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
list | selftext_urls
list | answers_urls
list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1fh4d7
|
how am i aware of the space my car takes up on the road?
|
Driving along, I can see a gap in traffic and know that my car could fit into it, but how do I know that? My car is small, so I would think that might help, but when I trade cars and drive my dad's huge SUV I still instinctively know where the car is on the road and how much room I need. Since I'm not physically part of the car and don't sit directly in the middle of the car, how am I aware of what space I'm using up?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1fh4d7/eli5_how_am_i_aware_of_the_space_my_car_takes_up/
|
{
"a_id": [
"caa7cn8",
"caa7iua",
"caa7p0y"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"Experience, mainly. You drive long enough in your car, you get a feel for how big a gap in traffic you need to fit your car in.\n\nOr are you asking how you can determine this information for a different car?",
"I'm always secretly proud of myself for knowing my car within inches. (getting in/out of tight spaces, etc - not driving like an ass)",
"A combination of peripheral vision and experience.\n\nAlthough you're not looking at the passenger side, you can still see it in your peripheral vision. And with a bit of experience (which you get while you're learning) your brain can take this information and work out quite accurately where the front passenger-side corner of your car is, even though you're not looking at it either.\n\nSimilar things happen for other corners of the car."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
1s0zwk
|
why is the top of the muffin better than the bottom part of the muffin?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1s0zwk/eli5_why_is_the_top_of_the_muffin_better_than_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cdsui52",
"cdsutoq",
"cdsuxp4"
],
"score": [
2,
5,
13
],
"text": [
"More crispy less soggy goodness. ",
"Edit: Elaine like I'm five",
"The top of the muffin is exposed to the dry heat which allows the sugars to caramelize giving it a better flavor."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
82a7x9
|
why does an electronic device occasionally glitch?
|
Computers and electronics by nature should theoretically respond to the same stimuli the same way every time if they're working properly. Why, do electronics sometimes freeze or do strange things but then a moment later or after restarting it will work fine? Something must have been "wrong" during the glitch, but then how do things work again and what was "wrong" to begin with?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/82a7x9/eli5_why_does_an_electronic_device_occasionally/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dv8knjd",
"dv8l5dr"
],
"score": [
10,
2
],
"text": [
"There are two main causes for electronics \"glitches\". \n\n* **Physical Conditions** - things like moisture and heat can and do often effect electronics. Heat especially can cause computers and other electronic devices to fail. Excess heat causes the resistance values of various circuit components to change. Often those components are used for logic processing so small changes in resistance can cause a processor to crash.\n\n* **Programmer Error** - much more common are simply mistakes made by programmers. These mistakes usually happen because programmers didn't carefully test their code for strange inputs from the user. For example, on an application might ask the user to enter their birthday. What happens if instead of a date, the user enters a color. Or the word \"cat\" or a bunch of characters that don't make any sense? Good programmers will detect junk input and handle it some how, some programmers aren't careful. In the real world the kinds of input that cause problems usually are much more complex and happen when one application talks to another.",
"Thanks for the input. The environmental conditions answer seems to get at what I'm asking best since environmental conditions change. \n\nI'm not much talking about electronics breaking down or consistently failing, but rather when they fail for a moment and then the same inputs are done but it then works. Eg. I'm entering in my birthday for a form and it crashes but then I return to the form, enter the same values and then it works. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
5mjo6l
|
what are crazy long math equations used for, and what do they solve?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5mjo6l/eli5what_are_crazy_long_math_equations_used_for/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dc435ej",
"dc43lgn",
"dc48tbn",
"dc4afiv",
"dc4bgd1"
],
"score": [
93,
12,
3,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"Not everything that is worth doing can be described simply. For example, suppose you want to do something simple, like come up with a mathematical model to figure out how much snow will be on a road a few hours after it has snowed. To be able to decently capture this, at a minimum you will need to include:\n\n* temperature\n* wind speeds\n* humidity\n* precipitation\n* cloudiness\n* ambient light levels\n* latitude\n* time of year\n\nAnd the real kicker is, many of these factors interact with each other, so you also need to capture those interactions. And this is for something as simple as how quickly is the snow gonna melt! Imagine what you may need to describe something more complicated.\n\nI happen to know all of this because I am currently (procrastinating at) writing a paper on this topic...",
"I've never seen the formula you mention before, and without context on what the different variables mean, there's not much to say. \n\nIn general it really depends on what you want to describe, and how many **variables** it has. Your function shows a relation between different p, g, q, omega, lambda and tau, which are a lot of variables. So the total relation is complicated. \n\n\n\nAnother thing is that sometimes you can make it as complicated as you want. For example in **approximations**. A Taylor series for example, approaches a function by \n\n > a + b*x + c*x² + d*x³ + ... \n\nand so on. You can add terms for as long as you want, depending on how accurate you want the result to be. [This gif](_URL_0_) shows how for every extra term (n) the approximation gets more accurate. \n\n\n",
"ive used equations like this in physical chemistry/quantum mechanics. put simply, it allowed us to calculate the energy of a molecule. usually we didnt need to have it be so long as we didnt need that level of accuracy. for practical purposes all of the extra terms were negligible. but adding terms gets you closer to the exact value. ",
"lol the potential answers to this question could go on for days and days, there are so many of them that apply to so much.",
"In the world of mathematics, there's about a billion different differential (and other types of) equations that describe various different relationships between variables. A lot of the time, mathematicians spend their lives investigating, researching and developing new mathematical proofs that can show how numbers and variables are related to each other.\n\nThen what happens is someone looking to solve a real-world problem, or looking for the ability to accurately predict how something is going to behave, can look to these equations and see if any of them can be used to model what they're trying to solve.\nOnly a small fraction so far have been found to have real world applications where the equation actually can be used to model a phenomenon like electromagnetic radiation, or heat transfer.\n\nThe equation you're looking at has a lot of periodic (cosine and sine) functions, as well as wavelength (𝝺), which means it's more than likely modeling something with wave-like behaviour like light, electricity, quantum mechanics, etc.... "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Exp_series.gif"
],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
2ug2w8
|
why does my dog carry some of his food over to the carpet to eat it?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2ug2w8/eli5_why_does_my_dog_carry_some_of_his_food_over/
|
{
"a_id": [
"co82q5r",
"co8393r",
"co83meo",
"co8f46e"
],
"score": [
10,
7,
30,
2
],
"text": [
"I thought it was because if they don't feel comfortable as 'alpha' they'll take their food and eat somewhere else away from whomever \"owns\" the food instead.\n\nI have a dog who is very timid and only just now started eating all his food in the bowl. I had to do a lot of praising while keeping my distance while he slowly gained confidence that I wasn't going to steal his food. \n\nAnd there's absoutely no food guarding.",
"In the case of my dog it seems to be so she can be with the family in the living room while eating, rather than separated eating in the dark in the kitchen on a comparatively cold wooden floor.",
"Well, there are various theories. My favorite is that it is a remnant from when dogs were wolves, and hunted and ate in packs. Once the prey was felled, the dogs would get in there and rip off what they could before it was all gone. After a dog/wolf had a decent piece, it only made sense to move away from the carcass and eat what it had before someone bigger/stronger took it away and it would then have to go back to the scraps. ",
"It's just a way of safeguarding their food. It's not really the dog taking it over to the carpet, but the dog taking it away from you/others to a quiet place with minimal chance of it being taken away. \n\nObviously most human owners are not going to steal away their dog's food after having given it to them, but they just want to be extra cautious and play it safe. It's just a more primal behaviour that has stuck with them."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
wqo6f
|
mlb's blackout policy
|
I just don't get how the blackout works. I read the [Wikipedia article](_URL_0_), but still don't really get it.
So if your local station is broadcasting a game, the national broadcast in that market is blacked out. But the national broadcast is not blacked out nationally, is it? How does this affect anyone really? Can someone please explain this...?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/wqo6f/eli5_mlbs_blackout_policy/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c5flikn",
"c5ft9yu",
"c5fxwc1"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"If you are close enough to a game to physically attend it, and the stadium isn't sold out (or reaches a percentage of sales), you can't watch it on T.V.",
"If you're in Canada, the **ENTIRE COUNTRY** is considered in the blackout zone for the Toronto Blue Jays.\n\nYet, on the bluejays own pages, they always advertise _URL_0_ with scenes of Jays games on the screens (even though that would be unavailable IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY)",
"Actually MLB doesn't have the percentage sold out rule, that is NFL. If you are in the team's local area (defined by the team) you are expected to watch the game on the regional sports network (RSN) or attend the game.\n\n\nIf we use St. Louis Cardinals as an example, they have most of Missouri, Iowa, most of Illinois, parts of Indiana, parts of Kentucky, parts of Tennessee claimed as their local area. However most of these areas do not have a RSN that would carry the game (FoxSports Midwest) so not only are these fans without a RSN they cannot watch on _URL_1_ because they are in the \"local area\".\n\n\nThere are blackout timeframes on Saturday afternoon and Sunday evenings. Fox's Saturday Game of the Day will blackout any games that start around that time or start before the game is complete. ESPN's Sunday Evening Baseball will blackout any games starting around that time or before the game is complete.\n\n\nAlso if you happen to subscribe to a RSN (like FoxSportsMidwest) but are not in the \"local area\" any MLB baseball on that channel will be blacked out.\n\n\nThe blackout rules are defined by the contracts that MLB has with the teams and with the broadcasters (mostly Fox) and have not been changed, in principle for years. Teams have moved or been added and the territories change but the rules are still the same.\n\n\nBud Selig mentioned in 2006 that something should be done to fix the rules but we haven't heard anything since.\n\n\nThe broadcasting contract with Fox expires in 2013 so we should see some changes, but I wouldn't suggest just waiting to let it happen. Telling MLB about the effect the blackouts have on fans seems to do nothing, but if the sponsors of MLB know about the effect and take that into consideration when re-negotiating the advertising contracts, MLB might start to listen.\n\n\n**shameless plug**\n\nI've set up a tumblr blog with all this information and more, as well the MLB sponsor list and the contact information for those sponsors.\n\n\n_URL_0_\n\n\n**/shameless plug**"
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_blackout_policy"
] |
[
[],
[
"MLB.TV"
],
[
"http://mlbfanblackout.tumblr.com",
"MLB.tv"
]
] |
|
8tkver
|
; how do graphics get better over time?
|
How do graphics get better over time? Like graphics we have now for games are amazing, but in 10-15 years time they’ll be rubbish in comparison.
So why can’t we just create the best ever graphics now, or are how good the graphics are, are determined by how good the technology is?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8tkver/eli5_how_do_graphics_get_better_over_time/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e189cb0",
"e18bsqu"
],
"score": [
6,
3
],
"text": [
"There's basically two main races, both are still in motion.\n\nTo make super crazy graphics, you need power. The better the graphics, the more power. Graphics processing power increases at an incredible rate, but there's still almost unlimited room for improvement on how much you can throw at the problem.\n\nTo make super crazy graphics, you also need technique. Graphics began as brightness on a screen. Black bit, white bit, monochrome. Techniques improved to where we could render colour as well. Magic. Then techniques improved to where we could have moving images. Supermagic. (The order is potentially reversed on that one, but it's not super important) Keep winding forward and eventually you can have a computer understand how to output 3D images, and so on and so forth. That's basically the same as power in that it's a thread you can keep pulling at. \n\nStill now there are many areas that people spend a lot of research resources to invent and improve. Lighting is a big area, which ties into the first point, where *really* good lighting needs a lot of power. Same with what things actually look like. Shadows, diffusion, subsurface scattering, indirect lighting and all. There's a lot of little things that work together to create a compelling image and a lot of great things have been done, but a lot more great things are yet to be done :)",
"You could make a game right now with insanely good graphics, and then go out of business. Because the market for \"Game that won't run on anything but a supercomputer\" is really small.\n\nGames push the limits of available consumer technology, and as better rendering technology becomes available to consumers games improve their graphics to use the available tech."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
2w87dw
|
why are hate crimes illegal? if the crime itself is already illegal, what does the reason have to do with it?
|
Does the "hate" involve additional repercussions?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2w87dw/eli5_why_are_hate_crimes_illegal_if_the_crime/
|
{
"a_id": [
"coofh7v",
"coofjlk",
"cooflw8",
"coofsw6",
"coogk6e",
"cooilw8"
],
"score": [
14,
50,
2,
3,
17,
7
],
"text": [
"As far as I understand it, it's to distinguish things like spray painting your name on a wall from spray painting \"faggot\" on a gay person's house. They're both crimes of vandalism but one of them is a more serious version of the other, because now in addition to someone having to clean the paint off, someone is also being harassed and hated and generally made to feel unsafe.\n\nAnd I don't mean it's specific to vandalism, I'm just using that as an example",
"Reason is pretty much always considered in crimes. That is why we have first, second and third degree murder. \n\nThe reason hate crimes get higher punishments is because it is not just an attack against one individual, you are also, indirectly, attacking a whole group of individuals, causing fear and unrest. If you kill Jack because he slept with your wife, you are only a danger to Jack. Tom doesn't have to fear you, because he isn't sleeping with your wife. If you kill Jack because he is gay, you are not only a danger to Jack, you are also a danger to every other gay guy, and you might definitely be causing some very realistic fear in Adam, who is also gay. ",
"Why is vehicular manslaughter different from murder? In large part because a person's motives are an important consideration. Did the person intentionally kill someone? Are they likely to commit similar crimes in the future? More fundamentally, is this person a danger to society?",
"Because society considers someone who punches you because you looked at their girlfriend funny to be less of a threat than someone who punches you because you are black.\n\nIn much the same way, someone who kills a cheating spouse is less dangerous than someone who kills a random person to see what it feels like.",
"Because hate crimes have the added effect of terrorizing the victim's minority community.\n\nFor instance: A gang goes around beating up black people. In addition to the damage done to the individual victims, all black people in that area feel like they have to be more careful when they go out, and it reduces their quality of life.",
"You are intimidating an entire community. Its basically terrorism."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
38xo0j
|
what happend to the good old days?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/38xo0j/eli5_what_happend_to_the_good_old_days/
|
{
"a_id": [
"crymw0m"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Well, anything in the past really. The reason is that you tend to remember good times but not bad times, which is why the past seems so much better eventhough it objectively was not necessarily the case (or actually quite the contrary)."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
b0co6f
|
how long does it take for food to “store as energy” (fat) within a human body? why does the body burn muscle instead of fat when starving?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/b0co6f/eli5_how_long_does_it_take_for_food_to_store_as/
|
{
"a_id": [
"eidns5x",
"eidonng",
"eids3h4",
"eidtipe",
"eidu03j"
],
"score": [
446,
21,
2,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Think of fat like a savings account, and muscle mass as expenses. If you spend a little more than you take in in a particular month, you can withdraw a little from savings to cover the difference. But let's say you lose your job and have no money coming in (Starvation). Spending your savings is only going to work for so long, but you can extend that length of time by spending less money (reducing the amount of muscle mass). This way gives you longer to find a source of food to save your life. ",
"This video explains it all, but skip forward to the 17:00 minute mark for a graph of the rates at which sugar, carbs and proteins are converted to energy , and if you watch the whole video you will see that the body doesn't burn muscle for energy\n\n & #x200B;\n\n[_URL_0_](_URL_0_)",
"As for how long it takes to store fat, in a healthy body it stores sugar in the blood almost as soon as it hits the bloodstream, your body likes to keep blood sugar in a certain range, so it releases insulin as soon as blood sugar rises. The speed is fairly quick, I don't know the time in seconds but the pancreas stores insulin for quick release, and the liver and muscles convert blood sugar to glycogen fast, while other cells convert it to fat. It is probably about as fast as you feel the effects of drinking a soda, which is to say really fast acting. After 20 minutes or so, a healthy person has stored all the sugar from a soda - that number is from memory.",
"Your body breaks food down into two things, the useful stuff you can keep and stuff you can get rid of. What you get rid of is pee'd, pooped, or breathed out and what you can keep is either used up by your organs like your brain, liver, kidneys to make your body work. \n\nWhen your body has too much of these useful stuff then insulin starts to let your cells absorb these to use and some spesific cells keep them saved up for later. Sometimes that can go haywire and you start storing way more of this reserve than you need and you get fat. Insulin acts as a little key to all of your bodies cells, letting the useful stuff your body wants to use in and out of the cells with the cells that never need much of the useful stuff becoming your fat cells. The effect isn't instant or super duper exact, what you eat takes a short time to go from your stomach to your blood and around your body but insulin is put out as soon as you begin to feel hungry so it both allows stuff into your cells and out of your cells whenever you are hungry and while you are eating. Its sort of a silly thing that just lets stuff in or out so finding out when it starts keeping more stuff than it lets out is never really known.\n\nAfter about three to four hours without eating your body is considered fasting, you start releasing some the stuff your now fat cells have kept stored because most of the cells that needed the useful stuff have ran out of whatever they got, this is why you get hungry a while after you have eaten. If there isn't enough energy inside those fat cells your body will begin to find other things it can use like muscles which are made from proteins. Your body and your brain still need an energy source even if you are starving so it starts to make sense to take this other stored useful stuff and turn it into the same useful stuff they were made of though a complicated process involving your liver. The same way you might eat a steak or pork chop and keep most of its useful bits is the same way your body decides it needs to burn muscle when its done with fat and when youve switched over to using proteins it can take weeks before your body is back to processing the useful stuff.\n\n\nN.B NOT for 5 year olds: useful stuff is glucose, your body has a complicated mecanism to convert proteins into two acetone phosphates that can then be converted into glucose. If your body is running on glucose it keeps glucose in fat cells (of which there are only X amount per body, they just get bigger the fatter you get). Stuff like the insulin response and ketone bodies are what you'd really want to look into if you want to really understand this.",
"The exact answer in time varies from person to person, depending on sex, weight, height, physical activity, and even what type of food you ate. Generally, once the food is digested, and the fuel sources needed for energy during that time are accounted for, the body saves the extra (carbs to \"fat\" when they're not used for energy soon enough) and vice versa if there is no extra (gluconeogenisis iirc). The body burns muscle instead of fat during starvation because the energy draw will be universally lower if the muscles are smaller. So to kill 2 birds with one stone, the body will make these muscles smaller, and on top of that, use them as fuel to prolong survival. Think bigger car needs more gas. If you get a smaller car, it wont have as much power as your suburbitank, but you'll spend less on gas.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nHumans are remarkable in our ability to adapt, its often overlooked by our intelligence. We would not have been able to survive as long if our body could not handle almost every climate, in almost any season, like have for thousands of years."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIuj-oMN-Fk&t=14s"
],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
6i6vnt
|
why do the people around you always look the same to you, while you can look totally different to yourself even over the course of a few hours?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6i6vnt/eli5_why_do_the_people_around_you_always_look_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dj3vy27",
"dj4255l",
"dj4aifk",
"dj4b4mr",
"dj4dikk",
"dj4mwgn",
"dj5jzbw"
],
"score": [
49,
234,
10,
10,
237,
10,
2
],
"text": [
"Can't give a scientifically accurate answer but I know that our brains will pick up on the smallest changes of our own face and exaggerate them. So even if *you* look the same, *you* look different to yourself. \n\nSame reason some of us tend to feel self conscious about certain facial features. If their proportions are perceived as off to you, for what ever reasons, they'll be exaggerated in your mind. ",
"You are very familiar with your own features and tend to focus on things that stick out to you. With other people you tend to just see the \"big picture\" and not the little things. This is why it's so easy to become insecure about odd features that you have, while other people don't question them.",
"There's this saying: People think a lot less about you than you think. If someone was intimately familiar with you they would probably notice, but most people won't think about your face very much at all.",
"You know about you. You're so familiar with yourself that when something changes, it sticks out to you. With other people, you just notice patterns; we naturally see patterns that are familiar and ignore ones that aren't. \n\nIt's the same reason why we see dicks in everything; we notice the foliar pattern first. ",
"Basically, because we are only aware of our own stimuli. If I step out of my office to grab lunch, I might walk in the sun and feel a little sweaty, I might get caught in the wind and feel a little mussed, I might eat a big greasy lunch and then feel gross about it. Because I FEEL windswept and uncomfortably full, if I look in the mirror, that will be reflected. I'll think I'm fatter, I'll be frustrated that my hair isn't cooperating, or embarrassed that I'm hot and sweaty. But the truth is, no one else in my office knows that I was in the wind or I ate too many fries. As far as they're concerned, I walked out and then walked back in a little later, as people do in offices. They didn't experience any of the external factors that are currently making me feel different than I did an hour ago. \n\nThe woman who sits at the desk across from me just cam back from the bathroom. She might have started her period and be totally uncomfortable and in pain. She might have read an email while sitting there and gotten some great news. She might have suddenly realized she wore different shoes than she meant to and her outfit is way off. Her entire state of mind could have totally shifted while she was gone, but I'd have no fucking idea. ",
"This is probably a generalization of The Illusion of Asymmetric Insight. We view ourselves as complex persons with unique inner turmoil and motivations, but think of others as simple creatures with broad-stroke opinions and motives.\n\nThe same things probably apply to our physical view of others. We look deeply at our own face but gloss over the mere presences of others most of the time.\n\nThen we have Dunbar's Number, the genetically dictated limit on the mamalian brain as to how many peers the brain can handle as \"real individuals\". Dunbar's Number for humans is about 150. When you meet someone new, when they transition from \"some guy in accounting\" to \"Bob, who helps me with the department budget\" they bump someone else out of the cache of real humans in your brain. When Bob becomes Bob, someone who used to be Terry becomes \"one of the guys I went to school with\".\n\nThe meat in your head has practical limits, and there are more people on earth than there are slots in your brain.\n\nLargely because you couldn't function if you had to give full and nuanced attention to every person you encountered day and night. Nobody's got time or emotional capacity for that.\n\nSo particularly when dealing with hundreds or thousands of people, we just use a mosaic of hair color, eye color, nose-size, sexual availability, and like/dislike metrics.\n\nThis modeling is the real, true, and correct definition of Stereotype.\n\nNow don't trigger on that word, every non-proper noun is, itself, a stereotype, and society wouldn't function without stereotypes. Teacher, Cop, Waiter, Good Teacher, Bad Cop, Crappy Waiter, \"guy\", \"girl\", \"child\", Pizza Guy, Cashier, Sargent... literally every title, role, and word that isn't a specific name for an individual is a stereotype.\n\nThis ability to stereotype is factually what allows civilization to function. We don't have to know every shop-keep in order to go shopping.\n\nIn other species where stereotypes have not yet evolved the troupe, tribe, pride, or pod must split when there are more individuals than the Dunbar's Number for the species brain because the individuals just aren't comfortable in a sea of strangers.\n\nBut we can live in cities of millions by being able to categorize strangers.\n\nSo all these forces are positive adaptations that let you see people in sets of expectations instead of just friend or foe.",
"The comments here are facinating to me. This is awesome stuff! I've always wondered how people saw themselves but was too awkward to ask.\n\nI see myself in the mirror but have never gotten an 'impression' that that image is 'me'. I've never been good at explaining this, not even to my wife who I have talked about this with a few times. I can't make 'me' out in the mirror. Like I'll see a picture of myself, I'll be able to tell it's me because of the clothes and that I remember taking the picture, but that person looks kind of like a ... I don't know, like a place-holder? I don't know how to explain that feeling. It's not an imposter image, or even that I'm 'face-blind' to myself. I just don't put the eyes, ears, nose into a familiar group, like I would with other faces (I'm guessing here)\n\nSo when I read the comments and hear people talking about how they see themselves as 'tired', 'full', or 'glowing' I'm fascinated. I know what i feels like to feel tired, full, or glow..but I've never seen it in the 'me' in the mirror or a picture. I can put those impressions on others that I see but my own image seems greasy or frictionless, nothing sticks."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
2mxjz2
|
triangulation and how it is used in gps technology
|
Is it just finding something based on 2 known angles and a side or something else?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2mxjz2/eli5_triangulation_and_how_it_is_used_in_gps/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cm8hlmc"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Triangulation is using two known angles to two different points. You can draw a straight line through all the points where you'd see the first angle, and another where you'd see the second angle (if a landmark is directly north of you, you must be on the line extending directly south from it). Where the two lines cross is where you must be.\n\nGPS uses trilateration, which is the same idea but with distances rather than angles. You measure the distance from each satellite to you by measuring how long a radio signal takes to travel the distance. Each distance gives you a circle of places you could be (a sphere if you don't assume that you're on the ground). Adding a second distance gives you two points where two circles cross, and a third tells you which of those two points you're at. (Actually you need a fourth satellite to help you measure all the times accurately, since you don't have an atomic clock in your GPS receiver)"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
8rugf3
|
why does the coastline have beaches in some places and rocky cliffs in other places, even right next to each other?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/8rugf3/eli5_why_does_the_coastline_have_beaches_in_some/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e0uaabd",
"e0umzf7",
"e0uq76w",
"e0usayi",
"e0uu2bi",
"e0uuhe4",
"e0v11a2"
],
"score": [
2443,
68,
317,
2,
5,
3,
8
],
"text": [
"Different water currents. Normally cliffs would just keep eroding, and waves would wash the sand away. But in some places the currents *re-deposit* the sand up onto the shore, refreshing the beach so it doesn't disappear.",
"no one has mentioned yet that sand deposits are often made by rivers/creeks etc entering the ocean. The headlands are outside the \"creekbed\" and the sand areas are part of the floodplain [in some cases]",
"Geology of the shore is very important. A harder rock type (granite for instance) is more resistant to erosion and has the internal strength to form cliffs compared to loose sand and gravel deposited by a river. \n\nAlmost all landforms that you see are a result of the underlying geology (a ravine marks an old fault that weakened the rock and made it erode a little more there or an old stream bed with big cobbles is stronger than the surrounding rocks and forms a ridge (it can be paradoxical sometimes). ",
"Super old and really really hard rock form Capes (The rocky bits) - Then the super angry sea bro smashes against it several million times breaking small pieces off slowly (Think grains of sand) - These tiny pieces then get washed away to areas that are less deep (due to a lot of tiny pieces being deposited over millions of years amongst other things) and get deposited there forming long awesome beaches to get shot down by woman and sunburnt on. \n\nAlso - Ocean currents play a major role in this and also affect whether the beach is rocky or sandy.",
"Typically waves are refracted as they head towards shore. This means that they won't just travel in a straight line to land. Waves will converge (come together) and create a greater erosional intensity or diverge (split apart) and lose erosional intensity. The areas of land where the waves are converging are known as headlands and they are characterized by those steep, rocky cliffs. Greater erosion = steep cliffs where land is continuously breaking off and falling into the ocean. The areas of land where the waves are diverging are beaches (or bays) and face much less erosional forces and will accumulate a great amount of sedimentary deposits. Less erosion = shallow slopes and more deposits of sediments. These headlands and beaches will alternate along the coast because they are in a relationship with each other. Because headlands take on greater erosional forces, they are broken down and beaches will form on either side of them as the sediments are deposited in the areas of weaker erosional force. That's why you often see steep cliffs next to beaches along the coast.",
"Sand is made in rivers. Big rocks are ground in to smaller rocks and then sand. \n\nSand from river is deposited on to beach at river mouths, creating sandy points. \n\nELI14: _URL_1_\n\nIn California, the current moves from North to South. This moves sand from North to South along the beach. \n\nELI14: _URL_4_\n\nELI14: _URL_3_\n\nThe sand keeps moving down the coast until it is blocked by a rocky headland. The sand keeps depositing against this rocky area until it is no longer rocky and it is now a sandy area. \n\nReally big rocky areas can stop the sand moving, but most are \"leaky\" and the sand keeps moving with the current until it encounters another rocky area or a submarine canyon submarine canyon. The sand falls in the canyon and is dispersed out to see.\n\nELI14: _URL_0_\n\n\n**After I wrote this whole thing I found this Wikipedia entry which explains all of it better:\n_URL_1_ary_budget**\n\n\n\n",
"It's all to do with the geology but then i would say that as I'm a geologist. \n\nBasically, different rocks and landscapes wear down at different rates. Some float away as fine sediment in rivers (which is why rivers can look murky), sands are heavier and move slowly along the bottom of rivers, slowly moving to the sea. When the river flows into the sea, the heavy sands spread out along the shore as beaches (quartz sand).\n\nIn shelly beaches (carbonate sand), it's often from wave action on coral reefs breaking it up and grinding it into sand which then deposits on the shores. \n\n-ish. It's a lot more complicated than that but as this is ELI5..."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_erosion",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sediment",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedimentary_budget**",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Current",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longshore_drift"
],
[]
] |
||
2yd2nj
|
why do warmer climates have turquoise, clear seas and white beaches? why is my sea so gross in comparison?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2yd2nj/eli5_why_do_warmer_climates_have_turquoise_clear/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cp8gmjy",
"cp8kzp5",
"cp8utyg"
],
"score": [
9,
10,
2
],
"text": [
"No sediment in the water = clear water.\n\nUnsure on the colour.",
"If you are imagining tropical islands the answer is that the sand is primarily derived from coral atolls/reefs. The coral has a white skeleton when it perishes/breaks away. \r\rThe reason the water is blue is because these islands are the only land masses in an open ocean. The open ocean has significantly less nutrients than near continental landmasses and hence there is less plankton / sediment colouring the water green / brown.",
"color has nothing to do with the warmth... you should look up some of the glacial rivers in Alaska... you wouldn't believe they are real unless you saw them in person in some cases. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
74v4t3
|
why rational, selfless, science-based, atheists are rarely in national politics.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/74v4t3/eli5_why_rational_selfless_sciencebased_atheists/
|
{
"a_id": [
"do1ais9",
"do1b0g0",
"do1b27j"
],
"score": [
3,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"We are seeing a lot of commoners and workers running. It was always a 'pay to play' game. Can't afford air time, ads and name recognition without the big 5 media outlets ( maybe 6?) Consent through buying time on their outlet. The internet and overall distrust of media institutions is giving other less wealthy candidates a chance\n\nI wonder why we have not seen any come up. It's the right time i think ",
"obviously speculating here, but religion still plays a huge role in politics since many voters are religious. Some parties may not want a candidate that potentially isolates a big portion of their voter base",
"If they were atheist they probably would run as some religion. Americans voters as a whole trust Protestant Christians. We've only elected one Catholic (JFK). Everyone else has at least claimed to be some sort of Protestant. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
a6y794
|
how does powder "clump" in liquids?
|
So I've been using protein shakes for quite some time, and sometimes when I'm not feeling so "shaky" the powder tends to clump up, creating what seems like a moist layer of powder protecting the inner layer of untouched; dry protein powder. This also goes for chocolate drink mixes, PVC in water, and other powders I come into contact with daily that needs to be dissolved in water.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a6y794/eli5_how_does_powder_clump_in_liquids/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ebyzkca",
"ebz7wf0"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"it varies somewhat depending on the substance. salt, for instance, doesn't tend to do that.\n\norganic substances tend to have 2 ends that behave differently. one likes water, the other doesn't. when you add it to water, the water seeking sides go out and the water hating sides point in, forming a bubble. \n\npowders made of anhydrous material (there's no water in it), can enter the water and the parts on the inside pull so hard on the water that they pull the powder that has become saturated and it can't move away. think of it like a vaccuum cleaner that gets something stuck on the front. \n\nchocolate in particular has its own unique properties, as there are cases where it needs to be heated to dissolve, but can remain dissolved even when dramatically cooled. ",
" > creating what seems like a moist layer of powder protecting the inner layer of untouched\n\nYou pretty much explained it yourself ☺\n\nMolecules in solution disperse based on a concentration gradient, but if there's no liquid, that won't happen.\n\nProteins are long, complex molecules that fold up into specific configurations (secondary and tertiary structure). Even soluble proteins (which most protein powders are) can take a bit of encouragement to go back into solution. This is because the whole surface of the protein needs to interact with water molecules. When you have a tightly packed clump of protein, then only part of the protein interacts with water, so it's never really dissolved.\n\nWhen you shake it, you add kinetic energy to the system, so the water molecules \"bounce\" against the powder clumps and loosen them (more than what normally happens). Adding heat does the same, just a different kind of energy.\n\nAnything that's hydrophobic never really goes into solution, but is emulsified - there's enough water molecules between the hydrophobic molecules that they can't stick together again. You make emulsions with lots of stirring, so again you add energy to the system to overcome the \"reluctance\" of the molecules to do that."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
35zqsd
|
why do political parties try to be opposites of each other instead of working together to solve problems?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/35zqsd/eli5_why_do_political_parties_try_to_be_opposites/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cr9chch",
"cr9cjox",
"cr9eh25",
"cr9f42p"
],
"score": [
10,
8,
7,
2
],
"text": [
"It's much harder to get elected that way. If I'm running for office and you're not sure if you should vote for me, which sounds more convincing:\n\n\"Hey, vote for me or the other guy, we'll each tackle these problems in our own way and arrive at a reasonable solution.\"\n\n\"That other guy stands for everything you oppose and the only way to keep that maniac out of office is to pick me. Also, I believe in exactly what you want.\"\n\n",
"Your question is based on all kinds of assumptions. \n\nFirst, political parties often do work together. Even in the US, levels of partisanship that we see today are a recent occurrence. Democrats and Republicans have worked together for centuries, and in countries where coalition government is the norm, parties work together constantly to achieve common goals.\n\nSecond, no political party in a democratic political system can rightly be called the 'opposite' of the other. Parties have huge areas of agreement. Of course, they rarely talk about them, because they agree, but they're still there.\n\nHowever, there are some disagreements that parties just can't overcome. What responsibility do we have to our society? How important is collective security compared to personal liberty? I don't know if any amount of arguing can ever bring us to a conclusion on these questions, so naturally parties are going to take different stances.",
"Because solving problems isn't the point of politics. \nKeeping the power in the hands of the powerful is the point.\n",
"Because several factors collectively result in a polarized environment where cooperation and compromise are not as lauded as gamesmanship and obstinance. A crusader who fights for an ineffective measure or policy and loses has more support coming to him/her than an effective legislator who compromises. See also, Ted Cruz getting a $6 million dollar donation even though he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected.\n\nAs for what those factors are? The first is \"safe\" congressional districts that are drawn to practically guarantee that the only competitive race in an election is the primary. John Boehner can run on a platform of \"democrats should be shot in the street\" and he'd still win his district. The second is winner-take-all elections that all but negate a third party's chances of winning a national election. The third is the tendency to either embrace or fail to marginalize a party's lunatic fringe. The republicans don't have a monopoly on this, but they're the biggest culprits in recent years. Another is the intermingling of religion and politics. The former calls for blind faith while the later (should) demand skepticism rather than confirmation bias."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
2czn17
|
sometimes when i look at my watch it appears that the second hand has frozen. it then starts moving again. why is this?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2czn17/eli5_sometimes_when_i_look_at_my_watch_it_appears/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cjklnww",
"cjkngh2",
"cjkpmgs",
"cjkqfza"
],
"score": [
73,
2,
7,
4
],
"text": [
"[Chronostasis](_URL_0_)\n\n > Chronostasis is a type of temporal illusion in which the first impression following the introduction of a new event or task demand to the brain appears to be extended in time.\n\nBasically, when your eyes are moving to look at the watch, your brain isn't receiving input. This laps in input is replaced by the first thing that you see. ",
"This happens to me too! I then try to do it again but always fails. ",
"Look no further Vsauce is [here](_URL_0_)",
"noooo!!!!! MY TIMING STOPPING POWERS!!!!!!"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronostasis"
],
[],
[
"http://youtu.be/nNBTLbw1_2Q"
],
[]
] |
||
23bj8b
|
how does urination work?
|
The urge to pee, being able to hold urine, at what point you can no longer hold your urine...etc
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/23bj8b/eli5how_does_urination_work/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cgvfg6n"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"You might want to give more detail as to what you wanna know about peeing. It basically is made in the kidneys travels through the ureters and is stored in the bladder. Here is where it changes depending on the sex. \n\nIf your a woman you have a small canal called the urethra that goes from the bladder to your toilet.\n\nIf your a man you have a longer urethra. On the first part of the urethra is the prostate surrounding it and if it gets inflammation then it will block the urinary canal and will force you to go to the doctor to get help. One of them is making a whole under your genitals so you can pee like a woman. Next a canal that leads from your testicles merge with the urethra so your penis can either pee or ejaculate."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
1oz6wc
|
why can't cargo freight ships carry weapons to fend off pirates?
|
Like in Captain Phillips, they couldn't have any weapons. But why not if they basically know they are going to get attacked by pirates?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1oz6wc/why_cant_cargo_freight_ships_carry_weapons_to/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ccx3jha",
"ccx45dy",
"ccx5q79",
"ccx5r3e"
],
"score": [
3,
14,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"In most cases it isn't worth the fight for the sailors on the cargo ships. The pirates don't want to kill anyone they want a ransom for the ship. If the sailors started opening fire the pirates would respond in kind and someone's going to end up dead. If the cargo ship just gives up they just have to wait for the company that owns the ship to pay the ransom and then they are free. Its the same reason that before 9/11 the general wisdo mwas to let the hijackers take teh palne and fly them wherever they wanted to go. They weren't interested in killing anyone.",
"Vessels can carry weapons if the company allows it, most don't due to insurance issues. I worked on a ship that did most of its work off of east and west Africa and we carried firearms. We had all the necessary paperwork(Arms Declaration, etc) to go along with the weapons so it was never an issue when entering foreign ports. \nIf we were going to be working in an area with a high risk for piracy the company would send a security team to meet us prior the entering the area, they would travel with us for how ever long deemed necessary. The issue is often when an armed security team travels to a different country. For example (if I'm remembering correct) the Suez Canal doesn't allow armed security team to transit so now you have to deal with weapons and personnel getting off the vessel. Now you got a problem of 'importing' weapons, even though you're just going through. We never had these issues as the weapons were ours and not the security teams.\nWhen in Africa we never had any direct contact with pirates but we did have a couple situations. Coming into Douala , Cameroon approaching the anchorage a skiff approached us with about 6 people on it. We had no security team onboard, the captain went below and came up with a few of the rifles, we held them up on the bridge wing and the skiff took off. When we got into port talking with the locals they said that the bandits ( they never called them pirates) were from Nigeria and that they were pissed that they Somalis pirates were getting all the press. A couple days after we left two ships we attacked and 6 guys kidnapped. A similarish incident happened off of Beira, Mozambique again after we left the was an attack not too far from where we were.\nIf anyone is curious on board we had 5 Sign Sauer Classic Swat AR-15s and 5 Mossberg 500 shotguns. About 5000rnds of 556 and 500rnds split between bird shot, buck shot and slugs.\n\ntl:dr ships can carry weapons but most don't due to insurance issues",
"For the same reason we used to tell people to just comply with airplane hijackers - the risk of being armed and making into a fight outweighed the cost of paying ransoms. \n\nMerchant ships have run armed in the past - particularly in WW1 and 2 when they needed to shoot at german ships or be sunk themselves. And prior to that merchant shipping ran armed in the age of sail. But in the modern world piracy has been mostly rare, and mostly financial. \n\nWorld Navies have (slowly) started to take Piracy seriously, and the big hub is Somalia, although there is lots of piracy other places, that mostly falls under the jurisdiction of a government that actually exists. \n\nFor the moment the plan is not to make merchant ships into a shooting war. If merchant ships carried guns, the pirates would try and carry bigger guns. \n\nThere are lots of rules in ports about not having guns - most of that is because people don't want guns moving in or out of their country - even legal ones. The risk of arms smuggling or fights breaking out at the port between armed sailors etc. far outweighed the value guns - which was none. Times change, laws may need to change to keep up with it. ",
"that would mean training the personnel to handle guns and use them and combat (cost money and resources). or hire guards/navy to protect (cost money and resources). And if they the crewmen were to lose, now they lost the cargo, weapons, and lives because they made the pirates mad. Most of the time the pirates will only take the cargos and run. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
1nrtv3
|
why do our voices get higher pitch when something exciting happens?
|
I am watching a livestream right now and I realized the commentator's voice goes high pitch when soemthing big is going to happen. why do our voices do that?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1nrtv3/eli5_why_do_our_voices_get_higher_pitch_when/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cclgnpl"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"Increased airflow, and tightening of the vocal cords themselves. Excitement can be related to many things, but speaking biologically it implies that extra physical capability could be useful - adrenaline, deeper breaths (feed muscles more oxygen), and tightening of muscles to prepare to spring."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
2w261t
|
why do a lot of americans consider obama the worst president since wwii over bush? (source provided)
|
**Source:** _URL_0_
I am not from the United States, so I am hoping someone who is can explain.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2w261t/eli5_why_do_a_lot_of_americans_consider_obama_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"comxfkl",
"comxh9t",
"comxjnp",
"comxvdh",
"comxws7",
"comyax3",
"con9xp2"
],
"score": [
31,
16,
5,
2,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because American politics have become more aggresive and confrontational, the people on the opposing side are more likely to demonise and hate the sitting president than before.\n\nIn actual fact his current approval rating (46%) is slightly above average for a president at this point and far above bushes rating (33%)",
"Because he's the current president in a politically divided nation. \n\nThe worst president will always be the guy the other party wants out. ",
"Short answer: [They don't](_URL_0_)\n\nLong answer: I don't think that study is entirely accurate. For one, the vast majority of the people surveyed were white (70%) compared to the 7% hispanic and 13% black votes. I would also be interested where hey got their voter pool from. The university is in connecticut, a traditionally conservative state. A lot of the answers seem to me to indicate that there was a conservative skew in the results. \n\nSince conservatives are likely to consider Obama worse than Bush, it explains why the results show that. The Gallup poll (the link I provided) is much more nationally recognized, and is well respected. I would put more stock into that.",
"People always think the current president is the worst one. It's due to ironclad cynicism.",
"From outside america i think he is generally viewed positively. At least i think most Norwegians consider him to be a good president and a positive element of the somewhat corrupt american leadership.\n\nHe is trying to change your foreign policies to the better, promoting reasonable liberal values and attempting to ensure that everyone gets health insurance. \n\nThe limited success of these programs have more to to with other power factors in the government sabotaging them and corporate interests lobbying in government and spreading propaganda to the people.\n\nPersonally i think the idea that \"poor people deserve to not have access to health services and social security\" has no root in the common sense of your people, i bet it is something that someone with alternate motives have planted there through propaganda and lies. I do get that they are sometimes partly to blame for their own misfortune, but not helping them has evidently costed your system more in the long run as so many are becoming desperate to afford food/shelter/health. ",
"Because he's still the president, and Bush, the second \"worst,\" was the one before. Take the survey again in 50 years and Obama will be ranked fairly highly for his pragmatism, compromise, and handling of the economic crisis, but will be dinged for his frenetic foriegn policy and high number of broken campaign promises, putting him probably about average.",
"Because too many of them watch Faux News and believe that he's a socialist secret Muslim. An alarming number of people simply can't tolerate the thought of a black man in the White House.\n\nNo matter what one thinks of Obama, Bush and his evil crew represent almost without a doubt the lowest point of the office of President in history, if for no other reasons than the *staggeringly* disastrous invasion of Iraq and the gleeful, uninhibited use of torture. The US will not recover from that for a long, long time...if ever.\n\nReally, Obama's *worst* actions have been along the lines of not shutting down some of Bush's more evil policies, and even expanding on a few. Of course, the next time a Republican gets into the WH (*never* would be too soon), that person will quite happily use all these new Presidential powers that Obama has legitimized.\n\nTo get some idea of why the use of the word \"evil\" is not simply partisan rhetoric, here's a reading list. The more you know...\n\n--\"The Dark Side\" by Jane Mayer\n\n--\"State of War\" and \"Pay Any Price\" by James Risen\n\n--\"Fiasco\" by Thomas Ricks\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2056"
] |
[
[],
[],
[
"http://www.gallup.com/poll/116479/barack-obama-presidential-job-approval.aspx"
],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
76xoaq
|
what’s so hard about solving a rubik’s cube if there’s a certain way/formula to solve it?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/76xoaq/eli5_whats_so_hard_about_solving_a_rubiks_cube_if/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dohfc4i",
"dohftt5",
"dohg549",
"dohgbch",
"dohgc8r",
"dohjfg1",
"dohjqp9",
"dohjsz2",
"dohlg60",
"dohln8d",
"dohly8w",
"dohm0kj",
"dohn3x5"
],
"score": [
806,
26,
40,
16,
3,
9,
2,
5,
2,
3,
12,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Solving a Rubik's Cube isn't hard once you've memorized the formulas. If you don't know the formulas at all, the difficulty comes from your brain trying to figure them out, despite not realizing that you're figuring them out, if that makes sense. \n\nFor Rubik's Cube experts, the difficulty is associated with doing it *quickly*. You know all the formulas, but have to analyze every side of the cube in seconds, and decide which formulas you'll need in which order, without stopping to check your progress, while not making mistakes due to your speed.",
"When it came out on the toy market in the '80s, most people were not aware there was a formula at all, and that's where it cemented its reputation.",
"Am currently learning to solve the cube and I can confirm that once you start learning the moves it’s actually pretty straightforward. The main difficulty of just basic solving is memorizing the move patterns. However now that I have those down I’m finding the difficulty is looking at the cube in a holistic way and making judgements about how to move several blocks efficiently rather than just individual blocks one by one. ",
"As others have stated, it’s easy if you know the formula. If I asked you to make a telephone, or router or tv just of supplies with no instructions, how would you fare?\n\nAnother basic way to think of it is making a fire or tying a knot. Some people learned how to do it by learning the “formula” others don’t. If I gave a survivalist a stick and branches. He could make a fire. If I gave it to the average joe, he would know he wants to make a fire, knows he has the tools, but doesn’t know how to make it happen. Just like the cube\n\n\nEdit: used the wrong fair. Thanks for the corrections. :)",
"It isn't hard, it just takes time ... i set a goal to learn the algorithms and attempt at dolving it, took me about 7 weeks until i was able to fully understand how to solve the Rubik's cube.\n\nAll you need is persistence.",
"The cube is also a matter of public opinion and effort. So many people have the preconceived notion that the being able to solve the Rubik's cube is the epitome of intelligence, but have also never really put in the effort to learn how to solve it themselves. For the most beginner method, all it takes is some theory and 3 memorized algorithms. \n\nLike /u/Ohh_Yeah says, the difficult part isn't solving it, it's doing it fast (and/or in the least number of moves). More advanced methods cut down on solve time and move count tremendously, but you'd need to put in the effort to learn and practice, not something most people care enough about to do.\n\nshout out to /r/cubers",
"I've been solving the rubik's cube since I was 10 years old. At this point it's more of a party trick than a show of skill. If you want to learn just to solve it it's very straightforward. If you want to learn to solve it in under 10 seconds that's where real skill and practice comes in. ",
"My method was different from the norm and only required memorising 2 sequences. Everyone else I knew who did it had learned it from a book. I have yet to find someone else who figured out their own system. My way doesn't win any speed races, but I like that I can understand and explain all of the steps from start to finish. To answer the original question, it took me weeks of trial & error to figure out the process. It was hard at the time because there was no formula available.",
"Many have responded that solving a rubik's cube is easy if you memorize the formulas necessary to complete it. While this is true I guess, it would also take away all the fun of learning how to do one!\n\nIn 9th grade, I got my first cube after a few friends were convinced we could learn to speed cube. They looked up formulas, practiced pattern recognition, and even got down to relatively fast times. I decided that I wanted to figure it out, no help.\n\nTook me about 2 weeks of playing with the thing with what spare time I could afford before I solved it for the first time. After that, I turned to the internet to see how I could improve, and what techniques I could learn to possibly combine steps. This was very fun because it made sense.\n\nMy friends all stopped cubing after a month or less. I still play with them for fun in my late twenties, and have started collecting many of different sizes and shapes, as each offers a different challenge both in terms of new techniques and new ways to go fast. \n\nI would only agree that rubik's cubes are hard in the same way that learning a new instrument or new language is hard. It's a new way to make your brain think about 3D shape, and learning it takes time but is worth the investment. You could, I suppose, learn only 1 song on the piano and say \"well that's easy\", but have you really learned much at all about playing the piano?",
"It isn't hard. That's why the competitions are all about how fast it can be done, not if it can be done.",
"I think there's alot of good comments here but I feel like there's some gaps that I'm going to attempt to fill in.\nOP, you are mostly right in saying that solving a rubik's cube isn't \"hard\" once you've memorized the formulas (called algorithms).\n\nAlgorithms themselves shouldn't be thought of as \"Do this set of moves until the cube is solved\" but more of a \"if you see these patterns, do these moves to make these patterns instead.\" The basic idea behind solving a rubik's cube is to progress from one state of a cube to another using some set of algorithms. After some number of these progressive steps, the cube is solved.\n\nHowever, there are many different sets of algorithms. There are Beginner's algorithms which were designed to be simple and allow a beginner to solve the cube over several minutes. These algorithms often involve hundreds of sequential moves/steps despite the fact that a cube is only ever 23 moves or less from solved.\n\nAnd so there are also more advanced algorithms that rely on more complex analysis of the cube so to solve it in fewer moves. The cubing community itself is continuously developing newer and better methods for solving the cube, some of which are radically different from the others.\n\nAnd in general the community likes to focus on solving it in the least amount of time, so of course being able to mentally and physically execute cube solving quickly is another challenging aspect of cubing.\n\nTL;DR - Just solving a rubik's cube on its own is fairly straightforward with today's availability of information but learning to solve it quickly and efficiently is still a challenge.",
"The true difficulty is solving it without using any formulas that you've looked up. The trick is, it's all about patterns. It took me months to solve it the first time, but now I could do it in my sleep because I know the patterns. I'm sure my method is not as fast as the things you could look up online, but I also feel more accomplished about it because I did it myself. The greater the struggle, the greater the victory.",
"Theres a good number of misconceptions going around in here. Its not correct to say that there is a single formula to solve, anymore than to say there is a single formula to drive anywhere. You can drive anywhere with a series of turns that will change depending on where you start and where you are going, just like there is a sequence of steps you apply that depends on the state of the cube.\n\nA typical approach would be to decide which color will be on the bottom, and make a solved cross of that color on the bottom. Then you solve the corners of that bottom layer, then the edges of the middle layer. Then the remaining last layer gets \"oriented\" meaning get all the stickers that will be on the top face to face upwards even if they arent in the right place. Then you \"permute\" the last layer pieces, meaning you move them around into their final position.\n\nBecause of this cubers usually refer to your solving approach as a \"method\" not a formula. Its not a sequence of moves done the same every time, its more of a guideline you follow of what pieces to solve in what order and how to do that. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
2kp018
|
how can governments (such as the us government in 1933) legally or ethically ban gold, and what is the objective of doing so?
|
I know that it has something to do with hoarding or controlling the economy, but how exactly can you justify criminalizing a harmless metal?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2kp018/eli5_how_can_governments_such_as_the_us/
|
{
"a_id": [
"clncr9m",
"clnd5f3",
"clnefo6",
"clnggmm"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"At the time, we were at the depths of the depression, and our currency was tied to gold. Hoarding of gold was stalling economic growth, and we badly badly needed economic growth.\n\nIt didn't last long though, and didn't matter, because shortly afterwards, we stopped tying our national currency to the value of a shiny rock.",
"Legally - government can do anything it wants within the bounds of the Constitution.\n\nEthically - policies behind laws are to achieve an end desirable by the government. That's about the extent of ethics for governments. As long as its legal it's ethical too.\n\nBeen reading some Ayn Rand?",
"Currency used to be tied to a gold standard. If a country had $100 billion of currency circulating, it had to have that much gold in a vault somewhere to back it, give or take.\n\nSo regulating the flow of gold was vital to the national interest. ",
"[Let](_URL_0_) me [just](_URL_4_) say, the [gold standard](_URL_2_) is STILL a [fucking terrible](_URL_3_) idea.\n\nLet us bring it all into perspective, gold is just a yellow metal and has very little use. Banks create money [out of thin air](_URL_1_) \\(it really is a short and simple read, please do so), and that's not necessarily a bad thing, either. The money system doesn't work the way most people thinks it does. The layman's understanding is basically primitive. That's not to be degrading, it's just that we are all taught a simplistic (and old fashioned) model in school that is easy to understand. I'm expecting a lot of negative reaction for this post, but the way it is today isn't necessarily a bad thing. The gold standard itself had many problems that lead to crisis after financial crisis. Today, we have something different that has it's own problems. Of course it's not perfect, but I would never want to go back."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/04/david-stockmans-delusions-the-gold-standard-is-still-a-really-really-terrible-idea/274559/",
"http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Documents/quarterlybulletin/2014/qb14q1prereleasemoneycreation.pdf",
"http://www.salon.com/2012/08/31/the_gold_standard_delusion/",
"http://investorplace.com/2012/09/7-logical-reasons-a-gold-standard-is-the-worst-idea-ever/#.VFE7Wvl4q-0",
"http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/08/why-the-gold-standard-is-the-worlds-worst-economic-idea-in-2-charts/261552/"
]
] |
|
215i00
|
how does skin stay attached to the body?
|
Theoretically, if you were to cut your skin, say, all around your arm, the skin below the cut wouldn't just sag and fall in a bunched up heap around your wrist or whatever, it would stay as it is but with a big cut.. Why?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/215i00/eli5_how_does_skin_stay_attached_to_the_body/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cg9sftc",
"cg9sw4l"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"There's connective tissue between the skin and the underlying tissues such as bone and whatnot.",
"Because connecting all the various systems and layers together is [fascia](_URL_0_). In this particular case it is 'superficial fascia\" that holds the dermis in place."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia"
]
] |
|
2q871w
|
if black is just our way of perceiving a lack of light being reflected off of a surface, how can we have "shiny black" such as oil, black plastic and asphalt?
|
I understand that obviously some black surfaces would have a clear coating on top that could reflect light, but I don't understand how uncoated black plastic could be shiny.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2q871w/eli5_if_black_is_just_our_way_of_perceiving_a/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cn3s0sy",
"cn3sbjy",
"cn3tp3t",
"cn3udpy"
],
"score": [
19,
9,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"The material is smooth so it reflects more light.",
"Two different things. Something with a smooth surface is 'Shiny' (due to reduced scattering of reflected light), something that absorbs most of the visible light is 'black'. You can have both at the same time, unless someone invents something that absorbs 100% of visible light.",
"When you see something, you're really seeing light that has bounced off of it. Some surfaces reflect light differently.\n\nRough surfaces tend to bounce light in many directions. They'll usually appear to be the same color no matter what your viewing angle is. Wood, brick, and paint are rough surfaces.\n\nSmooth surfaces tend to bounce light in only one direction. You'll see the highlights where light is bouncing directly at you. Water, mirrors, and oil are smooth surfaces.",
"ELI5: Some materials reflect more light than others, but it's not just the amount of light, but also the angle at which the light hits the surface that can determine whether it will be reflected. The shininess you're talking about is referred to as [specularity](_URL_0_). If light hits the material at shallow angles, it will be reflected and appear as the shiny parts. If the light hits the material at steep angles, it will pass through it and hit the object beneath, which may just absorb the light and thus appear as black.\n\nELI12: Imagine you're standing next to a puddle and have a flashlight. Shine the light into the puddle, and you'll see the beam reflected off and illuminate the wall on the other side. The light is hitting the water at a shallow angle (this is called the angle of incidence).\n\nIf your friend was standing next to you, they wouldn't see the shininess on the water, but if they stood on the other side of the puddle where the wall was being light up by the reflected light, they would see the water shiny where the light being reflected. The more still the water is, the more precise the reflection becomes and would look less like shininess and more like a mirror image of you holding the flashlight.\n\nNow hold that flashlight directly over the puddle and aim it straight down or nearly straight down, and you'll see it light up the bottom of the puddle, but it won't reflect off and light up the ceiling above it. The angle of incidence now is much larger, closer to 90 degrees. The angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle for water to reflect light, and is now absorbing and transmitting most of it. This is akin to looking at a bowling ball and noticing that most of it is black. Light hitting those black parts are hitting the surface at an angle higher than the critical angle for reflection, so it is simply absorbed or transmitted. The shiny parts have light hitting it at angle lower than the critical angle, so you perceive the parts of light that are reflected back to your eye.\n\nThings can have a coating, glaze or polish that either reflects a lot of light, or transmits it. When it reflects, you see shiny parts. When it transmits light, the light then hits the material underneath, and that material just may absorb most of its visible light, like black things. So the shininess you're seeing may be due to a reflective coating, but when the light hits the coating at higher angles, the light passes through to the stuff underneath and is absorbed.\n\nFun activity: next time you're in a pool, drop under water a few feet and look directly up. You'll see what looks like a hole in the surface above where you can see directly out above the pool. The rest of the surface will look more like whatever the color of the floors and walls of the pool are under the water. The hole is where light goes through the surface because the light is hitting it at an angle higher than the critical angle. The rest of the surface is reflecting light from the bottom and walls back to you. If you measured the diameter of the hole and your depth from the surface, you could make a triangle and do some simple trig to derive the critical angle of the water."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specularity"
]
] |
|
3r4syo
|
how was "isis" formed?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3r4syo/eli5_how_was_isis_formed/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cwkvok6",
"cwkw87d",
"cwl0ftr",
"cwl4j5h",
"cwl9e0j",
"cwl9lbl",
"cwlbi1s",
"cwlgaro",
"cwm2jkq"
],
"score": [
70,
9,
2,
9,
2,
2,
10,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"A bunch of Sunni people from Northern Iraq and former members of Saddam's military who were disenfranchised by the Shiite government that came to power following the US invasion formed a militia that pledged support to Al Qaeda and became Al Qaeda in Iraq. They were one of the groups the US occupation and the Iraqi army fought after Saddam fell. After the US left they managed to win the support of a lot of the Sunnis in Northern Iraq and sweep through city after city while the Iraqi army put up little resistance, fled, or disbanded. After this, they started to fight in Syria's civil war, cut their ties to Al Qaeda (over a number of ideological and strategic disagreements), and declared their leader a Caliph (the title of Muhammad's successor as leader of the Muslim community).",
"Remenants of Saddam Hussein's army who have felt continuously oppressed or biased again after the American invasion of Iraq (they weren't allowed to work in any public sector job, etc...) formed a military group along with other Sunni militants. They were originally under the leadership of Al Qaeda but eventually split away and became even larger than the group they were part of... As to why they are this violent I doubt the leaders themselves are; they just use that perceived violence to attract potential recruits who consider this violence \"Jihad\" or part of God's vengeance. ",
"It should also be added that not all of the ISIS fighters are pro Isis or al Qaeda, the ISIS terror groups/militia has become stronger with alliances with other fringe groups who accept them as the enemy of my enemy (Bashar), or took them up on on the \"join us or die\" offer.",
"I know your question has already been answered, but NPR did a fantastic interview with the author of \"Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS\". It's about 45 minutes long, but it outlines the beginnings of ISIS and their rise to power. \n[Here's the link](_URL_0_)",
"Followup question: what are they most afraid of? How can we strike terror in *their* hearts?",
"There's a historian who asserts that as long as there is a regime that colludes with the West in any way and controls Mecca, there will be an ISIS. The regime we're talking about is the House of Saud. The House has been fighting off insurrections because of issues of, \"impurity,\" since its early days. Every 20-40 years this flares up. Now, you're referring to the current ISIS, and they've gained a lot more ground this time (thanks Bush!), but you should know that according to some historian it's not some brand new phenomenon. edit: (added a qualifier)",
"The top rated post says it's Saddams military men and Al Qaeda radicals that formed a union. This answer ia a lie and the same propaganda that American news networks want you to believe\n\nISIS formed the same way the Taliban formed. We, the Americans, decided to arm people in the Middle East to take down dictators, such as Gaddafi in Libya and Assad in Syria. Divide and conquer, that was the approach. By arming radical sunni Muslims, we told them that look, your enemy are these Godless rulers who don't care about Islam and your enemy is also the Shiite Iranians\n\nThe Russians did more damage to ISIS in two weeks than we did to them in over a year. How? America refuses to attack ISIS main command and control. Only when they start to gain on pro American forces does that happen and only enough to route their fighting so they're firing towards Assad's supporters.\n\nYes Putin is corrupt and a horrible person, but these people claiming that America didn't directly fund and arm the people who are now ISIS are liars.",
"It was formed in a US controlled prison. The Americans helped the various groups with social networking and team building:\n\n > The other prisoners did not take long to warm to him, Abu Ahmed recalled. They had also been terrified of Bucca, but quickly realised that far from their worst fears, the US-run prison provided an extraordinary opportunity. “We could never have all got together like this in Baghdad, or anywhere else,” he told me.\n\nThe Americans even chose their leader Baghdadi. They turned to him when they need help controlling the other prisoners or working out disputes among the prisoners.\n\n > But, Abu Ahmed recalled, the jailers had a very different impression of Baghdadi – they saw him as a conciliatory and calming influence in an environment short on certainty, and turned to him to help resolve conflicts among the inmates.\n\nSource of all quotes: _URL_0_\n\nISIS is basically a CIA proxy. It is designed to fight Iran's proxies in the region including Syria's government. Americans should not be surprised to hear this because the US has a long history of creating mujahideen/jihadis/islamic extremists. It goes all the way back to the 80s when you used them to fight the soviet union in Afghanistan.",
"If you went to Syria they would tell you that ISIS was formed as a joint effort by Qatar, America, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.npr.org/2015/09/30/444721285/journalist-discusses-the-rise-of-isis-and-its-future-in-syria-and-iraq"
],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/11/-sp-isis-the-inside-story"
],
[]
] |
||
2s6deq
|
why is it bad to look at either a laptop or cell phone screen before you go to bed?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2s6deq/eli5_why_is_it_bad_to_look_at_either_a_laptop_or/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cnmkenn",
"cnmki6m",
"cnmktdz",
"cnml634",
"cnn1o95"
],
"score": [
5,
2,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Because you tend to go to sleep in the dark so looking at the screen makes your brain think that it is still light and should stay awake and it makes your mind essentially wake up.",
"The bright light triggers chemical reactions that tell your body it's day time.",
"Download a blue light filter on your phone. Itll be easier on your eyes and helps you become tired at night if youre always stuck on your phone.",
"This is largely due to the production of hormone in your body called melatonin, which regulates the body's [circadian rhythm](_URL_0_). The darker it is around you, the more melatonin your body creates, thus the more tired you get. If you are staring at a bright computer screen at night you are starving your mind of the darkness it needs to produce more melatonin.",
"It's worth noting that there is a difference between the light from a screen and the light from a bedside lamp. Screens tend to emit light fairly close to 5500°K, which is essentially the colour temperature of daylight. Because your body is seeing this, it won't produce the hormone melatonin which regulates the daily night-day cycle. A typical incandescent lightbulb emits light closer to 3200°K which is closer to the sort of light you would see around sunset."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm"
],
[]
] |
||
2o1nqd
|
why is lethal injection difficult if oregon mercy death was easy?
|
The young woman who took her own life after a diagnosis of brain cancer apparently died peacefully. So why do prisons have such a hard time with it? I do understand there's an issue getting certain drugs, but aren't there lots of drugs that would put you into an unconscious -and then dead - state?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2o1nqd/eli5_why_is_lethal_injection_difficult_if_oregon/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cmiuuhy",
"cmiuuzu"
],
"score": [
3,
7
],
"text": [
"Most executions don't have a problem. Some do. Some mercy deaths will too. It will matter less when there are problems with mercy death:\n\n1. the dying person has elected to die. They assume the risks.\n\n2. the mercy rule lets a doctor administer and control things. doctors are not allowed to do executions. (you know...the whole \"do no harm\" thing).\n\n3. mercy killing has a different bar. if my mercy death has problems (and they will), it is not \"cruel and unusual punishment\" under the constitution.\n\n",
"2 reasons mostly: \n\none is that a lot of doctors and medical professionals consider ending a person's life to go against the hippocratic oath, so you end up with paraprofessionals in a lot of cases doing the actual injections.\n\nsecondly, no drug maker wants be associated with putting people to death and whatever drugs are used in the lethal injection have to be approved by the court first. generally, there are 3 drugs used in lethal injection: sodium thiopental is used to induce unconsciousness, pancuronium bromide to cause muscle paralysis and respiratory arrest, and potassium chloride to stop the heart. due to the pressure from anti-capital punishment groups the sole US manufacturer of sodium thiopental moved to italy and stopped producing it. this along with the EU banning exports of sodium thiopental to the US has caused a shortage, which has led to states experimenting with different drugs to cause loss of consciousness with mixed results. again due to the fact that no drug maker wants to be associated with capital punishment there is no race between US pharmaceutical companies to find a replacement.\n\nbetween the lack of trained professionals that are experienced with lethal injection and the fact that states are still trying to figure out a way around the sodium thiopental means that there's a pretty good chance mistakes will be made.\n\nedited for spelling"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
cb62kd
|
why is that 10 coin tosses are not reliably 50% heads and 50% tails, but million coin tosses are?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cb62kd/eli5_why_is_that_10_coin_tosses_are_not_reliably/
|
{
"a_id": [
"etdapbo",
"etdayeh"
],
"score": [
4,
10
],
"text": [
"This explains is fairly well: _URL_0_\n\nEdit:. Basically, less ability for random chance to change the outcome. You can flip a coin heads 10 times in a row. A million times removes that chance screwing up your data.",
"Bc sample size. The larger a collection of data, the more reliable it becomes. Anomalies like 6 heads in a row distorts data with 10 flips than over a period of 1 million."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_large_numbers"
],
[]
] |
||
3ld0ts
|
what are the practical applications for quadratic equations?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3ld0ts/eli5_what_are_the_practical_applications_for/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cv58s7b",
"cv58stj",
"cv59o06",
"cv5i087"
],
"score": [
11,
5,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"They are used a lot in geometry, since distances in a plane are found with the pythagorean theorem a^2 + b^2 = c^(2). If you start with one of those numbers and want to find the others you often have to solve a quadratic equation. If you want to build real life objects based on an x-y plane you'll need that.",
"The most common uses are for calculating trajectories and free falls.\n\nFor example, if you need to answer any of the following questions, a quadratic formula can be used to find the answer:\n\n1. If I drop a rock off the top of a building, how long will it take to hit the ground?\n2. If I shoot a gun straight out in front of me, how long will the bullet travel (if unobstructed) before gravity pulls it down. \n3. If an object is dropped and falls freely, and takes X seconds to hit the ground, how high up was it dropped?\n\nThese questions may not seem very practical, but video game physics engines do these sort of calculations all the time. Physics simulators (for engineering purposes) do the same.",
"The best practical application I have ever found is making sure a deck we were building was square, you know the length of 2 sides that are \"supposed\" to meet at a 90 degree corner. measure the diagonal and make sure it is the correct distance, and you can repeat this for each corner (it also makes sure diagonal corners are both square). it is easyest if you are building something that makes a nice number like a 3' by 4' deck (the diagonal should be exactly 5')",
"Certain types of differential equations used to model real processes can be solved by solving complementary quadratic equations. \nHonestly, there are probably millions and millions of applications of quadratic equations in engineering and communications, whether directly or indirectly. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
493edk
|
why is tuna the protein most commonly available in a can?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/493edk/eli5_why_is_tuna_the_protein_most_commonly/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d0oph5c"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"I worked in a fish farm for 3 years in high school, so I can answer this question.\n\nTuna is a relatively unique fish, in that it is extremley low maintenance. No special requirements or rules are needed to raise a tuna besides a decent place to swim around in, somewhat clean water, and a minimal food supply. Tuna are one of the most economical and easy fish to farm, leading to the massive surplus in tuna production that was prominent in the 90s and 00s. The surge in tuna supply matched a similar increase in demand at the time. Before protein bars filled with a hundred different chemicals took over, there wasn't a super easy access to quick and cheap protein. Tuna helped to fill this gap, which is one of the reasons it's so popular today. As for the canned portion of your question, the answer can once again be found in what's most economical for businesses and consumers alike. The easiest way to sell, transport, and consume tuna was using a can. Without the can, tuna popularity would likely never have risen to the unprecedented levels it did. The massive increase in consumption of tuna is having ill effects today, and many international fishing organizations are calling for a temporary ban on tuna farming and finishing in many parts of the world. But, I digress. Simply due to the perfect situation and economical role that tunas fill, they became the most popular canned protein in the world."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
1xgdyy
|
why do voices in peoples' heads not tell them good things about themselves or to do good things to others?
|
This is a serious question in regard to people living with schizophrenia. Why is it that for the overwhelming majority of suffers the voices say negative things?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1xgdyy/eli5_why_do_voices_in_peoples_heads_not_tell_them/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cfb3fa7",
"cfb42fu"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Do you mean schizophrenics? I would imagine that some of them do indeed hear positive voices, but those wouldn't be the ones you'd ever hear about, would they?",
"My friend did have a \"positive voice\" only he said that the voices tried to hurt that other voice to make it stop. When he is on his meds he hears his \"positive voice\". "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
6gk1lp
|
do people who speak english fluently with a foreign accent have a hard time understanding those with an american accent?
|
I was in an Uber the other day and had a hard time understanding my driver, who spoke with a Southeast Asian accent. It also seemed that he had a hard time understanding me as well, and that made me wonder if people who understand and are fluent in English, but speak with an accent have difficulty understanding an American accent.
Additionally, do people who speak English with a different accent (say Chinese) understand each others accents when speaking English?
Thanks!
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6gk1lp/eli5do_people_who_speak_english_fluently_with_a/
|
{
"a_id": [
"diqx09k",
"diqxf65"
],
"score": [
4,
7
],
"text": [
"As I foriegn speaker, and not a native speaker, I find it easiest to understand other non native speakers, and hardest native UK and US soeakers. English in TV and moviesnis easy to understand, but when native speajers speak, they use slang, words I've never heard before, they pronounce words wierdly etc. People who have learned to speak English have all learned proper Oxford English bin most cases, and they are all though pronunciation the same way. Then enter native apeakers with a strong southern or cockney accent and I don't understand jack. Imagine you were learning a language and you spoke and understood proper useage (like on national radio or television, where no slang is used at all), and then you come to a village somewhere rural, you wouldn't understand anything. I find it hard to understand people from 150km away and they're still speaking the same language, just different accent.",
"General American (the accent used in the Midwest and West) is widely understood because it is the accent predominantly used in American media. I speak this accent, and most people comment that I'm easier to understand than speakers of British English, with the exception of ESL students whose previous teachers were all British or from former British colonies. \n\nHowever, that is only one American accent. Even as a native speaker of General American English, it was difficult for me to clearly understand people from the US South, as well as speakers of African American Vernacular English because of a lack of exposure to people using it in the Midwest where I grew up, and in the media in general. Likewise, I have to concentrate when listening to people with a strong Scottish accent. \n\nI've worked as an ESL teacher for a time, and I found that students who shared a common language would often make the same mistakes when speaking English, so they would be able to understand one another. Likewise, when I was in China, I would speak Mandarin Chinese with other foreigners with poor pronunciation and lack of tones. Foreigners studying Chinese would often figure out what was meant based off of context, and use English grammar rules for Chinese. Meanwhile, native speakers of Mandarin Chinese would be perplexed that we could communicate with one another, because they would have a hard time understanding our pronunciation and grammar mistakes because tone and word order is extremely important for meaning. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
ebf330
|
why do musicians recording their voice wear headphones? what is the purpose?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ebf330/eli5_why_do_musicians_recording_their_voice_wear/
|
{
"a_id": [
"fb46vel",
"fb46y7o",
"fb47y54",
"fb48bez",
"fb4cx2g",
"fb524gf",
"fb5nks4"
],
"score": [
304,
23,
4,
2,
10,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"The instrumental they’re singing to is playing through the headphones. It can’t play through speakers because the recording will pick up the instrumental along with the vocals. Instrumentals and vocals need to be recorded separate so they can be mixed through different channels.",
"Not a vocalist but when I record drums I have the track playing in the headphones with a metronome as well. I assume vocalists have the same thing playing in theirs.",
"When you sing (or speak) you hear yourself through your head, your voice is traveling in your head passing throught bones, tissues and water, and so is distorted. The others hear your voice that had traveled trough air, and so is not distorted (that is also why your recorded voice sounds different to you). Singers wear headphones because they hear themselves through the mic giving them an optimal knowledge of how they voice sounds, and so they can correct and perfect their sound. They do that in live performances as well, they have a special hearplug that transmits the sound that the public is hearing, it also helps tuning down the volume not to hurts themselfs (this only in live performances)",
"It's to hear what you actually sound like - your voice sound different than you hear it. It's also to properly hear the music. When recording, the vocalist is ideally away from the band so that their mic doesn't pick up the band's sound. With a clean vocal track, the sound engineer can mix it to sound the best .",
"It is also to hear the click track, if it is that kind of session. Orchestral musician here who does sessions occasionally. A click track is a loud, clear click on each beat. This gives the kind of precision needed to punch in and out, to replace measures of music where a mistake has been made. The software will be able to replace exactly what is needed. Some musicians prefer to have the headphones over both ears, others like to leave one ear off so they can hear the click track but have a more familiar and natural sound in the other ear.",
"Two reasons:\n\nYou need to hear the song you are singing to. Vocals are recorded usually last so they need to hear the other instruments. We can't use speakers as then the sound from the speakers would be recorded to the vocal track, defeating the whole idea of isolating each instrument or sound source to their own tracks. This makes mixing much easier, you can change levels of single instruments. Sound leaking to other channels is a problem but it can also be a method, studio live is one such where leaking is often considered very important.\n\nSecond reason is monitoring. Have you tried singing with headphones on? It sound muffled and even when speaking it is hard to know how loud you are. So we need to route your own voice back to you. The balance between the backing track and monitoring is adjusted for every singer separately and changes a lot. Some like to keep headphones only in one ear, some like to have effects such as delay and reverb, or pan the backing track more to one ear and less on the other.. and also they may require a different mix of the band instrument, they may drop bass completely, decrease some of the drums, remove keyboards and raise guitars, what ever is the instrument most important to them is raised up.\n\nReverb is one \"secret\" weapon for many, without it your sound dies off instantly whereas in a regular room your voice will reverberate around and come back to you. It can also help one to keep a constant pitch as changes will be immediately heard from the reverb. Specially at the beginning this can be a problem as it can actually be hard to keep pitch in a room with no echo at all. But we can't use a room with strong echo as that would then be imprinted to the vocal track: the mic captures all sounds in that room, it is often specifically made to do that. So the compromise is to artificially create some virtual space that aids performance. Also: if it sounds cool, you also sing better and with more confidence... Good recording engineers are willing to go to great lengths to get a good performance from an artist, that performance is then captured as well as possible. The former trumps the latter, the performance is more important than minor technical details, which is not always understood by said recording engineer.. If they had their way, you could be hanged by your ankles 20ft in the air in a freezing hangar to get natural reverb without early reflections from ground messing it all up. It is better to just use headphones instead.\n\nSome have said about latency and that is important factor these days. This means you may not be able to use virtual plugins but have to invest into hardware just to get that one channel, vocal monitoring, its own signal chain and tap a split into that to get your recorded signal.. Lag or delay in the signal can be very destructive as that messes up with timing and also makes your brain feel funny: you can literally think your head is 10ft in diameter since the sound arrives so late. We know VERY well how and when our own voice should sound.",
"This is something called a monitor. So when you record your voice and okay it back, it sounds different than how you hear it in your head. So musicians use this to put their voice into the headphones so they can hear if they are on key, aka making the right noises at the right pitch. It also puts either a click track which is just a metronome, or the instrumental of the song to sing along to, and in tempo with."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
1nzur0
|
why doesn't the blood pressure in a vein prevent iv fluids from flowing into said vein?
|
Is atmospheric pressure greater than the venous pressure?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1nzur0/eli5why_doesnt_the_blood_pressure_in_a_vein/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ccnkb82"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"The pressure in a vein is much lower than that of an artery. My wife is a nurse, so my medical knowledge is limited to the things I've heard her say, but I believe they don't insert any sort of needles/catheters into arteries. There may be some, but not many. \n\nAn IV works off gravity, so the fluid being held at a certain height gains whats called \"head\" giving it a pressure that is greater than that of the vein. If the pressure in the vein were greater than the pressure inside the [catheter](_URL_0_) then the flow would be reversed, but I believe most modern needles/syringes/catheters have some sort of protection against this.\n\nArteries are deeper within the skin, the things you can see on the surface just beneath the skin are veins.\n\nEdit - Not sure why this got downvoted; like I said I'm not the nurse, but I do hear a lot of this kind of stuff at home on a daily basis. And I'm fairly certain that most of it's right. In terms of pressure/flow and dealing with fluid mechanics...I'm a civil engineer so that part is right. \n\nAlso I didn't see the second question at first, but it's safe to say that atmospheric pressure is less than venous pressure. If it wasn't then every time you got a cut or an open wound then air would enter your body through the opening (we'll assume it was a vein). Pressure causes flow (be it air or fluid) from high to low. The pressure in veins being greater than atmospheric pressure causes blood to come out in the event of an injury instead of air going in."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://www.picturesof.net/_images_300/Picture_Single_Catheter_Needle_in_This_Medical_Stock_Photo_110816-163638-257001.jpg"
]
] |
|
1408d4
|
who is in control of handing out/ assigning all the telphone numbers in the united states?
|
I know different providers have access to different numbers, but who decides what providers get what numbers and distributes these out? How does the payement work?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1408d4/eli5_who_is_in_control_of_handing_out_assigning/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c78qyef"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The North American Numbering Plan (NANP) is administered by NeuStar. They hand out phone numbers in batches of 10,000 to phone companies who then hand them out to their customers.\n\nSource: _URL_0_"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Numbering_Plan"
]
] |
|
16trmy
|
how i can get a virus by simply visiting a website?
|
Recently I got a message from Norton stating that it had blocked some blackhole virus from my computer. All I did was click onto a site I always go on (_URL_0_). I had safely navigated to this site a bunch of times. But as soon as I got to the site, I received that message.
Finally, Norton did not block the virus, because it did mess up my PC. I lost all my restore points, and I kept getting redirected to random websites while online. So what's the deal? I didn't click ok to anything, download anything, or have my AV disabled at anytime. So what happened?
EDIT: Thanks for the replies. All of what you said makes sense. So basically there was something on the site (either the site itself was hacked or an ad on the site) that sent a malicious code through a common exploit for one of my browser plug ins. Makes sense. I'll mark this question as answered.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/16trmy/eli5_how_i_can_get_a_virus_by_simply_visiting_a/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c7zaf8d",
"c7zagkl",
"c7zahx0",
"c7zbs3g",
"c7zcnlh",
"c7zf8ws",
"c7zgcp2",
"c7zoxkh"
],
"score": [
58,
16,
3,
35,
3,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Your web browser does a lot of work for you. Websites are scripts and, basically, embedded programs, as well as a bunch of media content and files.\n\nSo when you visit a site, that site's script may evoke a program to execute, or a script to run. Your web browser is all to happy to comply. You might visit a site with an embedded Java program, written to exploit a flaw in the JRE, installing a malicious program.\n\nThis is why it's recommended you use a safe browser, like Firefox or Chrome, and install extensions that block scripts from running without your explicit consent. It's also recommended to disable Javascript and Java from within a browser, but I find this a bit extreme when the aboved mentioned plugin can prevent it from running, and gives the user options to allow or deny.",
"Whenever you view a website, you're actually downloading the contents of the website onto your computer. That's called \"cache\".\n\nThe villain needs only to find a way to a) get your browser to download the virus/malware, and b) get your browser/computer to execute the code somehow.\n\nA) is accomplished by either embedding the code into something that looks safe (an image, a flash file, a PDF document, a MS Office document, etc.) and is then downloaded by your browser, or by tricking you into downloading it yourself (a \"game hack file\", pr0n video, etc.)\n\nB) happens when that bad code is executed when the file is opened. Either the browser opens it, or you install/run it, or whatever program on your computer that is supposed to handle that file does its job. E.g. you download an infected PDF file, open it, and Adobe Reader opens up the file. The bad code is executed, and you're infected.\n\nMalicious programmers use program errors and glitches to allow their code to execute on your computer. \"This program is used to do X. However, in this section of their program, they did not check for Y to happen. If I trick their program into doing X with my Y code, it will get installed.\"\n\nThink of it like a big spy movie. The malware/virus is the spy, and your computer is whoever they're trying to sneak into. They use various disguises to sneak past security and execute their orders.",
"Internet browsers can make use of extensions, which are programs that give the browser additional functionality in how it can interact with your PC, such as to stream music, play video, etc. Common examples are Flash player and Java.\n\nThe downside to these extensions is that because they can interact more with your PC, it also means that it's easier for malicious code to be run through these extension in an unintended way, aka an exploit.\n\nAs to why a website you commonly visited resulted in an infection now, but not before, well there's a couple reasons. The first is that the website itself was hacked, and the website was altered to send your browser malicious code through the browser extension to install a virus.\n\nThe second and more common reason, is that one of the advertisements on the website sent the malicious code to install a virus. This can happen because the owners of the website don't have complete control over what advertisements appear. Many Internet advertising companies act like middle men, paying website owners to show advertisements that other people have made. Unfortunately, sometimes these advertising companies don't properly check to make sure the advertisements don't contain malicious code.",
"Pro Tip: NORTON IS A PILE OF FECES",
"Blackhole is the most popular crimeware kit and it exploits only Java and Flash vulnerabilities. The website you visited was either loading the exploit via IFRAME or malicious advertisement. Update both Java and Flash player; otherwise this might happen again. ",
"Mredding already answered your question really well, but I've got a few tips on the antivirus situation. As at least half of Reddit will tell you, Norton is a terrible program, it's pretty ineffective at removing viruses, and can sometimes make your problems worse. As a general rule, I wouldn't use AV programs that come preloaded on computers (McAfee, Norton, Kapersky, etc.). I've found that the best antivirus programs are ones you can get free online, like AVG and Avast. I personally use Microsoft Security Essentials (to detect, block, and remove viruses) and MalwareBytes (to find and remove big viruses MSG has a problem with), and they work great without slowing my computer down (like Norton and Avg do.)",
"Since the question's been answered, I'll just tell you that you should never, ever use Norton.",
"If a site you trust and visit often causes a virus alert, I usually take that as a sign of spyware. Spyware tends to hijack your browser, and make it load extra sites in addition to the one you think you're loading. But no one else mentioned it, so maybe I'm wrong?"
]
}
|
[] |
[
"fiveouncesofpain.com"
] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
60sq5r
|
why are there so many abandoned cities in china?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/60sq5r/eli5_why_are_there_so_many_abandoned_cities_in/
|
{
"a_id": [
"df90bp7",
"df948ab",
"df95zu9"
],
"score": [
35,
5,
12
],
"text": [
"China has a problem; they have a lot of citizens and not nearly enough jobs to keep them all employed. One of their solutions has been to invest heavily in construction resulting in the building of cities for a population they just don't have. ",
"China has for years propped up their GDP by building towns they don't need hoping they will be filled one day.",
"First thing you have to understand is that there's a huge housing issue in China right now. Estate agencies are building house left and right and it's almost guaranteed to be sold out before it's done building as the need for them is ever so demanding. \n\nIn an effort to resolve this, the local government may team up with Estate agencies to developing new district on the outskirts of the more popular region, and that includes schools, public facilities, apartment complexes, office buildings and such, once done, the population of the new district will start growing organically. \n\nThose things usually work out, but if the plan changes 3 years into development, or if it runs into financial issues, or if the new district simply doesn't have enough attraction, you end up with a ghost city. If the apartment complex has been completed, it might still draw some people in, but the public facility as well as transport will start becoming issues, and the nearest shop will be 30 minutes drive away, and as people starts leaving, water and electricity will be cut too, forcing the rest out (possible compensations from government will also assist in this process).\n\nSource: Am Chinese\nEDIT Added source and formatting"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
ap0o40
|
how are antibiotics developed
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ap0o40/eli5_how_are_antibiotics_developed/
|
{
"a_id": [
"eg4yas3"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Antibiotics are usually found in nature. They are bioweapons used by fungi, plants, and even bacteria to fight off other bacteria.\n\nWe either grow that organism or copy the DNA for the antibiotic, then extract the antibiotic from the growth medium.\n\nIt’s pretty easy to find new antibiotics, just dig a hole in the soil at a new location. The unique microorganisms there will have different antibiotics. Unfortunately, just because they are easy to find doesn’t mean they are useful.\n\nMany of these discovered antibiotics cannot be reliably produced in large quantities, are too similar to existing antibiotics, are not safe in humans, or have some other problem that limits their usefulness."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
1i3qoh
|
how people can be tracked with fingerprints. is there some sort of universal database of everyone's fingerprints? what?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1i3qoh/eli5_how_people_can_be_tracked_with_fingerprints/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cb0ooe3",
"cb0oon5",
"cb0os2e"
],
"score": [
4,
3,
3
],
"text": [
"The FBI has a massive database called AFIS. It contains fingerprints collected from background checks, arrested suspects, and firearm purchases. It's possible to electronically check if fingerprints match, though human investigators are needed to make the ultimate decision of whether an unknown print matches one on file. ",
"You may notice in shows like CSI and NCIS, if your parents let a little tyke like you watch them, they look up fingerprints in a database (a big storage place) called AFIS, the Automated Fingerprint Identification System. This is a real place where any fingerprints on record (if you were arrested or in the military, for instance) can be compared with the one you're trying to match.",
"It's not a universal database - it's a database of people who have been arrested before.\n\nIf you've never committed a crime before in your life, and go steal some shit and leave a fingerprint, they won't know who it belongs to. If, however, they are able to figure out it was you by some other course of events, they could then use the fingerprint to confirm they got the right person."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
g30eo5
|
why is it easier to balance something on your hand when it’s top heavy, but it’s more stable on the ground when it’s bottom heavy?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/g30eo5/eli5_why_is_it_easier_to_balance_something_on/
|
{
"a_id": [
"fnoixwc"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"When you try to balance something like a broom in your hand, you have what is known as an [inverted pendulum](_URL_4_). The physics for ***any*** pendulum, inverted or not, dictates that the longer (or heavier) the pendulum is - the harder it is getting it to move because it has a greater [moment of inertia](_URL_3_).\n\nThe moment of inertia for a pendulum can be determined using a bit of maths, including integrals, but a simplified case is that the inertia of motion is proportional to mass and distance squared:\n\nI=mr^(2)\n\nThis means that if the distance from the pivot point to the centre of mass doubles, the moment of inertia is going to quadruple. This is why a top heavy object is easier to balance. Try turning said broom upside-down (right side up?) and you have a pendulum of equal length and mass, but with a shorter distance to its centre of mass, and it's going to be much harder to balance.\n\nIn regards to the second part of your question: every object has a [support polygon](_URL_0_). As long as (the extension of) the resulting force acting on an object passes through the support polygon, it's going be stable. You can choose to make the support polygon bigger (e.g. spreading your legs) in order to make something more stable, or you can lower the centre of mass - because that's where the resulting force acts on the object in question.\n\n\\-\n\nSidenote: both of these things, inertia of motion and and a lower centre of mass, is why it's easier to walk in a tight rope if you have one of those [really long sticks](_URL_1_) to hold onto! The stick is very long, meaning the r^(2) increases and thus also your moment of inertia, but they also bend due to gravity, which lowers your centre of mass. It's also how those seemingly impossible [balancing birds](_URL_2_) work."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Support_polygon",
"https://montsame.mn/files/5d47d9a7997ba.jpeg",
"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/vc/5d5a836f-5645-4f79-9a90-15fc2266f256.__CR321,0,1479,915_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_of_inertia",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_pendulum"
]
] |
||
808wgy
|
what is the difference between all the categories of sneakers/runners?
|
From a store clerk's recommendation, I've been wearing my pair of Mizuno for the past few years.
I started looking into getting a spare pair of shoes to leave at work. So what are the engineering differences between:
* Running
* Sports
* Trainer
* Lifestyle
* Walking
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/808wgy/eli5_what_is_the_difference_between_all_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"duu0fp1"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"You've really got two types of sneakers:\n\n1) Shoes designed for a sport\n\n2) Shoes not designed for a sport\n\nSo, \"tennis shoes\" are for playing tennis, \"basketball shoes\" are for playing b-ball & \"running shoes\" are for running. They'll hae different types of treads, support/reinforcement in various places, designed to be particularly lightweight and so on. \"Cross trainers\" are meant to be sort of an all-purpose \"athletic\" shoe for running, working out & non-serious sporting. Nothing is *stopping* you from wearing these on a daily basis, as long as you like the way they look & feel on your feet.\n\nEverything else is a \"lifestyle\" shoe. They're not really designed with performance in mind, they're just for walking around every day. They'll be designed with comfort, durability & fashion as driving concerns. A lot of older designs of \"sports shoes\" are no longer used by athletes but are still in production because people like the look/feel of them as daily wear shoes - the Converse Chuck Taylor's are a perfect example of this."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
9xsepg
|
why does accutane result in very deformed babies on pregnant women?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9xsepg/eli5_why_does_accutane_result_in_very_deformed/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e9utut3"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Accutane has a very similar chemical structure to a different chemical that happens to control the development of human embryo. Of course accutane doesn't do that job correctly so it's pretty bad for the embryo."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
2wrrcw
|
how do mathematicians like stephen hawking "explain" things like black holes etc using only equations?
|
Just saw The Theory of Everything and it got me wondering. I mean, it's all math!?!?!?!?!
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2wrrcw/eli5_how_do_mathematicians_like_stephen_hawking/
|
{
"a_id": [
"coti698",
"coti6ex",
"cotidrp",
"cotq9l5",
"cotvq3s",
"cotzv2e",
"cou04xs",
"cou2kt5",
"cou4vfu",
"coubb9e"
],
"score": [
14,
243,
15,
2,
2,
3,
2,
2,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Stephen Hawking is a theoretical physicist, not a mathematician. The discipline seeks to explain the physical world using math since a lot of it isn't directly observable.",
"You know how authors write long stories using letters and words and the rules of grammar and writing? Its just like that. With enough knowledge of how to read (math), these kinds of explanations make sense. Dont feel bad that you cant read it. Its just like if you tried to read a story in a language you dont know. You can learn.",
"Remember when you asked your teacher \"When do I use math in real life?\" Well, this is one of the infinite number of answers; because the universe seems to follow a strict ruleset that is expressible using mathmatics. Just because you use maths does not mean you're a mathmatician. Mathmatics is used in a lot of fields for a lot of things and you have to learn it for a lot of applications. Physicists f.i use mathmatics to relate and explain the behaviour of certain scenarios and predict the outcomes of experiments and observations \n\n.\n\nwe can derive these rules and equations by obsering, experimenting, and deriving from other already known rules. We use constants to modify the values to be correct and we logically construct them and fix whenever we see that it cannot correctly predict the outcome of a control scenario. Slowly we build up a model of the universe with a giant 'rulebook' that can explain the universe (or at least a bit of it) using math and relations ",
"You can convey a hell of a lot of information very concisely using equations, but a lot of the time you have to have a clear understanding before it makes any sense. \n",
"When one works on math, you don't just say \"what is the craziest idea I can think of\".\n\nYou actually start with \"what if this idea (which I think is true) weren't actually true\". Then you follow from that assumption logically and lead to a contradiction.\n\nSince you assumed that \"X wasn't true\" and arrived at a logical contradiction, it must mean that \"X *is* true\".\n\nSaying \"it's all math\" is basically saying \"it's all logic\". And yes, logic is the only way to properly explain natural phenomena.",
"Mathematics is in fact the deduction of the concept of logic in concrete and measurable terms, which is the key factor in the logical tool of identification (ratio), which in essence is the entirety to any and all objective matter. Before scientific mathesis was derived (happened in each culture differently but the one we most know of was in the middle east between 1000-3000BC) society was just developing from its earlier tribal logics-- the shamaan, the wise-leader, the hermits were the only source of identifiable \"truth\" people could derive from besides their own intuitions and observations. This was due to the fact that there was simply no collection (beyond tribes) of agreed upon constituents (rules) of the universe; the technology wasn't present and humanity hadn't evolved enough yet together to produce the complexities required to deduce a common sense logic. During this time the tool of analogy is what reigned supreme over most people, and this is entirely due to the fact that scientific mathesis (real measurement) hadn't existed, and any forms close to it were very scarce and thought of through analogy. Analogy, which is proportion in mathematics, is taking A comparing to B, then repeating the action by comparing B to C-- C being the \"truth\" or idea, concept, product that came from the previous 2 concepts(A:B, A:B:C). What is ultimately important about these 2 concepts (analogy and identification) is that analogy came first, which compares 2 axis to create a third (denisty:magnitude:time); identification compares 2 axis (products of analogy) to reproduce the sequential logic of analogy-- but through actual logic(d:m:t, d:m:t[analogy], d:m:t::d:m:t[logic])! Where analogy considers the possibilities of xyz axis (density, magnitude, time), logic actually identifies and measures said possibilities into concrete formula and fact.\n\nTL;DR: **Mind(Micro)**:Intellect:Analogy = > Proportion:Subject:Opinion = > Question:Solution:Logic = > **Body(Macro)**:Complexity = > Ratio:Identification = > Object:Fact = > Science:Math.",
"No one can truly explain a black hole yet. \n\nEinstein's theory of relativity predicted them. They weren't thought possible, but we've since observed what appear to be black holes, though we can't directly see them like we can with stars. \n\nMathematics is an interesting language we've discovered, and are still discovering to this day. Unlike written language which must be made up and have meaning attached to each word or symbol beforehand, math can be used to solve answers that you didn't previously know about. \n\nFrom angles and geometry, to motion and energy, maths seem to explain everything about nature, every aspect, and as we discover more, and plug in known values into equations, we get answers given to us. The trick then is to find out if the answers are true, for if they're not, then the mathematics used to get them are flawed somewhere, and we must correct that flaw to move forward. \n\nFrom my understanding, our two best theories to explain nature are: Einstein's theory of relativity, and Quantum theory. Both of them predict and explain things that have been observed and later found to be true every time we test them. Both seem to explain the strange nature of reality in different ways, but both work on different scales, and they don't work together. \n\nRelativity works for us, for our scales, and on universal scales for stars and galaxies. Where it ultimately fails is when it tries to explain a black hole. It returns answers that say the black hole is infinite in density, in gravity, and infinitely small. Infinity is not an answer that makes any sense, so there is a flaw somewhere. \n\nQuantum Theory explains the world of atomic and sub-atomic particles, and it was thought that if a black hole is infinitely small, then this theory should explain it. Unfortunately, this theory does not explain gravity, and that isn't normally a problem for small things, but it is when a black hole has gravity strong enough to trap light itself. \n\nThe two theories we have cannot be combined, and cannot explain a black hole. They are incomplete. Black holes are a mystery that cannot currently be solved. I'm sure if we get a better look at one, we may discover more, but as of now, all we have are blurry pictures of possible black holes, as depicted by the movement around these dark points in space. ",
"First you find equations that describe things you can see, then you see what those equations predict for things you can't see. Then you try to see if those predictions are accurate.",
"In school, you represent apples as 1 or 2 apples.\n\nIt's a very simple concept, the substitution of one value for another.",
"As a small child you're shown a single apple and told, \"This is one apple.\" It gives meaning to the number \"1\" and now quantities of objects can be defined.\n\nIf you drop an apple, it falls at a certain speed. That speed can be measured, and expressed as numbers like, \"5 meters per second.\" Now you have velocity.\n\nYou can weigh the apple, and express the weight as a number, like \"500 grams.\" Now you have weight, and from there, mass.\n\nYou can start putting these ideas together, observing that apples that are heavier or thrown harder hit things more forcefully. Now you have more complex concepts like force and momentum.\n\nTheoretical physics comes from building on concepts like these with increasingly more complex math, until you eventually get to levels of mathematical complexity that are hard to understand without formal training, but it's still the same basic idea."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
aandjy
|
how can a baseball travel faster than the directional component of the bat that just hit it, but a toy car (for example) does not travel faster than my hand that just rolled it?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/aandjy/eli5_how_can_a_baseball_travel_faster_than_the/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ectcqoc",
"ectcylg",
"ectczf4",
"ectg8bj",
"ecu4btn"
],
"score": [
2,
5,
3,
2,
4
],
"text": [
"There aren’t opposing forces??",
"The weight of the bat combined with the speed. That’s why following through on your swing is critical. ",
"Think about a ball thrown against a wall. It can rebound faster than the wall is moving (0 mph) due to the energy stored up as it deforms as it hits the wall.",
"The reason the ball is faster after the rebound than before is that the bat is moving.\n\nImagine a ball moving towards the bat at, say, 40 m/s, and the bat swinging forward (exactly opposite to the motion of the ball, to keep the math simple) at 30 m/s. Also imagine that the bat is so much heavier than the ball that it isn't noticeably slowed down by the collision, and that all collisions are perfectly elastic.\n\nIn the reference frame of the bat, it sees a ball rushing towards it at 70 (40+30) m/s, and after the collision, the ball flying away from it at 70 m/s. But in the reference frame of the stadium, what you see is a ball flying towards the batter at 40 m/s, and the bat moving towards the pitcher at 30 m/s. After the collision, you see the bat still moving towards the pitcher at 30 m/s, and the ball flying towards the pitcher at 70+30=100 m/s.",
"When you release a toy car from your hand or throw a baseball, the velocity of your hand and the item you’re throwing is **equal** at the point of release, so it can’t go faster.\n\nHowever, with baseball your ball is ‘bouncing’ off the bat. If the bat was stationary and assuming a perfectly elastic collision, your ball would bounce off with the same speed from the bat it came in with.\n\nNow, when you swing your bat, you’re adding even more energy. If your ball is travelling 50mph towards you and your bat is travelling 50mph towards the ball, your ball and bat will be colliding at roughly 100mph in their perspective. In the next moment, assuming a perfectly elastic collision, your ball would be travelling 100mph **away** from the bat, which is already travelling at 50mph. So your ball will speed off at 150mph."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
e0b0v9
|
if more than half of rapes don’t go reported, how do we know only 1% of abortions are from rape?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/e0b0v9/eli5_if_more_than_half_of_rapes_dont_go_reported/
|
{
"a_id": [
"f8cyvl3",
"f8d3ozy",
"f8d3pyb",
"f8d7ctq",
"f8dcuq9"
],
"score": [
9,
2,
2,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"Statistical estimation based on confidential surveys. We can't be exactly sure but we can make estimates.",
"I would assume the statistic is based on reported rapes. \n\nI think we know rapes are underreported because 1) history (for example, people report years later, and we can assume other people are doing this) and 2) inconsistencies in data (for example, different organizations report greatly varying numbers for rapes, so the discrepancies mean error in reporting or collecting of data\n\nThese are just educated guesses. I actually don’t know.",
"We don't. That type of data would have to be provided by the victim, and much like reporting it to the police, many victims don't report it to their healthcare provider either. However skewed or inaccurate, it's a seemingly powerful statistic to counter the rape argument for abortion. \"Only 1%\" of anything sounds pretty low, so it's a strong number to lean even though we can very safely assume it's far higher than that.",
"You probably want to figure out what \"reported\" means in the references you're relying on. I would assume it means half of rapes aren't reported to the police or other authorities. Let's go with that for now. Disclosing a rape to a researcher is different than reporting a rape to police, and researchers can and do conduct studies. Here's an example:\n\n_URL_0_\n\n > OBJECTIVE:\n > \n > We attempted to determine the national rape-related pregnancy rate and provide descriptive characteristics of pregnancies that result from rape.\n > \n > \n > STUDY DESIGN:\n > \n > A national probability sample of 4008 adult American women took part in a 3-year longitudinal survey that assessed the prevalence and incidence of rape and related physical and mental health outcomes.\n > \n > \n > \n > RESULTS:\n > \n > The national rape-related pregnancy rate is 5.0% per rape among victims of reproductive age (aged 12 to 45); among adult women an estimated 32,101 pregnancies result from rape each year. Among 34 cases of rape-related pregnancy, the majority occurred among adolescents and resulted from assault by a known, often related perpetrator. Only 11.7% of these victims received immediate medical attention after the assault, and 47.1% received no medical attention related to the rape. A total 32.4% of these victims did not discover they were pregnant until they had already entered the second trimester; 32.2% opted to keep the infant whereas 50% underwent abortion and 5.9% placed the infant for adoption; an additional 11.8% had spontaneous abortion.\n\nYou'd look at the results of this and other studies and try to arrive at reasonable estimate. In this case, they estimate 16,000 abortions. The CDC says there are around 640,000 abortions per year, so that would mean 2.5% of abortions are \"rape abortions\" for lack of a better term.\n\nIs 2.5% accurate? I've no idea. Is the number somewhere between .1% and 10%? Probably so.\n\nBut I'm not sure it matters. I've never heard any argument for or against abortion rights which would be convincing if .1% of abortions were \"rape abortions\" but unconvincing if it were .01%, 10%, 15%, or 50%.",
"This is better in r/answers."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8765248"
],
[]
] |
||
6jmh5z
|
how come airports can charge absorbent amounts of money for wifi?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6jmh5z/eli5_how_come_airports_can_charge_absorbent/
|
{
"a_id": [
"djfbfq6",
"djfbgv8"
],
"score": [
2,
2
],
"text": [
"The exact same reason why movie theaters or Sports Stadiums can charge obscene amounts of money for food. \n\nBecause people will pay it. There are a lot of people flying in and out of airports for business every day, and they need to get work done. So some particularly shrewd airport employee saw a need, and filled it....for a price.",
"Supply and demand. Since it's almost a necessity they can charge more. Also a majority of business travelers just write it off as a business expense or use a company CC."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
2j00qv
|
how driving my car around right after a jump can recharge the battery
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2j00qv/eli5_how_driving_my_car_around_right_after_a_jump/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cl72s4i",
"cl734wg"
],
"score": [
8,
2
],
"text": [
"The car had an alternator, a small electrical generator that is powered by the engine. You use the other car's battery to start the engine, the engine turns the alternator, and the alternator powers all the car's electrical loads as well as charges the battery. You drive long enough and the battery recharges sufficiently and then can start the car by itself next time. ",
"Fuel is combusted in your engine inorder to violently force the pistons in your engine up and down. The pistons move up and down in order to rotate the crankshaft, which they are connected to. The crankshaft is rotated inorder to transfer those rotations, via a flywheel, to your tires so they may rotate as well, causing your car to move forward or backwards. \n\nYour car battery is recharged by the alternator in your car. Your alternator converts the mechanical energy of the rotations of your crankshaft to electricity. Your crankshaft does not rotate very fast while your car is not moving (idle). Your crankshaft rotates much faster when you are driving around, thus allowing your alternator to create a greater amount of electricity to transfer to your car battery."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
27a9qx
|
why do doctors get blood samples from our arms? why not our feet or some other area that would hurt less?
|
The blood is the same...
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/27a9qx/eli5_why_do_doctors_get_blood_samples_from_our/
|
{
"a_id": [
"chyug6s",
"chyuh1q"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Easy to get to for them and has a vein readily accessible and visible. Also since it is on your arm it is easy for you to keep an eye on it afterwards just in case there is any complications. \n\nAlso I'm not sure other areas would actually hurt less",
"The answer is pretty simple: that's where the most visible veins are on most people.\n\nYou know what hurts more than getting blood drawn? Having the nurse miss your vein with the needle and having to go in again.\n\nFurthermore, by using that little blood pressure device they clamp down on your arm, and having you squeeze, they increase the pressure of the blood in the veins, making them more visible and easier to draw from. It would be tough to do that in another area of the body.\n\nTl;dr - they are trying to make it as painless and as quick as possible"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
9ckqi7
|
if white rice is so lacking in nutritional value, how come it's a staple for over half the human race?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9ckqi7/eli5if_white_rice_is_so_lacking_in_nutritional/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e5bcaba",
"e5bci8d",
"e5bcjup",
"e5bcpcy",
"e5bdppb",
"e5bekwq"
],
"score": [
4,
16,
5,
2,
11,
8
],
"text": [
"Because rice is very easy to grow and yields large amounts in smaller areas than say wheat or corn. This was especially useful 100's of year's ago especially in China which has had massive populations throughout history. The popularity of the rice has just stuck around. ",
"That would depend on how broad the scope of ‘nutritional values’ is. Rice is a good source for energy, but it’s lacking in terms of vitamins and minerals",
"I think it is lacking in nutrition if eaten by it's self. For example I have heard beans and rice together form full protien chains. \n\nSo it makes a good filler/ supplement to other foods. ",
"White rice is considered lacking in nutrients because it’s so refined and processed but in actuality it’s really not that bad for you. If it is incorporated into a well balanced meal it turns out to be really healthy for your body as it is a great source of carbs. However, when it isn’t in a balanced diet it can very quickly facilitate fat gain and that’s where the idea that white rice is bad came from.",
"It may not have as many vitamins as other crops. It may be lacking in certain ways.\n\nBut it does pack quite some calories. And at the end of the day, your body needs calories to sustain itself. It doesn't harm you (other than making you fat if you overindulge), it just won't supply all the other things you need in addition to calories.",
"It's just poor/faulty wording. Nutrients are substances used by organisms as energy and material to grow and perform other functions. Rice contains a lot of calories so it's actually very nutritious/nutrient rich in that sense. It provides plenty of energy.\nIt's just not amazing when it comes to vitamins and minerals.\n\nDietary advice is often full of buzzwords and try to sell the idea that we're eating the wrong thing, when the problem tends to simply be eating too much in most cases.\n\nThere's just not much money in telling people to eat less and be hungry now and then, compared to telling them there's a thing they can buy and eat that solves their problems.\n\nRice is a fine staple food, it's just not something you should eat too much of if you're not using up the calories, and not something that should make up 100% of what you eat. But that goes for everything."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
zxdaa
|
why is the prophet mohammad protected by muslims to the point of violence?
|
I see other religions in present day, (example: christianity, Catholicism ect.) that have their leaders, gods, idols, and mossiahs disrespected...but those religions do not take to the streets and cause murders and violence. (at least not to this magnitude)
Why is Mohammad so sensitive?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/zxdaa/eli5_why_is_the_prophet_mohammad_protected_by/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c68iygy",
"c68j5w1"
],
"score": [
8,
6
],
"text": [
"It's not *just* about Muhammad. Many Muslims believe that the Western world is out to get them, and they are not entirely unjustified in that belief. So when someone disrespects Muhammad, they don't see it as an isolated incident; they see it as part of the continued effort to marginalize Islam and hurt Muslims.",
"\n > ...but those religions do not take to the streets and cause murders and violence. (at least not to this magnitude)\n\nYeah. They don't do this NOW. The Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition were brutal.\n\nThe whole reason religious zealots move to violence is not because they think their god(s) are sensitive and can't handle criticism, it's because they believe their way of life/beliefs/morals are in jeopardy from outside influences. \n\nThink of it this way: let's say you have a little brother and all of his friends start doing hard drugs. If you care anything about your brother, you're going to do everything you can to prevent him from doing so. Even beating the shit out of his druggie friends. \n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
cx7nnk
|
how are temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun recorded on earth?
|
For example, [2 billion degrees K](_URL_0_). How is this measured and is it dangerous?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/cx7nnk/eli5_how_are_temperatures_hotter_than_the_surface/
|
{
"a_id": [
"eyjdutf",
"eyk40xa"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"The Suns fusion reaction isn’t the greatest source of heat in the universe, it’s possible to generate more heat, especially in nuclear reactions on Earth. Also as dangerous as any situation involving high heat. Hope this helps.",
"Atoms have emission spectra, which is where they emit specific light frequencies. One example is the red color of neon lamps. Normally, this is one specific frequency, and we can measure this frequency quite precisely. Now, heat is just atoms bouncing around wicked fast. Also, when something is generating a wave and moving towards you, the frequency of the wave increases, and the opposite of this happens when it moves away. This means that the light from atoms moving towards an observer is higher frequency and the light from atoms moving away is lower. So now, if you look at a big group of atoms, some of them give off higher frequency light and some of them give off lower frequency light. This makes the single-frequency emission into a range of frequencies. The faster the atoms are bouncing, the wider this range, and we can calculate the speed (and therefore temperature) of the atoms from the width of the range."
]
}
|
[] |
[
"https://www.livescience.com/614-record-set-hottest-temperature-earth-3-6-billion-degrees-lab.html"
] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
fvip5c
|
why most people lose money day trading stocks?
|
I hear statistics like 90% trader lose money in their first year/month. Why is it that more people lose money rather than 50/50, even during bull markets?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/fvip5c/eli5_why_most_people_lose_money_day_trading_stocks/
|
{
"a_id": [
"fmilo51",
"fmim60u"
],
"score": [
7,
3
],
"text": [
"50/50 implies the market can move either up or down, but it doesn’t. It fluctuates. So somebody bets the market goes down, it does a bit, then it goes the other way, then it drops and rises and long story short, nobody, ALMOST NOBODY can predict this accurately. People panic and pull out too soon, or they see a great run and decide to stay in too long. \n\nAnd this is just one of the factors.",
"Because human psychology is the missing factor. \n\n50/50 would assume random bets to a certain extent. In reality, most people day trading are afraid of losing money, and sell too early or buy too late. Their psychology gets in the way."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
bri94z
|
despite their similarities in size and population, why are texas and california polar opposites in terms of economic prosperity?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/bri94z/eli5_despite_their_similarities_in_size_and/
|
{
"a_id": [
"eoe1qyv"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"Clarifying question: What makes you think they're polar opposites in terms of economic prosperity? US News' ranking of the States' economies has California at #4 and Texas at #15. That's hardly polar opposites."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
1f5lqv
|
why do we see color when exposed to a black and white image, after looking at the image in negative color? (example inside)
|
[Example](_URL_0_)
What is this sorcery?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1f5lqv/eli5_why_do_we_see_color_when_exposed_to_a_black/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ca71krh"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"When you stare at something for a long time, you are stimulating the same cone cells in your retina over and over again. The cells normally help you to see colour (red, green and blue), but will get \"tired\" and stop responding after a short while. Then, when a grey image appears, only the cells that are \"awake\" will respond.\n\nExample: say you stare at the blue building on the left hand side of the image. Your \"blue\" cells will see blue for a while, but then stop responding. Then, when given a grey colour (all colours together), only your \"green\" and \"red\" cells respond. Red + green = yellow to your brain, so you see a yellow building.\n\nThis whole thing is known as an [afterimage](_URL_0_). Another good way to see this effect is to lie in the sun with your eyes shut. Your eyelids will only let red light through to your retina. If you wait for about a minute, then look around you, everything will have a blue-cyan tint, as all your red cones will have become \"tired\"."
]
}
|
[] |
[
"http://i.imgur.com/I0Ox6.jpg"
] |
[
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterimage"
]
] |
|
c26kjn
|
why does bone-in meat take significantly more time to cook than deboned meat, although they are roughly the same size?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/c26kjn/eli5_why_does_bonein_meat_take_significantly_more/
|
{
"a_id": [
"erhyxye",
"eria5mg"
],
"score": [
9,
2
],
"text": [
"The bone doesn't heat as fast as the meat. If you cooked a turkey stuffed with ice cubes, you need to wait for the ice cubes to melt before the inside of the turkey world start to cook.",
"Bone in meats have more mass and therefore absorb more thermal energy while cooking. This means it will take longer to heat up meat with cold bones inside compared to boneless meats."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
6bklp4
|
why do actors get so much credit?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6bklp4/eli5_why_do_actors_get_so_much_credit/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dhnd3sr",
"dhndbug"
],
"score": [
2,
3
],
"text": [
"/u/SpicyBanana-017 said:\n > Because society is superficial\n\n^This, although that's a primary cause; the proximal cause is that the superficiality of people leads to actors who are promoted and loved selling more movies... and that's all that anyone in showbiz gives a rat's fuck about.",
"Wow. You have a *really* bad idea of what acting is. Acting is way more than being an empty shell for the director's vision. Good performances are a *collaboration* between the actors and their director, not just standing there and reading the lines you're told to."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
7vijrz
|
how does a medicine know what to do and what to attack? like how ibuprofen gets rid of/helps a headache
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7vijrz/eli5_how_does_a_medicine_know_what_to_do_and_what/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dtsjq8a"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"It doesn't *know* anything. Drugs taken internally just circulate throughout your blood system and make their through your whole body. Ibuprofen doesn't target your head if you have a headache. It just gets there because your bloodstream takes it there."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
5hjx8d
|
why has virtually every human civilisation created a religion?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5hjx8d/eli5_why_has_virtually_every_human_civilisation/
|
{
"a_id": [
"db0q9wp",
"db0qit3",
"db0qnaj",
"db0rvm8",
"db0t67g",
"db0t7mn",
"db0tte0",
"db0zrys",
"db10964"
],
"score": [
10,
24,
92,
2,
3,
2,
11,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Humans are very good at seeing patterns, actually most animals are, look up BF Skinner's experiments with superstitious pigeon, our brains are so wired to see patterns that we make them up when they aren't there. \n\nFrom superstition it's really just a matter of a bit of imagination to come up with the concepts of spirits and deities. ",
"Social cohesion. Humans like to tell myths and stories, it's just a matter of how literal one takes them. These stories can be used to keep people in line, or to have people do what the leaders want them to do",
"Religions provided answers to questions where material evidence was either lacking or inconclusive because early civilizations did not yet understand the scientific basis for natural events. It made more sense to attribute the sound of thunder to an angry god than to leave the phenomenon as an unanswerable mystery. \n\nReligion helped to codify social norms as well. The idea that a particular belief — sacrificing animals to achieve success on the battlefield, for instance — was ordained by powerful deities ensured social approval of actions which might have been opposed or resented by individuals or groups.",
"Cohesion/control.\n\nAs long as people believe their lives are at stake and worse they'll do what they are told even if the rules are made up on the spot.",
"Jordan Peterson really interestingly explained his religiousity on the Joe Rogan podcast. \nHere's the link to that part of the video. I'd strongly recommend watching the entire podcast too.\n_URL_0_",
"superstition is a natural part of any creature with high mental capacity. the higher the more superstitious. once you've got superstition, it's not far off from mysticism then religion. once you got a lot of people living in a set of supernatural rules, some charismatic guy is going to pop out and take charge of it. he might truly believe it or he's just lying, regardless, he'll take charge and unify everyone and that's what a religion is. cults and religions diff in that a lot of people believe a religion is benevolent while cults are not. people who are in cults certainly don't think they're in cults, they think it's a religion. so new religion are being created all the time, we just call them cults.\n\nthe stricter the rules and the better their brainwashing techniques, the stronger the religion is. what do you think going to church every weekend and confessing your sins do? it basically puts you under the power of the priest. each week you go and get reminded of your allegiance. you perform rituals that remind of you that allegiance. \n\nlook at how fervent muslims are. they have to pray every day and restrict everything they do on a daily basis. islam is always on their mind all day every day. if they break the rules they are shamed or beaten. how much of a mindfuck do you think it does to muslims? \n\nedit: also i want to add that religion provides comfort in a very uncertain and dangerous world, so it's very attractive for people. children have parents who tell them it'll be ok but who do adults have? god.",
"I see a lot of answers and they aren't wrong. Truth is that we don't really know. There are good guesses though. The one i like is education. Religion made it possible to educate people without explaining why. I don't think it was created by some guy as a way to trick people into being educated. But consider this. Most major religions have or once had animal sacrifice. But not any animal from the herd. A very special animal that met some requirement. Those shepards and farmers that made the sacrifice had better more stock survive winter and overall did better. God must have looked favorably on the sacrifice. Compare that sacrifice with culling, the act of eliminating part of a herd so as to free up food and resources for the rest. It's a common, necessary practice when dealing with livestock. The way you go about it is very similar to the animal sacrifices of old religions but without the ceremony. \nThe idea of culling seems counter intuitive, especially when you have no education or understanding of the world. But religion is easy to understand. Some higher being wants this done. If you dont do it, bad things happen. ",
"Because our society has had religion in so central a role, we broadened the meaning of the term \"religion\" to encompass certain aspects of culture that are somewhat inherent in any culture.\n\nIf by \"religion\" you mean something similar to Christianity, Islam, Judaism, then no - not every civilization has created something like that. Not even close.\n\nBut if you start with the assumption that something in every civilization is their parallel to what we think of as religion, then you start using the word \"religion\" to refer to any system of rituals + beliefs that's widely shared or accepted in a culture, and you start thinking of them all as different kinds of the thing you call \"religion\". Which makes it misleading to ask why they all have religions.",
"I highly recommend read this [book](_URL_0_) about this topic : Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. This book is very easy to reed and explain a lot about Religion and gods."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://youtu.be/P5_-pfqFGJI"
],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316095/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481392530&sr=1-1&keywords=sapiens"
]
] |
||
3l3qci
|
why did buying spring water become so popular in the 90's?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3l3qci/eli5_why_did_buying_spring_water_become_so/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cv2xl6v",
"cv2y6kb"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"Essentially it was a result of good marketing.\n\nIn the 70s, Perrier came out with their bottled water, but there was a specific group of people who were regular customers. In 1989, bottling companies found PET plastic, which was clear, light, and (of course) cheap to make. And then Pepsi and Coca Cola got into the business with Aquafina and Dasani, respectively.\n\nThe companies told us that this bottled spring water was somehow better, cleaner, and healthier for you. And then, it became the \"it\" thing.",
"There's a documentary about this called [Tapped](_URL_0_), but I'll assume you don't want to watch it. According to the video, it was due to marketing. Perrier was the first bottled water and people would drink that because it made them feel fancy, however, bottled water was originally marketed as a luxury health product. The bottles' labels would say things like \"clean, mountain water.\" When you read the name \"Poland Springs,\" or see the [Evian logo](_URL_1_), it makes you think of a beautiful clean oasis. Many people thought that if bottled water was fresh and clean that must mean tap water must not be, why else would bottled water have to emphasize their purity. You might think you're special, and that you'd never make this mistake if you were educated, but that's just not true. I'm guessing you're uncomfortable getting tap water from your bathroom sink, despite the fact that it comes from the same clean pipes that lead to your kitchen. Image is everything, and bottled water has a clean crisp image.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTL;DR- made us think bottled water was cleaner than tap, so we bought it as a health product until it become engrained in our lifestyle.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nP.S. Bottled water usually comes from the sources as tap water in most 1st world countries, so Poland Sping doe not come from some magical spring."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr5WLKQNIdM",
"http://www.evian.com/en_us/"
]
] |
||
j37zt
|
[li5] the significance of retiring the space shuttle.
|
Isn't it a good thing? Why did they do it? Why all the hubbub/negative media coverage? What is the future for NASA?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/j37zt/li5_the_significance_of_retiring_the_space_shuttle/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c28r8el",
"c28rg72"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Don't you think it's important to see what's out in space? Stopping the shuttle program means that the leaders in America don't think space is worth exploring and are spending money to try to fix things here on earth. We might be stuck on Earth for much, much longer than we need to be- and Earth won't last forever.\n\nThey stopped the shuttle because they needed the money for other things. Just like how Mommy and I won't go out to dinner if we have to have our car repaired.\n\nHowever, NASA is still sending computers and robots into space, and maybe someday a robot will be able to explore just like a human could. ",
"The real problem is that they are not being replaced by anything in the near future. The example of not paying for the little trip to say up for a big one is a good analogy. But a few years ago, the big trip, which is called the Constellation program, was cancelled. It was going to put people back on the moon and then go to asteroids and to Mars. People are upset because it is going to take several years for anything else to happen. There are a lot of budget cuts to the space program. For example, Congress is trying to cut the James Webb Space Telescope [JWST](_URL_0_) which is like a much better Hubble."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWST"
]
] |
|
dkizgl
|
how come we can so easily identify a voice over on tv ads, even when the lip/audio sync seems perfect?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dkizgl/eli5_how_come_we_can_so_easily_identify_a_voice/
|
{
"a_id": [
"f4g2sjm",
"f4g46m7",
"f4glmt2"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
10
],
"text": [
"Crappy audio engineer that didn’t take the time in post production. Usually when you hear a major difference it’s because it’s a sound bite recorded after the fact on different equipment sometimes processed by a different individual than the one who did the raw edit of the piece being dubbed over.",
"Best example, look at Indian commercials, almost all are voice overs where it just doesn't sound natural. I've started noticing 1or 2 in the US, I sincerely hope it doesn't become popular, it's very r/mildlyinfuriating",
"The toupee fallacy places a role.\n\nEverything thinks they can tell when a man is wearing a toupee. What they don't realize is they only notice when a toupee is obvious and have no idea how many good toupee escape their attention."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
a4fgn5
|
does coax cable stilll have a place in current internet infrastructure?
|
Given the speed and advancements in cabling does coax still need to exist or should all cabling be done through twisted pair cables rather then copper sheath cables. Additionally is there any possibility that modems in houses become a thing of the past?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a4fgn5/eli5_does_coax_cable_stilll_have_a_place_in/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ebe4mo1",
"ebe603c",
"ebeh4ou"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"Rewiring what is known as the last mile, basically the distance from the internet provider local facility. In the cable world it's called the head end, is insanely expensive. \n\nAssuming a reasonable new neighborhood and cable. Coax can carry about 4-6 Gb/s if we make a lot of liberal assumptions about the design of the network. Real world of an older design and cable quality probably less.\n\nSo for the foreseeable future, coax is here to stay. Unless something significantly changes and people are willing to pay for the higher speeds.",
" > Additionally is there any possibility that modems in houses become a thing of the past? \n\nModem stands for \"**Mo**dulator/**dem**odulator\" so no matter what kind of cable is used, the signal needs to be modulated and demodulated so something is always acting as a \"modem\". Even the chipset in your cellphone is referred to as a cell modem. \n\n & #x200B;",
"A coaxial cable is a better data transmitter then twisted pair by a lot.\n\nA CAT 5e that is needed for gigabit Ethernet only need a bandwidth of 200MHz and have recommended max distances of 100m. For newer cables you have higher bandwidth and the latest is CAT 8.2 at 2 000 MHz. Coaxial is used for frequencies at 35 Ghz. So coaxial is a lot better then twisted pairs.\n\nBut twisted par have advantages and that is why we used it. It is cheaper, more flexible, easier to install so for short distance computer connection that is the better option.\n\nFor long range connection twisted part is a bad option because range limit is quite low as the standard is for 100m. For long range computer networks what is used is optical fibers. It have superior range but is a lot harder to terminate and add the connector to the end. The hardware on the device that is connected to it also cost more. So the cost and preform efficient way is to use optical fiber for long range and twisted pair for short range. Add a switch with both types in the building so you have the best of both world.\n\nSo you have a switch in in a apartment building and have fiber to away from the house and TP to the apartments in the house. It could be possible to have optical to box on the street and TP connection to individual houses around it if they are close enough of a fiber to each individual house.\n\nSo coax cable will be used less and less in the future but it will be replaced by fiber in the network and sometimes TP the last 100m."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
2w3f2n
|
tooth-brushing, flossing, mouthwash, tongue-brushing. what's the correct order to do these, and why? can you chew sugar-free gum after your dental hygiene routine?
|
At the moment, I floss, then brush my teeth. Then I wait half an hour and then use mouthwash. If I use my tongue brush, I use it before the others.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2w3f2n/eli5_toothbrushing_flossing_mouthwash/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cona4hh",
"conb82s",
"conbygw",
"concwpd"
],
"score": [
6,
10,
4,
3
],
"text": [
"There's a tongue brush?\n\nShit man you do a lot in one day ",
"If you floss before brushing, you'll remove all that gunk between your teeth and then the toothpaste and fluoride will reach in there better. I guess mouthwash should be last. Otherwise you're just rinsing dirty teeth. \n\n",
"My buddy who's in dental school currently says: Floss- > Brush- > Tongue Scrape- > Mouthwash for maximum freshness of breath.\n\n\nExplained:\n\n\nFlossing before brushing will help get any gunk out of your teeth crevices that allows for maximum coverage. Brushing should be done at a controlled speed; not too fast/too slow, minimum 2x a day, and for at least 2+ minuets in a circular motion across the teeth. Tongue scraping helps remove the vast majority of odor-causing bacteria since our tongues are like little carpets that can harvests microbes that thrive in dark/moist environment. (Think morning breath!). Scrape from back to front in slow repetitive motions Finally, mouthwash will help clear up any remaining odors and loose particles in the mouth. This should be done vigorously for about 30 full seconds. (If you're sensitive to alcohol, try alcohol free brands like Tom's or non-alcohol based Scope.\n\nBonus: He uses Colgate® PreviDent® 5000 Plus (Rx only) and ®Tom's mouthwash.\nand soft-woven cinnamon floss by Reach® because it is thicker and helps remove more gunk\n\nEdit: terrible grammar.",
"As a side note; I spoke with my dentist recently and she recommended that you should NOT use mouthwash after brushing. (Because you're just washing away the fluoride that needs to stay on your teeth to do any benefit.)"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
5ws1uu
|
why is it that i get more emotional when i'm sick?
|
I'm not more sad, necessarily, I'm just more easily affected emotionally by things that normally wouldn't phase me.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5ws1uu/eli5_why_is_it_that_i_get_more_emotional_when_im/
|
{
"a_id": [
"decsmcl"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"There are many theories of emotion, and one of the more accessible of them is the James-Lange model. Essentially, how you feel emotionally depends on how you feel physically. \n\nAs such, if you feel the natural fatigue of a cold, you may then interpret that as a sign of sadness and thus feel sad. And while in a negative emotional state, you are primed (i.e. more likely) to interpret your environment through a negative lens."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
2evjmd
|
why do dogs naturally hate mailmen?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2evjmd/eli5_why_do_dogs_naturally_hate_mailmen/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ck3caer",
"ck3jyf6"
],
"score": [
11,
2
],
"text": [
"Dogs are territorial, and want to defend their territory (your lawn) from intruders.\n\nThere's an intruder who invades that space daily.",
"If the dog barks, the mail carrier will always go away"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
9uoovn
|
why can’t recovering addicts have alcohol if that isn’t what they’re addicted to?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9uoovn/eli5_why_cant_recovering_addicts_have_alcohol_if/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e95ro5a",
"e95sbvt",
"e95ttxc",
"e95vpld"
],
"score": [
13,
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"People with addictive tendencies will easily swap out one addiction for another. The parts of the brain that participate in the addiction feedback loop are mostly the same for a wide variety of substances, and we already know his is wired for addiction.\n\nHe wasn't addicted to alcohol specifically, but as a former drug addict he's at extremely high risk of developing an alcohol dependence.\n\nRather than play with fire, he's smartly opting to avoid it.",
"They may be able to. For some addicts, alcohol lowers their inhibitions enough that they feel ok using again and then they relapse, but for others it's not an issue. If you Google \"abstinence if not the only option\" or \"abstinence vs moderation\" you can find some good articles about this issue. Definitely not ignorant, it's actually a very widely discussed issue in addiction/recovery academia.",
"I worked with a remarkable young man who'd overcome multiple addictions. In the treatment center he went to, they started him on smoking and it became the addiction focus. When he felt the urge for meth, or opioids, he'd light up.\n\nThen after 6 years of smoking, he kicked that too. He made a plan. Enlisted everyone at work and elsewhere to help him. He figured after 30 days he'd be over the worst. After 90 he'd be done.\n\nAfter that, his drug of choice became charity work. He'd occasionally bug all of us for blankets, or jackets or packages of socks. He'd take them to homeless shelters and hand them out. ",
"Especially in America, there is a lot of religious bullshit about addiction, especially if you are unlucky enough to fall into the clutches of AA. One of their articles of faith is that once an addict, always an addict, and the *only* addiction they want you to have is to be addicted to them.\n\nThe truth is that recovering addicts *can* have alcohol, and in fact most addicts can learn to use their drug of choice in moderation.\n\nIf total abstinence works for your brother-in-law, great! Good on him for finding something that works for him. I don't mean to say he is wrong.I don't know his particular situation, so I wouldn't dare tell him he's doing it wrong.\n\nBut it is wrong to say that total abstinence is the *only* or even the *best* way of dealing with addiction. In fact the opposite: I don't have the studies at hand, but I have seen solid research that strongly concludes that people who practice total abstinence are at much higher risk of relapsing than those who aim for *control and moderation*.\n\nPersonal anecdotes aren't (good) scientific data, but my wife used to know a fellow who was well on his way to drinking himself to death. Constantly in and out of hospital with alcohol poisoning, liver on the verge of collapse, that sort of thing. He could never get the abstinence thing to work for him, he was constantly falling off the wagon. The hard part for him was learning that one drink didn't make him a failure and a sinner, so he could never stop at one.\n\nHer ex-husband dragged him aside one day, and said \"You're coming to the pub with me. You're going to have *one* pint, and *then you will stop*. From now on, whenever you have the urge to drink, go to the pub and have one pint, and then stick to soft drinks for the rest of the night.\"\n\nOnce he realised that it was okay to have a drink, so long as he stopped at one, he could manage his drinking problem. Made a full recovery, and is no longer an alcoholic.\n\n(Anyone who tells you that \"once an addict, always an addict\" is pushing an agenda and probably doesn't have your best interests at heart.)\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
soiz8
|
how guitar pickups work
|
If I may ask, what make certain pickups better than others?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/soiz8/how_guitar_pickups_work/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c4fou6x"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"Guitar pickups utilize some moderately complex properties of electromagnetism, but I'll to my best to explain the process as simply as possible.\n\nMagnets produce magnetic fields that surround them.\n\nMagnetic flux of an area can be defined loosely as the amount of magnetic field passing through a particular area (this area can be a real physical surface, or it can be an arbitrarily defined imaginary surface in space).\n\nA circuit can be defined as a loop of wire through which an electrical current may pass.\n\nIn order for a circuit to have an electrical current there must be an EMF. For simplicity's sake, think of EMF as the thing that powers the circuit. EMF often comes in the form of a battery with a specific voltage.\n\nHowever, a physicist called Michael Faraday discovered a particular property utilized by guitar pickups. When the magnetic flux through the plane of a circuit loop is changing, an EMF if produced in that loop and a current is created even if there isn't a battery providing an EMF. As soon as the magnetic flux stops changing and remains constant the mysterious EMF disappears and so does the current.\n\nThe little round metal circle that you see when you're looking at one of your guitar's pickups is actually a bar magnet that goes into your guitar where you cant see it. The magnet has a wire wrapped around it several times and the wire is part of a circuit that doesn't have a battery or any source of EMF so there is no current in the wire. The magnet does produce a magnetic flux through the circuit, but because the flux isn't changing, no EMF is supplied.\n\nHowever, the magnet does magnetize the string which the produces its own magnetic field which provides additional flux through the circuit. And when the string vibrates it causes the electric flux in the circuit to oscillate. Because the flux is now rapidly oscillating, an EMF is produced which rapidly oscillates between positive and negative. And because the EMF is oscillating so is the electrical current. The electrical current rapidly switches back and forth between one direction and the opposite direction. The amplifier detects these rapid alternations in the current in the circuit and spits them back to us in the form of soundwaves. Fin."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
278oyq
|
do millions of air conditioners running at once make a city hotter?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/278oyq/eli5_do_millions_of_air_conditioners_running_at/
|
{
"a_id": [
"chyfidd"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Yes. It's one of the contributions to the [heat island effect](_URL_0_)."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_heat_island"
]
] |
||
30v4qw
|
how do businesses offer free wi-fi with no security risk to their network?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30v4qw/eli5how_do_businesses_offer_free_wifi_with_no/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cpw2kbw",
"cpw2m5c",
"cpw5wfz"
],
"score": [
13,
3,
4
],
"text": [
"The WiFi is most certainly not connected to their internal network.\n\nMy company offers free WiFi to guests. It's on a network that connects to an internet connection we get from our ISP and doesn't touch our internal network at all. It would be no different than if you brought your own wi-fi with you.",
"Their corporate network resides behind the firewall. The free WiFi is either on a separate connection or it is in the dmz (segment of your network exposed to the Internet without firewall protection.)",
"Ex-Network admin here. \n\nA really simple firewall can be applied to segregate an internal network and a public network.\n\nSay your internal private network's subnet is 10.10.10.1/24 and your public Wifi is 10.10.11.1/24. The rule you setup would read something like this:\n\nDrop any traffic from 10.10.11.1/24 that is going to 10.10.10.1/24. Drop any traffic from 10.10.10.1/24 that is going to 10.10.11.1/24.\n\nIt's a really simple, but very effective rule for that kind of stuff. There is some fancy stuff you can do to get around a rule like that, but it's going to stop any casual attempt at breaking into an internal network from their public Wifi."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
g25y5g
|
why do video games have to load?
|
Always wondered about this and on the reason why some load longer than others.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/g25y5g/eli5_why_do_video_games_have_to_load/
|
{
"a_id": [
"fnjnyiv",
"fnjo3no"
],
"score": [
4,
4
],
"text": [
"Games are software, software needs to be in the system’s RAM before the processor can run it. It takes time to do that, and it takes longer for bigger games. Sometimes the transfer also involves decompressing or reformatting of the data, and sometimes (depending on the system) the software might need to be read from CD or DVD or hard drive; those also add their own delays.",
"Computers have two places to store stuff, like levels and sounds and everything else. In really slow memory, that stays there when you turn the computer off (hard drive) and really fast memory that goes away when you turn the PC off (RAM). Most loading time is copying \"stuff\" from the really slow memory into the fast memory. The game can't start until enough stuff is in fast memory, or else the game would never run fast enough to play (think frames per minute)."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
3hi40s
|
why do astronauts never dress comfortably in space?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3hi40s/eli5_why_do_astronauts_never_dress_comfortably_in/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cu7k0na",
"cu7kbke"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"In 0 gravity astronauts have to be careful about what they have in space [like the corned beef sandwich that almost got everyone killed](_URL_0_). The suits they wear don't have any fluff or other weird things that can fly off the fabric and get into the electronics and cause problems.",
"I don't think there's an official dress code, but there is an unofficial one. [These astronauts are all lined up for a media event or something](_URL_7_), and are dressed like you describe. (No belt though.)\n\nBut there is more variation than you might have noticed: [This guy is wearing \"space pants\" with lots of velcro attachment points](_URL_4_); he's also wearing socks to help cushion the tops of his feet when hooking them under the grab bars like he is—many astronauts report getting sores on their feet from doing that. Better alternatives for foot restraints have been tested for decades, but nothing has been better than the toe-hook technique.\n\n[Here's workout clothes for a space workout.](_URL_3_)\n\n[This dress code is pretty strict, but with good reason.](_URL_5_)\n\n[Specialized velcro-and-zillion-pockets space clothing also comes in jumpsuit form.](_URL_6_)\n\n[Shorts and t-shirt are an option.](_URL_0_) [Not that uncommon,](_URL_1_) either, [it looks like](_URL_2_)."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://www.eater.com/2015/3/25/8290597/corned-beef-sandwich-space-contraband-astronaut"
],
[
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/ISS-35_Chris_Hadfield_with_Cardiolab_%28CDL%29_Leg-Arm_Cuff_System_%28LACS%29.jpg",
"https://launiusr.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image-6-8.jpg",
"https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/04/57/22/045722ebef403d1893fc8ac3968df05c.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Frank_De_Winne_on_treadmill_cropped.jpg",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Interior_Columbus_module.jpg",
"http://danielmarin.naukas.com/files/2012/11/iss033e018493.jpg",
"http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/Environmental_Monitoring1.jpg",
"http://www.spaceflight101.com/uploads/6/4/0/6/6406961/6324139_orig.jpg"
]
] |
||
27txg2
|
why do our bodies have a mechanism to detect malnourishment (hunger) but not a strong one to detect overnourishment (obesity)?
|
Like most people here I'm sure, if I don't eat for like 8 hours I can feel my body telling me that I need to put food in it. My stomach rumbles, I can get irritable, maybe even light-headded. I'm pretty sure it's the bodies way of saying "Hey! You're killing yourself!"
But if you believe that excessive eating and obesity lead to a shortened lifespan, why don't our bodies shout across that same message? I guess you could say that there are some physical signs that can come from being overweight, but they aren't as immediate or strong. You can be full....but being full won't stop you from gaining weight.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/27txg2/eli5_why_do_our_bodies_have_a_mechanism_to_detect/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ci4bz1j",
"ci4cemi",
"ci4p41d"
],
"score": [
47,
14,
2
],
"text": [
"Well for the majority of human existence being overweight was never an issue. That excess energy was needed to fight off predators. Sugars and foods high in fat contain a lot of energy which releases dopamine, these foods are not easy to come across in nature. Fat is just extra energy for survival or atleast it was. ",
"Hunger and malnourishment aren't the same thing. In many cases you might be malnourished and not know it until it gets severe. Similarly, obesity and \"overnourishment\" aren't the same either. You can be fat and malnourished if all you eat is crap.",
"Becuase it's better to be overweight than under weight in the mind of your body. \n\nIf a famine hit, and you were under weight, you'd die in a few days. If you were over weight you could live for 3 weeks or more if you were getting water. \n\nIf you are caught in a winter blizzard, your fat will protect you better from frost bite than a skinny person. In a lot of stories about couples being stranded in a blizzard, the man usually survives and the woman dies. \"Why?\" Men are inclined to weigh more than a woman. \n\n\"But what if it's hot out? Won't underweight people have an advantage?\" No. Humans sweat, whether they are fat or not and weight would not affect you ability to do so in any way. \n\nFinally, being over weight kills you more slowly than being underweight. Sure you may have high blood pressure and get a heart attack when you are 65 if you are fat, but that is better than havering your liver or kiddies fail at age 20. \n\nTL;DR\n\nIt is more advantageous to be fat than to be borderline anorexic. However a normal weight is the preferred. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
2mmkoj
|
what are doctors testing for during a check up with a urine sample?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2mmkoj/eli5what_are_doctors_testing_for_during_a_check/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cm5netr"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"They're testing largely for things that should not be there, including bacteria, glucose, proteins, and even cells. They may also test the pH, which may change depending on medications you take. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
2hbnu8
|
why does an open soft drink go flat overnight if put in the fridge but not if i leave it at room temperature?
|
Title
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2hbnu8/eli5_why_does_an_open_soft_drink_go_flat/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ckr5wzb",
"ckrbro7"
],
"score": [
19,
3
],
"text": [
"Simple question, slightly complex answer. \n\nThe bubbles are dissolved carbon dioxide. [The solubility of carbon dioxide in water is much *higher* at fridge temperature](_URL_0_), so the CO2 will stick around longer at lower temperature.\n\nHowever, because the solubility is so much higher, the CO2 can't form bubbles until the soda water warms back up.\n\nYou might compare a soda on the counter overnight to one refrigerated then given an hour to warm back up.",
"I'm a little confused by the title. Doesn't soda go flat if you set it open on the counter? The CO2 escapes over time. It would not even take a full night."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/gases-solubility-water-d_1148.html"
],
[]
] |
|
2yvm3v
|
why does the brain become stressed when faced with issues, but actually sabotages attempts to fix the problem?
|
This is not a personal problem, it's a thing anyone who's had to any sort of work has experienced. Unlike say hunger/shelter/or self defence there is no natural desire to solve the issue despite it being important to the person's life.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2yvm3v/eli5_why_does_the_brain_become_stressed_when/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cpddsdp"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"\nWe simplify and then apply simplistic responses. This is very useful in a world where socializing, shelter, food and avoiding predation are the primary time consuming acts of life. We aren't really well equiped for \"office politics\" or even \"village politics.\" Rather, we have evolved to operate in close-knit groups of highly familiar people focused on mutual survival.\n\nAnything more complex then that is quite taxing and creates a very unbalanced load on our processing (frontal lobe, and \"a little to the left\") We can't really be happy that way, it causes depression and makes things like schizophrenia be negative/violent and neuroses more previlant. The more abstract and unfamiliar the relationships involved, the worse for our minds.\n\nIn an unbalanced state, your brain does not work well with itself. The different parts... depths... have different problem solving methods, and you loose the ability to act in an integrated fashion. So you can \"say\" to yourself, \" I need to talk to Sam nicely and figure out his motives and see if we can't work together,\" and the next thing you know, your growled at him and the negotiation was sabatoged. \n\nIntegration requires a relaxed, confident mind that feels on top of things. When you don't have that, and it is for a long period of time, or in ways that are taxing for you, then you loose coordination (women are less affectd by duration then men, men can handle higher stresses in the short term than women.) \n\nAll of your brain is ready to end the problem NOW, but it isn't like your frontal lobe is the boss of your brain. So when the agitation is high and the coordination is low, you will generally have a kind of response I think of as psychological flailing (which can even involve actual flailing.) Where all the different strategies come out. \n\nHowever, you are mistaken that this is unlike hunger/shelter/or self edefence. This does extend to other behaviors/needs. You just aren't experincing enough stress from them. You aren't particularly hungry, exposed, or threatened. But if you ARE, and are not able to approach the situation with a sense of calm and control, you will also enter this uncoordinated psychological state. It is the plot of every survival horror story. Also every fight you will have with a 2 year old, and a lot of fights with other people (pro tip, feed people first, then talk. Most people are upset because they are stressed and hungry, so let them relax and feel full and taken care of. You can win a lot of favor and deals that way.)\n\nThe two important solutions are to make things normal through experience and practice, and to be less taken back by challenges and strange things (that is, make yourself feel that change and challenge is normal.) Some of this is hardwired, but not all. Experience and expectation plays a big part.\n\nanother essential part is to have a high level of regular activity in fields and relationships where you feel confident and in control. Where you have mastery (or feel you do anyway) and are appreciated for it (the belief that others like you and like what you are doing is an important part of mental health.)\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
dm1xmv
|
is pi proven to be a "mathematically random" number?
|
[deleted]
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dm1xmv/eli5_is_pi_proven_to_be_a_mathematically_random/
|
{
"a_id": [
"f4vza1w",
"f4vzts2",
"f4w3yqr"
],
"score": [
10,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"You actually *can* calculate any arbitrary digit of pi using [this](_URL_0_) formula.\n\nAnother question that you might be interested in is \"is pi a normal number?\" A normal number is one where any string of digits is equally likely to appear. We know that pi is irrational, but not all irrational numbers are normal - 0.10110111011110... Is irrational but clearly not normal - a 2 will never appear. We *think* that pi is normal, but it hasn't been proven yet.",
"There are *many* formulas to calculate the nth digit of pi. How else would we know what they were? But I don't understand what significance you are attaching to that, so I'm not sure how to further answer the question. It is a proven fact that pi is irrational, if that's what you mean by random.",
"The fact that *some* irrational numbers are \"random\" does not mean that *all* irrational numbers are \"random.\" In particular, Pi is an extremely special number that has connections to a lot of different mathematical concepts. It is a very not-random number. It is different from most irrational numbers, and is not a good example of an irrational number. Trying to use Pi to guide your understanding of irrational numbers will sometimes lead to problems.\n\nNow, let's explore \"random.\" You actually are using it correctly, albeit loosely, according to one definition that's somewhat niche. The idea of random-ness that most closely matches what you're trying to understand is Information-Theoretic Randomness. The idea is that if, say, a sequence of digits has pattern or structure, then it's possible to represent that sequence concisely by describing the pattern. But if the sequence is \"random,\" that means that it's unpredictable, so there is no representation of that sequence more compact than the sequence itself. \n\nThe background theory for Information-Theoretic Randomness is something called Kolmogorov Complexity, which defines the information content of a sequence as the size of the shortest computer program that produces it. Kolmogorov Complexity is used for more things than just randomness, but it's perhaps simpler to understand so if you want to dig into the topic I would start there. Despite sounding really fiddly (e.g. in which programming language?) it's a pretty robust and sound topic (e.g. the language doesn't matter! Languages by at-most an additive constant, which is the size of the interpreter). Using this concept, we can say a \"random\" sequence of digits is one where the Kolmogorov complexity is the same size as the sequence itself.\n\nExtending this idea to *infinite* sequences of digits like the expansion of an irrational number is non-trivial, but I'm going to gloss over it. For the task at hand, the main distinction is finite vs infinite. Does the decimal expansion of an irrational number have an infinite amount of information or not? (I assume the issue with simulations is dealing with infinite amounts of memory.) This basically amounts to asking: can I write a finite program or algorithm that will print all the digits in order if we wait long enough?\n\nFor Pi, the answer is absolutely, definitely yes. We have dozens of them. Hundreds. Some of them are very short. There are actually formulas to calculate the *n*th digit of Pi without calculating any values in-between. Some formulas can do this in different bases.\n\nThis is *not* true for irrational numbers in general. This is true due to a simple counting argument. There amount of irrational numbers is uncountably infinite (due to Cantor's diagonalization argument). The number of finite computer programs up to some length N is finite. The number of finite computer programs with unbounded length is countably-infinite. So, there are more numbers than there are computer programs that can produce numbers. Ergo, some numbers don't have computer programs that can write them. In fact, most don't. That's what happens when things are uncountably infinite.\n\nWhen people ask about random-ness and Pi, there's a separate concept that tends to come up called Normality. An irrational number is Normal if the distribution of digits in its decimal expansion is uniform. Most irrational numbers are normal, by a similar counting argument as above with random-ness. It is still an open question whether Pi is normal or not. But I don't think that's relevant to the concept underlying the question you're asking."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailey%E2%80%93Borwein%E2%80%93Plouffe_formula?wprov=sfla1"
],
[],
[]
] |
|
3phd58
|
how do we know time dilation actually occurs, and isn't just a mathematical "band-aid"?
|
Band aid meaning that it is just a quick fix to make fundamentally flawed mathematics work.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3phd58/eli5_how_do_we_know_time_dilation_actually_occurs/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cw6a5sa",
"cw6a5t8",
"cw6ai8t",
"cw6bl7q"
],
"score": [
7,
3,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"You're talking about the \"time slows as you go faster\", right?\n\nWe actually *can* directly observe it. Our GPS satellites orbit the earth at a fairly fast clip, and it's enough for them to experience a change in the order of microseconds of elapsed time. \n\nIn order for them to work properly with your GPS their exact position and time has to be known, so the software-based clocks associated with them have to actually be corrected because otherwise they'd generate inaccurate readings as time passes.",
"Experiments have been done with satellites. The GPS satellites have software built in to account for relativistic effects.",
"You could expect measurement device flaws, physics model flaws, but not mathematical flaws.\n\nMathematics cannot be flawed, at least not after it's been sufficiently verified and not for something so easily verified. If you made a trip to the mall, then you made another trip to the mall, mathematics dictate that you made 1 + 1 trips to the mall, which is quantity named 2. No flaw can exist on that. All mathematics is built the same way, no flaw can exist.\n\nHow we know it's not device measurement flaw, mostly because many different devices were used and it would be weird for a device flaw to end up consistent with a convoluted theory.\n\nHow do we know there's no flaw in the physical model, well, we don't. But the current models work well, notably GPS is a thing. So at the very least they work well enough with the physics we're able to interact with. Maybe someday we'll notice it only works like because we're in a particular case in the Universe, and all the rest was merely naive assumptions.",
"We know it works because we have observed it many times over. Experiments have been done and some current technologies only work because we account for it. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
1z20s6
|
why do mma fighters/wrestlers get those "inflamed/puffy" looking ears?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1z20s6/eli5why_do_mma_fighterswrestlers_get_those/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cfpslce"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Basically, there's not a lot connecting the skin of the ear to the cartilage underneath. Getting hit really hard on the ear can cause fluid or blood to pool between the skin and the cartilage, but the cartilage needs nutrients from the blood vessels in the skin to survive. If the fluid isn't drained quickly enough, the cartilage dies and scar tissue forms. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
2agdkw
|
what are there multiple ways to write in some east asian languages.
|
I'm thinking specifically about the differences between Simplified and Traditional Chinese and Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana in Japanese. What's the difference between them if they are the same language and what situations would each be used in?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2agdkw/eli5what_are_there_multiple_ways_to_write_in_some/
|
{
"a_id": [
"ciute1v",
"ciutfnv",
"ciutvwj",
"ciuu78v",
"civ4ovb"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
4,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"As far as Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana go:\n\nKanji is used for nouns, adjective stems, and verb stems. They look like Chinese characters and essentially are descendants of them.\n\nHiragana is used to write inflected verb and adjective endings and as phonetic complements to disambiguate readings (okurigana), particles, and miscellaneous words which have no kanji or whose kanji is considered obscure or too difficult to read or remember. Hiragana is seen as a manly form of calligraphy with harsh, abrupt strokes.\n\nKatakana are used for representing onomatopoeia, non-Japanese loanwords (except those borrowed from ancient Chinese), the names of plants and animals (with exceptions), and for emphasis on certain words. Katakana is seen as a feminine calligraphy, with more lyrical, cursive like strokes.\n\nSome of my wording was from Wiki (explaining so as not plagiarize).",
"I can't speak to Chinese. \n \nIn Japanese, hiragana is the base alphabet from which all words are made. Katakana represent the same sounds (generally) but are used when the word if from a foreign language and there is no explicit Japanese word for it. Additionally, Japanese use kanji, which are chinese characters that are used to replace hiragana for certain words. ",
"I'm only familiar with Japanese:\n\nKanji is based on Chinese characters. It has the most characters, and they are the most like pictographs (\"picture-words\"). It is more formal than the other two, but can also be used to save space. One \"letter\" can represent an entire word.\n\nHiragana is less picture-like, and more like our ABC's. Each character reperesents a sound rather than a word or concept. If you didn't know the Kanji, for example, you could use Hiragana to spell out the word you wanted. Also, it is used for all the little \"helper\" words that you would use to make a sentence. Your action and subject could be in Kanji, for instance, while all the \"the's\", \"but's, and \"and's\" would be in Hiragana.\n\nKatakana is like Hiragana, but used when spelling foreign words or \"sound-effect\" words - like \"bang\" in a comic book.\n\nThey are commonly mixed together in newspapers and magazines and the like. Signs often use Kanji because of space.\n\nEDIT: Also, wanted to add: Kanji can be used for clarity. Japanese is a \"sound-poor\" language. Lots of homynyms. Two words with the same sound, but different meaning, look the same in Hiragana, but different in Kanji.",
"Traditional Chinese is just that, traditional writing. Simplified Chinese was invented by the government of the People's Republic of China to modernize the language a bit and make it easier to learn. Simplified is therefore used in mainland PRC; traditional persists in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Apart from their different appearances, they are functionally equivalent. At this point they are basically different regional writing s\n\nYou can *almost* think of them as just being different fonts. But they are waaay more different from each other than that, to the point that they're not totally mutually intelligible if you only know one or the other.",
"As a Chinese person, I can only speak for the Traditional and Simplified characters.\n\nThe usage of Traditional and Simplified Chinese depends on where you come from. Simplified Chinese is just a more easier way to write Chinese characters, which was created to promote literacy in Mainland China. Simplified Chinese was introduced in the latter half of the 20th century and it's only used in Mainland China. Traditional Chinese is the more historic form and is found in more classical poems, building inscriptions, statues, etc. Traditional Chinese is also used in places outside of Mainland China, such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, places that were not subject to the government of China when Simplified Chinese was introduced.\n\nOf course, the meanings of the characters are still the same, but just look different."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
3p4zc8
|
why is it that the bass on my earbuds is a lot stronger than the bass on my monitor's crappy built-in speakers even though earbuds are a lot smaller?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3p4zc8/eli5_why_is_it_that_the_bass_on_my_earbuds_is_a/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cw35cku",
"cw396c9"
],
"score": [
5,
3
],
"text": [
"Because they are right in your ear and drown out outside noise as well. Also, check your computer speaker specifications to see what frequencies it outputs, I have a 2.1 (meaning stereo speakers and a subwoofer) for my computer and the bass is pretty good, it cost only $40 from Logitech 5 years ago. Also, depending on what earbuds you have, they may not be high quality and up the bass a lot (Beats for instance).",
"It's because when you put your earbuds in, the pressure in your ears are ridiculously high (even higher than when you go to concerts) as there's no place for the sound waves to escape quickly and dissipate and therefore the bass will be much higher as the sound pretty much leaves the speaker in the buds and goes straight to your ear drum. Whereas through your speakers, the sound dissipates before entering your ear."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
dvrce0
|
what happens if i work out for hypertrophy but don't meet the required daily amount of protein?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/dvrce0/eli5_what_happens_if_i_work_out_for_hypertrophy/
|
{
"a_id": [
"f7e9jw7"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"No, you aren't wasting time. \n\nThough you won't make as much progress as you would if you were getting enough protein, it's still good to do something. Doing something is better than doing nothing. And if you keep it up you will intuitively start eating more and get more protein anyway."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
||
5sd3e8
|
why are some english words spelled with a z in america but swapped with an s in britain?
|
For example,
realize - > realise
idolize - > idolise
economize - > economise
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5sd3e8/eli5_why_are_some_english_words_spelled_with_a_z/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dde68rq",
"dde6guu",
"dde7szf"
],
"score": [
3,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"Americans wanted to change things because they wanted to prove they were not part of the empire anymore, and in doing so, fucked up a bunch of words.",
"After the American Revolution, there was a movement in America (led by Noah Webster of dictionary fame) to rationalize English spelling so that things would be spelled as they sounded. There was a patriotic as well as practical element to this movement as its proponents sought to define an \"American\" English distinct from British.\n\nObviously, it failed. It did leave some traces on American English spelling, however. Among these are \"color\" instead of \"colour\", \"realize\" instead of \"realise\", and \"theater\" instead of \"theatre\".",
"Both the ise and ize endings used to be used. In America, Noah Webster picked the ize ending as the standard, while in Britain the ise ending gradually became more commonly used. Even today there are some British publications which consider the ize ending acceptable. But most people think about of it as the American spelling, and ise as the correct one."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
5qz6sb
|
why does shipping to china only take a week or so but shipping out of china takes a month?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/5qz6sb/eli5_why_does_shipping_to_china_only_take_a_week/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dd38rlx",
"dd3c9pr"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"Because china is exporting much more things than it imports. So space on fright planes/ships INTO china is easy available but the other direction the transports are very crowded. ",
"You know those ridiculously low shipping prices you sometime get on items from China? They get that low because they ship in bulk, so they have to wait until enough items are ordered and they can send it to the local (American, European etc) sorting station. Which results in low prices but takes a long time."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
||
2xxu4i
|
can someone explain to me the complex formation of the planet all the way up to life? how did that life came about?
|
Looking for a detailed yet easy to understand explanation
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2xxu4i/eli5_can_someone_explain_to_me_the_complex/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cp4eknh"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"To make a REALLY long story incredibly short: Trial and Error with some dumb luck thrown in.\n\nWhat worked for thriving and survival was passed along, what didn't work died out. 450 million years of that and Boom. Earth and life as we know it."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
2wqc4m
|
why do anti-sodomy laws exist?
|
Or, rather, how did they come to exist? What was the logical reasoning behind them when they were created?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2wqc4m/eli5_why_do_antisodomy_laws_exist/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cot5pnh",
"cot5pqv",
"cot60fj",
"cot6b8i"
],
"score": [
11,
20,
3,
5
],
"text": [
"Religion has/had a huge effect on the legal process. Because the bible condemns sodomy, the legal system condemns sodomy. ",
"To some people who hold religious beliefs, Sodomy represents a sin against their God. Since many laws are based upon what is believed to be sinful, Sodomy was made illegal. \n\nThe belief that Sodomy is sinful is due to the belief that any sexual act that does not (at least potentially) lead to reproduction is an affront to (certain) god(s).",
"Because too many people are scared of \"the gays\"",
"They were only just struck down by SCOTUS in 2007(ish). Despite what alot of people say about the \"sexual revolution\" in the 1970s, legally speaking, laws that regulate people's personal lives stayed on the books for long after. Anti-sodomy laws are in the same tradition as anti-miscegenation/interracial sex laws. Social darwinism has alot to do with it. For alot of the 19th century it was common thought that society was ordered by the same principles as evolution, so the state had a legitimate interest in enforcing white, heterosexual families/sex lives. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
9h63tm
|
why can't we insert a giant set of parachutes and detach a plane's body of the rest in a case of a plane falling?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9h63tm/eli5_why_cant_we_insert_a_giant_set_of_parachutes/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e69d9rq",
"e69dhwj",
"e69do56",
"e69dpo7",
"e69dprs",
"e69dt0q",
"e69ehyt",
"e69eqh6",
"e69f0ot",
"e69ft0m",
"e69gpa2",
"e69grhn"
],
"score": [
10,
4,
8,
3,
6,
4,
5,
2,
2,
4,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Airplanes are heavy and move extremely fast. A parachute strong enough to stop a falling plane would be impractically large and heavy. Even if you could make a parachute large and strong enough it's more likely the plane would tear itself apart. Parachutes only work at low altitudes and speeds, which is why they don't have personal parachutes on commercial planes either.",
"Some small planes do have parachutes (here's an example, deploys around 25 seconds in _URL_0_)",
"They actually make them for small single-engine planes. The primary issue is one of weight. In order to be able to safely protect something as heavy as the body of a modern jet liner, the chutes would have to be so massive that the extra weight (and thus fuel costs) would make operating the plane untenable. Given the extremely low occurrence of incidents when the chutes would have actually made a difference, it just doesn't make sense to use them.",
"The parachute would need to be absolutely enormous, like a mile-across piece of fabric. This would be very large and heavy. The plane would need to carry an incredible amount of extra fuel, and have a huge amount of extra space on board, *just* to lift the parachute.",
"So ignoring the costs, weight, and exact conditions needed to work, you are only really saving a couple hundred lives a year, globally [_URL_1_](_URL_0_)\n\nAir travel is one of the safest ways to travel (by a good measure)",
"Some Cirrus aircraft have this feature. That said, they are small general aviation aircraft, it would not really be practical for commercial aircraft. For a commerical aircraft, there would be an huge amount of structural weight added to reinforce the parachute attachments and the weight of the parachute itself. This means the plane would not be able to carry as many passengers which is a huge turn off for an airline. Since a situation in which you would have to deploy the chute is extremely rare, it's simply not worth the weight penalty. 99.9 percent of the time you should be able to land the aircraft safely, even in emergency situations.",
" > It would save many lives\n\nCrashes primarily happen during takeoff and landing. Few occur midflight. A parachute would have no use in these incidents. ",
"I’m pretty sure that it is physically impossible with known materials to have enough surface area of fabric attached firmly enough to the fuselage of an airplane that it would slow down a plane’s descent enough to make it safer for all involved. I don’t have hard numbers right now but rough estimations from the internet tell me that 1 square foot of canopy can deal with 1.25 pounds of weight. A 747 weighs roughly 833,000 pounds. That comes out to a 666,400 square foot canopy. That is roughly 18 football fields worth of nylon, for comparison.\n\nAnd when it deployed the points of attachment would experience tremendous force from the air resistance pushing the fabric pulling on the cords and the mass of the plane resisting that. Either the nylon would rip, the cables would snap, or the joints would rip off the plane. When planes go into nosedives normally, their wings do similar things, trying to pull them to level flight, and sometimes they get ripped off of the planes as this happens and the force is too much. And they are ~~metal welded and riveted onto more metal~~ held together using much more sturdy means than could be quick-released (and as a sidenote, are fundamentally one piece that runs \"through\" the fuselage, either under or over the cargo and passenger compartments depending on design).\n\nBut even if we fixed that, at this scale, we run into a form of the fundamental problem with rockets: fuel and parachutes aren’t massless; in this case a good estimate is about half a pound per 3 square feet, which adds about 100,000 pounds to the take-off weight of the plane. This weight won’t really matter to the parachute but the plane would need bigger wings, more engines, and/or a redesign completely on the inside and outside if it wanted to fly with this extra 1/8th of it’s total takeoff weight added on.\n\nThe other huge thing is that planes already have big protrusions that provide drag and wind resistance: they are called wings, and even without power can potentially be used to slow a descent.",
" Ignoring the fact that the installation of this device would be extremely heavy and expensive, it wouldn't do much at the point of flight when most incidents happen. Most mishaps occur near take-off or landing phase. And during this time, the aircraft is too close to the ground for a parachute to be of any use.",
"Firstly, it would not save many lives since many lives aren't lost to airplanes that fail sufficiently high in the sky to have a parachute do anything.\n\nSecondly, the wings of a plane _act like a parachute_. There are very few types of failures that result in plane not being able to glide or fly under reduced power.\n\nThirdly, you have to introduce _new_ things that can potentially fail to do this - in this case your wings have to be removable mechanically, which strikes me as adding significant risk.",
"If you do this to a large aircraft, you will add a great increase in weight, mechanical stresses, and parts prone to failure, that you ends with a less secure machine. And this don´t remove nothing in that kind of occurrences that begins inside the passengers cabin.",
"Because that is an impractical solution to an extremely rare problem.\n\nPlanes don't really break up in the air and crash ever. It's happened a few times since 1903 but not very much recently. Not worth it. \n\nTLDR same reason your car doesn't have ejection seats and lifeboats for those times when you might crash off a bridge into a lake."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX3n2baYjys"
],
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation_accidents_and_incidents#Bureau_of_Aircraft_Accidents_Archives_(B3A)",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation\\_accidents\\_and\\_incidents#Bureau\\_of\\_Aircraft\\_Accidents\\_Archives\\_(B3A)"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
zdtal
|
the "whipping" system in british politics
|
So as far as I can gather - the Prime Minister appoints somebody as a whip, whose job is to coerce, blackmail and ensure that members of the party vote in line with the PMs desired outcome.
This just seems to be a bit archaic, and in some cases, surely illegal?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/zdtal/eli5_the_whipping_system_in_british_politics/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c63oz73",
"c63pb9s",
"c63porz",
"c63qp7q",
"c63qynk"
],
"score": [
5,
5,
4,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Not really. The Whip's job is pretty much all procedural these days. The Whip (or really, his/her office) coordinates who gets to ask questions during PMQ's, who speaks on what bills for how long, and they also usually count votes etc for their side during formal counts.",
" > This just seems to be a bit archaic, \n\nThe name maybe, but for a PM it's important that it appears that he and his party are of one mind. Whips make that happen, both by making sure the party follows the PM, and by taking care that the PM knows what his party won't follow, so he can avoid trying to get them to do it in the first place. In all, it seems to work, so why change it?\n\n > and in some cases, surely illegal?\n\nAfaik there are no historical cases of Whips crossing going too far and actually commiting crises. Or no known cases, at the very least.",
"I cannot attest to the British Whip’s role, I can provide some insight into his American counterpart’s. The whip is a ranking member of a party; this means he is tiered leadership structure of the party. While those above him decide policy and agenda, his leadership role is predominately party centric and influencing the votes. Though sometimes he will gather votes from the other side, the whip is more interested in his party’s voting habits.\n\nHe is more or less the liaison between the party leadership and the other members of the party. He keeps track of their grievances, their stance on issues, what pet issues they have, where they want earmarks (money for projects back home) and other issues that will influence how individual members vote. This sets the whip up for his primary purpose, turning out the vote.\n\nWhenever a vote approaches, the whip does a head count to see where the party stands on the vote and if the vote will pass or not according to that head count. The whip then uses the knowledge of the individual members to persuade them to vote with the party. He does this by rewarding and punishing them according to the vote count and to an individual’s interest. \n\nWhile it may seem archaic, it has a real benefit. Having one individual doing this job allows for better inner party negotiations and by costing less resources and political capital. It also allows for the party to pass legislation.\n\nIt does seem like the British Whip has some different procedural roles.",
"I studied this at a basic level for a year.\n\n\nFrom what I can gather the \"whip\" keep members of parliament (MPs) \"in line\". They make sure that when an essential policy is being voted on that the MPs of the party vote with the party. \nParty whips aren't always used, and going against the party whip is a very bad reflection on your career in that party.",
"I think the purpose of the Whip is to stop the Prime Minister from having to deal with the \"down-and-dirty\" negotiation between him and his backbenchers.\n\nThe nature of democracy is that within parties, you will have differing opinions. The whips job is to make sure that the parties goals (decided on by the leader) will be achieved. This means in a safe vote, a light touch can be used, 10 or 15 rebels in a vote passing by 70 is fine. 2 or 3 on a vote which may only pass by 1 or 2 is a major problem.\n\nThe whips job is to basically \"bargain\" with the backbenchers, by essentially saying \"vote this way or it will be remembered\". The flip side is that the rebel may be able to ask for something, like a debate on their topic, or for some issue to be brought to the fore. It becomes a strategic game in and of itself, where to push back and when to capitulate may determine your future in the party.\n\nI think it is essential in a democracy based on a party political system. For anything to be done, it is necessary for the party to sometimes vote as one, but in order for backbenchers to be able to get their issues heard, the whip can be used both ways.\n\nTory backbenchers have managed to get some concessions from DC with the reshuffle and also some policies."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
1lrn99
|
why software companies can't create uncrackable software?
|
For example cracking a copy of photoshop is as simple as replacing a .dll file with a cracked version.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1lrn99/eli5_why_software_companies_cant_create/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cc22dhc",
"cc22n0t",
"cc22nar",
"cc235oj"
],
"score": [
4,
3,
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Because it is an endless loop. Basically though no matter how hard you try the software still has to be useable to the people who bought it. This means there has to be a way through, and as long as one exists people will figure out ways to fool it.",
"Uncrackable software is an impossibility. You need to provide the user who has paid easy access to use the software, at the same time preventing the user who has not from accessing the software at all. The computer is under the complete control of the users.\n\nThink of your example - the user can get around it by replacing a .dll. So you 'fix' that by making the software check that the .dll is right one. How? In a different .dll. So the user changes that one too, so you try to check for that one too. Where do you stop? ",
"If it's software that uses a registration key, it probably contains code to check that key. A skilled cracker can find that code and use it to make his own key. That's not possible if the key is checked online, but then the software needs to contain a statement like this:\n\n\n if (keyisValid) \n continue();\n else\n showError();\n\n\nAnd a cracker could simply change this to:\n\n\n if (keyisValid) \n continue();\n else\n continue();\n\n\nThe software could also contain a self-check to see if it's been modified, but that too is something that can be diabled in a similar fashion.\n\n\nFinding and disabling all these various checks can take a tremendous amount of time and skill, because the cracker doesn't have the original human-readable source code and is just looking at machine code intended to be read by CPU, which is much harder to make sense of, but ultimately there's always a way to keep the parts of the software you want (the ones that make up the actual program) and get rid of the parts you don't want (the anti-piracy stuff), if you can identify what's what.\n\n\nThe original programmer can try to hide, scatter or obfuscate the anti-cracking stuff to make it harder to find, use something that apparently looks like anti-cracking code to mislead the crackers or hide it inside parts of a game that take hours of play to get to to make the cracker waste time, but ultimately, it's gonna be there somewhere and can be modified.\n\n\nThat's why game publishers used forced online play to prevent cracking. If vital parts of the game (like parts of the game logic itself) run on a server and the copy shipped to users is not a complete application, then crackers will not be able to see the code itself (only its output) and won't be able to modify it. It would then be a matter of recreating the server code from scratch or obtaining a leaked copy of it, which is often not possible.",
"Just like there is no such thing as an impenetrable safe, software is the same. There is always a way to \"crack\" it, it just is a matter of time. Safes security level is based on how many hours it takes to break into them."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
|
44whgx
|
how will our society deal with overpopulation in the next decades and why nobody seems to care about this issue?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/44whgx/eli5_how_will_our_society_deal_with/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cztd4i3",
"cztd4mu",
"cztd74t",
"cztdid9",
"czte2sb"
],
"score": [
5,
6,
6,
2,
7
],
"text": [
"We will host a series of games in which we have the children battle to the death, the country the last surviving child is from will win a year of supplies. \n\nThat's how we handle the limited resources aspect. No one worries because we gucci for now. What you are asking is future generations problems. ",
"The earth can easily handle more humans if we start treating it like we should. Nobody seems to care or act for the same reason as climate change, it is debated as truth/myth, happens over a large time scale and therefore the effects arent as noticeable on an everyday basis. ",
"Our population will actually decline in the future. The issue is that most births will take place in developing (aka ultra-poor) countries. \n\n\nSo while Europe and the US will be hurt by the shrinking workforce, other places like India will be encumbered by the large amount of people fighting for limited resources. ",
"Overpopulation is generally self-correcting. People have fewer children and those children kill themselves off in wars, etc.\n\nAs a result, talking about overpopulation usually just makes you look foolish in a few years (see Malthus, Ehrlich) while talking about the 'symptoms' of overpopulation can be worthwhile.",
"This TED talk explains what will happen: _URL_0_ \n\nTL/DR: We will top out at 10 billion. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_on_global_population_growth?language=en"
]
] |
||
4efzpm
|
when is referring to an expert opinion not considered an appeal to authority logical fallacy?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4efzpm/eli5when_is_referring_to_an_expert_opinion_not/
|
{
"a_id": [
"d1zqeiy",
"d1zqigj",
"d1zqpc0",
"d202nvf",
"d20cxwk"
],
"score": [
9,
9,
53,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Search Results...\n\nAn Appeal to Authority is a fallacy with the following form:\n\nPerson A is (claimed to be) an authority on subject S.\n\nPerson A makes claim C about subject S.\n\nTherefore, C is true.\n\n\nThis fallacy is committed when the person in question is not a legitimate authority on the subject. More formally, if person A is not qualified to make reliable claims in subject S, then the argument will be fallacious.",
"Because appeal to authority is based on the fact that the \"authority\" isn't actually educated on the topic. It's a fallacy because the authority in question isn't authentic and is generally not qualified in the subject, just a notable, recognized name. So an actual expert, having an educated opinion on the topic, it's specifically excluded from the fallacy. ",
" > The argument from authority (Latin: argumentum ad verecundiam) also appeal to authority, is a common argument form which can be fallacious, such as when an authority is cited on a topic outside their area of expertise or when the authority cited is not a true expert.\n\nFrom Wikipedia, just for the rough definition.\n\nSo, something is an appeal to authority, when you are using someone's authority in another field to make claims in this one. Or you are pretending someone is an expert.\n\nFor example, Pele is an excellent soccer player. Using Pele's statements in an argument about the best way to play forward in soccer is not an appeal to authority because that is something he is genuinely knowledgeable in. He knows more than the average person. \n\nUsing Pele's statements in an argument about blackholes is an appeal to authority because you are using his fame in another field to make arguments about a field he is not knowledgeable in. Pele doesn't know anything more than your average person about blackholes, so he should not be cited. Stephen Hawking, on the other hand, does know more than your average person, so he can be cited.",
"Not every discussion or debate must follow the strict laws of formal logic. It might be a logical fallacy to say that \"90% of the scientific community supports global warming so it must be true\" but that's perfectly acceptable if you're writing a newspaper article.\n\nLogical fallacies are abused to hell and back by pedantic internet keyboard warriors who think they're some debate trump card that automatically invalidates the other side's argument or *requires* you to continue debating them to *their* satisfaction rather than just writing them & their views off as garbage because they're (for example) spouting off white supremacist propaganda.",
"Is it, trust me.\n\nSource:\n\nP.hDs from Stanford , Harvard, and Oxford and CEO of Apple, Google, and Telsa and President of America, Canada, and Russia. "
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
3jut2r
|
if someone were to move at 99% the speed of light and they traveled 5 meters in front of you, what would you see?
|
This is assuming that you didn't blink and they never left your field of view.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3jut2r/eli5_if_someone_were_to_move_at_99_the_speed_of/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cusg2r2",
"cusg4j7",
"cuso93j"
],
"score": [
2,
88,
4
],
"text": [
"You'd probably see him suddenly getting smashed and maybe even evaporing, because of the extreme force that's needed for such an acceleration and the energy that his body would have to contain during that. And don't forget the air resistance that he'll be exposed to.\n\nIgnoring all the things that would harm him, you'd perceive the whole thing as teleportation because it's too fast for you to detect what's really happening.",
"Most likely you would all die.\n\n[XKCD](_URL_0_) explains what would happen if someone threw a baseball at 0.9c (90% the speed of light). It isn't pretty.",
"_URL_0_\n\nThat shows you what would happen if superman threw a punch at you.\n\nJust imagine his fist is a person running."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"https://what-if.xkcd.com/1/"
],
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-fL8zopddI"
]
] |
|
9v403t
|
what is a call option or put option in finance?
|
Going over these in my finance class and I just can't wrap my head around the way these work. I also can't understand my professor very well and so maybe an ELI5 description will help
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/9v403t/eli5_what_is_a_call_option_or_put_option_in/
|
{
"a_id": [
"e99cgyi"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"A call option is a bet that a stock will go above a certain \"strike price\" by a certain date, called the expiry date. A put option is a bet that a stock will go below a certain \"strike price\" by the expiry date. If that date arrives and the stock hasn't done this, the option expires and is worth nothing. If the stock has done this, then your option is worth something.\n\nFor example, as I write this on November 7, Apple stock is at about $210. From [this link](_URL_0_), I can see that a November 23 call option for Apple stock with a $220 strike price will cost me $0.72 (in the \"Last\" column). If I had $10,000 that I wanted to gamble on Apple stock for the next few weeks, I could either afford 47 shares of stock (actually costing $9,870), or 13,888 of these call options. Fast forwarding to November 23:\n\nPositive outcomes: If Apple stock has climbed to $222, then if I had bought the 47 shares of stock, they would now be worth $10,434. If I had instead bought the 13,888 call options, those would be worth $27,776 (current price minus strike price).\n\nNegative outcomes: If Apple stock has stayed at $210, then if I had bought the 47 shares of stock, they would now be worth $9,870 still. No change. If I had instead bought the 13,888 call options, those are now worth $0 each and I have lost all of my $10,000.\n\nPut options are the opposite; if you have a put option for $200 and the stock price drops to $198, then your put option is worth $2.\n\nYou can sell call options and put options at any time before the expiry date. Their prices fluctuate based mostly on the stock price and partly on investor sentiment and demand.\n\nThey are a huge gamble, as you can see, but they can be used as a useful hedge in some ways if you want to lock in a gain. Suppose you work at some tech company and you have some employee stock options that (a) are certain to vest soon, (b) are going to be worth money, (c) you're not sure the stock is going to keep rising in price, and (d) you're certain that trading your employer's stock won't be criminal insider trading nor get you fired. You could buy a few put options with the strike price matching today's price, and with the expiry date a few days after your options vest; so if the stock drops in price, your employee stock options will be worth less, but you can sell your put options which will be worth something. If instead the stock gains, your put options become valueless but that's offset by the gain in the value of the employee stock options. (Alternatively, you could just short the stock, but why be simple when you can be complicated.)\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"https://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/aapl/option-chain?page=2"
]
] |
|
44orgc
|
the student's t-test
|
So I'm a final year uni student (undergrad BSc), and I've been told I might want to use a student t-test for a piece of research. However, even the Wikipedia article about it is confusing me! ELI5!!! Thanks
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/44orgc/eli5_the_students_ttest/
|
{
"a_id": [
"czrq4rm"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Somehow you seemed to have missed the almost obligatory statistics course. \n\nYou will need a good statistician to guide you.\n\nYou will formulate a null hypothesis. You will test two distinct populations. Try to get a large number. Most calculators have the formulas built in.\n\n"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
k2mha
|
what's a "hipster"?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/k2mha/eli5_whats_a_hipster/
|
{
"a_id": [
"c2h1hwh",
"c2h1om3",
"c2h1q3f",
"c2h1u82",
"c2h35sh",
"c2h4kkp",
"c2h4w30",
"c2h50k1",
"c2h53g5",
"c2h5rqx",
"c2h1hwh",
"c2h1om3",
"c2h1q3f",
"c2h1u82",
"c2h35sh",
"c2h4kkp",
"c2h4w30",
"c2h50k1",
"c2h53g5",
"c2h5rqx"
],
"score": [
4,
12,
109,
4,
8,
9,
14,
2,
2,
4,
4,
12,
109,
4,
8,
9,
14,
2,
2,
4
],
"text": [
"I use the word \"hipster\" instead of saying the words, \"pretentious ass.\" \n\n_URL_1_\n(_URL_0_)",
"So let's say you have a favorite toy. You really like this toy. One day you meet another kid, and tell him about your toy and how great it is. This kid acts unimpressed and tells you that he used to play with that toy, but it's really not as good as this other toy, one you haven't heard of. You're not even sure this other toy exists, it sounds pretty made-up, and even if it was real, it sounds really weird, why would anyone play with it? But this new kid insists, and makes fun of you for playing with your old favorite toy. He's kind of a toy snob, and tells everyone how cool HIS toy is and how lame theirs are. He also has a mustache.\n\nThat kid is a hipster. The definition I use to explain it to people who are curious (i.e. my mother) is someone that is really pretentious about the things they like, and acts as if the things lots of people like are worthless by the mere fact that lots of people like them. This extends beyond music to art, fashion, literature, etc... The word obviously has a negative connotation. \n\nThe follow-up to this story: You start to feel bad about yourself because this kid is constantly saying how bad your tastes are in toys. So, from then on, whenever you meet anyone who likes a toy that maybe isn't as popular, you in turn make fun of them for being a \"hipster\" because it gives you someone to mock so you can feel better about yourself. In this follow-up, you are the Reddit community at large. :)",
"Suppose you have this friend, Little Johnny. Little Johnny doesn't really fit in with most of the kids, which makes him really sad and really mad at the same time. \n\nSo, Little Johnny finds this one band, \"Sex Bob-omb\" that only five kids at school know about, and he sort of likes their music. The important thing, though, is that Little Johnny finds acceptance in his new group of friends. \n\nSeeing that he is easily accepted in groups that are small enough, Little Johnny starts looking for other things that only a few people like. Let's say for instance, there's a soda called PBR that EVERYONE hates because it tastes *absolutely* foul, but it's very, very cheap. Well, Johnny decides that he likes that soda. He finds acceptance with the small group of people who also like that soda.\n\nThese small groups of people who like specific products or services represent something called \"subculture.\" \n\nNow, sometimes people like a soda or a band or a style of dress just because they're different. \n\nOther people, though, like these things, or \"subculture\" because they don't feel accepted by the other kids. These people are called \"hipsters.\"\n\nFor them, enjoying a band or a soda isn't about the band's music or the soda's taste, it's about keeping the group small, so they can still feel accepted. That's why when Sex Bob-omb got popular a few years ago, Little Johnny stopped listening to them. He said they were \"too mainstream.\"\n\nSo that's what a true hipster is. A true hipster only likes something if a very small group of people like it, because he or she feel as though they can only find acceptance in small groups. \n\nLittle does the hipster know that by excluding other kids from THEIR group, they've become the same type of person that they hated to begin with.",
"Hipsters say they aren't mainstream by not doing anything mainstream. Most can't see the irony in pretending not to be defined as mainstream but depending on mainstream culture to define themselves at all.",
"Some people call other folks hipsters when they feel uncomfortable with the somewhat unusual things they're into.\n\nFor example, if you decide to wear something different than another person at school, if they don't recognize it they might call you a hipster. Or if you decide to take up stamp collecting and someone hadn't ever heard of someone doing that in a long time they might call you a hipster. Or if you tell someone about a great movie that you saw that had subtitles they might call you a hipster.\n\nAmusingly, some of the people being called hipsters do the same thing to other people. But almost no one ever calls themselves a hipster.",
"I believe this can help:\n\n_URL_0_",
"The meanings of words and terms change overtime.\n\nHipster is a term that has been around for a long time. It used to mean people that were ahead of society's cultural curve - Hipsters in the 30's and 40's were the kind of people that listened to music and shared ideas with people regardless of their race or background. This played a major role in shaping their style and tastes. Much like how Hipster is defined today, material objects played a big role in the life of the Hipster of yesteryear - from the cut of their suit, to the kind of car they drove.\n\nThis has, like many things, become warped over time, so that the true virtues of being \"hip\" no longer has to do with progress, (even superficial material progress,) but elitism (which is not to say that elitism was not prevalent earlier on, but perhaps just not the driving force).",
"A hipster is something that everyone thinks everyone else is. i.e. it is a stupid term that only promotes prejudice and we should probably stop labeling people as such. ",
"I feel like the people who say the word hipster does not have a meaning anymore are people who are hipsters and are insulted by said word. ",
"A group of people who are the incubators of popular culture. As soon as something become widespread among hipsters it quickly moves to mainstream 'cool' people and cast aside by hipsters. Note that no hipsters will self identify themselves as such.",
"I use the word \"hipster\" instead of saying the words, \"pretentious ass.\" \n\n_URL_1_\n(_URL_0_)",
"So let's say you have a favorite toy. You really like this toy. One day you meet another kid, and tell him about your toy and how great it is. This kid acts unimpressed and tells you that he used to play with that toy, but it's really not as good as this other toy, one you haven't heard of. You're not even sure this other toy exists, it sounds pretty made-up, and even if it was real, it sounds really weird, why would anyone play with it? But this new kid insists, and makes fun of you for playing with your old favorite toy. He's kind of a toy snob, and tells everyone how cool HIS toy is and how lame theirs are. He also has a mustache.\n\nThat kid is a hipster. The definition I use to explain it to people who are curious (i.e. my mother) is someone that is really pretentious about the things they like, and acts as if the things lots of people like are worthless by the mere fact that lots of people like them. This extends beyond music to art, fashion, literature, etc... The word obviously has a negative connotation. \n\nThe follow-up to this story: You start to feel bad about yourself because this kid is constantly saying how bad your tastes are in toys. So, from then on, whenever you meet anyone who likes a toy that maybe isn't as popular, you in turn make fun of them for being a \"hipster\" because it gives you someone to mock so you can feel better about yourself. In this follow-up, you are the Reddit community at large. :)",
"Suppose you have this friend, Little Johnny. Little Johnny doesn't really fit in with most of the kids, which makes him really sad and really mad at the same time. \n\nSo, Little Johnny finds this one band, \"Sex Bob-omb\" that only five kids at school know about, and he sort of likes their music. The important thing, though, is that Little Johnny finds acceptance in his new group of friends. \n\nSeeing that he is easily accepted in groups that are small enough, Little Johnny starts looking for other things that only a few people like. Let's say for instance, there's a soda called PBR that EVERYONE hates because it tastes *absolutely* foul, but it's very, very cheap. Well, Johnny decides that he likes that soda. He finds acceptance with the small group of people who also like that soda.\n\nThese small groups of people who like specific products or services represent something called \"subculture.\" \n\nNow, sometimes people like a soda or a band or a style of dress just because they're different. \n\nOther people, though, like these things, or \"subculture\" because they don't feel accepted by the other kids. These people are called \"hipsters.\"\n\nFor them, enjoying a band or a soda isn't about the band's music or the soda's taste, it's about keeping the group small, so they can still feel accepted. That's why when Sex Bob-omb got popular a few years ago, Little Johnny stopped listening to them. He said they were \"too mainstream.\"\n\nSo that's what a true hipster is. A true hipster only likes something if a very small group of people like it, because he or she feel as though they can only find acceptance in small groups. \n\nLittle does the hipster know that by excluding other kids from THEIR group, they've become the same type of person that they hated to begin with.",
"Hipsters say they aren't mainstream by not doing anything mainstream. Most can't see the irony in pretending not to be defined as mainstream but depending on mainstream culture to define themselves at all.",
"Some people call other folks hipsters when they feel uncomfortable with the somewhat unusual things they're into.\n\nFor example, if you decide to wear something different than another person at school, if they don't recognize it they might call you a hipster. Or if you decide to take up stamp collecting and someone hadn't ever heard of someone doing that in a long time they might call you a hipster. Or if you tell someone about a great movie that you saw that had subtitles they might call you a hipster.\n\nAmusingly, some of the people being called hipsters do the same thing to other people. But almost no one ever calls themselves a hipster.",
"I believe this can help:\n\n_URL_0_",
"The meanings of words and terms change overtime.\n\nHipster is a term that has been around for a long time. It used to mean people that were ahead of society's cultural curve - Hipsters in the 30's and 40's were the kind of people that listened to music and shared ideas with people regardless of their race or background. This played a major role in shaping their style and tastes. Much like how Hipster is defined today, material objects played a big role in the life of the Hipster of yesteryear - from the cut of their suit, to the kind of car they drove.\n\nThis has, like many things, become warped over time, so that the true virtues of being \"hip\" no longer has to do with progress, (even superficial material progress,) but elitism (which is not to say that elitism was not prevalent earlier on, but perhaps just not the driving force).",
"A hipster is something that everyone thinks everyone else is. i.e. it is a stupid term that only promotes prejudice and we should probably stop labeling people as such. ",
"I feel like the people who say the word hipster does not have a meaning anymore are people who are hipsters and are insulted by said word. ",
"A group of people who are the incubators of popular culture. As soon as something become widespread among hipsters it quickly moves to mainstream 'cool' people and cast aside by hipsters. Note that no hipsters will self identify themselves as such."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[
"http://alannacavanagh.blogspot.com",
"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qYrk0IpSy9E/SYtqx844_vI/AAAAAAAAAao/SN6QCEMUdUE/s1600-h/revised+hipster.jpg"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/comment/4/2010/10/1c953a1c422b9e6eb4d05117716b0ea2/original.jpg"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://alannacavanagh.blogspot.com",
"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qYrk0IpSy9E/SYtqx844_vI/AAAAAAAAAao/SN6QCEMUdUE/s1600-h/revised+hipster.jpg"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/comment/4/2010/10/1c953a1c422b9e6eb4d05117716b0ea2/original.jpg"
],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] |
||
a06lle
|
the math behind md5 and sha-1 hashing
|
I am doing research on these two hash functions and I am struggling to understand how they convert an input into a "message digest" or "hash value". I've heard of modulo arithmetic and prime number multiplication, but what are their roles in the process of hashing?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/a06lle/eli5_the_math_behind_md5_and_sha1_hashing/
|
{
"a_id": [
"eagp8ox"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Grab yourself a cup of tea(and maybe pen and paper to try some things yourself)\n\nAs far as I can tell, modular arithmatic and prime number multiplication, while important in cryptography are not used in hashing. More on their use later.\n\nI'll start with a rough overview of hashing in general.\n\nYou cut up the message into chunks of a certain length(like 32 bit in SHA-1), translate them into numbers using the ASCII table and perform all kinds of mathematical operations with it.\n\nExtreme simplification incoming: basically, you add all those chunks together(add in the sense of mathematical addition) and that's your digest.\n\nLike I said, extreme simplifiaction, but the point is that this process destroys a ton of information so you can't reverse it(partly because there are more possible inputs that outputs, meaning some inputs lead to the same output, that's called hash collision).\n\n & #x200B;\n\nNow, for the other two things. Modular arithmatic uses the modulo operator. For those that don't know, if you perform a division and only accept whole numbers as a result, you'll likely get some remainder and the modulo operation gives that remainder as aa result(e.g. 13/4 is 3 with a remainder of 1, so 13 mod 4 (programmers use the '%' symbol) equals 1). The reason it is used is that encryption usually involves raising the message to the power of the key, so encrypted = message \\^ key. Now since the key is often a **very** large number and the encrypted messge would be even larger. So, to cut down on the size, you use the modulo operator on the result. This has 2 advantages:\n\n* the result of x mod y is a number between 0 and p-1 (try some examples yourself to see why that is); bomus points: there is a shortcut, so you don't even have to calculate the huge interim result, but that's another story\n* you cannot reverse the process and get the key(at least without spending ludicrous amounts of time.)\n\n & #x200B;\n\nAs for prime multiplication:\n\nthere are several asymetric encryption systems that utilizes a public and a secret private key. The public key is the product of two numbers and the private key is derived from those two numbers with a more complex formula. In order to obtain the private key from the pubic key, you'd need to know the prime factors of the latter. Now if you use two prime numbers for the keys, the public key will only have two factors: the two prime numbers. And finding these two numbers, especially if they're very large, is incredibly difficult. Because the only known way to do so is brute forcing; just trying all possibilies one after another.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nFinally, since hashing functions don't need to be reversible, those two concepts are irrelevant for hashing.\n\n & #x200B;\n\nI hope this answers your questions. Feel free to ask more."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[]
] |
|
6c9zeq
|
why are there exactly 10 primary digits (0-9) in total? could there have been any other number of digits if those who came up with the number system had decided on more primary digits?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6c9zeq/eli5_why_are_there_exactly_10_primary_digits_09/
|
{
"a_id": [
"dht1kec",
"dht1ohb",
"dht1ub9",
"dht2kji"
],
"score": [
2,
4,
11,
2
],
"text": [
"Probably has to do with the fact that humans have 10 fingers that we associate with counting, it seems to be instinctive even at young ages",
"Because we use the base 10 Arabic numeral system. My favorite counterpart to this is Oksapim, the base 27 system used by some indigenous tribes in New Guinea. While it is easiest for us to describe their system as being \"base 27\", they would call it \"tip^na\" to \"tan-h-^th^ta\". They count from the thumb on the right hand, all the way across the shoulders and head to the pinky on the left hand. \"Nata\", for example, is the right ear, and is their 12th number. \n\nThere are lots of other systems used by lots of other people on the planet, it's just that the base 10 Arabic system is very easy to learn and very easy to use for international trade, and so it stuck much better than the others.\n\nThere is even a small push from some scientists to change our system to a base 12 system, because 12 is easily divisible by more numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, and 6) than 10 (1, 2, and 5). ",
"It's possible our culture settled on base 10 because that's how many fingers we have. There's no mathematical reason behind this, though. It could be anything. To name an example, the Babylonians used a kind of [hybrid base 6 and base 10 making base 60](_URL_0_), essentially the same way we write minutes and seconds in times. Indeed, _we_ use that. 60 has the advantage that it's divisible by many numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 60. Already a third in base 10 becomes 0.33333… with infinitely many threes. A third of an hour is simply 20 minutes.\n\nMathematicians have since come up with many systems, like [negative base](_URL_2_), [golden ratio base](_URL_1_) and a [factorial system](_URL_3_). It can all work.",
"You can make a number system with any number of digits, from 2 to infinity. You just have to invent symbols for each digit.\n\nThe place-based numerical system uses the simple rule that every digit has a value equal to its \"face\" value (e.g. 8 is 8) multipied by its \"place\" value, which is 1 for the rightmost digit, and multiplied by the \"base\" for each place it is shifted left (e.g. 874 = 8 x base x base + 7 x base + 4). The \"base\" is ten in our standard system, but could be two, twelve, sixteen, or any number above 1.\n\nThe universally accepted explanation for why most cultures settled on ten for the numerical base, is that ten is the maximum number we can display with our fingers."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[],
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal#Babylonian_mathematics",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio_base",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_base",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factorial_number_system"
],
[]
] |
||
21xuaz
|
this thought experiment
|
Me and my friend have a portal gun that connects us to the opposite ends of the universe. We are 14 billion light years away from each other, but our portal allows us to see each other in how we normally perceive time. When we click our fingers we both hear and see it at the same time via the portal. We then close the portals and on the count of 3 we both click our fingers.
My question is now this, did my friend click his fingers 3 seconds after that portal closed our did he click 14 billion years and 3 seconds later in how we ordinarily understand time?
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/21xuaz/elif_this_thought_experiment/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cghgiqa",
"cghgqil"
],
"score": [
4,
3
],
"text": [
"Light years are not a measure of time but of distance. (relative to how far light travels in a year)\n\nSo you both snap at about the same time. Without the portal it will take 14 billion years for the image of him snapping his fingers to reach you. The sound never will, confined by his atmosphere.",
" > Me and my friend have a portal gun that connects us to the opposite ends of the universe.\n\nThis right here is the problem. A faster than light connection between two points violates causality and is generally understood as impossible.\n\nThe hypothetical portal gun would be functioning not only as a teleporter, but also as a time machine."
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[]
] |
|
1wzaym
|
why do americans spell words with "er" at the end when in other countries they spell it with "re". center vs. centre?
|
There are many examples: one is listed in the title.
|
explainlikeimfive
|
http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1wzaym/why_do_americans_spell_words_with_er_at_the_end/
|
{
"a_id": [
"cf6q2qw",
"cf6s7hx",
"cf6tsid",
"cf6wmx7"
],
"score": [
36,
2,
5,
3
],
"text": [
"Many of these words come from French, where the -re ending is pronounced differently than in English. It's more like their \"r\" with a tiny \"uh\" at the end. So the spelling sort of makes sense for them.\n\nWhen these words got brought to English they got mutated to the \"-urr\" sound, but they kept the spelling. Fast-forward to colonization and the spread of English around various parts of the globe.\n\nA Connecticut man named Noah Webster, who did a lot of other things as well, published the first American dictionary (which was one of the largest, most comprehensive dictionaries of English at the time and one of the most important ever. He also believed that words should be spelled more simply and closer to how they sound, so he dropped the U from \"colour\" and similar words, and altered the -re to -er, among other changes. These spelling reforms became widely used through the success of his dictionary.",
"In the 19th century there was a movement for [English language reform](_URL_0_). The basis of which was primarily the mixing of English with other languages.\n\nNoah Webster, of Webster's Dictionary fame, published a dictionary early in the century based on the science of phonetics. This dictionary \"corrected\" some of the perceived failures of the English language (colour/color for instance). Many of these \"corrections\" became hallmarks of American English.\n\nWebster went on to publish \"The American Dictionary of the English Language,\" which made further corrections based on phonetic spelling, and was eventually widely adopted as the standard for American English.\n\nFurther adjustments were made in the early 20th by Congress, and later in the century by usage in periodical print publications.\n\nAll of these things contributed to the development of American English as we see it today.\n",
"Because it makes more sense phonetically...",
"We already have a silent *k,g,b,n*, we don't need an *e*, too*e*"
]
}
|
[] |
[] |
[
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English-language_spelling_reform"
],
[],
[]
] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.