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[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Star Wars] Spoiler question in post re: fleet chase\n\nNot sure how best to do the spoiler but desperately want to know the answer.\n\nThe Supremacy can take out the Raddus easily by itself, assuming no fancy suicide hyperspace attacks. The rest of the First Order's fleet can damage or outright destroy the Raddus without the Supremacy. \n\nTHE ENTIRE FLEET CHASES THE RADDUS IN SUBLIGHT FOR HOURS - WHY DID THE FLEET NOT JUST JUMP TO HYPERSPACE AHEAD OF THE RADDUS!?!?!? IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN LITERALLY SECONDS!\n\nPhew. Sorry. Thank you kindly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because you should never fight a battle when you can win just by waiting.\n\nThe First Order fleet had all the time in the world: the Resistance fleet was burning through its fuel and if they tried to jump again, they could just follow them (and the Resistance would have wasted even more fuel in the process). Any alternative to just waiting until the Resistance ships are out of fuel and dead in space is the poorer one." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5:How can I only be allergic to a specific berry and seemingly no other ones? In my case I'm only allergic to strawberries.\n\nEDIT: I just found out that a Strawberry is not a berry. However, it is the only thing I know of that I'm allergic to. So why could someone be allergic to Strawberries and not other similar foods that are of its class.\n\nCan someone be only allergic to apples and not other fruit?\nCan someone be only allergic to carrots and not other vegetables?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You can be allergic to anything that has a unique antigen, which is just a protein tag on the surface of a cell. Your body sees an antigen that doesn't belong and sends an immune response after it. If the tag is found in multiple food items, like glutens of various forms for people with severe allergies, then you will be allergic to all of those things. If the tag is unique, then it will only be triggered by a specific food item." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This structure has novel features which are of considerable biological interest,\" Watson & Crick's famous understatement in their 1953 cover letter to Nature. Does anyone have any further such examples?\n\nScience writing has been typically passive with the utmost care not to overstate; let the results speak for themselves and all that. So I was wondering, from the most famous or influential papers ever published, what single lines or short passages boil the entire discovery down into such brevity. Would love to read through further examples, if anyone has any. Thanks!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ronald Fisher: \n>\"The value for which P=.05, or 1 in 20, is 1.96 or nearly 2 ; it is convenient to take this point as a limit in judging whether a deviation is to be considered significant or not.\"." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "eli5 What is a Candidate Key? [Normalisation Process]\n\nI know it's a basic question but I can find a simple answer.\n\nIs it just multiple primary keys?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is a key which is eligible to be a primary key, it is also unique. There maybe multiple candidate keys in a table out of that we select one as the primary key, which is the most suitable for a particular table. For an example in Employee table there is employeeId and passportNo, both are unique so they are eligible to be primary key so they are called the candidate key. But out of that employeeId is the most preferred to become the primary key since it is the Employee table." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Star Trek] How the heck do you burn food when using a replicator?\n\nOne of my buddies who was stuck on Voyager during its extended trip in the Delta Quadrant always tells stories about during potlucks the great and powerful Captain Janeway always managed to burn food that she made with replicator. How in the world did she manage that? That said apparently the burnt food was still better than anything the chef Neelix made." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You can specify what temperature you want your food to be. Janeway could be setting it too high, so the food burns after it's been made. \n\nIt's also possible that replicators can toast food after it's been replicated. Some present-day microwaves can do that. Maybe the interface is fiddly, or Janeway is an indifferent cook." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why does sugar get viscous (form a syrup) at high concentration but salt doesn't?\n\nI just had a flash back to trying to thicken something as a kid with salt but it never got syrupy. The sugar isn't forming polymers is it? What is it about about sugar that can make a syrup but salt cannot?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Firstly, they are very different chemicals. When salt dissolves in water it breaks apart (dissociates) into sodium and chlorine ions which are individually herded (conjugated) by water molecules. Sugars are much larger, complex molecules which do not generally break apart when interacting with water.\n\nBecause sugars are carbohydrates, they can participate in hydrogen bonding which increases viscosity and surface tension. Each molecule's \"heads\" try to stay close to their neighbors' \"butts\". Because they are larger and are mostly planar they can more strongly interact through van der Waals forces (this effect is small compared to the hydrogen bonding in solution)" } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5:Why do couples so often experience a decrease in sex drive shortly after marriage?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There isn't one good answer for that because for one, it isn't the same with each couple and two because it doesn't necessarily always happen. \n\nOne common reason though is simply time. A married couple will most likely spend their days working and by the time the day is done, sleep sounds like a much better idea than sex. \n\nAnother reason is that after a while, a couple's sex life tends to become a little bit boring. When you first start having sex, you're both willing to try different positions and other stuff to please yourself and your partner. After a while, you figure out what works and it becomes more relaxed and not as exciting. \n\nThird, as you get older, your libido drops simply because that's how your body works.\n\nBut really, tons of married couples still have plenty of sex drive, but they often have to actively \"spice things up\" to keep their libidos up and continue to make sex exciting." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: why is 12 the magical age for drug store medicine?\n\nEvery time you read the back of a medicine box the age is always 12 when you are considered an adult. Why is this?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Children have underdeveloped immune systems, at around 11 years old the metabolism of the body begins to change in preparation for/as part of puberty. So children 12 and older have a better way to regulate body temperatures, develop specific immunities, and process toxins, all of which make it so that they are closer to adults and can take medicine differently." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5:How exactly do Saline pools work?\n\nHow does a saline pool system work compared to a chlorine system? Is it as effective?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Salt water pools still use chlorine, the difference is that the chlorine is produced through electrolysis using the salt as the base material. The advantage is that the salt electrolysis process creates free chlorine ions (the type of chlorine that kills bacteria) and burns off chloramines (the type of chlorine that burns your eyes and smells like strong bleach). As long as they are maintained they will work just as well at killing bacteria, and people tend to find them less irritating, especially if they have sensitive skin. The salt system also has the benefit of \"softening\" the water. They tend to have a higher initial setup cost though, and saltwater is more corrosive than freshwater so you have to keep an eye on the internals and plumbing of the filtration system." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[The Thing/Terminator] Can the Thing assimilate the living tissue of a Terminator?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think it would be able to digest and absorb the tissue, but would find it functionally useless once it broke down the tissue and reached the machine components below. The Thing is intelligent enough to build a spaceship (at least, maybe, after it has assimilated with multiple people) and to use deception, so it would likely be aware enough to realize that there's no survival advantage to merely disguising itself as the living tissue surrounding an otherwise inorganic being." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Star Wars] Does Luke misuse the Force when attacking the Death Star?\n\nUnder Obi-wan's guidance Luke switches off his targeting computer and uses the Force when firing torpedoes into the Death Star, killing millions of people. \n\nYoda says that the Force should be used for knowledge and defense, never for attack.\n\nObi-wan should be aware of that teaching, so what's up with Obi-wan telling Luke to use the force when attacking the Death Star?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No. He let the Force guide him, which is inherently how the Force is supposed to be used.\n\nAnd Yoda was speaking about directly using it to attack, choking people and lightning and throwing people around." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why is it acceptable to wait an hour to see a doctor when you have an appointment?\n\nIt's 52 minutes passed and he just started with the guy ahead of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because we understand that while nobody likes to wait, doctors aren't making you wait because they are reading cosmo and taking the fun quizzes. You have to wait because sometimes emergencies happen and doctors have to attend to that. Or because people make an appointment for something they believe is a tiny issue which then turns out to be not so tiny." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5:how is boxing scored\n\nWhy is floyd mayweather winning when he isn't taking initiative or throwing more punches? How do they decide each round and how do they decide the overall winner?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Boxing is most commonly scored with the winner of a round being given a 10 and the loser a 9. A draw gives both a 10. Any knockdowns mean another point is deducted from that boxer. Once that score is established, any point deductions for fouls called by the referee are calculated in, so that if the winner has a foul called, the score becomes 9-9.\n\nExamples:\nX wins a round over Y: 10(X) - 9(Y)\n\nX wins a round, knocking down Y twice: 10(X) - 7(Y)\n\nX wins a round, knocking down Y, but also committing a foul: 9(X) - 8(Y)\n\n\n\nThe winner of a round is basically determined by who landed more \"clean\" punches. Shots that just graze the body or get blocked are \"worth\" far less than a clean punch to the body or head. It's better to land a few solid punches that to be continuously throwing misses or into guards." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why, in humans, are males generally larger than females when it is the opposite in most other species?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Humans, like most non-human primates, have sexual dimorphism in which the males tend to be larger than the females. Some primates (like chimpanzees and bonobos) see the males almost twice the size of females. Sexual dimorphism appears in body size, muscle mass, canine teeth, craniofacial structure, and even sometimes deepening voices. \n\nThere are very few primate species that have reverse dimorphism (females larger than males), so it appears to be \"normal\" that humans display the same dimorphism that other primates \"typically\" have." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Fallout] Are there any operating educational institutions (other than the Institute) and where are they?\n\nIn fallout there is an emphasis on science and technology and a lot of characters are experts in these subjects. Some even have the title of Dr. Do the doctors of the fallout universe actually have degrees? Where did they learn all that they know?\n\nSide note: theres a guy in New Vegas who convinces the NCR to hire him because he has a theoretical degree in physics. Fun joke, but it suggests that degrees are obtainable in the post apocalyptic world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Most doctors and scientists are more apprenticeship style learning where assistants learn their craft from former masters. There are also groups like the Followers of the Apocalypse who provide education for a wide variety of subjects. In places like the NCR there no doubt they have universities and colleges." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "CMV: Adopting kids is better than having them.\n\nI know some people want to have kids they gave birth too and all that, but I feel like the stakes of child birth are too high. Wouldn't it be easier to just adopted a kid(s) thats already been through enough, instead of giving birth to something? I understand, raising a kid that's from foster care is tough. Really tough and time consuming, but isn't the same for giving birth to a child???\n\nDon't know why anybody would want to put themselves through that. On a scale to 1-10 child birth is like a freaking 9! a 9....\n\nI just don't get it, please explain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "> . Wouldn't it be easier to just adopted a kid(s) thats already been\n\nNot even close. Having sex is much easier than all the red tape to adopt. Its also much cheaper. \n\nAnd most people want to experience their childs whole life, beginning at infancy. There are far more people wanting to adopt a newborn than there are newborns that go up for adoption." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Lord of the Rings] What was Sauron's endgame? \n\nSo say Sauron got the ring, conquered Gondor, Rohan, etc. Say he won everything there was to be contested. Then what? Would Sauron have commanded the Orcs to build spaceships and start invading other worlds? Waged war on some higher plane, perhaps? Yes, I just recently watched the trilogy again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the end of the First Age Sauron was offered a chance at redemption. He would have to prostrate himself in front of the Valar and perform some sort of penance. He was too proud to bear the shame and hid on middle earth. While its impossible to fully know his mind. His goal appears to be that of his old master Morgoth... To stand apart from the Valar and their lord, to be free of their influence, and to shape the world according to his own desires. Sauron being of a lesser order cannot hope to truly shape middle earth in the same way that Morgoth was able to, but what he can do is reverse the out come of the War of Wrath, to stand apart and rule unchallenged by the Valar or Mortals... Some might say... to be free." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Men in Black] What becomes MIB's role on an Earth where humanity meets an alien race after becoming a spacefaring species?\n\nSo I work at MIB headquarters, and it may have been brought up in orientation, but I can't recall what the protocol is in the event of humanity's ascension to an interstellar species. Do we go public with our existence, do the aliens already living here shed their disguises." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Exodus of experienced MiB to trading companies, manufacturing licensees of alien technology, arts organizations, cultural sensitivity training providers, and universities. \n\nAlso bodyguards. \n\nGiven this expectation, writing a post-contact protocol is viewed as fanfic." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Number of citations?\n\nIn a science field (edit: AGU journals, IEEE journals), I was wondering about the different 'citation scores'. If an author (as lead author) has 5 papers with over 100 citations, is that something that is really good?\n\nThere is not a lot of papers, so the h-index and i10 index are not all that impressive. Is there an i100 index?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is something that is really field dependent, and even community-within-field dependent. There's not really a great way to generalize this! Some fields love conference papers, others journal papers, others books and so on and so forth." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[ASoIaF/GoT] Could Barristan Selmy have succeeded in cutting his way through the Kingsguard?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Doubtful. \n\nBarristan Selmy is an incredible fighter but there is a few things to consider. \n\n1. It's 1v5. This might not be so bad if it's Selmy in full armour against a group of random peasants, but he's up against five capable fighters in full armour. Robert's Kingsguard were poor in comparison to Selmy's former brothers, but they're not pushovers. \n\n2. Selmy is about 63 at this point. Once again, he's an incredible fighter, but age doesn't discriminate. He's up against five men who are 20-30 years younger than him. \n\n3. Not only are there five other Kingsguard there, but there are also the Goldcloaks and Sandor Clegane present as well. Starting a fight against them all would be suicide. \n\nIt's more of a boast brought on by the heat of the moment, and it's also him venting his frustration at the state of the Kingsguard. This is a man who served besides Arthur Dayne, Gerold Hightower, Oswell Whent, Jonothor Darry, and Lewyn Martell. He's basically seen the Kingsguard go from the best it could possibly be to rock bottom in the space of fifteen years." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Dark Souls] Why are all the animals in Lordran so huge?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The rats are large because they feed on humans. Their humanity empowers the rats. In the depths there are still small rats scurrying around. The crow is (maybe) an avatar of the god Velka, so that explains that one. What other animals are big?" } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why has evolution favored external testicles for temperature regulation of sperm rather than just favoring sperm that flourishes in any body temperature?\n\nI would imagine that the natural selection process would originally just favor the sperm that's able to survive in harsher environments rather than developing a whole dangling contraption that's prone to injury and environmental influence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because the natural selection process does not necessarily favor the best; it favors what works well enough.\n\nHaving a dangling contraption may be an inelegant, imperfect solution, but it worked well enough to keep us around." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5:Was there ever a \"wood age\"?What do we know about wooden(and other perishable) tools?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No, there was never a point in human history where we could use wooden tools but not stone tools. \n\nThe \"stone age\" is just a term used to describe when we used tools that were naturally occurring. \n\nWe used fire hardened spears and flint knapped with stone.\n\nEdit- Flint knapping not flint mapping." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Star Trek] If a human doctor wants to join Starfleet, how many different species' physiologies do they need to study?\n\nI mean, obviously the Tricorder helps with a lot of stuff, but if they were caught without one would McCoy, Bashir, etc. be able to perform invasive surgery or even prescribe an indigestion cure for a Vulcan or a Klingon? How about for something more unusual, like a Kelpien, or a Jem'Hadar? Is Starfleet medical school more like veterinary school?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Due to our common ancestor, most humanoid species in the galaxy are similar enough to cross-breed; So it's reasonable to assume there's a lot of medical overlap between them, enough to generalize medical training. \n\n" } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Pacific Rim] More practical alternatives to the Jaegers\n\nWhy did the world governments see giant monsters coming out of the see and say \"Giant robot\"\n\n\n\nI get the plasma shots.\n\n\n\nBut why didn't they just use plasma turrets around the city.\n\n\n\nWhat about nuclear options do those work.\n\n\n\nWhy not use satellites that would just cook the monsters from space." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The short version is that they used Jaegers because Jaegers worked.\n\n\n\nFor the long version, let's run through your suggestions in no particular order:\n\nThey actually did use nuclear weapons; in fact, the very first kaiju (Trespasser) was killed in Oakland, CA, USA by three nuclear missiles. Nukes are pretty bad options, though, strictly weapon-of-last-resort - they're horribly messy. Sure, you kill the kaiju, but you also destroy and irradiate everything around it, and everything downwind of the blast. It works, but badly.\n\n\n\nPlasma turrets around the city would require a lot of plasma turrets, around every population center, enormous energy infrastructure, and some way to keep the kaiju away and targetable until the turrets could do the job. And the moment you lose a few turrets, your defenses are wide open and the kaiju can just waltz on through. This isn't an awful design, and you could protect a few key locations like this, but it doesn't scale well and it's extremely inflexible.\n\nWorse, plasma turrets are only usable if the kaiju comes near the city. You don't want the kaiju to come near the city, they're toxic. Sometimes you'll have to fight them there, but if possible you want to kill the kaiju as far away from a city as you can.\n\n\n\nA satellite solution would require even more infrastructure than the plasma turrets. You can't just have one - you'd have to have a whole big network of them, all spread out across the globe, all engineered to be powerful enough to fire down into Earth's atmosphere and still have enough energy left to cook a kaiju. And you'd need to maintain them. And if you ever need to adapt or improve them, you'd have to be sending up new space missions. And kaiju aren't going to just stand there and be hit - you probably can't cook them while they're underwater, and on land you'll be trying to hit a relatively small, fast-moving target from a long, long, long way away. Maybe you could do this with infinite resources and a lot of space-based infrastructure, but it isn't practical.\n\n(If you knew where the kaiju came from, and it wasn't protected by a whole lot of energy-dissipating water, you could maybe position one over the breach and snipe kaiju as they arrive - but that's not really an option for how things played out.)\n\n\n\nSo let's re-examine our problem, here, and our needs: We have big, combat-ready monsters showing up at initially unpredictable times, in unpredictable locations, on unpredictable terrain. We can't build a wall around the whole world, but we need to kill these things before they can do too much damage, and ideally before they get too close to us.\n\nWe need war machines that can respond and deploy quickly, handle all kinds of battlefields, armed and armored to the teeth. We need to pilot them extremely well to keep up with the likes of the kaiju, and since each kaiju is different we need to be ready for the unknown. We need enough weapons to act as a rapid-response team, but a small enough number to be maintainable and upgradeable as tech becomes available and our understanding of kaiju grows.\n\nWe need super-tanks. That's really all a jaeger is - a manageably big all-terrain armored combat platform. Since we have the technology to pilot them in part by human brain, to make them more responsive and effective in the field, it's easiest to make them also physically resemble people so that the brain can make better sense of the input and output. So: big, armored, heavily-armed human-shaped robots.\n\nThe details, of course, are up to whoever makes the things - their priorities, their resources, their pilots, their tests & upgrades. But the basic idea, the fundamental platform, was tried, worked, and rolled out as a solution - short term or long term, depending on who you asked, but a solution none the less." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[DC] Why is Batman (almost) always portrayed as a/the hero in elseworld stories?\n\nLikewise, Superman is usually turned/is evil. Personally, I find it far more likely that Batman turns evil. Or, at the very least, another powerful hero like Martian Manhunter/Wonder Woman being evil." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because that is Batman character. He is someone who walks that very thin line and refuses to budge and has sacrificed so much of his humanity to do so. It's his greatest strength as well as his biggest weakness. The others have more of their humanity and therefore are more susceptible to becoming their greatest fear.\n\n\nI also don't know what you mean when you say Superman is usually turned evil. That only really happened in Injustice and the general consensus is that it's a pretty crappy portrayal of Superman despite it being a good story." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: What is 'cultural appropriation'? Haven't cultures been influenced by one another for-ever?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "'Cultural Appropriation' is when one wealthy, famous, and politically influential culture co-opts another culture's practices in such a way that it ruins the other culture's ability to connect with it.\n\nThe most famous example is Rastafarianism. You'll see a lot of young stoners with pictures of Bob Marley in their rooms talking about pot and God who would have no idea who Haile Selassie was or what the Coptic church was all about. It permanently associated the spiritualist practices of the Rastafarians with general stoner culture, and made it so that people look at ordinary Ethiopian religious practitioners like they were a bunch of stoners. You have ruined it for them by making the wrong meaning or a very small part of the meaning the only meaning that people think of when they see it.\n\nIt's not cultural appropriation to wear an Islamic ring in a Viking culture. But let's say that they wore it, looked for a few minutes into 'halal' and decided it meant having multiple wives, and then wore it as a symbol of their wife-swapping viking sub-culture. Then they've 'appropriated' it, because people who see actual muslims wearing that style of ring will assume they support that sub-culture. Cultural appropriation creates misunderstanding and ruins practices. Just wearing a ring is just wearing a ring, but beware associating someone else's culture with your sub-culture.\n\nBecause of the cultural appropriation of the Rastacap (for example), an old monk who truly believes that the second coming of Christ appeared in Ethiopia preaching anti-colonialism and a whole host of other things cannot wear his religious headwear in court, because the Jury will think he's just an old stoner." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "CMV: \"Negative Voting\" (i.e. a vote against someone and not for someone) should be allowed\n\nThis is something I have been thinking about and I havent been able to find a significant or dangerous flaw so I figured Id open it to some fresh eyes.\n\nEveryone should always vote. I really don't care what kind of election it is or who is running, but your vote should always be submitted and counted. However, many people see voting between multiple \"bad\" choices as a futile effort and choose not to vote at all. I believe a Negative vote option would eliminate this mindset.\n\nIf only 2 people are running in the election, one could argue that a vote for A is a vote against B. But (as is usually the case) when there are more than 2 people and you do not want to vote for A, having only the option of voting for B or C (if you dont really like them either) adds disincentive to vote. But if you know you have the option of a \"Negative A\" vote, then you can still make your strongest opinion known that you dont want A and that B or C is more preferable but you dont really care between them that much.\n\nA difficulty of this system is that counting could take longer if the ballots must be counted by hand. However, many systems are available that would allow for automatic counting to not take any longer (i.e. all you would need is a bubble to fill in that says \"NEGATIVE VOTE\" above or near each name). I do not want to hear that this would be confusing. It could be made confusing if that was the intent, but a ballot that is:\n\n> Name(Party) Vote For[] Vote Against[]\n\nIs not confusing (and if it is, then there are bigger issues besides a negative voting system). \n\nThe best counterpoint I can think of is that rank choice voting allows you to rank your preferred options, but they are still votes for someone in the end. If you are in a position where the options do not instill any confidence, RCV doesnt help you; all it does is allow you to rank your options from \"dont care\" to \"dont want\". But Negative voting can also be used in RCV as long as the whole ballot is a negative vote (i.e. you would rank them from \"dont want\" to \"dont care\" so that your negative vote applies just like someone elses positive vote). I do not advocate for a system that merges RCV positive and RCV negative votes; either the whole ballot is votes for OR votes against.\n\nTheoretically, this could lead to a situation where all participants garner negative votes, but I feel that more people would still prefer to vote for somebody as opposed to against someone and so the chances of this are very slim. A negative vote option could help the minority of people who feel their vote for someone is unimportant that their negative vote would have more of an impact.\n\nSo let me know what you think: should a democracy allow for a \"negative vote\"? Would a \"negative vote\" severely impact the structure, function, and form of a democracy? Is giving a \"negative vote\" a logical conclusion in a democracy for total fairness (i.e. I can vote for or not vote or spoil ballot, but why should \"vote against\" be excluded from my options?)" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Where i live, people vote in order of preference for political positions. There is pretty much never an election with just two people, and there are a lot of parties for a variety of political beliefs.\n\nThe voting system has a list of candidates listed in a random order, with their photos, names, and parties next to them. Next to each candidate is a box. You write a number next to the ones you like in order of how much you like them (1= first choice, highest number=last choice). If you don't like them, you don't write a number next to them at all. Could that be a better system than you suggest? checking two boxes seems like a great way to lead to confused ballots." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "How come diseases and conditions where motor functions of the entire body are lost, but the mind remains intact (such as locked-in syndrome), individuals can still retain minor control over muscles in the face?\n\nIs there a link between muscles in the eyes/cheeks/chin/forehead and the brain that differs from the other muscles in the body? Why is it that even with degenerative diseases, voluntary movement can be entirely lost but still some movement is retained in the head/face/vocal cords?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So the nerve supply to your face is different than the nerve supply to the extremities. The muscles in your extremities receive innervation, or neurological stimulation, from nerves that originate from motor cortices, while the nerves that innervate the face/cords directly arise from the brain/brainstem itself. To be more clear, the motor cortex itself does not control the face, but it does control the extremities.\n\nThis doesn't mean that the cranial nerves themselves won't be affected by the disease, but it means that if the motor cortex is the only thing that has notable damage from the aforementioned disease, then then cranial nerves (CN) may be spared, leaving a portion of the face untouched. \n\n*as pointed out below, the corticobulbar tract originating in the motor cortex, does provide some innervation to the face." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "cmv: IQ tests are not an accurate measure of intelligence and their use should be discarded and replaced.\n\nThe idea that you can capture intelligence in a test seems very ridiculous to me. Some people are artistically intelligent. Some people are socially intelligent. Some people are emotionally intelligent or empathetic. \n\nPeople will boast saying I have an IQ of blah blah blah and I think its absolutely ridiculous. I also think its a poor metric of how someone will contribute to society. Someone with a 120 IQ may not perform nearly as well as someone with an 80-100 range IQ. \n\nWhats the point of even continuing to use it or put people into gifted programs considering it isnt even a consistent metric of their potential performance in a field? Idk." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The problem with the IQ test is in the name only. The test is one of the best indicators we have for specific types of logical or spatial reasoning aptitudes, but not for general intelligence. So it should really be re-named, not discarded.\n\nPeople who boast about their IQ rarely have anything else to boast about.\n\nStatistically, what is currently called IQ does correlate to higher achievement in academics, standardized testing, college graduation, and lifetime income." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: If I bred a red-eyed hedgehog and a blue-eyed hedgehog, I assume there'd be no chance of a purple-eyed offspring. But why not?\n\nI had trouble looking up the exact information but I'm assuming that blue eyes are recessive in hedgehogs, and red/ruby are dominant? (I know for a fact they're both possible - mine has blue eyes). Assuming this is true, wouldn't 50% of the offspring end up with incomplete dominance, or a mix of blue and red eyes?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because the genes doesn't mix that way. There's one gene for blue eyes and there's one gene for red eyes. When the baby is made the DNA from the parent's doesn't mix by just being added onto each other, some genes from the father is used and some from the mother is used. Therefore when you breed a red eyed hedgehog with a blue eyed one it's either one of them." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "CMV Chihuahuas are ugly & have shitty personalities.\n\nChihuahuas are a nuesence breed & idk why they're so popular. Going to the dog park, all the other dogs are chillin, playing, or sniffing. Not these little terrors. Their constant high-pitched chirp barks are piercing. And they're constant. They don't let up.\n\nChihuahuas are ugly and they have shitty personalities. Why would anyone ever do that to themselves, and their neighbors? Why do they exist? They look like large rodents.\n\nWhen you love your dog, you put up with their annoying traits. But chihuahuas are objectively over aggressive. I wish they'd go live in their own separate community. Or at least have their own separate dog park away from the other dogs. They can go nuts shrieking in each other's faces all the live long day while the rest of us enjoy the weekend.\n\nEdit:\nTo clarify, I don't like feeling vehemence towards these dogs or their owners so I wish I didn't have this view. I thought maybe some people would point out their better attributes & actually help me see them in a better light. Instead of resenting them & wanting them to go extinct\n\nEdit:\nThere have been some really good points made here. I apologize if I didn't spend much time on anecdotes, although I'm touched by how much of you love your dogs. And you've shown me some undeniably cute chihuahuas, the long haired ones, and although they still have bug eyes, they were pretty darn attractive I cannot deny. And your stories about how well behaved, fun, and funny your chihuahuas are. All very cool. It makes me conclude \"not all chihuahuas\" are a pest to be exterminated; that your very special little guy or girl won the shit-bred lottery.\n\nBut a lot of comments only gave supporting reasons for why they are the way they are; greedy & unethical breeders and negligent owners. Chihuahuas lost the genetic lottery. Their defects cause their anxiety & aggression, and lots of owners don't care for them properly so you have the stereotypical \"demon ankle biters\" (if I may steal that term from one of you). I guess I don't dislike the breed any less, but I have been inspired to add some compassion & empathy along with my hatred. I can have both. And also, I now also hate greedy breeders & bad owners.\n\nI still have to stay away from them at the dog park & have restraint when my niece brings her \"dutchess\" over; who's bark is like a thousands sparos piercing your brain (god forbid someone across the street sneezes). But I think I'm the problem. My hatred is not going anywhere, unfortunately. But I enjoyed discussion & insights. Oh, and also, fuck puppy mills." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So, first genetics play a huge part in a dog's temperament. It's why labs are generally chill AF and Malinois are crackheaded working dogs. It's also why Chihuahuas are crackheaded demon ankle-biters for the most part. The breed is known for being high drive/energy and protective of their people. Sadly for them, it's wrapped up in a cute 5lb body that most people treat as if it's a barbie doll that needs the same mental and physical stimulation of one as well. So you have the typical lack of training/exercise/mental stimulation feeding into the problem. \n\nThe other side is that they are, by far, one of the most poorly backyard bred dogs out there and it's extremely hard to find one from a breeder that actually cares about the future of the breed and not just creating more \"teacup\" monsters. Most backyard bred ones are not health tested(meaning hip, elbows, and eyes are tested for faults and stored in a data base as well as genetic issues being ruled out) and are not breeding for a sane mind. So you have a lot of dogs that are bred from insecure, high anxiety parents and then put into homes with people that don't realize they have a high energy dog that needs both mental and physical stimulation and a good therapist. If you can find a decently bred one that the original breeder focused on a SANE mind along with the Chihuahua attitude, you would find they are still stubborn but also very smart and very quick on the uptake. Once you add a good owner to the mix, you have a very amazing little dog that definitely deserves NOT to go extinct. A good demonstration would be Ludvig, the IPO Chihuahua or the Chihuahua obedience class." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why do humans get colds but our pets don't seem to? Why are cold-like symptoms in animals often an indicator of something serious, when for humans, colds are a mild annoyance at most?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dogs and cats do get colds and have the same symptoms we do. They just tend to hide their illness when sick and nap a bit extra so you probably wont notice. \n\nThey may also catch colds less frequently because not all viruses that affect humans can affect dogs and cats. Since dogs and cats are seldom indoors with other large groups of animals, they have fewer disease vectors. \n\nBut all animals get minor illnesses sometimes." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why are there seemingly no sound restrictions on motorcycles?\n\nGreat answers so far. All I can say is I can't wait until all these fucking things are electric." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It seems to me more a question of the noise restrictions not being enforced for anyone, but motorcycles tending to be run loud more often than other types of vehicles.\n\nThis may be a function of emissions requirements; many cars require exhaust treatments to \"Pass Smog,\" while in many locations, motorcycles are not required to be tested at all." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[DC] Could the Flash, and other speedsters, fly via helicopter dick?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A dick isn't shaped in the right way to push down air to cause lift. And even if it was the air would just push down on the body or cause a vacuum that can't be filled in time to cause sufficient lift. And that's not even accounting for the difficulty of keeping the balance enough to fly steadily without crashing, especially if we consider the massive hiprotatations needed." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Are there any viruses that humans must have in/on our bodies in order to stay alive?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Its possible that some bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) are important for keeping gut bacteria in check, though it might be hard to prove that one way or another.\n\nAlternatively, there are parts of the human genome that are theorized to have originally come from viral DNA, so if you count those as viruses still, they are very essential." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Firefly] Why do some folk on the outer worlds use such outdated weaponry? Where did they get those guns in the first place?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If you want laser weapons you need clean rooms, high quality silicon foundries, high-tech assembly lines for high-density batteries and perfectly formed lenses. A laser weapon requires a massive technological infrastructure to build.\n\nA slug-thrower gun can be made with 1800s grade technology, which even the backwoods moons have. People with bullet-shooting guns generally work around or behind the Alliance and will only face other bullet-shooting weapons, so there's no real need to get a far more expensive weapon with far, far more expensive ammunition in the form of a laser gun and its batteries. It's just not worth it when a regular gun will do just fine in the same role." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Harry Potter] Did the Wizarding World have any awareness of the power of the nuclear bomb, and how dangerous it could be? Have Wizards and Witches put in danger or killed by nuclear weapons before?\n\nI'm asking because Ronald Weasley appears to be pretty much one of the only Wizards who is interested in Muggle technology. And yet, it would seem that the Wizarding World (with its bureaucracies and hierarchies, some of which are explicitly kept around in order to keep watch on the Muggle world) would do well do fully understand Muggle technology, given that much of the world around them is disproportionately (in a very physical way) created, and changed, by Muggles using their technology.\n\nSo what gives? What about things like nuclear weapons, or Love Canal, and so on, things that affect the natural environment much more than most other things? Would a Wizard/Witch just magic the mess away or something?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nuclear bombs specifically haven't been used as actual weapons since the 40s, and even tests are rare. Most muggles consider them more abstract deterrents then something anyone would seriously consider using. You can't exactly blame wizards, who know less about the context and details, for assuming the same thing. Dangerous in principle, but not a threat worth seriously considering.\n\nAs for large scale alternations of the world via technology- the wizards know about it, sure. But what should they do? They're pretty secure they could magic the mess away, if push comes to shove, and that arrogance means they're mostly content to let the muggles do what they will." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: How do Commercial Hot Sauces Control the Heat in Every Bottle, Despite Peppers Varying Greatly in Their Intensity?\n\nYou can bite into one jalapeno and have it taste essentially like a bell pepper, and then bite into another and experience burning hellfire. How do companies that use peppers in their sauces keep uniformity throughout every bottle despite this natural variation?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I used to work in a lab that tested hot sauce, amongst other things. You can determine how spicy it is by chemical analysis, specifically HPLC, if you are interested. USP has a capsaicin method that is used to determine how spicy something is." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Any news about the antibodies created when infected with the new Omicron variant? Since it has multiple mutations, are the natural antibodies from Omicron effective in fighting the earlier variants?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pretty sure were still waiting for research to be completed on these questions. Weve only been aware of this variant for less than three weeks. Guaranteed someone is researching this now, but itll take a minute for enough data to be collected for them to be able to draw any firm conclusions." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Do hormones in toddler boys and girls really differ much?\n\nAs a parent I have heard people repeatedly make comments about how boys are so much harder to raise because of their hormones. Im not talking about pubescent kids, people make this kind of comment about my 3 year old and even my 1 year old. I always assume this is just sexist thinking but is there a big difference between biological boys and girls at such a young age? Thanks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There's a phenomenon known as \"mini-puberty\" where sex hormones increase temporarily early in life. It's far more pronounced in boys than it is in girls. This increase for boys starts at about 6 months and peaks around 2 years before dropping off to baseline by age 6. At 2 years old, testosterone levels for boys is almost half of what it would be at puberty.\n\nGirls also have a mini-puberty, but the spike in estrogen is far lower at only about a 10th of what it would be during puberty.\n\nIt should also be noted that babies are flooded with sex hormones during gestation, with girls getting far more estrogen before birth than they do at puberty and boys getting almost as much as during puberty." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Harry Potter] Can the Chasers outscore a snitch catch?\n\nThe Snitch is worth 150 points, and ends the game. If you have zero points and the other team has 160, but you catch the snitch, do you lose?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yes. \n\nIn 1994, during the Final of the 422nd edition of the Quidditch World Cup between Ireland and Bulgaria, Krum from Bulgaria caught the Snitch, bringing Bulgaria's score to from 10 to 160 and finishing the game. \n\nHowever, Ireland outscored Bulgaria and finished the game on 170." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I think that prices in North America should include taxes. CMV\n\nWe deserve to know exactly how much we're paying just by glancin at labels, besides, there's no benefit to the customer whatsoever in not including taxes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The benefits of sales taxes being added after prices is that:\n\n1. Retailers can make their price appear lower, and thus more marketable.\n\n2. We, as consumers, can see on our receipt EXACTLY how much is being added as taxes, and thus will be more sensitive to tax changes. If taxes are slowly raised without customers seeing them on the receipt, they will not be truly sensitive to exactly where their money is going.\n\n3. Retailers might jack their prices up slightly when a new tax law is enacted, and people would attribute it to the tax. Say their product was $30 and was to have a $5 tax added on. They might retail it for $36 when the new tax law came out, and consumers would barely know the difference, but are still paying more for the same product.\n\n4. Ultimately, there is no disadvantage to showing sales tax separately from product price, and the advantage it confers is more information: the more information you have on where your money is going, the better." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "CMV: There's no point in voting (for the major parties) if you and your significant other cancel each other out. (US politics)\n\nI tried looking for something similar, and I'm sure it's been posted, but any key words I punched in didn't seem to bring it up.\n\nVery specifically, I'm referring to the situation where each of the two opposing parties has a major candidate, and you and your spouse (or hell, even a trusted roommate) will be voting for the opposite. Under these circumstances, there's no difference between both voting and neither voting in any discrepancy between two major candidates.\n\nNow, perhaps you're both voting for the lesser of two evils, in which case you could both agree to not cancel each other out and, instead, vote third party. Still, there's no reason for two people to hold directly-opposing votes, since they effectively cancel each other out. You're just better off finding the common ground on which you agree and voting there, even if it means wasting time with a third party (at least it makes third parties seem a little more viable in the turnout).\n\nThis doesn't apply for any elections in which there are more than two candidates, but anyone familiar with the US voting system knows that third parties in presidential elections are just wishful thinking, even the one time they almost worked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When you vote, you are signaling. Politicians count up the statistics on who votes for what to determine their policies. How often do people in your state vote? How often do people in your county vote? How divided is your district? These are all questions politicians consider.\n\nLets say the vote is divided 2-20 in an area (counting individual votes). The area is not \"divided\". Not at all. But what if 10,000 divided couples vote? Then the vote is 10,002-10,020. That's divided. But if two people don't vote, that's two non-voters political parties are not going to account for in making their platforms next year. In the grand scale, it makes a difference." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "CMV: Drug addiction is mainly caused by mental health care not being easily accessible\n\n\n\n\n\nDepression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are common among drug addicts. Thats because mental health treatment isnt easily accessible. People think all drug addicts are useless scum, when there are some who are just trying to self medicate. Some people are out on the waiting list for a year before they are allowed to see a professional, mainly because they have crappy insurance and the clinics have a waiting list. I was one of those people. I have bipolar disorder and spent a year in jail for drugs. I was only trying to self medicate and never harmed anyone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You're right generally, but there is at least one exception:\n\nAddiction to painkilers / opiates. The reason for addiction here is generally overuse due to chronic pain (which is generally another major problem of access to healthcare, but less of a mental one)." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: What is dry drowning, and how does it happen?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I posted this in response to the top comment as their explanation was incorrect but just making a separate post to provide an answer to your question. \n\nYour vocal cords, which sit at the top of your airway, are quite sensitive. In dry drowning, water hits the vocal cords which causes spasm - otherwise known as laryngospasm. In basic terms, the vocal cords snap shut in a protective reflex which seals off the airway and lungs. In reality, the victim suffocates rather than drowns - no water enters the lungs. \n\nMany people here are describing secondary drowning, which is an inflammatory condition caused by water entering the lungs and causing irritation. Fluid build up occurs within the inflammatory response causing pulmonary oedema, or fluid filled lungs. \n\nTo confuse things however, laryngospasm can also cause pulmonary oedema. Our breathing works via negative pressure - when we open our rib cage, that stretches the lungs open and creates a small vacuum causing air to rush in. This is how we breathe - we don't 'suck' air in per se, we create a negative pressure environment with the muscles in our rib cage and diaphragm and air rushes in to equalise pressure between our lungs and the external environment. \n\nWhen laryngospasm occurs, the victim may still be using all of those muscles to try to breathe but their airway is sealed shut. So, they are creating a negative pressure environment in their lungs, but with no way for air to get in to equalise the pressure. The victim then ends up drawing fluid from their tissues into their lungs instead, resulting in pulmonary oedema, or fluid filled lungs." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Would trash decompose in outer space?\n\nIf the trash was sent into orbit around the moon, or on the surface of the moon, or anywhere within the solar system would decomposition be possible? Also could we make a trash moon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Decomposition is basically a different process for certain kinds of refuse. If it's organic, or a compound that's \"edible\" by bacteria (bacteria don't \"eat\" the stuff they decompose, rather they release certain enzymes and chemicals that break down the matter, then they proceed to consume what they can), and the refuse is in an isolated system like a steel container full of air or something or has pockets of bacteria sufficiently isolated from the cold and vacuum, they can start breaking down the refuse. Like, if you throw a dead astronaut in a space suit out of an airlock, he could potentially (at least partially or internally) decompose.\n\nOther kinds of decomposition require oxygen or acids/salts we have on earth. For instance, iron decomposes on earth due to it being oxidized (rust is oxidized iron), and after a long enough period of time it completely decomposes. Decomposes from its previous shape that is, it still remains as iron-oxide, which can be reworked back into actual iron (some of the biggest iron mines on the planet are based on collecting huge deposits of iron-oxide and reworking them into iron). Those processes take certain chemical reactions to occur.\n\nSo, in short, the answer depends on the trash, but all in all decomposition is not disappearance. It's just breaking down." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why can my Shop-Vac blow things that are 5 feet away but it can't suck things up that are 5 feet away?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When you suck, you pull in air from all around which creates a wide circle of negative pressure rather than a column of negative pressure, so the range is short. When you blow, air molecules are being shot straight out and will only slow down once they hit other molecules, so the positive pressure will be in a column resulting in a longer range." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why can babies spend weeks head down in the womb, but it becomes dangerous to hold them upside-down for longer than a few moments once they are born?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I asked the doctor about this. In the womb, the amniotic fluid supports the whole body. When the baby is upside down, it's never been right side up. it's heart is used to no direction. when the body has been out for a while, there is no support by the fluid, and the heart rapidly becomes used to prone and upright." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Marvel/DC] What are some defining points between Hawkeye and Green Arrow?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Green Arrow\n>intelligent planner\n\n>trained computer hacker\n\n>Superb archer\n\n>Peak human physical and mental condition\n\n>Highly-trained martial artist, athlete, marksman, and swordsman\n\n>has high tech vehicles, gadgets, armor, and recurve bow with a variety of\n>trick arrows\n\nHawkeye\n>Grandmaster archer\n\n>Uses a variety of trick arrows\n\n>Superb athlete\n\n>Exceptional arm strength\n\n>Enhanced eye-sight\n\n>Master martial artist, tactician, acrobat, marksman, and swordsman\n\n>Experienced pilot" } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: What's stopping us from fully curing Anxiety disorders?\n\nI've always had a stressed mental life, with anxiety disorder, depression, and the symptoms that come along with them. Loud noises, unexpected contact with others, and even small arguments put me into a panicked state and I can't operate normally. I have adrenaline running through my body most of the day and it leaves me depleted.\n\nI've been on Xanax for the past 6 years because my 2 psychiatrists just threw prescriptions at me for the most part. I've paid thousands of dollars for Neuro-feedback Therapy and it barely did anything for me. I've tried meditation, exercising, and socializing but I have lost control of my mind and body.\n\nWhy is Anxiety/Depression such a difficult disorder to find a cure for?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We don't fully understand the mechanisms that cause anxiety and depression, and we don't fully understand how certain drugs (anti-depressants mostly) work to counter the effects. It really is a case of observing symptoms, applying something, and hoping it works. Then there are individual reactions to different medicines, which mean that you can't just develop one cure and have it work for everyone." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why does oil not evaporate like water does?\n\nMy face gets really oily and when I touch my glasses in the morning (8 hours since warring them) the oil hasn't evaporated like water would have. Does it just take really really long to evaporate?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yes, it takes a long time to evaporate. Oils are usually comprised of very big, rather heavy molecules, which is most of the reason that oil is liquid to begin with. So oils have high boiling points/low vapor pressure compared to water, but oils don't have no vapor pressure. Other organic molecules miscible with oils but closer in size to water molecules, like acetone or ethanol, have much much higher vapor pressures and evaporate even more quickly than water." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Archie Comics] Can someone explain to me the dynamic between Archie, Betty and Veronica?\n\nSo these two girls both adamantly chase Archie and seem to be totally in love with him. Do the comics go into why at all or is it just kind of the way it is? \n\nAlso they seem to be good friends, are they rivals and competitive with each other? How does their dynamic work?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's all about sex and manipulation.\n\nArchie is a straight male.\n\nVeronica is a bisexual female who prefers women.\n\nBetty identifies as a straight female but is secretly bisexual with a preference for men.\n\nBetty and Veronica are friends.\n\nArchie wants to be with Veronica. Veronica wants to be with Betty. Archie knows this, so he dates Betty in order to get closer to Veronica.\n\nVeronica knows Archie's plans and plays along, figuring that one way to get into Betty's pants is through Archie, so to speak.\n\nBetty finds herself oddly attracted to Veronica but chooses to be with Archie because that's how she was raised. She has every reason to shut Veronica out from her life but she doesn't because of this odd attraction." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Can oral vitamin B12 work effectively if taken sublingually?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oral absorption of B12 is variable and requires several cofactors to transport it across the intestinal mucosa. A sublingual formulation may increase absorption a little, but clinical evidence is really inconclusive on that. \nIf you have a deficiency your best option is to get your levels up to the normal range via IM or SubQ injection, then you can use oral supplementation to keep those levels where they need to be." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: why does an air bubble in your blood kill you?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "First lets cover some basics. Almost every part of your body needs oxygen to survive. Blood is what delivers that oxygen, and heres how:\n\nWhen blood comes through our lungs it loads up with oxygen and flows immediately to your heart. To get all that oxygen to your body, the heart pumps the blood through vessels that get smaller and smaller until the blood delivers its oxygen. Once the blood gets through the really tiny vessels, it has delivered all the oxygen and the vessels start getting bigger again and heading to the heart to load back up on oxygen. \n\nThis system normally works great, but you can have major issues if something gets into the blood that isnt supposed to. For instance lets say a piece of fat come off of the inside of a large vessel near the heart. The piece will keep flowing in the blood until it gets into a vessel that gets too small for it to get through. It gets stuck in the vessel and slows or completely blocks the blood flow behind it. Now the part of the body on the other side of that blockage cant get oxygen and starts to die. Depending on where the block is, and how big of an area is blocked, this can be REALLY bad. For instance If the blockage happens somewhere in the brain, its called a stroke. Parts of your brain are literally dying. \n\nSo how does can an air bubble kill you? Believe it or not it does the same thing as the scab in the paragraph above. Our blood carries oxygen from our lungs inside special cells. It wont form a bubble. But if a bunch air enters our lungs in another way, the air can form a bubble big enough to block a vessel. Depending on what part of are bodies the bubble is keeping oxygen from, and how big the area is, the bubble could potentially kill us." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "How would you measure the Marginal product of labor for someone like a janitor?\n\nWe learn that wages are paid at the rate of marginal product of labor. However, since janitors dont really produce anything or contribute to production for a firm, how would you even measure that or determine their wage? Would you simply need to use the market wage instead?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Presumably having a janitor generates value for the firm, or the rational firm would not hire them. So ask yourself why a firm would hire a janitor. They keep the place clean, which almost certainly improves labor productivity of other workers. People are less likely to get sick or injured in a clean and well-maintained workplace. Janitors will also perform certain repairs, which also improves labor productivity, and potentially the productivity of capital as well. A clean workplace will also attract better employees who are not willing to work in a dirty environment.\n\nSo a janitor definitely generates value for a firm, even if they're not 'producing' anything. In theory, estimating how much more productive labor is because you have a janitor is difficult to do. But a market wage would be a good estimate." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why are quadcopters not used for full scale applications the way that regular helicopters have been for a long time?\n\nIt seems like quad copter drones are the all the rage, ultra stable flight machines for miniature use. Are they useful for applications that regular helicopters are currently used for? Why/why not?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If your are taking about one a human is piloting the big difference is the computer.\n\nHelicopters and basic planes can be flown with manual controls.\n\nA quadrocoper depends completely on a computer to balance the props.\n\nNow high ends jets also depend on computers but often have three way redundancy and cost a lot of money.\n\nThe toys also fly using electric motors with variable speed, there are a few out now that use variable pitch in the blades.\n\nElectric motors probably would be too heavy including power.source at full size. Gas motors would probably work with variable pitch blades but be expensive.\n\nTl;Dr: safety, power to weight ratio, cost/ complexity." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Vampires] So do they make wounds with their fangs and then suck the blood, or are there straws inside their fangs. And what if I used a needle to inject fresh blood into a vampire's buttcheek, would that satiate them?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Vampires use their fangs to piece the skin. They drink the blood through a combination of suction and the victims own heartbeat. \n\ninjecting a vampire in the butt with a needle is just going to wind up with you missing a face." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[MAD MAX FURY ROAD] Why does Immortan Joe want another son?\n\nHe already has two sons. (Three if the video game is considered canon.) Admittedly, one of his sons is a mutant, but Rictus Erectus is strong and healthy. \n\nAnd follow-up question: Who is Rictuss mother? The five wives all look younger than him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rictus Erectus is mentally challenged with a mind like a child, and his brother Corpus is weak and deformed but has a strong mind. \n\nImmortan Joe wants a healthy son who is both physically and mentally strong." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: \"30% chance of rain\"\n\nWhen a weather report says that there's a 30% chance of rain, does that mean that they expect it to rain for 30% of that day (so a 30% chance of rain at any given time during the day), or a 30% chance of getting any rain at all during that day (so it might rain for 10 minutes and be dry the rest of the time) or something else?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From The Weather Channel:\n\n>The 'Chance of Precip' describes the likelihood of precipitation (maybe not even measurable) in your forecast area. The chance is based upon a series of 100 instances of identical weather conditions.\n\n>For example, a 40% Chance of Precip means that precipitation occurred 40 out of 100 days with the same type of conditions expected in your area.\n\nNo way to direct link, but you can go to your city's forecast and click on \"Chance of Rain.\"" } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "When particles collide in the LHC, does it make a sound?\n\nEdit: Thanks for all the replies everyone!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No. Sound needs a medium to travel through. The LHC pipes are vacuum except for the proton projectiles which are focused into a beam with diameter of approximately 50 microns. The rest is vacuum.\n\nEven then, sound is a macroscopic phenomenon. It involves orders of 10^23 particles moving in a particular way. A proton on proton collision starts as two particles and decays to, at most, 100(not sure, exactly)." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Is a virtual reality headset worse for my eyes than staring at a computer screen?\n\nIf the headset is so close to the eyes, is it so much more worse for the eyes? Recommended breaks every 45 minutes or more frequently?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A decent VR headset will actually set the focus of the screens to infinity so your eyes are relaxed.\nThe problem with screens and TV are that you are focusing quite close, and straining your eyes. A VR headset has the capability (with projection to project the image so that your focus point is quite far, thus relaxing your eyes).\nThis infinite focus is seen on Red dot/reflex weapon sights which keeps the red dot in the same place even at different angles of viewing, they also used in HUD in aircraft and cars, so that you can focus in front of you and still read the display." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Harry Potter] If a highly visible child, such as a direct Royal heir in line to the throne was to manifest magical abilities how would that situation be approached by the Wizarding community?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Assuming that the family was not aware of magic, I'd guess that the standard of \"Send someone to talk to the parents and explain what's going on\" would happen, and then it'd be up to the parents for whether they wished to send the kid off to school and lie about sending them abroad or whatever, or whether they'd prefer to simply hire someone to teach them in the comfort of their own home where they wouldn't have to be hidden away from the public." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Star Wars] What is force ghost Obi Wan up to these days?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I've always pictured that dead Jedi are kind of in a state of Nirvana, being one with the force and just chilling peacefully. Then Jedi with force ghost abilities can conjure up a visible form when they need to but 99% of the time they just go back to being \"one with the force.\"" } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: What could theoretically happen if the new fusion reactor has a problem when it's turned on in two days?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, first thing, the new fusion doesn't even fuse (for the moment). It runs on simple non-fusing plasma (hydrogen).\n\nAnyway, the worst that could happen is some short circuit or cooling failure in the superconducting magnets, which results in a few million in damages and a bunch of very disappointed scientists." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Avatar] Is Koh still stealing faces or did Aang squash that bug?\n\nHe could pretty big threat and could cause a lot of mayhem if he chooses to. He definitely seems like a problem that needs to be stopped before he becomes a major issue." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He's still out there. While Koh may be malevolent and has made himself the enemy of the Avatar before, he isn't outright hostile. He, like most spirits, has rules that he plays by, and these rules don't necessarily make sense to the mortal world. Aang even receives important wisdom from Koh; he just needed to play by Koh's rules to do it. \n\nSome spirits, like Father Glow Worm, were actually contemptuous of Koh for being so willing to help mortals who were able to pass his tests. Koh is one the of the oldest and most knowledgeable spirits in existence, seeking out his wisdom is often worth the risk. \n\nLikewise, Koh tends to only actively seek out a fight against people who deserve it. (Albeit, he's willing to harm innocent people to achieve this goal.) One of the reasons Kuruk's wife had her face stolen was because Koh had became angry with the Avatar for his campaign against the spirits. Stealing Ummi's face was a punishment, and Kuruk wasn't able to kill Koh in the end because he realized doing so would also permanently take Ummi away from him. \n\nKilling spirits is no easy task, either. The Kyoshi novels make it clear that killing even relatively minor spirits poisons your own spirit. Part of the reason Kuruk was thought to be so useless as an Avatar, and why he died so young, was because he spent most of his time hunting spirits under the belief that he was protecting the world. He kept much of this to himself, including the mental and spiritual damage it caused him. The only way to deal with spirits and not eventually die from it is to either appease them, as Aang did most of the time, banish them, as Korra learned to do, or imprison them, as Wan was able to do. \n\nBut even so, most of the time appeasement is the easiest and most effective strategy. \n\nTl;dr: Koh's still out there, and not really a threat. Koh plays by different rules to humans. Don't piss him off and he won't be a threat, unless you're trying to get something from him like Aang." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "eli5: Why does working out helps so much with mental health?\n\nI have OCD and working out ALWAYS makes me feel better whenever I have spikes. How does that work?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Exercise had been shown in many studies to promote the production of serotonin and dopamine, the two neurotransmitters responsible for making you feel good. Evolution has selected for physical activity to make us feel good, making it more likely for us to be physically active, which promotes our physical health. This is called a positive feedback loop, and is an example of one of the many, many positive feedback loops employed in your biochemistry." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Samuri Jack] If Aku has access to advance technology, why doesn't Aku just nuke Jack.\n\nI'm assuming he doesn't care about environmental effects and collateral damage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Same reason you don't burn down your house if you see a spider. Aku fought for the world. He considers it (and everyone who lives in it) his property. He enjoys people's fear and respect and loves making them put up statues of him. And at the end of the day, he doesn't take Jack all that seriously. \n\nIf it were a total war situation Aku might nuke his own territory, but he clearly doesn't consider it that kind of situation." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Pokemon] What kind of government does the world of Pokemon have?\n\nAnd does it differ by region?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I always thought that the government of pokemon was based off the strongest trainers in each region. The gyms are local authority, the elite 4 overrule the gyms, and the champion acts as the dictator of everything. \n\nThis explains why towns with gyms seem to look towards the gym leader as the local authority, and why trainers attempt to reach the elite 4 and become the champion themselves." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Question regarding using the blood plasma of recovered people to treat sick people: When the plasma is injected, is it just the antibodies in the donated plasma that attacks the virus, or does the body detect the antibodies and create more ?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I dont see the right answer yet so:\n\nThe plasma contains antibodies from the donor. Presumably there are antibodies in the donor that have neutralized the virus. Antibodies are just proteins that latch on to a target and help flag it so the hosts immune system recognizes the problem and eliminates it. \n\nThe donor antibodies will circulate for weeks to months in the host, but they cannot make more of themselves they are just proteins originally made by B cells in the host. Therefore plasma infusions for these critically ill patients are just a temporary measure until their own bodies hopefully learn to eliminate the virus without help." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Economists, whats your opinion on the state of the worlds economy? A bank in Germany has introduced negative interest rates.\n\nNot sure how negative interest rates works anyway?sounds like a theory that isnt great in practice as Id rather incur no interest than being charged.\n\n<edit elaborate comment>\n\nI should have mentioned, if you had savings, theyd charge you and hadnt consider the alternative, if you had a loan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "you're not being charged. They would give you money to take their money. \n\nThe reason this happens is because the ECB rate is negative too so as long as the banks charge higher than the ECBs rate they will still make money (even if their rates are still negative). A couple months ago a Danish bank started paying people to get a mortgage.\n\nThe answer to your question is no on really know because we haven't seen such low interest rates for such a long time. The question becomes what use would monetary policy in the case of a recession i.e. since rates are so low, how effective would it be for central banks to decrease interest rates in order to stimulate growth?" } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Considering the Higgs field permeates all of space how is it related to a vacuum? \n\nIs the Higgs a by-product of a vacuum? I've read that the Higgs is \"the energy of the vacuum from which all else came.\" Can someone explain this? Why did a vacuum exist in the first place? Does the universe exist within a vacuum? Any thoughts on the idea that matter is a 3-D representation of 2-D information?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In field theory, we work with it being given that there are space and time. The vacuum is the field configuration that minimizes the energy. It turns out that it takes less energy to have a non-zero value of the Higgs field throughout space than it would to have no Higgs field. Thus the vacuum in the Standard Model is space filled with a non-zero Higgs field." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Are stretch marks permanent?\n\nThere are a lot of products and home remedies, but what does science have to say?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Stretch marks are similar to a scar from a wound. What happens is the skin is stretched by rapid growth (example: growing tall quickly or gaining weight quickly). \n\nThe skin (all layers) are stretched beyond the physical limitations of the cellular composition of the tissue. The skin and is unable to grow to keep pace. This causes subtotal tearing. It's not a open wound, the internal/external barrier is still intact (although weakened).\n\nThe body responds to this in a damage control response. Simply; Fibroblasts migrate into the voids left by the stretching and crudely begin to proliferate to increase the thickness of the barrier to the external environment. This is different than normal growth because these cells are not derived from semi-differentiated stem cells which are capable of forming more specialized cells. The various stem cells are able to form multiple cells of different types and give an organ like the skin its complexity. This is different from scarring as collagenous fibroblasts replicate and form cell types of limited complexity; these are unable to emulate skin that formed in utero.\n\nThis 'patch' never fully returns to its original state before the damage. The stem cells and underlying tissues are damaged, missing or both. However, over time the scaring becomes less pronounced as long as additional damage does not occur. These patches also have limited tanning, sensing and protective capacities. \n\nSome topical treatments may increase the \"elasticity\" of the skin, causing it to pull in on itself more also reducing the size of the scars. If the marks are from rapid weight gain, weight loss may reduce their appearance. Exercise in general tends to make tissues more dense and stronger. Even the skin." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eli5. Why cant robots be programmed to click a box that says I am not a robot?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The button checks the micro movements of your mouse to see if it's predictable like a robot or random like a human. That being said, robots can defeat all types of captchas with reasonable accuracy, but defeating the ones that make you click on images of stop signs takes more expertise and is a higher barrier of entry for would be spammers." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: How do antibiotics and hormones make you gain weight.\n\nI have heard that antibiotics and hormones are used to make cattle larger. I have also observed in my own experience that when I have taken antibiotics I gain a lot of weight without changes to diet and exercise." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Depends on the antibiotic you're using. Some do cause an increase in appetite, but generally the newer ones have less side effects like that. Hormones are completely different. Depending on the hormone, you will see an dramatic increase in appetite. Some hormones cause water retention as well this creating an increase in weight. Not sure if that helps." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[MCU] Why didn't Captain Marvel snap away Thanos?\n\nShe is much stronger than Hulk or Thanos (maybe even combined) and absorbing radiation is kinda her thing. If any of the Avengers could use the Infinity Gauntlet without repercussions it would be her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The mission at the time Carol had it was playing keep-away. They were planning to fling it into the quantum realm using the portal in the back of the van, not snap Thanos away. The goal was to get it to the van.\n\nIt only got to that point of Tony snapping when that original plan failed and Tony's snap was the last ditch effort. By then, however, Thanos had the gauntlet on his hand and Tony had the stones which he fashioned into his own nano suit. There was no further opportunity to get the gauntlet off of Thanos' hand and the stones to Carol." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Supernatural] When Lucifer and Michael were set to fight it was supposed to be world ending, how come fights involving even more powerful beings are so lackluster?\n\nSo two archangels are supposed to set 90% of the world on fire and kill most people. but\n\n* Gabriel vs Lucifer didn't even knock a chair over\n* Leviathins vs angels/eve/ etc were similarly low in scale\n* Confrontation between Death and Castiel+all purgatory souls = no disruption\n* Literal actual God with an army of demons, the hosts of heaven, the most powerful witches and an archangel against God's Sister the Darkness doesn't even break a window in the warehouse they chose to throw down in.\n\nSo what gives?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lucifer and Michael are more than just archangels, they're sort of on their own level. While Gabriel could have perhaps put up a fight, he really didn't stand a chance, which is why he gambled on tricks. We never got to see a real Gabriel vs. Lucifer fight. \n\nSimilarly, when we see leviathan fighting angels, it's full-on leviathans fighting lower-level angels. It took God to bottle them up, and even he couldn't destroy them. For leviathan, it was a cakewalk. \n\nAnd perhaps that's part of the problem. When we see fights, often it's asymmetrical, so the more powerful being is just toying with the less powerful being. Or they have such different methods of fighting, like a witch vs. Lucifer, that they can't really meet in battle any more than an eagle can engage in battle with a virus. \n\nAs for Das and Death, was that even a fight? \n\n...now don't get me started on the scythe and Death's death. Wtf..." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why do planets tend to orbit their stars along roughly the same plane, rather than be circling around their star at all kinds of different angles?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Stars form from big clouds of gas and dust. The area of that cloud from which the star forms has some rotational motion; the angular momentum (and therefore direction of rotational motion) of all the particles is conserved as the cloud collapses.\n\nThe planets form out of the same cloud, all from gas and dust that had similar angular momentum. So, not only do the orbits of planets tend to be in one plane, they are all circling the star in the same direction, so the angular momenta of their orbits line up. On top of that, the spins of the planets, and the orbits of their moons, also tend to have directions that \"line\" up their angular momenta as well. (Note: collisions can mess this up.).\n\nSo, if you know which way the earth spins, you can figure out which way it orbits, and you can also figure out which way our moon orbits the Earth. They all have (roughly) the same \"sense of rotation\", which we physicists call the \"same direction of angular momentum\"." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "How does the immune system store state?\n\nImmunity and allergies are acquired, so the list of things to react to can't be stored in DNA. Where and how is it stored?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After every \"attack\", some of the cells we use to defend ourselves turn into memory cells. These cells are basically trained to recognize and fight the thing they fought last time, and they just wait around until it comes again.\n\nImmunizations are basically giving you just enough of the illness to cause your body to fight and create memory cells for it, but not enough for you to actually get too sick, so you can fight it a lot easier next time." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Marvel] Is it true Iceman is an Omega level mutant?\n\nIf so how?\nWhat would he be able to do?\nHas he ever displayed this before?\nWho knows this?\nWho discovered/said/theorize/lied about it first?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was really exploited back in the '90s/Early 00s, when Frost jumped into his body during a freak accident. Then she basically found out that he'd been lying about a LOT of things because he'd been afraid of his powers. \n\nShe basically rode him like like a skinsuit, exploiting his abilities in way he never dared stretch himself, and revealed just how badly he'd been letting his own fears cap his powers.\n\nIt actually sets the stage, on a character development level, for the iceman is gay reveal that happened this year. It was heavily implied that she knew a lot of his secrets, and that he was hiding more than just that his powers were far more vast than he was letting on. She was not outting him because she either felt sorry for him / was saving it for blackmail material, depending on which writer was handling it at the time." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: How does Solvent Abuse involving aerosol cans, kill the user instantly, as is warned on the cans?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It depends. You can die in multiple ways from solvent abuse.\n\nTheres lack of oxygen, frostbite, and cardiac arrest or failure. Most commonly is aspiration of vomit while they are unconscious and lack of oxygen.\n\nIt really depends on what one is inhaling, what methods they are using (using a bag is much more dangerous than just sniffing because you are limiting the flow of oxygen) and the condition they are in.\n\nThere are safer ways to get high than sniffing gasoline." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Slasher Movies] Why do people run away from the killer after briefly knocking them out?\n\nSlasher movies have this trope wherein the killer gets knocked out momentarily, and their victims just run away. Why not end it there? Stomp on their face a few times, put that adrenaline to good use. \n\nI think the only time I've seen somebody take the opportunity was in Scream 3, when Patrick Warbuton beat the tar out of Ghostface before dying to the knife that was already lodged in his back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You're right. The monkey reflex is to just keep hitting until the target is no longer a threat. (It's one reason self-defense with a knife is so problematic.) The best explanation in this case is that slasher-movie villains pick their prey really well. The victims are so skittish they run even when they have an advantage." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[generic zombie question] Even if the dead were somehow reanimated, how could they be strong enough to burst through six feet of packed Earth, not to mention emerge from the inside of a sealed casket?\n\nGoogle says that dirt weighs 2,000 # per cubic yard. That means there's at least 4,000 # of dirt on top of a coffin. How could a zombie even open the casket?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Most zombies don't start in caskets. They start on the surface. \n\nEven then, they have an advantage that humans don't. Being, they're already dead. Depending on your casket, it is, technically, possible to break out, but you then have to dig yourself to the surface, suffocating the entire way. Zombies don't have to concern themselves with air, and are able to continuously tunnel with no regard for pressure, discomfort or oxygen. \n\nIt would take a LOT of work, and no small amount of luck, to properly displace the earth in order to dig yourself out of a grave... but it is doable." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why do guys have nipples?\n\nIt just randomly struck my mind, mid-walk. They have no function, surely? Help or I'm going to lose sleep over my pointless, pointless nipples." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nipples develop in the womb before the fetus is 'sexed', the nipples have already firmly positioned themselves before that process starts, so prior to the fetus becoming male or female, they already have nips." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[The Lord of the Rings] The gates of Mordor are quite impressive. Who designed/engineered them?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mostly gondorians who still remembered crafting mastery of Numenor. Black gate, towers alongside it, and Cirit Ungol were al built by gondorians to keep remaining forces of sauron inside of mordor after the war of Last aliance.\n\nThey were all maned by solders of Gondor that kept watch over the land of Mordor. But some 1000 years (not completly shure about the time) prior to events of LOTR a great plague decimated the population of Gondor and it could no longer properly guard pases to Mordor." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[General Superhero question] Tony stark admits that he is Iron Man. Thor, at least in MCU, is Thor with no alias. Everyone knows who captain America is and Black widow has no real costume.\n\nSome have a secret identity and some do not. Why is it any different for someone like Spider-Man or Batman. People cant tell the difference between Superman and Clark Kent and all he needs is a super suit or a pair of glasses. Why do some heroes wear their name on their sleeve and others do not? Hasnt spidey had to fight off another heroes villain a few times?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There are three primary reasons why superheroes adopt an alias/secret identity in the first place:\n\n* So they can maintain a civilian life without constantly being hounded by supervillains or fans;\n* So they can protect their family and loved ones from vengeful enemies;\n* So they can protect themselves from the law, as vigilantism is quite often a crime in and of itself (especially when enforced via the methods employed by most superheroes) and their actions would normally make them quite liable for collateral damages and such.\n\nNot having a super hero identity is the exception rather than the rule, so let's look at a few prominent cases:\n\n* MCU Tony Stark - Ego. Pure ego. This explicitly puts him and his companions in danger which he later comes to regret and is motivation for a lot of his future ideas and upgrades. But at the time he \"came out\" it was basically narcisissm.\n* MCU Thor - Thor lives on Asgard and his human friends are mostly superheroes. Those that aren't are offered protection by SHIELD when a Thor-related threat arises. So there simply isn't a need for him to adopt a secret identity.\n* MCU Captain America - has no friends and family of note that aren't super heroes themselves that need special protection.\n* MCU Black Widow - Black Widow is basically only a \"secret\" identity. She has no public persona that would need hiding or protection.\n* Fantastic Four - Since the entire family and friends circle was made superhuman, there was simply no need to adopt secret identities for protection. They are sufficiently rich and powerful that they can distance themselves from the public without being needlessly harassed and generally deal in things at such a high level that legal entanglements are rare and they can afford lawyers to deal with the odd ones that crop up." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: What more megapixels give you and what they do not (or, why more megapixels isn't necessarily \"better\")" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "More megapixels means that you get images with more pixels. This means you can make a larger image at a given resolution, or have better resolution for a given size. Most people don't make prints large enough for this to really matter, as most cameras have plenty of megapixels.\n\nMore megapixels can be bad when you have to cram a bunch of them onto the camera's sensor. This is a silicon chip that detects the light and makes the image. If you try to squeeze in a bunch, you can limit the quality of the pixels. For a point and shoot camera, it doesn't make sense to try to put in more than 12megapixels or so, because the camera's sensor is quite small.\n\nA fancy DSLR will use a bigger sensor, some as big as 35mm film. There are many reasons this can be better. One of them is that you can increase the number of megapixels without degrading the quality of the sensor. There are also optical advantages that allow for higher resolution.\n\nNone of this really matters, though. There are other factors that are far more important than megapixels, like lens quality and skill. Learning what sort of light is good for shooting or how to use fill flash will both get you better images than any number of megapixels." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: What happens when a non-fully grown tattooe'd body grows?\n\nDoes the ink stretch? Does it get some 'empty spaces' in its pattern?\n\nI'm wondering this since a couple of days, but don't have any knowledge on the matter. May you explain me like I'm five?\n\nCheers!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ink of a tattoo continually 'spreads' throughout the life of a person. As cells divide or die off, the bigger chunks of the pigments/metals in the skin will break apart and generally migrate. This just results in a blurry/faded tattoo. That's why tattooed old folks have blurry tattoos. The human growth isn't usually rapid enough to cause visible separations in the image... but rapid weight gain and pregnancies can do just that. A stretch mark has the ability to completely ruin a tattoo." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why does visible light not cause eye damage?\n\nSince visible light is higher on the EM scale and has more energy than Infrared, then why does visible light not damage our eyes while infrared does (at long exposures)" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Because you blink if it's too bright. Infrared doesn't make you blink. In fact, if you're in the dark, your iris could be wide open letting in more infrared. \n\nYou start to notice problems after the damage is done. It needs to be very intense to cause damage. Anything which is incandescent enough to burn your eyes will also be bright in the visual range. \n\nIf the source is a laser diode, there's increased danger because the coherent light can be focused onto a very small area." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why is Olive Oil always labeled with 'Virgin' or 'extra virgin'? What happens if the Olive oil isn't virgin?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Virgin refers to how many times the olive mash has been processed to extract the oil. Extra virgin olive oil can be skimmed right off the top immediately after the olives are mashed. Lesser qualities of oil are produced by heating the mash and performing other chemical processes to extract the remainder." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Would all intelligent life in the universe evolve using the same visible light spectrum as us to see? Is our slice of the spectrum innately superior for vision?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd say it's the most effective general range - yes, some creatures go a bit higher or lower than humans, but it's pretty close.\n\nVisible light is pretty good at going a good distance through the atmosphere without diffusing too much. It's passive - ambient light is used and we don't have to project anything and reveal our presence to a predator. The wavelength is small enough that the sensory organs don't have to be particularly large.\n\nI'd say given A) the spectrum of the light given off by the Sun and B) the atmosphere of Earth that it was more or less inevitable HERE.\n\nElsewhere? Tell me what the most abundant wavelength of light is that reaches the creatures in question, with a high enough frequency to allow for small eyes... I'd suspect it'd be near our range, but maybe not identical." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: What makes the body decompose? What is it that prevents us from decomposing while alive?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Decomposition is the breaking down of tissue and/or organic matter by microbes like bacteria. Your body, while alive, has an immune system to kill bacteria, as well as the capability to heal and repair any damage (within reason). Once youre dead, the immune system and healing stops, which means bacteria grow unchecked and whatever damage they do doesnt get fixed." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Starship Troopers] I'm writing a paper for my Moral History class.\n\nIt's about the history of the Terran Federation, I've been instructed to use FedNet for information.\n\nHow did the Terran Federation form, what size territory does it control, and what caused the formation?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nobody really can say where the terran federation came from it just kinda grew. See at the end of the XXth century many governments were collapsing and this created a vacuum of power which the veterans stepped in to fill. The first known case was in Scotland when some veterans got together as vigilantes to stop rioting and looting they had to hang a few people (including two veterans) and decided not to let anyone but veterans on their committee because they didn't trust anyone else. What started as an emergency measure became constitutional practice in a generation or two." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Star Wars] Does the empire pay exceptionally well? What is my motivation to become an Imperial Officer?\n\nI mean forget regular job security, I have a good chance of being force choked to death by my commanding officer if I make a mistake. \n\nWhy would I enter such an environment? Are all officers megalomaniacs? \n\nWhy wouldn't I just be chill and go work in a bar on Tattoine, Coruscant, or Naboo?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The vast majority of imperial military is actually a pretty good gig. Guaranteed pay food board and travel. Something like 90% of the imperial enlisted forces are from worlds where the military offers the best chances of getting off their planet and out of living paycheck to paycheck. The core worlds are well off and people have a decent amount of disposable income to pursue their passions and desires but the majority of imperial forces come from mid and outer rim territories. Out there pirates and marauders are a common sight alongside slavery and extreme poverty. The empire offers at the minimum a chance to leave your homeworld and the possibility to bring order and stability to help others avoid the fate you've escaped by joining the empire. At best you'll serve honorably and bring law and order to the worlds near where you've enlisted from and be generally seen as a positive force in the galaxy. At worst you'll be sent to operations overseeing genocide or slaving operations or be sent far from your home to perform any number of unsavory tasks from death squads to interrogations to wholesale slaughter of aliens. Only the upper echelons of imperial command and elite units had to work in close proximity to the moffs and vader and palpatine where the general murders happened. So long as you stay below the ranks of Admiralty and General's you'd be able to truly help and be supported by the empire at large. There's plenty of stories of soldiers being forced to fight losing campaigns on backwater planets but there's just as many have been assigned to aid the populace and ensure things like piracy and smugglers are out of business." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "How did scientists know the first astronauts spacesuits would withstand the pressure differences in space and fully protect the astronauts inside?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They built vacuum chambers on Earth large enough for people to fit inside. That way they could test the suits, with people inside them, in a hard vacuum before they actually sent anyone to space. If something went wrong during one of the tests the could open the door to the chamber and instantly repressurize it." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[MCU] Cost aside, how efficient would a vibranium car be?\n\nWhat if all the metal in a normal car was made of Vibranium instead? How would it handle collisions? What about performance compared to a normal car of the same make and model?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, you could have an extremely lightweight chassis (maybe even 1 mm thick), but to be honest covering the outside would be a complete waste, unless safety is your main concern. Yes, in a collision the energy would somehow be transferred away from you and into the vibranium, with minimal damage to the car, but even so the momentum from suddenly coming to a stop would still hit you, so you could still need air bags and other safety devices.\n\nUnfortunately, the energy absorption properties of vibranium make using it in the engine a non-starter, as the pistons need to be able to release the stored energy, which vibranium cannot do, so it would have a totally normal engine. However, you could just put vibranium on the disk brakes, but you would still be limited by the rubber wheels wearing out. \n\ntl;dr: Would be very safe if put around chassis, very wasteful though, you would be better off using vibranium disk brakes. Would be useless in increasing the efficiency of the engine." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[General] How would someone with the ability to tell when someone is lying register a statement that is literally untrue, but may or may not be metaphorically true?\n\nLike, if Darth Vader said \"Anakin Skywalker is dead. I killed him\", how would that be registered?\n\nPerhaps it would depend on whether the speaker really believes what he is saying." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": ">Perhaps it would depend on whether the speaker really believes what he is saying.\n\nThis is the only real way for lie detection to work. Otherwise you could use your magic lie detector, and have someone make wild guesses about basic physical facts until you discover all truth in the universe." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "ELI5: Why is it better to get uninterrupted sleep than the same number of hours of fragmented sleep? And why do some people require more sleep than others?\n\nI'm tired, Reddit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not all sleep is the same. You go thru stages over the hours, from light sleep (alpha) to REM. \n\nDuring periods of relaxation, while still awake, our brain waves become slower, increase in amplitude and become more synchronous. These types of waves are called alpha waves.\n\nThe first stage of sleep is characterized by theta waves. The difference between relaxation and stage 1 sleep is gradual and subtle. As the sleeper moves to stage 2 sleep theta wave activity continues. \n\nStages 1 and 2 are relatively \"light\" stages of sleep. In fact, if someone is awoken during one of these stages, he or she will often report no being asleep at all. That's why fragmented sleep is not good, you don't go beyond stage 2. \n\nAs you continue to shut down your brain patterns change to delta wave patterns. Delta sleep is our deepest sleep, the point when our brain waves are least like waking. \n\nAfter that you sometimes get to REM (rapid eye movement). It's theorized that REM helps the brain clean up memories accumulated during the waking periods (dreams). For that reason hormones are released so the skeletal muscles of a person during REM sleep are effectively paralyzed so you don't act out your dreams. \n\nREM sleep a sleepers brain waves demonstrate characteristics that are similar to waking sleep, a combination of alpha, beta, and desynchronous waves. \n\nIn a normal night's sleep, a sleeper begins in stage 1, moves down through the stages, to stage 4, then back up through the stages, with the exception that stage 1 is replaced by REM, then the sleeper goes back down through the stages again. One cycle, from stage 1 to REM takes approximately 90 minutes. This cycle is repeated throughout the night, with the length of REM periods increasing, and the length of delta sleep decreasing, until during the last few cycles there is no delta sleep at all.\n\nSo you sleep for less than 90 min you don't complete a full cycle and without a few cycles you don't feel rested because your brain cleanup is not done. \n\n>And why do some people require more sleep than others?\n\nGenetics. Nothing you can do about it." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Superheroes] What's the distinction between just a criminal and a supercriminal?\n\nI'll take batman because I feel it's got the best examples at all levels, but you can do the same thing with virtually any super's rogues gallery.\n\n* So on the one extreme, you have, say, Poison Ivy. She's a criminal, she has superpowers. She's unquestionably a supercriminal.\n* Then you have Scarecrow. He's a normal human with advanced tech. Theoretically, anyone could have a vial of fear gas. But he's still able to do things normal technology can't. That's pretty super.\n* Then you have The Riddler. He's very flamboyant and dramatic, but he's got normal tech and no powers. He's got a lot of showmanship and his crimes are clearly above and beyond normal criminal activities, but he's just a dude.\n* Then you have The Penguin. He's just a crime lord. No powers, no tech, no gimmicks unless you count \"liking birds and umbrellas\" as a gimmick. He's just a mundane crime lord with a nickname.\n\nNow, we know that supervilliany is a concept in universe (the phrase super-crime is thrown around in comic, and they talk about batman fighting supercriminals), and it seems all of batman's rogue gallery (and the less powerful flash rogues and Kingpin and the Toymaster and other such relatively mundane criminals) are considered supercriminals in universe. \n\n\nSo at what point do I stop being a standard criminal and become a supercriminal? Do I need a costume? A name? A gimmick? An archenemy? Where does my plan to rob gotham bank go from \"call the police\" to \"call Batman\"?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the words of Megamind, \"PRESENTATION!\" You gotta have a gimmick. Powers are optional. If you do not pick your own name, the press will pick one for you. An archenemy will turn up eventually if you hang around long enough. But first, you really need a gimmick." } ]
[ { "from": "system", "value": "Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:" }, { "from": "human", "value": "[Vampires] Do I have to be inside my house in order to invite a vampire inside, will a handwritten note suffice\n\nLike if I were at a party and invited vampires to go in my house etc.\n\nIf yes, could I forge a note from an enemy of mine to invite vampires to their home?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You definitely cannot, under any circumstances, invite vampires into other people's homes. \nAn invitation by writing might work if it was specifically directed to the vampire. No general public party invites." } ]

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