I'm from the states and my oldest brother went to college in Australia, lived in New Zealand for a while and ended up settling down in Belfast. Never developed an accent until he moved to Northern Ireland, but he did develop that accent in about 6 months. It was very odd.",
"I have seen two extremes: a chilean moving to spain and in two weeks had picked up the accent and after a year returned to chile and the accent stuck for about 5 years. \nAn argentinian, and a spaniard, moving to chile and *increasing* their accent, making it more exaggerated, as if clinging to their motherland. \n\nPersonally I moved from england to south america and work with plenty of north americans, australians and other accents and my accent is mixed and mellowed down, but after two weeks back in england it goes back to this london accent. \n\nSo it's not such a technical thing but a psychological issue relating to pride, empathy and motivation."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
1pzx53 | what exactly creates this 'second' tide? | So i've been pondering over this picture for a while now
[Tide](_URL_0_)
But i can't think of a good reason for the tide at the other side of the earth. Why isn't that side being pulled towards the moon as well? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1pzx53/eli5_what_exactly_creates_this_second_tide/ | {
"a_id": [
"cd7rbxd"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Because the moon and the earth aren't pulling each other like tugging a rope. They are falling towards each other but keep missing because they move forwards faster than they fall. The moon isn't just spinning around the earth while the earth stays still. They are orbiting at their center of mass. The center of mass of the earth-moon system happens to be inside the earth so we don't really notice it. \n\nOk so what does this have to do with anything? The water facing the moon is falling towards the moon faster than the water facing the other way. This makes the water on the far side lag behind giving it a bulge on the back as well as the front. So the water on the back end isn't being pulled away from the earth like you might have thought. The earth is moving away from the water before it catches up. "
]
} | [] | [
"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Tide_overview.svg"
] | [
[]
] |
|
2n2s1k | what is the relationship between the president, congress, the gop, the senate, the house, and other major parts of the us government? | I should know more about this so I'm trying to become more informed before the next election roll around. What Is The Relationship Between The President, Congress, the GOP, the Senate, the House, and other major parts of the US government? How do they influence each other? What do each of these departments do? Here's the big one - **what are these departments doing right and wrong right now?** Could we get rid of any of them or are all these parts necessary? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2n2s1k/eli5_what_is_the_relationship_between_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cm9s5ho",
"cm9skyt",
"cm9sqyf"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Just as a quick note, \"the GOP\" is actually the Republican Party, it is not a department of the US government.",
"The U.S. government is divided into three branches:\n\nThe executive branch: The President and his cabinet members, most of whom are called \"Secretary of _\". Basically, the main characters on *The West Wing*. Their job is to enforce the law.\n\nThe legislative branch: The two houses of Congress. The houses are the Senate and the House of Representatives, the latter of which is often called simply \"the House\" for short. Their job is to create the law.\n\nThe judicial branch: The Supreme Court. Their job is to interpret the law.\n\n\"The GOP\" is a nickname for the Republican Party. It stands for \"Grand Old Party\", which is ironic because the Democratic Party is actually older.",
" > What Is The Relationship Between The President, Congress, the GOP, the Senate, the House, and other major parts of the US government? How do they influence each other? What do each of these departments do?\n\n\nThere are three branches of government that serve as \"checks and balances\" for each other to make sure that neither branch oversteps its power or authority. The three branches are the legislative (Congress), the judicial (Supreme Court) and the Executive (the President). The GOP is the Republican Party-- an abbreviated of \"grand old party\". It is not a department, branch or section of the U.S. government-- it is merely a political party that nominates, campaigns for and elects people into elected political positions. Anyway...\n\nThe President is the head of the Executive Branch. This branch *enforces* (executes) the laws created and enacted by Congress. He can propose executive orders but not laws-- that is reserved for Congress. \n\nThe Senate and the House of Representatives make up the Congress. Congress writes and enacts the laws. The President has a veto power, but a vote by Congress can override the veto.\n\nThe Supreme Court interprets the laws created by Congress and determines their Constitutionality (enforceability). If a law exceeds the powers or authority of Congress, it can be struck by the Court. \n\n > Could we get rid of any of them or are all these parts necessary?\n\nWe can not get ride of any of these branches of government-- they serve important checks and balances and separation of powers needs. All three parts are necessary. \n\n > what are these departments doing right and wrong right now?\n\nThis is a more difficult question and the answer depends a lot on who you ask-- but I think one common area of dispute is the scope of power one branch has and whether or not it's encroaching on the others. ALSO there is a dispute over whether or not the Federal government is overstepping it's powers and encroaching on the laws of the States-- for example, many people believed the ADA (\"Obamacare\") *should* have been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court by virtue of the Tenth Amendment. (The 10th amendment basically says that the any power not reserved for the Federal government is reserved for the States.) Although the decision ultimately rested on whether or not the proposed fine was a \"tax\" it nonetheless illustrates the role of the Supreme Court wrt to Congress-- the court interprets and rules on the legality of the laws created by Congress. Another example is the birth control mandate-- federal courts had to determine whether that clause violated the First Amendment (remember Hobby Lobby). Anyway, the health care law provides examples of when federal district courts and the supreme court had to judge whether or not a law (or parts of it) created by Congress is constitutional and enforceable. Without the judicial branch, there is a concern that congress will create laws the violate the constitution and many fundamental rights of states and individuals. \n\n\nSo, there are TWO governments- a federal government (the focus of your question) and the state governments (and local government, which are a subset of state). Both the federal and the state government are divided into three branches- legislative, executive and judicial, which provide a check and balance on each other to make sure neither branch is overstepping its authority or power, and, also, the judicial branch of the federal government can judge whether or not the legislative branch of the federal government encroaches upon the powers/rights of the states and individual citizens."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
61f8ty | why are some "night persons" and other "day persons" ? what make someone prefer one over the other? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/61f8ty/eli5_why_are_some_night_persons_and_other_day/ | {
"a_id": [
"dfe14iy",
"dfe1aq9",
"dfe54p1"
],
"score": [
13,
3,
6
],
"text": [
"For me it is natural. I just seem to thrive when operating later in day/night. For many years I worked a regular job that started in the a.m. and ended in the p.m., like almost everyone else. I struggled and struggled with having to get up so early. Frequently I would end up till 2 or 3 a.m. and having to get up at 5:30 a.m. for a full day of work. \n\nI tried many ways to keep to an earlier sleep schedule. None worked. Finally, I gave it up and got a lesser job working a swing shift. Much more compatible with my body/brain type. Although I get up at noon, that's when I have breakfast. I go to work at 4 and get off at midnight. Lunch is at 7 pm, dinner is when I get home around 1 a.m. I go to bed around 4 a.m. \n\nSo, take a normal daytime schedule and just subvert it to nights and I am perfectly adjusted now. No more sleep issues, no more struggles to fit to a normal schedule.",
"I'm not a morning person simply because I always stay up too late the night before.\n\nGive me an iced coffee and I'm good to go though!",
"It's just different circadian rhythms. Your circadian rhythm can be a little shorter or a little longer than average, which affects when you feel most active relative to the time of day. Sleep disorders, circadian rhythm disorders, mental illnesses, and physical illnesses can also influence when you feel most awake.\n\nIn addition, altered circadian rhythms can be the result of habit, technology, and a bunch of other environmental stuff. Studies suggest that once you take people out of the built urban environment, they naturally start to shift towards waking when the sun comes up and feeling tired when the sun goes down. Basically, there isn't a ton of science behind night owl/lark chronotypes. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
e4btwu | why do blow dryers consume so much power? | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/e4btwu/eli5_why_do_blow_dryers_consume_so_much_power/ | {
"a_id": [
"f98mo33"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"We generally don't realize how much energy it takes to generate heat. Our electronics are so efficient that they use far less energy than is created by, say, a large candle. My entire gaming computer only produces maybe 200 watts, or 6 tea candles' worth of heat. That's really not a lot. A blowdryer, meanwhile, is more like 56 tea candles. It is making the air quite hot, and moving a *lot* of that air."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
3qa9cw | vision going black after standing fast | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3qa9cw/eli5_vision_going_black_after_standing_fast/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwdds54"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Blood flows quickly out of the head and momentarily deprives your brain of oxygen. This is the cause of \"head rushes.\" However, if it's so extreme that your vision actually goes dark for a moment, you might want to consult a doctor."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
||
2v6s08 | if two countries goes to war, what will happen to the country's citizens that happens to be in the other country? | Say if Country A and B just declared war and there are citizens of country A having a long holiday in country B, what would happen to them? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2v6s08/eli5_if_two_countries_goes_to_war_what_will/ | {
"a_id": [
"coexik1",
"coexsy1"
],
"score": [
3,
7
],
"text": [
"I'm not sure about what would happen today, but during WW2 Japanese citizens in the USA were put into internment camps. ",
"In most cases, during the buildup to war the various countries embassies would encourage their citizens to get the hell out of hostile nations."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
y16eg | iphone (and cellphone) wireless charging pads? | what kind of witchcraft is going on here? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/y16eg/eli5_iphone_and_cellphone_wireless_charging_pads/ | {
"a_id": [
"c5reamk",
"c5rfkvn"
],
"score": [
8,
3
],
"text": [
"Nope, it's still science.\n\nA transformer is two coils of wire wrapped around one another. Run an alternating current through one coil, and the coil's repeatedly expanding and collapsing electromagnetic field will induce a matching alternating current in the second coil.\n\nFor wireless charging, the principle is the same but the two coils are near each other rather than being mutually wrapped around the same core. Current in one coil induces current in the other coil as long as the coils are close enough together. It won't be as efficient, but it offers sufficient convenience that wireless charging of gadgets will likely become widespread.",
"This is the clearest explanation you will ever get, pretty much from the creator himself. This will be huge one day as technology will come out equipped with the tools to charge like this without cases.\n\n_URL_0_"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/eric_giler_demos_wireless_electricity.html"
]
] |
|
6z86h4 | why are so many health issues worse in the early morning? | For example I am an asthmatic and my breathing and numbers are much worse at 7am than at, say 7pm. | explainlikeimfive | https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6z86h4/eli5_why_are_so_many_health_issues_worse_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"dmt86uh",
"dmtcm29"
],
"score": [
4,
19
],
"text": [
"The side effects from the medicine that I take before bed are at their worst in the morning. I would imagine that for some people, waking up after a night of not having your medicine and it being time to take it makes the symptoms of their illness worse.\n\nEven if you don't take medicine, your body's chemicals and hormones are going to change with the activity you are doing - sleeping, being awake, being highly active. \n\nI'm cool with the idea of having my consciousness put into a robot body, no more pesky human health issues. \n\n...That got weird, but I'll stand by it. ",
"It really depends on what disease you're talking about. Whether this is a muscular or joint issue or whether it's to do with your organs. And, what medicine you're taking. \n\nIn your case you suffer from asthma. The respiratory system slows down and depresses during sleep, as part of your metabolism. Your airways are already narrower and more prone to inflammation due to the disease. Depression of the respiratory system during the night makes it worse. The result is that mucuous builds up during the night. You may have also possibly had a chronic lack of oxygen during the night, aka sleep apnea.\n\nIf it was a physical ailment, such as arthritis. That can be explained through muscular and joint theory. Healthy muscles need constant movement. Often, at night one is stationary for prolonged periods of time. The stiffness you feel in the morning is a combination of two things. The muscles tightening dependent on your posture (a light version of the Contracture seen after strokes). And also, within the joint itself the fluid that lubricates the joint, changes viscosity, becoming thicker and stiffer. Movement and warming up in the morning counteracts these effects. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] |
|
2xcukv | what will happen to the american economy if the gulf states decide to stop denominating their oil sales in us dollars? | explainlikeimfive | http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2xcukv/eli5_what_will_happen_to_the_american_economy_if/ | {
"a_id": [
"coyz1wf"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The increased demand for dollars in order to pay oil debts causes a slight increase in the value of the dollar and has a slight stabilizing factor on the value of the dollar, despite the fact that most such dollars are used solely to pay for oil and never enter the US economy.\n\nHowever, if OPEC decided to stop using the dollar, those petrodollars that exist overseas would start to be sold on the open currency market. If there is a greater supply of dollars and a similar demand, (or alternately, a similar supply and a lowered demand, depending on how you look at it), the price of the dollar on the international currency market would go down, making US purchasing power decrease in the international market.\n\nSome portion of those dollars would also reenter the US economy, causing inflation. However, it's probably reasonably easy for the Federal Reserve Board to respond to that pressure."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.