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hq0esr
What's the difference between Lux, Lumen and Candela?
Ye that's basically it. I don't get it since I don't fully understand waves and photons.
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "fxuzcc0", "fxv07z9" ]
[ "It does not require much of an understanding of either. Lumen is basically all the light there is. If you have a 1000 lm light bulb, that thing puts out a given quantity of light, so if you put it inside a box, that box is filled with 1000 lumens worth of light. Candela is the light going into a particular direction. Imagine a spotlight versus a regular globe. If both emit the same amount of light, someone on the side of it will be seeing relatively little from the spot, and a normal amount from the globe - the globe has more candela there. On the other hand, if it is pointed at you, the spot will be a lot brighter than the globe, i.e. the spot has more candela in that particular direction. Lux is the amount of light that eventually hits a surface. If you illuminate your desk with a 1000 lm lightbulb, it will be fairly bright (high lux), if you illuminate an entire street, you will barely see it at all (low lux)." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
htgnbr
Why do eyes hurt when exposed to light after getting used to the dark, but not the other way around?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fyglpv2", "fygog21" ]
[ "Probably because light can actually damage the eyes, so we've developed a pain response to it. Consequently there's nothing to trigger a pain response in the absence of light." ]
[ 39 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
bmy6t8
How do they clean dirty plastic / glasses etc. before recycling?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "en0kvcb" ]
[ "I think just melting them down into a molten glass burns off anything that would be on them" ]
[ 4 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
f9zb41
Does salt actually enhance flavour or can we just taste salt?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fiuuewu" ]
[ "Salt inhibits the ability to taste bitterness so it lowers the intensity if bitter flavors which enhances the intensity of sweet flavors, changing the overall flavor your tongue detects compared to food without salt." ]
[ 7 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6sfhl1
Why is a real helicopter so hard to fly but a $20 toy helicopter can be flown by a 6 year old
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "dlccjm9", "dlccx54", "dlcbyqo", "dlccm0u", "dlcgx0l", "dlccnuk", "dlcdjqv", "dlcgcoi" ]
[ "Power to weight ratio. Toy helicopters are ten or more times as powerful per pound as the real thing. With all that extra power they can do many things that real helicopters cannot and will not ever do." ]
[ 21 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
5tqkab
What does seize the means of production really mean?
Serious post
Economics
explainlikeimfive
[ "ddo9waf" ]
[ "Marx said that eventually capitalism would end in a fight between the people who actually work in the factories and produce goods and the people who own the capital that they use to do that producing. Seizing the means of production is a description of what he expected the workers to do during that period: take---by force---control of productive property for collective use." ]
[ 12 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
acvwy1
Why does squinting make it easier to see things?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "edb80si" ]
[ "The lens in your eye takes light that is coming in from all directions and focuses it into one spot on the back of your eye. The reason your eyesight is poor is because the lens isn't focusing the light correctly. When you squint, you're limiting the angles that light can come into your eye. With only a tiny slit of vision the majority of the light will be coming in at a direct angle and so there isn't as much need to focus the light. It's basically how a pinhole camera works without a lens." ]
[ 7 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
jcd8fz
why are single camera-shows considered higher quality than multi-camera shows
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "g90ml4f", "g90nw7f", "g90mxq9" ]
[ "Basically, if you are doing a show with a single camera, you have to plan the shots carefully, and work ahead of time to figure out how the camera is going to film the action. A show with a standing set that has multiple cameras going can just film the action and pick and choose what looked good afterwards. It's seen as an easier and more convenient way of filming, but means you aren't going to get anything special." ]
[ 20 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
chyq4y
how do we know exactly where each country divides?
I'm thinking more of middle-eastern countries like Iraq and Saudi Arabia. I know in some parts of the United States, signs designate state lines. Does any method exist for countries?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "euzgm4y", "euzi82p", "euzwpec" ]
[ "Most territories were settled by war or a straight up swindle. Then there was the infamous land rush (some say grab.) That's where you get your square states." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6jbpic
What does ice and heat exactly do to your muscle injuries? [Biology]
I have a lower back injury and I'm wondering whether I should ice it or heat it. I'm not really asking for medical advice, but if I just know the facts that'd be great
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "djd41pc", "djdgonn" ]
[ "Cold contracts blood vessels and reduces inflammation and swelling. Great for acute injuries like a twisted ankle. Heat dilates blood vessels, loosens joints, and relaxes muscles. Great for soothing a sore back or arthritic hands." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
a5eg0z
Why white corn tortillas hold up so much better than yellow corn tortillas even of the same brand/size?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "ebm047m", "eblzrb8" ]
[ "I can't give the specific chemistry behind it, but they are made from two different types of corn. White corn tortillas are generally made more smooth, durable, and pliable as they are often rolled. White tortillas are sometimes grilled as well. While yellow corn tortillas are more coarse textured and rigid (i.e. they break when rolled) and are used for things like tacos (although you can certainly use white as well!) Just for clarity too, white corn is not a flour tortilla, which is different. There's also blue corn tortillas out there, its common in New Mexico, but unusual anywhere else. There is no difference in taste, just color. Edit: Should add, yellow corn tortillas tend to have more of a \"corn\" taste than white, but its subtle. Some people prefer one or the other, or different depending on the circumstances." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
81mp0s
Why does the refractive index of water have an inverse relationship with its temperature?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "dv3x7gr" ]
[ "Hi, I found [this paper]( URL_0 ) which has a section that talks about how crystalline solids and amorphous solids have an inverse relationship of refractive index to temperature. If I understand the paper correctly, they say the electric polarizability of the material decreases with temperature. They say the electric polarizability is inversely related to the number of oscillators per volume. I think an ELI5 way to say this is that the refractive index changes with temperature because the density of your substance changes with temperature." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [ "https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/jres/77A/jresv77An6p755_A1b.pdf" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7htgse
Symmetry makes a face pretty, what makes a voice pretty?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dqtsn1f" ]
[ "Timbre(pronounced Tamber). It's the property that give non-pure tones, such as human voice, its unique character with harmonic overtones and undertones. Most everyone can say or sing in the same frequencies, but they'll all sound different due to physical differences and techniques. Those differences give timbre to the sound. Because the human brain is very good at picking up patterns, it finds harmonious sound(has distinct patterns in multiples of frequencies) pleasing compared to dissonant sounds(the frequency patterns that sound 'off') in a similar way that brain prefers symmetrical facial features to a facial feature that looks 'off'. On the side note, preference to symmetrical face is also due to correlation between genetic abnormality and/or upbringing environment and face symmetry, which has some influence in attracting mates. Preference in certain vocal qualitities may also be related to that." ]
[ 13 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ftbfmd
Is there any reason the front tires on 18 wheelers have the spikes that stick out compared to inset in the rear tires?
I know they aren’t spikes but couldn’t remember the term for em. Lol
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "fm63uxn", "fm6257d", "fm63cxy", "fm756yj" ]
[ "[Curious case of Truck Spikes]( URL_0 ) If you accidentally bump or scrape something, the spikes can help offset any major damage (like the actual Rim and bolts). This way only a minor cosmetic thats cheap to replace is broken. The biggest thing is they are more of a cool truck decoration. Their popularity is partly due to the price and ease of installation. They also really make a difference for the truck lovers out there. Just a note, these spikes break off very easily. No worries about a Mad Max rig tearing into your car on the highway. Even if they might give that appearance. [Alternate answer from u/Kanakamaoli]( URL_1 ) : Extended Lug Bolts in the front wheels are covered and protected with the lug covers. Initially they were plain, but truck drivers love customizing their trucks." ]
[ 285 ]
[ [ "https://carfromjapan.com/article/car-maintenance/the-curious-case-of-spikes-on-truck-wheels/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ftbfmd/eli5_is_there_any_reason_the_front_tires_on_18/fm756yj?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share" ], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
b5wdz5
why can we visibly see steam, but can’t see air normally outside? And why is it sometimes we can see the shadow of exhaust (like from a bus) but not exhaust itself?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "ejgcvz7", "ejgcxr7" ]
[ "When you can see steam, what you’re seeing is tiny drops of water being carried upward by the invisible water vapor. Since the air around steam is usually cooler than the steam, as soon as it evaporates tiny drops of water will condense out of the steam. It’s basically a cloud being carried up by hot air. The air outside usually has much less water vapor in it relative to its temperature. However, if there is a lot of water vapor in the air and it is a cold day, you will see the water vapor condense into fog. That’s also tiny droplets of water. As to the shadows, those happen because exhaust is much hotter than the surrounding air. This heat means that light travels at a different speed through the exhaust, and when light moves from a medium where it travels at one speed to a medium where it travels at a different speed, it bends, or refracts. You see the effect of that refraction as a shadow on the ground. For a similar effect, try holding a pair of glasses a short distance above the ground on a sunny day. They bend the light, creating a shadow." ]
[ 25 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
by4yuw
Why do songs and poems usually rhyme? Why is rhyming so pleasing for us humans?
Culture
explainlikeimfive
[ "eqcpwbl" ]
[ "The human brain loves patterns. Rhyming is just a pattern of sounds. Like how we see faces in odd shapes. It's just a natural thought process to find and enjoy patterns" ]
[ 20 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
68xdcz
Is it possible to lose weight by having a weekly caloric limit instead of a daily one?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dh23wpd", "dh21u3n" ]
[ "Thermodynamics says that as long as your caloric intake is less than the calories you burn, you will lose weight. However, if you eat 14,000 calories on Monday and starve yourself the rest of the week, you're bound to cause some damage to your body and it would be unhealthy. Or it would probably be unhealthy to eat 3,500 calories every other day and only 500 calories the days in between. This is why daily calorie counts are the standard. You don't want that much variation between days." ]
[ 11 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
dfgrq7
What is happening when the body develops a cauliflower ear?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "f3376h3", "f338mir", "f33dsrs" ]
[ "The ear fills with blood and fluid that calicifies and hardens over time if it isn't drained and taken care of right away." ]
[ 17 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6783j2
Why do ads nowadays ask you to search for the brand name or keywords rather than providing a website?
Most print, cinema, radio, or any other ads (I use adblock so I don't get internet ads, there may be an exception there, and I also don't watch TV so that might also be an exception) for the last few years seem to say to search (like on a search engine) for their brand name or keywords of the ad instead of providing a website. This especially seems to happen with car ads. I'm in Australia so I don't know if this is the same elsewhere.
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dgodzwe", "dgohb2a" ]
[ "What do you remember easier, \"Search for Plink on google!\" or \"Go to URL_0 !\"? In the first case, you only have to sort of remember the name (was it plunk? pink? Something like that), in the second case you have to remember the website unless you're going to google it anyway" ]
[ 12 ]
[ [ "www.wesellplinks.com" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
b3yc8q
How is the internet stored? Are there people who have like a million hard drives to store all of the internet so it can be accessed wirelessly?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ej30gj6", "ej30vvl", "ej32a5f" ]
[ "\"The internet\" isn't all in once place. Each site is stored by different entities, often in many different places. So there are millions of hard drives but they are also in millions of places. Also the \"so it can be accessed wirelessly\" part doesn't make any sense. Wireless access is generally just a question of a short range wireless communication to wherever wired location you are connected to. It doesn't have anything to do with the media or location where the website is hosted." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [], [], [ "https://www.submarinecablemap.com/" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ba0kur
Where did grass come from?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ek8aj0d", "ek88zwv" ]
[ "This is a fun question! I get to impart usually boring work stuff! So Grass is a general term, if we want to say the FIRST grass family, we can point to rice from about 110-140 ish million years ago, Around 50-70 million years ago, what we we consider grass appeared, we call it C3 grasses, its a way that it uses sunlight for food in cells, Photosynthesis. Those are things like wheat, barley, rice, oats, and also most trees. C4 Grasses showed up about 5 million years ago, and they use a more efficient form of photosynthesis that allows them to stay green year round, and survive low light and cold climate areas. These are your Lawn grasses, Bluegrass, crab grass, and the most common lawn, Bermuda Grass. It also includes things like Corn and Sugar Cane." ]
[ 13 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
jl2uey
If digestion is a long slow process, why do you sometimes have to use the bathroom immediately after eating a meal that doesn't agree with you?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gammlvy", "gamvqsl", "gamrox7" ]
[ "Its essentially your body saying 'I choose not to digest this' so it tries to get it out as quickly as possible, in extreme cases that's vomiting, and in others it's the other direction. It's trying to get rid of it specifically so you don't fully digest it." ]
[ 31 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
k1mdfl
why CalTrain has to honk EVERYTIME that cross a city? What is the actual reason? Is it really that necessary?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "gdp4ca3" ]
[ "The US has very strict signalling laws for public transportation. Especially when it comes to trains. The law about signalling when approaching a railroad crossing is there because even with the guardarms it is still the responsibility of the operator to signal (as malfunctions with guardarms can and do happen, and people do try to go around them.)" ]
[ 5 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
717z2c
Why do Microwaves and Oven Doors Have Small Dots on Them?
It seems that the microwaves have small dots on the door because of radiation, but with an oven it is just heat, correct? I am wondering why oven doors have these small dots, hindering your view of the inside.
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dn8t73u", "dn8sa58" ]
[ "Those aren’t dots on the door of a microwave oven, those are holes, in a thin layer of metal. An interesting thing about radio waves, microwaves, and light—it’s all the same stuff, called the Electromagnetic Spectrum—is that the waves cannot “shine” through holes that are smaller than the length of the wave. Microwaves are several centimeters long, *much* longer than the diameter of the little holes in the metal screen in the microwave oven’s door. But visible light waves are incredibly tiny, about a billionth as long as a microwave. So the light in the microwave oven can shine through the holes just fine." ]
[ 84 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6b00jy
What happens to woman's stretched belly after she has just given birth? How does it returns back to normal so quickly?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dhipc2w", "dhip6x5", "dhj01sb" ]
[ "It doesn't. Ever. Well at least not for most women. Some are lucky and don't end up with many stretch marks, but I think you've been given the impression that it goes back to normal quickly due to \"celebrites\" doing photo shoots and \"How Forgettable Actress got back to a size six just three weeks after giving birth\" type articles. Firstly they go on ridiculous diets, secondly they carefully watched what they ate while pregnant, thirdly (and this is most important) Photoshop." ]
[ 28 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
9vl0pq
What is the Zenneck Wave? How does it work? How can Zenneck Wave transfer "utility-scale" electrical power wirelessly?
Please explain this to me. We were recently informed that we might be getting this technology at work and I don't understand it...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "e9d3xi4" ]
[ "> We were recently informed that we might be getting this technology at work Oh darn, prepare your resume because your company is getting scammed. In theory a \"Zenneck Wave\" is a special kind of wave which uses the Earth's surface as a wave guide to... tack together word salad apparently. The idea is basically identical to the classic \"Tesla's wireless power\" idea and while that at least isn't entirely impossible it suffers from being incredibly inefficient over longer distances. We can charge a phone wirelessly provided you lay it directly on the charging antenna but powering a home from 1000 yards would be wasting 99% of the energy. You can be absolutely sure that this Zenneck Wave isn't ready for commercial applications because even if it did work, which it certainly does not, there wouldn't be any way to charge customers for its use. What is to keep someone from setting up their own wireless receiving node and stealing electricity? Getting back to the importance of updating your resume, we can assume that if upper level management is saying your workplace will be getting this technology then your company is likely investing in the scam itself (there is no reason for this to exist than to gather funding prior to actually delivering on a product). This means when it falls through you won't be getting your Christmas bonus this year." ]
[ 10 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
9mhmv2
How do hot air balloons navigate?
Engineering
explainlikeimfive
[ "e7ey4bq", "e7f8ce5" ]
[ "I’m gonna be lazy and paste in an answer I typed up about a year ago. (Please don’t mock me further for typing all of that and failing to spell balloon correctly, despite numerous attempts.) URL_0" ]
[ 13 ]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/7j778y/comment/dr4jr8g?st=JN0T1NKQ&sh=82aafd5b" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
642zmi
Why is the Boeing 737, a 50 year old airframe with 4500+ on backorder still so popular?
I've been flying a bunch lately and I flew with the 737 (9400 built ad 4500 still on order) and it made me think why such an old airframe still being built 50 years after introduction, of course there has been major upgrades like avionics, glass cockpit, engines but what made it so successful while Boeing 757 have been discontinued (IIRC 747 is still being built for air cargo) 767 is still being built but barely 1100 built
Engineering
explainlikeimfive
[ "dfz02la", "dfz0ci6" ]
[ "It does it's job really well, and at low cost. It's design also allows it be upgraded easily and at low cost. It is also versatile. It's small enough to work for short hops, but efficient enough to make a longer journey if needed, all without major modifications to the aircraft." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6kw6v0
why do we tilt our heads back when laughing out loud?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "djpa2q3" ]
[ "This is just a guess from working with voice for a little while. But when you're laughing that's more air that's escaping your throat than normal and tilting your head back would open up your throat to let it out." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
9fodrt
is it true that when japanese workers are on a strike they start to produce more instead of not producing at all? Why? How does this work?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "e5y2w91", "e5y6q6q", "e5y4zjy" ]
[ "I have not heard of the example you give, but I have heard of service workers still providing their service without accepting any payment. The customer is still happy but the owner isn’t making any income. Not sure if this is the reason, but this tactic certainly keeps the public sympathetic to the striking workers." ]
[ 10 ]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuntō" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
isrzzz
How is the earth's magnetic field simultaneously weaker than a refrigerator magnet but it also extends out thousands upon thousands of miles into space.
Is size of a magnetic field indepent of strength? Why does a refrigerator magnet's field only extend a couple of inches out?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "g59z3qk" ]
[ "Technically, both (and all) magnetic fields extend forever, but their strength is indirectly proportional to the square of the distance; move twice as far away and you cut the strength by four. They are also directly proportional to mass. Double the size, double the strength. The relationship between the Earth's magnetic field (generated by it's core) and a personal magnet is very similar to the relationship between the sun's gravity and Earth's. The sun has stronger gravity because it's bigger, but we are far away from it. The Earth's gravity is weaker, but we can get so much closer to it's source." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
cnrnlz
Why do head lice not drown when you have a bath?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ewda01b", "ewdp1hq", "ewdpbnd" ]
[ "You can drown them, but it takes several hours, which is unfortunately longer than most people want to keep their heads submerged." ]
[ 25 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
780x48
Why do towels that feel so rough on the skin dry you so much better, but towels that feel soft don t dry well at all?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "doq8fbt", "doq589o", "doqbsm2", "dor5r5i", "doqnvp8", "dor9j80" ]
[ "Fabric softeners that make towels nice and fluffy also make them slightly more water proof so they tend to absorb less efficiently." ]
[ 390 ]
[ [], [ "http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-bath-towel/" ], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
bxd5y2
How does a negative number modulus a positive number work?
With positive numbers its easy. The remainder is your answer. e.g 5 divided by 3 = 1 and i have a remainder of 2. Therefore 2 is my answer for 5 % 3. However how the heck does -5 mod 3 = 1?
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "eq5hckq", "eq5x7fq" ]
[ "Think of modulus like the numbers on a clock. If it's midnight now, then 15 hours from now it will be 15 mod 12 = 3 o clock. If it's midnight now, then 8 hours ago it was -8 mod 12 = 4 o clock. Basically, in modulo 12, twelve *is* zero. So -8 is the same as 0 - 8, which is the same as 12-8, which is 4. In general, you can take the modulo of a negative number by *adding* a multiple of the modulus, just like you usually find it by *subtracting* a multiple of the modulus. Finally, if you still want to think of it as division-remainder, try these steps. -5 / 3 = -3/3 + -2/3 = -1 remainder -2 The remainder is -2, which means \"two less than zero\". In modulo 3, three is zero. So two less than zero is 1. -5 % 3 = 1." ]
[ 11 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
djvsxv
How does Schönehage-Straussen multiplication work and why is it so much faster for computers to perform than traditional multiplication?
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "f49ofol" ]
[ "So first you need to remember that multiplication really means adding multiple times. So normally to multiply 12x31 you'd need to go: 12+12=24 24+12=36 36+12=48 and so on.. 31 times in a row And that would be very long. So we all learned in school how to do it faster. That faster method is basically to multiply units and decades separately and sum the results. That's in fact an algorithm that allows faster multiplication based on how we break down numbers to write them down. Well, the Schonhage strassen is another algorithm, that uses another way to break numbers down to multiply them. And it happens that while the decomposition is a bit more complex, the multiplication is faster so for very large numbers, it's worth it." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
butitn
What is the difference between a "secure line" and a normal telephone line?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ephe98d", "ephz0gq", "ephqwj7", "epi23xb", "epiav4d" ]
[ "A \"secure\" line has its audio scrambled so that a normal listener can't decipher what is being said. This used to take the form of analog modulation but now-a-days it could be as simple as encoding it into a digital form and then doing some light encryption on that digital data. & #x200B; EDIT: I said it *could* be as simple as light encryption. I never said it had to be light encryption and I have no interest in getting into a debate over what constitutes \"light\" encryption." ]
[ 895 ]
[ [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure\\_communication", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_communication", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Terminal_Equipment", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\\_of\\_telecommunications\\_encryption\\_terms", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_telephone", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure\\_Terminal\\_Equipment", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure\\_telephone", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_telecommunications_encryption_terms" ], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
i1hpv3
How is it that anxiety can convince you of stuff you know isn't real/true?
Is there any like, psychological or chemical or something explanation behind this? Aside from the fact that its just a total jerk.
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fzxjm3j" ]
[ "What is real and not real is insubstantial. If your brain perceives a threat it responds. For some people the looming threat of the future or the threats of the past also happen to trigger the threat response. It would be both psychological and chemical." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
a7ycqp
why get a loan for anything if you’re going to pay more in the long run
Economics
explainlikeimfive
[ "ec6k5vk", "ec6k40l", "ec6kamo", "ec6kcip", "ec6kjif", "ec6mmby" ]
[ "Your boiler breaks, you have no money. Get a loan to fix it or watch your family freeze to death. What you going to do? Which in the long run costs more?" ]
[ 18 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
b6wgo5
Why do humans like music?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "ejnjtw7", "ejnh371", "ejnlt7h" ]
[ "We don't really know why! This gets into the question of how we evolved to make music and what purpose (if any) it serves in terms of our evolutionary history. There's a lot of debate over this, and no clear right answer. All humans everywhere in the world make music (and dance!), so it's likely that it's been with us since the beginning of our species. Some psychologists think that it's a side effect of our brains being wired for language; others think that it actually predates language and has more in common with songs in other animals like birds or whales. It definitely uses a lot of the same brain skills that language needs--recognizing melodies and rhythms is pretty fundamental to being able to speak and understand. Some think that music and dancing evolved as a group activity to facilitate human social bonding; others think that it started as a mating ritual or a way for men and women to show off and look sexy. We don't really know, but we do know (as the other person commented) that it triggers the pleasure response in our brain just like food, sex, and drugs do." ]
[ 32 ]
[ [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdasn27lbgY&amp" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
isjuno
Why Aren't There Any Living Gigantic Marine Reptiles Today?
In the Prehistoric Times, there were a lot of Gigantic Reptiles roaming the seas, like ichthyosaurs or plesiosaurs. I understand why there are no gigantic land mammals (I mean as Gigantic as the Large Sauropods in the Prehistoric Times, even larger than Indricotheriums) today (because of the size and weight limitations set by live birth), but why aren't there any Gigantic Sea Reptiles Today like there were in the Prehistoric times?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "g582ggu", "g585mbp" ]
[ "There are plenty of gigantic land mammals, elephants come to mind. Gigantic reptiles both terrestrial and marine disappeared in the same time; the environment changed, they got outcompeted by other animals and now the niches they held are occupied by other animals." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ik8e5a
What exactly is "dx" in integrals and derivatives?
I attended the Calculus course at my university, but neither I or my colleagues could understand what "exactly" is dx and its purpose. Thanks!
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "g3izjql", "g3iynsi" ]
[ "Intuitively, it's a very small change in x. The derivative (dy/dx) is a measure of how much a small change in x affects y. That's why it's written as a fraction of two very small numbers, dy and dx. The integral can be seen as a sum of areas of very thin rectangles. The height of each rectangle is the value of the function f(x), and the width is some small change in x, so we write it as Integral f(x) dx." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
e6krs2
What is shorthand??
I tried looking it up but it's really strange and I don't think I understand. There are so many different types, and on top of that, the "alphabets" seem to only consist of a few syllables. Are you supposed to string the different "alphabet sounds" together to make words? I tried doing that but I couldn't make any english words. Basically, please just tell me anything you can about shorthand without linking a wikipedia page, because I already tried to read about it and I just don't get it! & #x200B; :) ty
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "f9qyyc5" ]
[ "In short: (no pun intended) shorthand is a way of replacing long drawn out complete sentences to scribe what someone is saying, since most people talk faster than a person can write. In the days of pen and paper secretaries, when an executive would ask them to \"take a note\", the scribe would have to keep up with the boss's normal speech speed without asking them to stop, repeat, or pause (which would be annoying and cause the boss to fire them). So they developed a sort of code that let them write fewer characters down, and then later when they had time transcribe their shorthand into the full text of the message. Many different forms of shorthand exist, but the basic idea is a symbolic replacement for mouth sounds, rather than the standard 26 character alphabet. A certain squiggly line might represent the \"guh\" sound, or the \"mah\" sound. Or the position of two characters next to each other to indicate the vowel sound between them, eg. B with a T to the right might mean \"bat\" but B with a T below might mean \"but\", in each case, eliminating the need for the actual writing of the vowel, thus speeding up the writing process. In all cases of shorthand, the idea is that you then later transcribe your shorthand notes into longhand writing to make it accessible to people who don't know that shorthand code. Journalists who take down shorthand notes, don't print them directly into the paper, they take their interview notes back to their desk and type out the actual quotes in longhand for distribution." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7djlg2
What makes humans so curious, and why do we need to know everything?
Why do we lie awake at night wondering how cheese is made? Is curiosity a large part of what makes us human?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dpyf183" ]
[ "I'm not a expert in this so it's possible I could be wrong but I believe it's basically a survival strategy of you know how to make traps is cook food that will give you an advantage. Add a result we basically need constant stimulation. In fact, boredom and disgust are the same emotion (kinda). I mean that they are the same in the way that rage and mad are the same emotion. Boredom is a more mild version of disgust. There was an experiment where they had people touch a button that would shock them and when asked they said they would not touch it again. But when asked to wait in a room alone almost all of them touched the button again with 20-30 minutes" ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
np8umu
Why can't irrational numbers be expressed as a fraction
I know one of the criteria for an irrational number such as Pi or Phi is that it can't be expressed as a fraction, or a ratio of 2 numbers. Why though?
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "h03pxnb", "h03qplr", "h03sdds", "h03r8a5" ]
[ "Because rational numbers are defined as being able to expressed as a fraction. Since irrational numbers are any real number other than rational numbers, it cannot be expressed as fractions" ]
[ 19 ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
d78856
How do phone thieves sell a locked device?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "f0y85rx", "f0yc27j" ]
[ "Think like stolen cars. They get scrapped for parts. An iPhone 10 or up has a screen that’s still worth more than a hundred if it’s in good condition. Protect your phones everyone!" ]
[ 16 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
8eb5bl
In American universities, why is there in-state and out-of-state tuition?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dxtqsmn", "dxtqt93" ]
[ "So this is true only for public universities, which are funded by taxes. Americans pay federal taxes, which are paid by everyone, and state taxes, which differ depending on which state you live in. So if you have lived in a state all your life, and you or your parents have paid taxes to that state, and you go to a public university in that state, you've been contributing to its upkeep, teachers, etc. Therefore, you pay less than people who have come from outside and haven't already been paying in state taxes to help the university." ]
[ 50 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
8d4tg9
How come diesel engine have been praised in the past and now suddenly everyone seems to be against it?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dxk9zi1", "dxkilv9", "dxk8keo", "dxkj2cj", "dxke3h1", "dxk99bp" ]
[ "Different type of fuel and compression result in different products - diesels run in high compression and hot so they burn their fuel thoroughly, however it also causes atmospheric nitrogen to react with atmospheric oxygen, producing toxic nitrogen oxides. The recent diesel scandal was companies cheating with the engine computer to reduce nitrogen oxide output when it was detecting it's in emissions test. Petrol engines run less hot, so their exhaust contains some unburnt hydrocarbons and more carbon monoxide but also less nitrogen oxides." ]
[ 232 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
llmwvl
How Alan Turing’s machine, the Bombe, worked to decode the German enigma-encrypted messages
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gnqkbk4" ]
[ "The main components was a bunch of rotors that were wired like those in the enigma machines. The first one was powered by a motor, and each full rotation it would advance the next one by one position. That allowed them to check all possible rotor settings of the enigma in a relatively short time. The second component was some really clever wiring that could defeat the \"Steckerbrett\" (plug board) of the enigma. [It is by far]( URL_0 ) the most complicated part of the bombe, and explanations you'll find online are often incomplete or just way too math-y to be easy to understand. But the short version is: It uses 26-wire cables connected in a clever way to check all possible combinations (many millions) of the plug board at once. The bombe was set to stop when it found a combination that could turned a part of the encrypted message into what they guessed was the correct word. When they had a hit, they could check if the combination can translate the entire message using an actual replica of an enigma machine. So finding messages that could be harvested for this kind of guesswork was a really important part of the operation - they often used weather reports, which came in nice and early and always included the word \"Wetterbericht\" at the same location." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [ "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Bletchley_Park_Bombe8.jpg/800px-Bletchley_Park_Bombe8.jpg" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
ew4ukf
Why do you need to press so many buttons to start a plane? Can’t there be just one button to start everything in sequence automatically?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ffzppbh", "ffzq5uh", "fg05rjh", "fg0473y", "ffzq4v1", "ffzzm39", "ffzpdao", "fg0jbq8", "fg0uhvu", "fg03rwy", "fg04acu", "fg0yry0", "fg136kn", "fg28two", "fg2fjml", "ffzzf7e", "fg04joa", "fg05a8d", "fg05w99", "fg0gj67" ]
[ "When you start a car, the twist of a key actually automatically activates many separate systems. First it powers the electrical system to many critical components. Fuel pump. Engine control unit. Ignition system. Then if you continue twisting the key it engages the starter motor, and starts the engine. You release the key and all of the systems keep the engine running. In an aircraft all of these critical flight systems are isolated on different switches, and often have multiple backups (fuel pumps, ignition systems, hydraulics, air pressure, different sources of power for the electrical system, totally separate electrical systems). There is a redundancy and level of safety here that lets a pilot troubleshoot and select or de-power systems individually in the event of a failure while in flight or on the ground. Hence the complexity of starting. It requires a certain order of operation to bring everything online to start a plane. EDIT: Some seriously good discussion here about aircraft. A couple of points to make. Are we talking about starting the engines only, or taking an aircraft from cold and dark to ready to taxi? I agree that FADEC systems allow an automated start. But even then you still have to at least turn on the battery master. And even if the aircraft could be fully automated, that wouldn’t preclude the need to check and verify that everything is working and set appropriately. Also, automated systems are their own system that needs to be monitored with the possibility of failure (MCAS). I’m not making an argument one way or another, thanks for the discussion. EDIT 2- One final comment guys. Many people have said this, and I will agree. A fully automated, one touch button start aircraft, complete with systems integrity monitoring is technically possible. And in small drones you can actually find this technology today. The question is, is this acceptable, is this safe, and how can we determine the risk going forward. Commercial air travel is by far the safest method of travel in the world today. It’s a really really high bar to even meet. Getting technology to match that level could be coming in the future, but it’s going to be a long and slow implementation." ]
[ 10776 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [ "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlR0mszVIng" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
9zqgf7
Why is everything so funny when you're high?
Everyone who enjoys the occasional joint knows the feeling that everything is so funny and you could laugh for hours. Why is that? :)
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "eab8hpb", "eab8y7h" ]
[ "One theory of comedy is the elasticity theory of the philosopher Henri Bergson. He suggested that we laugh at stuckness and rigidity. Marijuana is well known for helping people relax and get over stuck patterns of behavior. It's also famous for allowing people to see unexpected connections. And furthermore it releases a lot of happy chemicals which are associated with laughter." ]
[ 10 ]
[ [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theories_of_humor" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
992cvh
How do we know exactly how high to jump when jumping on rhythm to a song?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "e4kdr3v" ]
[ "It's not just the height of the jump that keeps you in rhythm. But there are a variety of factors that you're adjusting for to keep the beat, like the time between jumps, or when you allow your feet to intercept the floor. And it's not something you know perfectly, just like keeping a rhythm while tapping your finger or anything else you will get out of sync and have to either add a pause put in a filler beat to catch up to the rhythm. So just think of it like how you can adjust how hard you tap, how quickly you drop the finger, and how quickly you lift it again. But these adjustments are very subtle, and your brain works out the sweet spot fairly quick to create a steady pattern. Continued practice will allow you to go for longer without losing the beat." ]
[ 4 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6dee9d
How do bar shows work on the back end?
Ive recently moved to a new city that doesnt have much going on to spite the lively areas around it. And I have done some stage work for a few local bands in the past. Lately I have been thinking of getting a hold of some bands I know, and a few bars out here and trying to set up a few music shows. But I have no idea how that works behind the scenes. I get the basics of contact a bar, and contact a band. But how should one approach a bar to set up a music night? What are some important questions to ask? I imagine something about meeting the running costs for the night. Also, how do the finances side of things work? Ive heard from bands theres usually either presale tickets where the band 'buys' a number of tickets from the venue, once the sell X amount they can pocket the rest, or the band makes a cut of the door, or a percentage there of. How do these deals usually pan out? what gets considered in the offers? I could build and light a stage with my eyes closed, but i wouldnt know were to start actually making a show happen from a business sense, so any advice or insight would be welcome!
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "di25386" ]
[ "I am a former promoter of bands back in the Post-punk days (ca. '85-'92-ish). Our struggle was to find venues that would host us. Afternoon shows at pizzerias, smaller bars, a failing teen club all took a chance on us. As a naive lad of 17, I helped build what you are trying to do. Some of this info is dated, but money is money. You want to start with bars that have a PA already in place. Where they play recorded music on Saturday night, dance clubs, dance halls and the like. If you're very lucky the part time guy who runs the board will know how to run live music. They won't have any other gear. No mics, wires or miscellanea. Do not propose architectural changes to any venue. They will not let you bring in or build a stage. Live music night is a deviation from how they're making money today and they don't want to mess with the formula. One of our success stories was a former disco trying to make a run of it as a teen club. The punk fans continued to go to the club. Some of the club regulars became part of \"the scene\". It paid off for everybody. The club already had risers on the dance floor which were used as a stage. After a few successful shows the club invested in rudimentary stage lighting for the \"stage\" and hosted genres outside our purview as self-righteous elitists. After that, you approach management at anywhere people gather with a preference to bars. You will be doing everything that isn't playing (and you'll be too tired and exasperated to play yourself by show time). You get the PA. You find and hire a tech or do the sound mix. You get wires, mics and the like. You may even have to acquire lighting, although this may or may not be required depending on the room. Do not forget security. A bunch of big tough-looking guys standing around can prevent a lot of problems. They get a few bucks for the night. If you are just starting out in a new venue with bands looking for a room, forget all of the newfangled stuff and just do an old-fashioned door deal. This is how we used to do it. It was $4 to $6 at the door (in 198X). For a set of untested groups, I'd limit the cover to $10 in today's money. The venue who works the door gets half. Arrange that you have a loyalist to count the door. You get the other half. All of your expenses come out of your half. This includes paying the bands. The bands get a set amount of time on stage, neither more nor less within 20% or something. If you have a headliner with a crowd, they only get a minimum, say, 30 minutes. In the contract, oral or otherwise, it must be clear that all the bands must clear the venue 30 minutes before last call. Generally, they are free to roam the premises personally but their gear must be in the van after the shows. This keeps things straight with the venue. Of your cut, the bands get 40-50% and they have to trust you on this. You could work it so that your expenses are a fixed amount and after that each band gets a cut with no minimum stated. It is also possible that you are out of pocket on the show and nobody gets paid. On the occasions this happened to me I handed out $40 (198X) for expenses, your mileage may vary. The business of presale is for established acts playing at established venues or for people so desperate to play out they are willing to put up a grand or two for the night. Until you have an active \"scene\", that's not something you should mess with. With a door deal, everybody knows they show up at a certain tavern or whatever and they might make $500 or they might make nothing if no one turns up. Promotion is very specific to regional influence, and is a whole other ball game." ]
[ 4 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
kuxnm9
Hunger is a feeling that we need food and we know the more nutritious the food is the better; what is an explanation of Anxiety in a similar manner?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "giuq120" ]
[ "There's a quote that says, \"Depression is when you put to much energy and focus into the past. And Anxiety is when you put to much energy and focus onto the future.\" Learning to be mindful in the present is a key skill to help battle Anxiety." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
89r4eb
What causes water in steel containers to taste metallic? Is it still "safe" to drink?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "dwtarzd", "dwtnl69", "dwt6bqj", "dwtmohy" ]
[ "Metal ions are positive, so electrons are attracted to them. electrons in the water are attracted to the container, making the water have a slight positive charge. metals usually have a slight positive charge, so the taste is associated with metals" ]
[ 184 ]
[ [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
nzqmh1
How and why are “decreasing birth rates” a problem?
Economics
explainlikeimfive
[ "h1qzudx", "h1qva2y", "h1qvcb5", "h1qvb6w", "h1qvdf7", "h1qy8r3", "h1rwnhp", "h1qz43t", "h1qwx88", "h1qvm7m", "h1qwjnp" ]
[ "Most first world economies are predicated on a model of perpetual population growth, which is of course unsustainable." ]
[ 75 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
jc22f3
what does “at large” mean for someone who is an elected official
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "g8yu81j" ]
[ "It just means that they're representing an entire area instead of one of the smaller parts of it. For example, a city can be split into 5 districts that each get a representative for their Transit grid planning committee. Only people in each district get to vote for their member. Additionally, there might be another member who is elected by the entire city population (at-large). They just represent the whole thing. Or in the congress, we have multiple representatives for per state. Except for states that are very low in population. They get a single house of representatives member for the entire state (at-large)." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
anchf5
There are hundreds and thousands of pieces of space debris, most of which are travelling at enormous speeds, have huge amount of kinetic energy and ranging in size from full-on satellites all the way down to flecks of paint. How do we manage to track them all from earth? Please! Thanks!
I think, like most people, i understand the basic principle of radar. You send out a radio wave of a certain frequency and you wait for a return caused by the radio wave bouncing off a solid object and finding its way back to the receiver. You can change the wave length to suit the requirement and you can then, from the distance and vector of the return, work out where in space the object you're tracking is. All that being said, i wouldn't be surprised if i was completely wrong on this, so if so forgive me. Considering how we are entering the age of 5th generation stealth fighter planes and hyper sonic missiles etc and considering the most advanced anti aircraft systems have a tough job detecting these vehicles, how on earth do we manage to track the hundreds and thousands of tiny pieces of space junk? I've be lead to understand that orbiting our planet, at thousands of miles per hour, as a result of our space exploration and relentless need for satellites, not to mention the residue left after the test of anti satellite missiles - there are hundreds and thousand of pieces of space junk ranging from large pieces of metal down to flecks of paint. Owing to the huge speeds that these pieces are traveling and therefore the very destructive amount of kinetic energy they possess, there is a need to track and monitor these pieces, as they represent a existential threat to space stations and satellites alike. Considering that here on earth we're only just finding ways to track aircraft like the F35 or B2 at considerably shorter distances and at considerably lower speeds - how on earth are we managing to track hundreds of thousands of tiny pieces of junk traveling simultaneously and globally, that are traveling many times faster, at much much greater distances?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "efsbv5s", "efsc566", "efsbgxw" ]
[ "The thing about stealth jets is that they are specifically built to absorb or reflect radar at such angles so that the return signal is as small as if it was from a bird. Space junk isn't really designed that way/not made by design at all so they give a much better return signal. Aside from that, the estimated million or so pieces smaller than 10cm/4in are not really tracked and there are millions more that are millimetre sized, only the ~20000 bigger pieces are actively tracked. That being said, once you've tracked an object once and figured out it's orbit it is relatively easy to keep track of it and predict where it's going to be and when (especially for a computer), because their path is more or less fixed since they don't have propulsion (as opposed to a stealth fighter flying around)." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6n1fdq
is it possible to make it so an ISP can't throttle your network speeds? If so, how? Just preparing for the apocalypse...
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dk5xs8t", "dk5y4gk", "dk60khs" ]
[ "Yes and no. If you're using end-to-end encryption, they can't tell what you're communicating, but they might just throttle you just because they can't tell. With end to **end** encryption, they can also tell where your endpoint is. Accessing Netflix over HTTPS, they still know that Netflix owns the IP Address you're communicating to. You can instead use a tunnel endpoint that reaches out from there, but then you risk the ISP for *that* endpoint throttling your data. On top of all this, they can also infer what you're doing based on traffic patterns. If you make an initially reasonable sized request, followed by data coming in at a fairly consistent rate, they can infer that you're using some sort of streaming service. Also consider this: The model that Ajit 'Dear god I hope he spills his entire stupid oversized mug of hot coffee all over his crotch' Pai is trying to get passed allows for \"Fast Lane\" traffic if it's paid for. Without building explicitly new infrastructure, this means that the default is the slow lane, and certain services pay for \"fast lane\". Thus, they throttle ALL traffic unless they can explicitly identify it AS a fast-lane service. (Keep in mind, that all they're doing to create a fast lane is slow down everything else and use the existing infrastructure as a fast lane)." ]
[ 48 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
bmjtu5
If a point has zero dimensions, how does it exist?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "emx3mn0", "emx3alw", "emxbpcp" ]
[ "A point is a mathematical entity - in other words, an idea - so it exists in our minds. All that \"has no dimensions\" means here is just \"has no size\". A point has one or more coordinates, however, which describe its location in the space in which the point exists (on a curve or a surface, in a volume, or in a higher-dimensional space). In the physical world, there is no such thing as a mathematical point: anything we call a point really has three dimensions to it, and three coordinates giving its location." ]
[ 13 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
nvn82v
How can one companies 5G be “better” than another? Doesn’t 5G refer to the speed/strength of the connection?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "h14736e", "h14bnqq", "h149fl1", "h14i5en", "h15ecrl", "h14q2y0" ]
[ "It all has to do with \"coverage.\" 5G is a *standard*, agreed upon by industry. The only difference has to do with how close you are to a 5G-capable cell tower (signal strength), which determines just how much you'll be able to do. Anything anyone says apart from that is...marketing drivel." ]
[ 52 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
cwb3i1
Why does the sound of friction increase in pitch with an increase in speed of the rubbing objects?
Like zipping my coat fast vs slow.
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "ey9gn01" ]
[ "Pitch is related to frequency. If there are to clacks a second, there is a frequency of 2 hertz. Once you get to 20 hertz, you will here a note. When you rub two objects together, the microscopic hills in the surface of the material hit the hills of the other material’s. When you rub them together faster, the hills hit each other faster and the frequency goes up and you perceive a higher pitch. The reverse is true for slowing down" ]
[ 7 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
cyblrn
Where do theories about the shape of the universe come from?
Does the universe not have the three spatial dimensions we experience at the human scale? I’m familiar with how gravity curves spacetime, but I see information about the universe being donut shaped or cone shaped etc. What is the basis of these ideas?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "eyqvdg2", "eyqtuer", "eyqus7m" ]
[ "There are essentially 3 shapes of the universe that are generally considered plausible - flat, elliptic (aka spherical) or hyperbolic. The essential difference between them can be described by looking at what happens when you and a friend start walking in parallel to each other and always keep moving straight and at the same speed as each other. In a flat universe, the distance between you will always be the same. In an elliptic (aka spherical) universe, you'll eventually meet each other. In a hyperbolic universe, you'll eventually get further and further away from each other. Any other shapes are probably jokes, and if not then they're unconventional ideas as it'd mean that spacetime behaves differently depending on where you are, which is generally assumed to not be the case apart from relatively small distortions due to gravity." ]
[ 7 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
5o9zhx
That wub wub sound when you shake a flat piece of metal
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dchrxnj" ]
[ "I'm not sure what there is to explain here. When objects are moved through the air or vibrated they generate a sound wave. If you are close enough to hear the sound, you hear it." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
fsrxxl
How does a universal remote work?
How do they build one remote that works with lots of electronic devices?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fm34j4y" ]
[ "each manufacturer uses their own frequencies for various buttons on the remote. a universal remote is programmable, so you have to program each button. but most smart universal remotes come preprogrammed for various manufacturers." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
eqgsk6
When humans throw things, how are we able to accurately predict how much force is required to throw the object a certain distance?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ferwv00" ]
[ "I hope that someone could translate this into ELI5 as I don't think I've done an amazing job. The human mind builds a conceptual model of reality. The model is updated based on new experiences. It starts with our 'thinking' part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex. We commit an action, then our senses feed back to the brain how well we did. Our 'proprioception' tells us where all our limbs moved to (you know where your arms are, even in the dark). Our 'vestibular' system in our ears feeds back information about balance and gravity. Specific receptors in our skin and muscles feed back information about forces on the body. Our eyes feeds back information about the target and our accuracy. We consciously and subconsciously adjust to achieve our desired outcome (throwing something at a target). The brain computes all this information and updates itself, like the way that machines learn. A couple of little seahorse shaped 'hippocampi' structures help transfer our conscious learning into unconscious learning. As we commit learning into long term memory the skill is imprinted in deeper parts of the brain. We call it 'muscle memory' but it's really the nervous system, not the musculoskeletal system that stores the information. If we lived on Mars, or if the light from the sky were bright red, or if the force from gravity moved around, our brain would create a different model of reality so that we could interact with the world more effectively. Brains are plastic in that they can morph and rewire themselves in just a couple of weeks. Really I find it fascinating." ]
[ 7 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6zfmge
Does FLAC compression have different bitrates?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dmuumc4", "dmuv7kg" ]
[ "FLAC has different levels of compression but they relate to how much CPU/RAM is used in the compression rather than the target bitrate. Since FLAC is lossless, it's not really possible to target a bitrate. As far as file quality goes, FLAC is limited by the quality of the input. If you have a CD, the quality will always be 16-bit, 44.1kHz stereo - if you start with higher or lower quality audio, you can compress them." ]
[ 5 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
i2t9cp
what exactly is that buzzing/humming sensation you notice when focus is shifted to your body?
Sorry if my phrasing is off, but basically that. It's almost like you can feel harnessed electricity in the area you're focusing on.
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "g06tklb" ]
[ "That’s most likely blood flow you’re noting. For example, with the seashell over the ear its blood flow echoed in the shell that is heard." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6m7r33
In gender-based languages like Spanish and French, how was it decided which nouns were masculine and feminine?
Especially for things that don't normally have a related/common gender bias (e.g. cup, sunlight, water, etc). Was some of this intentional vs random, and how was the decision actually made during the early formation of the language(s)?
Culture
explainlikeimfive
[ "djzvdo1" ]
[ "I think there's no a direct way they decided the genre of the words, in most of the cases. I know there're some languages with genres that is easily to associate with the words, and others (like mine, Spanish) that are special. In general, words that is clearly associated to a man o a woman (or an animal that is masculine o feminine) is really clear how to associate the genre (example in Spanish): el guapo - la guapa; the first is masculine because references a man, and the second to a woman. Other things, that you ask too, is objects that they don't have an inherent genre, like cup, window, etc., the genre probably (I think) is associated with the article that sounds better with the word (article is the word used to make emphasis in the genre of the word, eg.: el from the above example). For example, sounds good to say \"el avión\" instead of \"la avión\" (the plane) or \"el teclado\" instead of \"la teclado\" (the keyboard). As an extra, in Spanish, at least, we referee a group of something with the masculine article always if the word can have both genres, for example \"el/la violinista\" (the violinist) have both genres, depending of the sex of the person, but if you use plural, \"los violinistas\" (plural masculine article) doesn't imply that the group is all of men, could have women too; but \"las violinistas\" (plural feminine article) implies that the group is all women. That is my explanation as a Spanish person, maybe a linguist could explain with a better or more generic explanation :)" ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
bglwrb
How do you get rid of a tattoo with lasers?
Is it actually lasers? Does all the ink disappear? Where tf does it go?!?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ellttke", "ellu0n6" ]
[ "The Laser breaks down the ink particles into smaller pieces your bodies immune system can dispose of" ]
[ 7 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
9ythem
Why does some metal sometimes taste sour/sweet ?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "ea3x0j0", "ea42ik9" ]
[ "The answer is, it shouldn't really. You have several types of taste receptors. The \"sweet\" receptors are on the lookout for sugars, which are organic molecules (read: mostly carbon based and so not made from metallic elements). On the other hand, your \"sour\" receptors sense changes in H^+ concentration (though strangely, they sense the concentration INSIDE the receptor, so the acid molecule must first get in the cell). As you can imagine, metallic ions aren't going to activate either of those. If anything, metallic salts (apart from table salt, NaCl) tend to taste quite bitter (though I wouldn't recommend you try - they also tend to be quite poisonous). This leads to the conclusion that what you're tasting is not metal, and so whatever you're licking is probably not totally clean. Source: UK Med student who just had lectures on the 5 senses" ]
[ 7 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
mpu53q
How are NFT's bad for the environment
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "guc02hq", "guc21h4" ]
[ "Such tokens are typically issued and traded on the Ethereum cryptocurrency's blockchain (taking up space in blocks where they are issued/transferred) The process of mining Ether consumes a lot of electricity, and a lot of electricity is generated using fossil fuels." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [ "https://www.google.com/amp/s/time.com/5947911/nft-environmental-toll/%3Famp%3Dtrue" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
i78nes
If I start with any random number on any regular calculator and start taking it's square root multiple times and then square the answer same number of time, I always get a number either just smaller than the original one or just greater than that.
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "g10dkg2", "g10dryf", "g10plao" ]
[ "This happens because your calculator has a finite number of bits (memory) to store the answer. Square roots are usually very very long decimals, so the calculator has to chop off some digits to hold it in memory. This means you're losing a little bit of accuracy every time you take the square root. When you square the roots back up, all that error adds up to a different number than you stated with. If you know the exact details of how your calculator uses memory and does math you can figure out whether it'll be smaller or larger. It will depend on what value you start with as well, since that will effect what digits are getting dropped every time the calculator has to round the value." ]
[ 39 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
98omj5
How do we know when and how much money needs to be printed?
Economics
explainlikeimfive
[ "e4ho1zg" ]
[ "It depends on what you mean by print money. Many people use this as a metaphor for when the Federal Reserve has low interest rates to encourage people to borrow. All money is borrowed into existence. The money supply grows or contracts depending on how much money people borrow vs how much they pay back. Now Printing and engraving actually prints the money. When you take money to your bank, it's kinda like poker chips to them. It's a marker of money when it's not in a bank. The money is all in computers. So when you take money out of the bank, it comes off of their books and they hand you paper money to represent it. The money has no meaning to them, except as markers for money. When you bring the money and put it in the bank, it becomes a number in their computer and the money goes back into the pile to give to the next person who takes money out of the bank. So? Printing and engraving prints the money and destroys the old money at US Mints. They in turn distribute it banks in quantities they need." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6iejjg
Why can't a perfect vacuum exist?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "dj5kbzg", "dj5pmxa", "dj605sm" ]
[ "There's no physical law that forbids it, the problem is that (a) it's really difficult to remove every single atom from an enclosure, (b) even if you do that, it's hard to prevent atoms from the enclosure's surface breaking off into it, and (c) even if you do that, your space is still filled with photons and neutrinos." ]
[ 10 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
bbylo0
If theres a infinite amount of numbers between 0 and 1, does that mean theres double the amount of infinite numbers between 0 and 2?
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "ekme8uv", "ekmek2w", "ekmjih9" ]
[ "No. When you start dealing with infinities you can't really treat them like normal numbers, such that you can neatly do arithmetic operations like adding and multiplying. If you try, you just end up with weirdness and contradictions and such. When comparing the sizes of these two sets (the set of all numbers from 0 to 1 and the set of all numbers from 0 to 2) a mathematician named Cantor came up with this metric: We can consider those two sets to be the same size (have the same number of elements) if you can draw a 1-to-1 relationship between the two. And, in fact, we can do this! All you have to do is take a number from the first set, multiply it by 2 and you will get a number in the second set. Likewise, you can take any number from the second set, divide it by 2 and you will get a number in the first set. Because you can do this without missing any numbers from either set, we say (mathematically) that the sets have the same exact size!" ]
[ 34 ]
[ [], [], [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilbert%27s_paradox_of_the_Grand_Hotel" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7134nu
What's happening when I'm using a straw?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "dn7t1df" ]
[ "The air on Earth is pulled down towards the ground by gravity, creating \"atmospheric pressure\". It pushes down on everything. You, your car, and the surface of the water you have in your cup. The water doesn't go anywhere, because the atmospheric pressure is pushing down equally on the whole surface, and the sides are held in place by the sides of the glass. When you set a straw in the water, but don't put it in your mouth, the atmospheric pressure is pushing down on the surface of the water, but it's also pushing into the straw, and pressing down on the column of water inside the straw, so the forces are equal, and the water line in the straw stays level with the water line outside of the straw. When you put the straw in your mouth, and suck, you are using your tongue to lower the air pressure inside your mouth, which lowers the air pressure inside the tube of the straw. The atmospheric pressure pushing down on the surface of the water is now stronger than the pressure inside the straw holding the water down, so the water presses up through the straw and into your mouth to try to equalize the low pressure area caused by your sucking." ]
[ 3 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
bjwwxk
Why would storing my previous passwords be more secure than letting me use whatever password I want indefinitely?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "emby8l7", "emcvtqg", "embvnun", "emcvl0t", "emcwrpd", "emch12v", "emdplkr", "emd141a", "embvjzj" ]
[ "As others have said, passwords are normally hashed. Password change requirements are typically only used in enterprise environments, in which a user may write down their password or share it with another employee. It's not necessary for the normal user, in fact, it's generally considered less secure to make passwords expire, as most users just make small changes the password. IE: *Password1, Password2, Password3*, etc." ]
[ 396 ]
[ [], [ "https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-FAQ/#q-b5" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
70kzhv
How do food & drink makers mimic the taste of fruit?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "dn3xhzp" ]
[ "Yo ho ho! Yer not alone in askin', and kind strangers have explained: 1. [ELI5: How do they make artificial flavors taste like certain fruits without using any of the actual fruit? ]( URL_4 ) 1. [ELI5: how are fruity flavours replicated for foods and drinks without actually adding fruit? ]( URL_3 ) 1. [Do artificial fruit flavors really taste like the fruit they are called? ]( URL_8 ) 1. [ELI5: Artificial candy flavors like banana & watermelon (et al) don't really taste like the real fruit. Yet these \"candy\" fruit flavors are usually pretty consistent among all candies, drinks, etc... Where did/do these pseudo-fruit flavor parallels come from? ]( URL_5 ) 1. [ELI5: Why don't artificial fruit flavors taste anything like the actual fruit? ]( URL_2 ) 1. [ELI5:Artificial food flavoring ]( URL_6 ) 1. [ELI5: How does \"artificial flavoring\" work, and create something so distinct as grape or other fruits? ]( URL_7 ) 1. [ELi5: How are artificial flavors made? ]( URL_1 ) 1. [ELI5: How do they make artificial flavors? ]( URL_0 )" ]
[ 3 ]
[ [ "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/13y68k/eli5_how_do_they_make_artificial_flavors/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3urvtv/eli5_how_are_artificial_flavors_made/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32pvaz/eli5_why_dont_artificial_fruit_flavors_taste/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/4ohuzm/eli5_how_are_fruity_flavours_replicated_for_foods/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/2cq2ff/eli5_how_do_they_make_artificial_flavors_taste/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30u3pa/eli5_artificial_candy_flavors_like_banana/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3yhhur/eli5artificial_food_flavoring/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/67czp0/eli5_how_does_artificial_flavoring_work_and/", "https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/5atj3l/do_artificial_fruit_flavors_really_taste_like_the/" ] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
fdwyj6
Exponential growth
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "fjk9xib", "fjka1iz", "fjkc4kv", "fjko053" ]
[ "Exponential growth refers to when the rate of growth is related to how much of the thing there is. Consider money in the bank. You usually gain interest on it (e.g. 5%). That means the amount of money you get depends on how much money you have at that moment. If you have $1, then you get $1.00 \\* 5% = $0.05, for a total of $1.05. Since this increases the amount you have, the next time you get interest, you get more. And then more. And then more. If you were to put this in an equation, it would be this: Amount = 1.05^(time) So the first \"time\" it's 1.05^(1) = 1.05After the second \"time\" it's 1.05^(2) = 1.1025 And so forth. Becomes the \"time\" variable is an exponent, this is called \"exponential\" growth. This is compared to other growth rates where the amount or rate is fixed, such as with linear growth." ]
[ 6 ]
[ [], [], [ "https://youtu.be/hsWr_JWTZss" ], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
k3rhym
How do obviously fake accounts get verified?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "ge4p80t", "ge4rjxp" ]
[ "> I’ve seen accounts such as “Jesus Christ” be verified on YouTube. How is that possible? It’s just hilarious to look at comments and see a verification badge next to the most ridiculous names. Maybe there is a misunderstanding here as to what the Verified-status means. It's not a form of personal identification. > When you see a verification checkmark next to a YouTube channel's name, it means that the channel belongs to an established creator or is the official channel of a brand, business, or organization." ]
[ 8 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7hsoji
How do goats have such good balance/fearlessness for jumping on precarious ledges?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "dqthnh8", "dqtl2gf", "dqthotd" ]
[ "They evolved in a region that had that terrain and survival dictated that they become skilled at that type of thing or they would be eaten. Those that were not balanced fell and died and eventually those with the skills were the ones that reproduced and the entire population obtained the skills." ]
[ 25 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
mcsblj
Why is it hard to urinate after sex?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "gs5dp3a" ]
[ "Because of the refractory period. For men at least, once you orgasm, you enter a refractory period that pretty much prevents it from happening again for a period. Because your testicles can only produce so much semen at a time, the body has a natural limit on how much it will let you release in a short amount of time. Otherwise, although rare, you could potentially hurt yourself by overdoing more than your body can produce. So your penile tract essentially tenses up to an extent sorta like when you clench your anus shut. This prevents you from cumming again too soon. But the tension also makes it more difficult to urinate as well, because your body is still tensing up the muscles there and blocking the path. You have to either wait it out or try to relax your body yourself to untense and allow yourself to pee. Some people are better at it than others. And some people don't even have a refractory period which is why some guys can cum multiple times. Although it is possible to have a refractory period normally and still cum more than once during a period of extreme sexual sensation. As far as women go, i couldn't speak for that one as I'm not a woman. Women can have multiple orgasms and I'm not sure if they have any trouble urinating after sex or not so." ]
[ 7 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
auncwy
Why is it that after being hungry for some time, you eventually lose your appetite completely for a while?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "eh97jvb", "eh9lfr2" ]
[ "Because your body goes into survival mode in essence. If you dont have access to food what's the point to keep telling you you're hungry. So itll stop sending signals for awhile" ]
[ 29 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
lqj7i3
Why do governments care so much about reducing public debt if they are the sovereign issuer of their currency?
Economics
explainlikeimfive
[ "gogog8r", "gogmsad", "gogmr4r" ]
[ "I’m not an economist but basically it has to do with supply and demand. These two factors are always more or less balanced. If you pump currency into the market it’s value will drop. Think of it this way. You have a basket of apples that you want to trade. Each apple is worth one orange. All of the sudden the farm next door starts supplying more apples then they used to. They’re willing to trade two apples for one orange. You used to be able to get an orange for each apple but now, because there’s more supply, you can only get half as many because people can just go trade next door decreasing the demand. Now imagine that the apples are currency (the oranges can still be oranges). This is called inflation. It’s the increase of prices and fall of purchasing power. If the government decided to print money to pay off their debts they would flood the market with currency and crash its value. Different governments have different regulatory bodies monitoring their currency and trying to manage debt, inflation, and purchasing power but it’s not an exact science so everyone is basically just doing the best they can. TLDR: All in all it’s a very complicated system but the short answer is: the more money you print the less it’s worth." ]
[ 18 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7cibw2
How a box fan can cause an FM station to be heard in a room (without a radio) whenever it's running?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "dpq7cnd" ]
[ "The box fan must be vibrating at the perfect frequency to pick up and amplify the radio frequency. It's a process called demodulation I wanted to add some to this now that I have some time. The radio waves that are in the air all around us are made of two parts, the signal wave and carrier wave. The signal wave contains the information, in the case of radio that would be the sounds you hear. The carrier wave is what we call the channel take the channel 91.4 FM which is broadcast on 91.4 megahertz. That means it is vibrating at 91 million times per second. A radio works by vibrating at the same rate as the signal. Once the receiver in the radio is vibrating at 91.4 Mhz it can then \"read\" the signal wave. FM (frequency modulation) is pretty tricky compared to AM (amplitude modulation) so more than likely your fan is picking up an AM signal. Edit: got some free time and decided to add some information. I'm no expert but I've learned about radio waves and demodulation in an industrial electronics course." ]
[ 28 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6kf8du
Why does the US gov have boneyards for Airplanes rather than selling for scrap?
Economics
explainlikeimfive
[ "djlkou3", "djlqmno", "djlk97w" ]
[ "Because the boneyard itself is effectively a spare part repository for other planes that are still active; if you have 100 planes and only need 50, using the other 50 as spare parts donors is more cost effective than selling them off (either as intact planes or as scrap metal) and then trying to use the cash to pay for custom replacement parts as you go. Not to mention that striking aircraft from inventory, arranging their sale, and transporting them out of the country to a buyer is a lot more hassle than just parking them in the desert, pulling out all the consumables (fuel, ammunition, batteries, etc), and covering the sensitive bits in plastic. Additionally, a lot of airframes moved to the boneyard have the potential to be re-activated for significantly cheaper than what it would cost to build a new one, especially if the aircraft itself is out of production. Getting a company to set up a production line, train employees, etc., can be psychotically expensive, especially if you're not going to buy a lot of planes. As u/Witty-User_name mentioned, there are also treaty demands, particularly when it comes to nuclear non-proliferation treaties and demonstrating compliance to those treaties. You take your nuke delivery vehicle, smash the crap out of the structurally critical components, and leave it out where people can see. They can still act as spare parts donors, but are past salvage for reactivation themselves." ]
[ 28 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
63dtl0
What's so great about the Mona Lisa?
Culture
explainlikeimfive
[ "dftb6t4", "dftc2un", "dfthju2", "dftdj5q", "dftel7e", "dftgquw", "dftfxob", "dftbgb6", "dfti5b6", "dftlmb4", "dftfgjx", "dfthgf4", "dftayyf", "dftjb1l", "dftfs3o", "dftgupg", "dftaxt4", "dfth72i", "dftfj1b", "dftj076", "dftihkk", "dftgmmv", "dftefcx", "dftf5er", "dftjkai", "dftk9jj", "dftd2lt", "dfteqto", "dftj4oi", "dfte1mh", "dftb3yr", "dftj8b0", "dfthokq" ]
[ "Few Reasons - Taken from previous [thread]( URL_0 ) - Leonardo Da Vinci painted it. He is the foremost Renaissance artist. Artist's credibility adds to the paintings popularity. - Napoleon Bonaparte hung the painting in his master bedroom in 1800. This - I think - was the first tipping point of making the painting one of the most popular paintings in the world. - 1804, Mona Lisa is hung in the Louvre - and others can now glimpse at the painting that Napoleon slept with. - But the real tipping point for the paintings popularity only hit in August of 1911 - when Mona Lisa is stolen. Stolen from heavily secured Louvre which experts said was impossible. No one knows who stole it or how. Conspiracy theories abound. The painting is talked about in every newspaper. - After 2 weeks of much fan fare, Police arrest Guillaume Apollinaire on suspicion of theft. He is the only person they have arrested. Apollinaire implicates Pablo Picasso. The rumor of Picasso stealing the Mona Lisa adds in a lot more fuel in making Mona Lisa very very popular. - Picasso is questioned and released. Guillaume Apollinaire himself is released after 5 days. Everyone is still clueless as to who stole the painting. But conspiracy theories abound. - Two years after the theft, the Mona Lisa is finally found when an employee working at Louvre tries to sell it to an art gallery in Florence for $100,000. - When the Mona Lisa is returned to the Louvre, it draws massive crowds. People visit the Louvre only to see this one painting. - And then it hit the Paris Hilton effect. Its popularity added to its popularity. So much so that most people don't know why it is popular in the first place." ]
[ 31183 ]
[ [ "https://redd.it/mlct5" ], [], [ "http://www.npr.org/2011/07/30/138800110/the-theft-that-made-the-mona-lisa-a-masterpiece" ], [ "http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/mona_lisa/mlevel_1/m3technique.html" ], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/books/review/book-review-everything-is-obvious-once-you-know-the-answer-by-duncan-j-watts.html", "http://everythingisobvious.com/", "https://www.princeton.edu/~mjs3/salganik_dodds_watts06_full.pdf" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://xweb123-001-site8.gtempurl.com/test7/dz.aspx?data=Art1485BirthOfVenusSandroBotticelli", "http://xweb123-001-site8.gtempurl.com/test7/dz.aspx?data=Art1506MonaLisadaVinciC2RMF" ], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [], [ "http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3204079/Mystery-Mona-Lisa-s-smile-solved-Second-painting-shows-da-Vinci-created-optical-illusion-trick-viewers.html" ], [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
7rdzg6
Why is it that 0÷Inf=0 but 0×Inf=NaN? Shouldn't they both be 0?
Zero divided by any number is still zero, and I thought multiplying any number by zero was also zero until I was told otherwise today in my numerical analysis class. What am I not understanding about 0×Infinity?
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "dsw776a", "dsw6y77" ]
[ "Infinity is not like regular numbers and doesn't follow the rules of arithmetic. Also, we aren't really saying 0/∞, instead it is the limit of 0/x as x approaches ∞. It is a subtle but important distinction. Finally, NaN is not a mathematical thing, it is a design consideration included with the IEEE standard of floating point arithmetic, which is what most computers and calculators follow. 0/∞ = 0 because every limit that reduces to 0/∞ will converge to zero. This is not true for 0 x ∞, it can approach 0, ∞ or any number in between. For example: f(x) = 1/x; g(x) = x lim f(x) x- > ∞ = 0; lim g(x) x- > ∞ = ∞ However, lim f(x) * g(x) x- > ∞ = 1 Therefore, 0 * ∞ = 1, right? h(x) = 2x lim f(x) * h(x) = 2 Therefore, 0 * ∞ = 2, and 1 = 2? This shows both why 0 * ∞ = NaN and why you can't treat infinity like an ordinary number. BTW, you were able to find the obelus(÷) but not the lemniscate(∞)? :)" ]
[ 15 ]
[ [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
9h26t1
Why are humans sometimes able to sense another presence nearby while they are asleep?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "e68m66u", "e68uw6o", "e68tocq", "e68nszv", "e68uh14" ]
[ "We just went over something like this in Psych 101 today. The part of your brain that processes sensory information (I forgot the name already but it's on the bottom of the brain) never shuts off, even when we're asleep. And it's not necessarily an esoteric thing that we know people are nearby, people smell differently than nothing, we can hear them shift their weight from foot to foot while they're standing, and they make noise when they breathe. We just don't notice most of these things while awake because they're the least of our concerns." ]
[ 125 ]
[ [], [], [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
asmaqm
How does data compression work?
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "egv951h" ]
[ "Very simple ELI5 answer: Imagine that part of the file contains the string \"abbbbbbcd\". You could compress that to a6bcd. 9 characters down to 5. A 45% reduction. By using such techniques you can make a file shorter for download, and then the installation process expands it again. Another technique: If you have a picture of the sky, there are probably 500+ different shades of blue in there. By reducing that to 100, say, you need fewer bits and bytes to store details of the colour of each pixel. Which again saves space. Note the difference between these 2 techniques though. The first is known as lossless, because once you uncompress the file there is no loss of data. The second technique, known as lossy compression, results in a permanent downgrading of the quality of the image file. Which might become apparent if you wanted to print a really large version of it, or zoom in closely to the sky. You'd see that the area was a bit more blocky than before. & #x200B; One more point. Sometimes a 10 GB download doesn't actually contain the full 15GB of data, whether compressed or not. For example, you might download a program which, on installation, starts by creating a large empty database that will be used to hold data that doesn't yet exist. The code required to create a large empty database is tiny." ]
[ 9 ]
[ [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
6sdpls
why does fast food salt taste different than table salt when it should all be the same chemical formula?
It might just be me, but I always think that McDonalds and other fast food places' salt tastes... saltier? Do they add something to it?
Chemistry
explainlikeimfive
[ "dlbxnej", "dlc73m0", "dlckjgk" ]
[ "McDonalds buys salt that is very finely ground. They keep it in little packets, where it can't clump and recrystallize. Ordinary table salt is much more coarse. This keeps it from coming out too fast, so you don't oversalt things. If you want some super fine salt, buy \"popcorn salt\" at the grocery store (not the kind with artificial butter flavor). Don't complain if you put too much on though, the folks at Morton's warned you." ]
[ 63 ]
[ [], [], [] ]
[ "url" ]
[ "url" ]
nsshqi
What are linear equations used for?
Mathematics
explainlikeimfive
[ "h0o6g5a", "h0o6m3d", "h0o7bcc" ]
[ "Loads of things. Take, for example, a taxi. Taxis charge a certain amount of money for every mile you go, plus some initial fee. We can write this as P=r•D+c, where P is the total price, r is the rate per mile, D is the distance, and c is the initial cost. We can then plot a graph of P against D and work out how the price changes as you go along. Now, say there is another taxi firm that charges a different rate and initial cost. You could plot *that* one on the same graph, and see which is cheaper for a given distance, or work out at what point they are equal. This is perhaps a silly example, but there are so many things that use linear equations. If you're going at a constant speed, then distance vs time is linear. Or a constant acceleration, speed vs time is linear. The amount of force to stretch a spring to a given distance is linear. And these are just a few things." ]
[ 17 ]
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7xf3om
Why do developers make the recoil in video games like CS:GO and Fortnite not go directly in the middle of the crosshair? Why do they spray around the crosshair instead?
Probably not the usual ELI5 post :/
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "du7tft5", "du7t70t", "du7tgbq", "du7tsns" ]
[ "because real gun recoil goes all around, not in just one axis. it depends on many chaotic variable like where the buttstock is on your shoulder the moment the recoil force is transferred into your body." ]
[ 11 ]
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8a2p1y
How can you increase someone’s interest in learning about something that is initially unappealing but beneficial to know?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "dwvehsp" ]
[ "Turn it into something interesting. Example, for people who enjoy music, you can memorize / remember things if it's musical, like the alphabet, we learned it by singing it. It's easier to learn and remember things if associated with things we like. Some kids love legos, turn that into teaching math with blocks, making it fun or at least enjoyable can make it easier to learn and remember things. Adding humor makes it a bit more enjoyable, or try looking at (the subject) from a different perspective. One other thing that helps is short study, short breaks as opposed to studying for 6 hours and being overwhelmed and bored." ]
[ 3 ]
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kiccfd
Do beeswax candles actually burn hotter than candles made out of other kinds of wax? And if so why?
Other
explainlikeimfive
[ "ggpztbh", "ggq2rwj" ]
[ "Bees wax candles burn hotter than paraffin wax candles this is true. A candle works by pulling melted wax up its wick, and it is the wax that burns. Waxes “burn” when the chemicals that make them get broken down into carbon dioxide, and other byproducts, releasing heat. The different “chemical structure” of each wax holds different amounts of energy that can be released when it is burned. The structure of bees wax holds more potential heat that is released during burning." ]
[ 22 ]
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9gp9nt
Why is there no clean high quality footage of everyday life (like people walking through cities) in the 60s, 70s, or 80s when they already had film cameras back then with higher resolution than todays HD and even 4k cameras
Technology
explainlikeimfive
[ "e65u1rz", "e65ukhj", "e65ubac", "e65ul55", "e65tukn" ]
[ "There is high quality footage; the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, for instance, has a nice archive of that kind of thing. Those portable reel film recorders, on the other hand, and the sony handicams that followed them, aren't high quality, and the film tended to deteriorate rapidly." ]
[ 17 ]
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gfhhv3
What happens to the food that is inhaled all the way into the lungs instead of being coughed back up when you choke?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fptl610", "fptn4pp" ]
[ "A friend of mine inhaled a popcorn kernel last week. He had to go to the hospital to be sedated while they went in with a scope and retrieved the kernel." ]
[ 5 ]
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ectiui
Why can’t you feel pain while you’re sleeping?
ELI5 when I had an appendicitis, the only time I got relief was in sleep, why is that?
Biology
explainlikeimfive
[ "fbdovn9" ]
[ "That's not a general law, some people feel pain when they sleep. In your case, it seems like the part of your brain, that is responsible for pain reception and all the other stimulations (nociception system) turns off while you sleep. Therefore, you don't feel pain. Another option is that you simply don't remember pain, as it entangles into a dream and is forgotten shortly after your awakening." ]
[ 7 ]
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ayshki
Why does making a 3 degree difference in your homes thermostat feel like a huge change in temperature, but outdoors it feels like nothing?
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "ei2x4ga", "ei31r1x", "ei2y40z", "ei3d6m5", "ei33nsj", "ei3fqqu" ]
[ "Because outside you have multiple things that affects the way the temperature feels. A slight breeze or moment in the shade will feel cooler. Humidity or the sun shining on you will make it feel warmer. Inside you don’t feel these variables nearly as often." ]
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f87e0h
ionizing vs nonionizing radiation in the context of its effects on humans.
Physics
explainlikeimfive
[ "fijk0qy", "fijksxe" ]
[ "Ionizing radiation can penetrate the body, causing damage to whatever cells or tissues they pass through. Most commonly, this damage takes the form of cell death from molecular destabilization, or (particularly if the radioactive particles hit cell nuclei) genetic mutations (as the name implies, the atoms hit by ionizing radiation gain an electrical charge. This can cause chemical bonds to break down, or the molecules that make up the DNA sequence to change and/or be misinterpreted). Non-ionizing radiation does not pass through the body, and does not cause molecular destabilization. Upon hitting tissue, their energy is converted into heat. Mostly, these forms of radiation cause localized or superficial tissue damage. Since common forms of non-ionizing radiation are light and UV rays, the sunburn is the best way to imagine this kind of damage." ]
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