ELI5 Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about - in a mini podcast

How can "superfluid" helium flow against gravity and climb up the walls of a container? Why was helium discovered on the Sun nearly thirty years before it was found on Earth? How does a gas used for party balloons play a critical role in life-saving MRI technology? Is inhaling helium to make funny voices actually a dangerous risk to your health? If helium is abundant in the universe, how are we "running out" of it on Earth? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: typesfast, twiztedbydesign, camnewtonslaw, nattybumppo, disappointedbird, crepitor, dr_heron and major_fudgemuffin To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do we see many professional athletes look like they were attacked by a giant octopus? How did a treatment from ancient history become the biggest trend in modern locker rooms? If a bruise is "stuck" blood, how can it actually help your blood flow? Can we really suck "bad energy" or "toxins" out of our muscles with a glass jar? Why do some doctors call this "quackery" while others say it's a powerful mental tool? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: breeze_in_the_trees, tateshinski, phage0070, doingthehumptydance, mohamed and zhang To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is crying so much more than just being sad? Why do your lungs perform those jerky gasps once the actual sobbing stops? Why does that painful "lump" form in our throats when the glottis tries to stay open for oxygen while we're trying to swallow? How do emotional tears differ chemically from the ones we use for onions, and do they actually "flush" stress hormones out of the body? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: previous-change-4346, josvan135, gynoceros, nimo01, manatee3232, mike2220, tstack123 and lohborn To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did a country with only 5.7 million people beat much larger countries in Winter Olympic medals? Why does Norway ban competitive scoring and league standings for children under the age of twelve? How can not caring about winning at a young age actually create more world-class Olympic champions? Is it true that people in Norway actually use skiing as a primary way to get around? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: nudave, ritterbruder2, rap and theathletichq To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How do one way mirrors allow light to pass in only one direction? If light travels through the glass equally from both sides, why does the simple flip of a light switch create a hidden observer? How does a microscopic layer of aluminum or silver on a piece of glass actually bounce light back to create a reflection? Why does our brain instantly prefer our flipped mirror image over the real perspective captured in a photograph? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: avalancheofneed, afropuf, coolminded, tequilaamocking_bird, blade_torlock, imtrollin_theyhatin, antiproton and spilgrim16 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

With such great speeds and a significant vertical drop, how do ski jumpers not sustain injury when landing? What makes one ski jumper better than others? How is a ski jumping course designed? Where is the largest ski jumping hill?   ... We explain like i'm five!   Help more people fund us by leaving a rating on iTunes.   Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community as always and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jcgk1123, badlawywr, simplequark, clairquilt, chunkykitty & nilfy. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is most fire equipment red in color? What happens if you use the wrong class of extinguisher on a grease or metal fire? Could the future of firefighting be a "dubstep cannon" that uses sound waves to kill flames? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jasonthefuzz, jebediah_johnson, rtpkickballer, audiblenod, markhunt1980, mpls_is_rivendell, dvn_rvthernot and dignitty. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why does a perfectly steady heartbeat actually serve as a warning sign you should not ignore? If your heart is a drummer, why is a little bit of "bad timing" a good thing? How can your smartwatch tell you are stressed before you even feel it? Why does splashing cold water on your face trigger an ancient, "hidden" survival reflex? Why did Neil Armstrong’s heart race to 150 BPM while his co-pilot stayed totally calm? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: iacuriousguy1968, quesoqueso, elderberry2, spooky_fellow, swolemedic, uptowntwerk, narwhalondrugs and alternative-sea-6238 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What are the creative ways people fool their FitBit? How does my activity tracker differentiate between steps and my tapping to a rhythm? Does it use GPS to calibrate? How does it know what stage of sleep I'm in?   ... We explain like i'm five!   Help more people fund us by leaving a rating on iTunes.   Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community, and specifically the following reddit users whose questions and responses formed the basis of this conversation: failtuna, fieldpeter, devilishgainz, srslylovesgames & groundhogcakeday To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is a metal you’ve probably never heard of often worth more than pure gold? Why are thieves risking jail just to steal one specific part from a Toyota Prius? What is the "Palladium at Night" satellite doing that no government will admit to owning? How did Ford lose a billion dollars by trying to hoard this "ghost" metal? Could this strange metal be the secret to "cold fusion" and unlimited power? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: tmwnn, jonathanrdt, audiblenod, iwillnevergetaname, tutul_, brokeneye3, cortcortkittycat and lwbdrb0901 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why does adding more lanes to a highway actually make traffic jams get even worse? How did the machine meant to end slavery accidentally make it ten times more profitable? Why did the invention of the ATM lead to more bank tellers instead of replacing them? Is your "eco-friendly" car actually causing you to burn more fuel than your old one? Why does being the most efficient worker in the office always result in being given more work? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: environmental_bus507, sharp_simple_2764, zem, m1ss1ontomars2k4, nowhereman136 and mammoth-mud-9609 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why did the CIA secretly buy Soviet metal to build the very plane designed to spy on them? How does a metal named after Greek Titans manage to fuse physically with living human bone? If titanium is the ninth-most abundant element on Earth, why is it still so expensive to produce? And how did common chlorinated tap water nearly destroy the manufacturing of the world’s fastest titanium jet? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: mattau93, bigaddam, barath_s, icowboy, justscottaustin, 1fresco, qininator and cheapseats91 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do people in the UK typically say Happy Christmas while in America it is most commonly Merry Christmas? What made red and green Christmas colors? Is it true that Coca-Cola popularized the modern look of Santa Claus? Why do most of our "traditional" Christmas songs, images and TV/movies come from the 1940s to the 1960s? Brian Earl from the Christmas Past podcast joins us to ELI5 a range of Xmas questions. ... and we explain like i'm five! Help more people fund us by leaving a rating on iTunes. Thank you to Brian Earl from the Christmas Past podcast. If you'd like to hear more excellent xmas episodes, check out Brian's podcast here: https://christmaspast.media/ To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do people in the UK typically say Happy Christmas while in America it is most commonly Merry Christmas? What made red and green Christmas colors? Is it true that Coca-Cola popularized the modern look of Santa Claus? Why do most of our "traditional" Christmas songs, images and TV/movies come from the 1940s to the 1960s? Brian Earl from the Christmas Past podcast joins us to ELI5 a range of Xmas questions. ... and we explain like i'm five! Help more people fund us by leaving a rating on iTunes. Thank you to Brian Earl from the Christmas Past podcast. If you'd like to hear more excellent xmas episodes, check out Brian's podcast here: https://christmaspast.media/ To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What makes a pearl so mesmerizing, and what is it really? What exactly is a pearl made of, and how does it form inside a mollusk? Can a grain of sand truly cause a perfect pearl? What's the difference between a natural pearl and the cultured ones we see today? How do pearls get their stunning array of colors, from soft pinks to deep blacks? What makes certain pearls incredibly valuable, fetching millions? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: emoposer, iamkunii, cooldrummer1208, Albres, discordant_rhyme, xentonian, enzio901, n19h7m4r3 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

If every major country is in billions of debt, where are they borrowing from? Who exactly do they owe? Are there any consequences for them being in debt? Why is it a problem when it gets large? Why was Greece in trouble, while Japan seemingly has high debt but is fine?   ... We explain like i'm five!   Help more people fund us by leaving a rating on iTunes.   Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community, and specifically the following reddit users whose questions and responses formed the basis of this conversation: emils5, poomanshu, potato_octopi, cop-disliker69, reshkayden, agoraiosbum, cheesewithwhine, aythekay & anjabe96 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Did you know bubble gum is traditionally pink simply because the inventor ran out of every other color? Did McDonald’s really try to help kids eat healthier by inventing bubble gum-flavored broccoli? What actually sets bubble gum apart from regular chewing gum? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: dart_catcher, shaka_sulu, bluehellebore, tato7069, ted_normal and charlzpatton To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What sparked the invention of Morse code, and how did personal tragedy influence Samuel Morse's creation? Is Morse code still used today? How does Morse code rely on timing, and what role do dits and dahs play in understanding messages? Why do some people still feel a connection to Morse code today despite advances in communication technology? How did WWII utilize Morse code for encrypted communications, and what were the implications for message security? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: stanitor, appropriate_trader, effective-ad-6460, twin_spoons, scotterson34, idealblueman, hipp013, beachedwhale1945. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What makes marble feel cold to the touch, especially in winter apartments? How does the use of marble in art reflect the cultural values of the civilizations that employed it? What exactly is marble and how is it formed geologically? What role does marble play in ancient Greek architecture, specifically in the Acropolis and its iconic structures? How does the history of marble reveal about human ambition, creativity, and the pursuit of perfection? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: reynardb, razeus, pierre_poutine90, forkwhilef0rk, sgrams04, stevewmn, rundna, thaddeusjp. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do modern carriers feature an angled flight deck instead of a straight full-length runway like their WWII predecessors? How fast does an aircraft have to go to take off from a carrier? Why don't planes just fall off the front of the ship when they take off? What are the costs and challenges associated with building longer runways on aircraft carriers? What advantages do nuclear-powered aircraft carriers have over conventional ones in terms of operational efficiency?  ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: hyndis, green_meklar, kal_vas_flam, infernalism, pedopaul, aquatic_mammal, amatulic, generallyawfulhuman. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Is the Iron in our body different from the Iron used in construction? How did ancient cultures use meteoric iron without knowledge of metallurgy? What makes iron such a vital natural resource throughout human history? Why doesn’t iron in our blood react strongly to MRI machines? How does the imaginative concept of ""space swords"" link history and modern mythology around iron? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: azhiker00, 18_usc_47, dependent_warning_51, lallo-the-long, boredcop, gnonthgol, gailynstarfire, 1strategist1. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do we still change clocks to Daylight Savings Time when so many people dislike it? Who came up with the idea in the first place? Why is there a movement to permanent Daylight Savings Time? Are farmers for or against Daylight Savings Time? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: sushiandwow, eigenfood, tripshed, bunchoatoms, jiceman and grizzletron. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

If nuclear submarines can generate their own water and oxygen underwater, why do they need to surface at all? Why are submarine propellers always at the back, while airplane propellers are usually at the front? How did submarines and the US Navy play a part in the discovery of the Titanic? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: ilearnrussian, lokiorin, slobbie, hemingwavy, yancy_farnesworth, luckbot, omnipotentsandwich, r3dm0nk. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is the gold standard and how did it influence currency value historically? How did the transition from a gold standard to fiat currency shape modern economics? What led to the abolition of the gold standard in the US during the Great Depression? What impact did Executive Order 6102 have on private gold ownership in 1933? How does the US dollar derive its value without being tied to gold? What part did Isaac Newton play in helping gold become the standard precious metal of choice? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: ilearnrussian, lokiorin, slobbie, hemingwavy, yancy_farnesworth, luckbot, omnipotentsandwich, r3dm0nk. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Did you know a standard lock might have thousands of combination possibilities, yet yours might open someone else's door? How does a master key work such that it can open multiple locks without compromising security entirely? What makes lockpicking more of an art than a science, requiring skill and a deep understanding of how locks function? How can a particular ""jiggle-and-twist"" method sometimes allow a key to open unintended locks successfully? What surprising connections do locks and keys have with human ingenuity and security throughout history? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: QvttrO, TehWildMan_, DJpng, thephantom1492, Childofglass, Jack_Chronicle, Git_Off_Me_Lawn, woofle07. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Did you know that the original Monopoly board was circular as well as made from cloth? How have Monopoly games evolved over the years to create more engaging experiences for players? Can Monopoly actually reflect the negative impact of monopolies in the real world, rather than just an enjoyable pastime? What are some of the most interesting versions of Monopoly? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: mrpillowthegreat, amisspelledword, jakash, esploratore, nowhereweare, tscrandall, thr33beggars and rorynne. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What inspired George Ferris to create the first Ferris wheel at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893? How tall was the original Ferris wheel, and what impressive structure did it aim to surpass? What unique challenges did engineers face to build the Ferris wheel, and how did they ensure its safety? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jake1oo6, rhomboidus, ez_does_it, demderdemden, thrashingmadness, iammagnuslol, black_magic_m-66 and 1poongoon3. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly are desiccants, and why are they commonly used in packaging? How does silica gel effectively trap moisture in humid environments? Can you explain the nanoporous structure of silica gel that makes it so efficient? Why do some silica gel packets change color when they reach capacity? Is silica gel really safe to use? Can you reuse them? ... we explain like I'm five. Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: Em_Adespoton, DiamondIceNS, intchd, Gnonthgol, Bosstiality, LCIronmanX, Mr_Automatic, stugautz. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How does sleepwalking work exactly? Are certain people more prone to it? What types of activities can sleepwalkers get up to? Are there specific triggers that cause sleepwalking? Is it true that waking a sleepwalker can be dangerous? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: lindsey1151, xsnr, happycapsule, bandito21dema and reshkayden To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did Poker evolve into a cultural phenomenon beyond just a card game? What makes poker different from other casino games in terms of player competition and strategy? Can you explain the betting process in poker and how players make decisions during each round? Poker on TV often shows those probabilities of a winning hand. How do players calculate this when they're playing? Are there some standard probabilities we should know about? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: TheAireon, stanitor, puck1996, disillusionedJack, AaronSarm, NutellaPatella, Habanero_Eyeball, and lookawake. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What makes washing machines such a vital household invention in the modern world? How did washing machines transform household chores from 8-12 hours to a fraction of that time? Could you explain the role of water temperature in washing effectiveness and fabric care? Why do some fabrics, like suits, require special cleaning methods instead of traditional washing machine cycles?  ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: peteymcpetey, trutheality, flashwastaken, draftstone, caliph_ate, silverbolt2000, danielfaa, unique_username1. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is LiDAR? Why is it helpful in addition to seeing things through cameras? How does LiDAR time-of-flight measure distance when light travels so fast—what tricks give picosecond precision? Why can LiDAR detect single-photon returns from angled surfaces, yet mirrors and shiny objects cause false readings? What are some surprising places LIDAR is used that most people wouldn’t expect? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: mmomtchev, lexi_bean21, already_______taken, isnomad, gurumeditationerror, sniper1rfa, 317locc, doxysqrl410. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did we end up with the deck of cards that we use today? Did the standard 52-card deck derive from Tarot cards, and what does that mean for gameplay? Is it true that shuffling a deck creates a unique order that has likely never existed before? Can you explain the concept of 52 factorial and why it matters for card arrangements? What fascinating social dynamics emerge around shuffling cards and how it influences player interactions? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: poindexter234, turkeypedal, bheidreborn, lowflier84, tp616, buffinita, the_laughing_lawyer, and stupidlemoneater. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is gout, and how does it uniquely affect your body compared to other forms of arthritis? Why does gout primarily affect the big toe? How do uric acid crystals form, and what role do diet and lifestyle play in this painful process? Can hydration truly prevent gout attacks, and what are the risks of dehydration for those already affected by it? What about Epsom salt? How does it assist in alleviating joint pain during painful gout flare-ups? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: helghancosmos, the_original_retro, tastelesscommenter, joelyfish, matt_kezy, th3miteeylambo, whatsamattahere, marmorset. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How do competitive solvers manage to solve a Rubik's Cube in under 10 seconds, and what techniques do they use? What is the relationship between memorization and pattern recognition for record-breaking cube solvers? How do solvers memorize moves to successfully solve the cube blindfolded, and what techniques assist them in this process? How does the concept of ""God's number"" relate to the Rubik's Cube solving process? How did Erno Rubik initially create the cube, and what structural problem was he trying to solve? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: notmiefault, equationtaken, mrrookwood, ilyanep, ap1303, _jwmo_, rocuroniumsuccs, djzzx. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do home toilets typically have tanks, while public toilets often don't? What are some benefits of tankless toilets in public spaces from a design perspective? What is the S bend there for and how has this toilet design influenced modern plumbing? What are the implications of Hong Kong using seawater for toilet flushing in a densely populated city? What toilet innovations do you find most significant in improving sanitation and quality of life globally? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: metrumax, rinsetorepeat, wouldbewanderer, toosmalley, jlowu571, j4ckr4bb1tsl1ms, dysgraphical, and guywithasockpuppet. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why are airplane black boxes not connected to real-time satellite data systems? What data does a black box contain and how does it contribute to improving aviation safety after an accident is investigated? How do black boxes manage to survive catastrophic accidents and remain so resilient under extreme conditions? What makes flight recorders, or ""black boxes,"" so crucial after airplane accidents? How could future advancements in technology improve black box capabilities, such as more robust communications or data handling? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: greenishstones, prototypist, ukshj, baktru, alihb, turkstache, hpanandikar, elabril. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Which came first, wine or beer? Is it true that the birthplace of wine is Georgia, not France or Italy? Can any wine truly age forever, or does it have a finite lifespan where quality peaks and then diminishes? Why did California wines triumph in the Judgment of Paris, and what does this say about blind taste tests? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: quantumhamster, billionthtimesacharm, syloh, phiwong, halat1harissa, onenotetoread, hotelnoisecomplaint, poxymusic. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did ancient sailors rely on beer for hydration? What does history tell us about alcohol's role in survival? Why was beer so essential for laborers in ancient Egypt, especially during pyramid construction? Why is beer considered more important than other alcoholic beverages in historical contexts? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: xyekaterina, yamidamian, breeze_in_the_trees, bitobear, nesquiksand, gumburcules, kriber123, mckoijion To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is creatine, and how does it work in our body during high-intensity activities like sprinting or weightlifting? Did you know creatine boosts ATP production, our body's immediate energy source, amplifying performance in short, intense workouts? What unique role does creatine play in muscle recovery and growth, especially regarding myosatellite cells? Is it true that creatine can lead to an increase in muscle volume by retaining water? Can creatine supplement usage extend beyond athletic performance, possibly benefiting neurological conditions like Parkinson's and ALS? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: wasirong, db0255, din0saurusrex_, fh3131, wild_ad2899, rubseb, xsignia, superhazem. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Are induction stoves quicker than gas stoves? How does using an induction stove compare to using gas or conventional electric stoves? What is the secret behind how induction stoves can boil water so quickly? Can you explain how induction cooktops heat pans without heating themselves? Do induction stoves require specific cookware for efficient cooking? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: king_hubba_, zackofalltrades198, philosopherspants, greatspacegibbon, lanzr, bardfinn, clap4lights, and vadered.  To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is really going on when you get a bump in your back or neck muscle that hurts when you press on it? Do muscles really get knots? How do they form? Why are they not detected in scans like x-rays or MRIs? Why do deep tissue massages sometimes make them feel more sore? What are ways to prevent muscle knots? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: theotherbogart, hearmeroar92, entropynz, iluvtheinternets, shintasama, omanfishesinthesea, littleredbunnyfoot and lsarge442. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What surprising fruit is botanically classified as a berry but often confuses people in everyday conversation? How do the definitions of ""berry"" and ""fruit"" differ between botanical science and everyday cooking? Did you know that watermelons, tomatoes, and cucumbers are also classified as berries? What implications does this have for our cooking? Can you share some mind-boggling examples of fruits we think are berries but actually aren’t?  ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: prestigezyra, thegnarwall, wjbc, gstamsharp, rondonjon, poboypoboypoboy, appearancehead7236, smellslike2016. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What’s the historical reason for the U.S. using "Letter" paper size over the international standard A4 paper? What inconveniences do people face in North America due to the different paper sizes compared to the rest of the world? How does the unique aspect ratio of A4 paper help in scaling paper without wasting space? What about B and C format paper? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jizzwaffle, chuggerbomb, svargas05, avgjoe33, jackwell, and bizzareusername28. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly is a defibrillator? Why is the analogy of jump starting a car incorrect? What’s happening in the heart when a shock is delivered? What is the AED and how do you spot one in public? What happens when you activate an AED? Who invented it? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: yllibjkrauss, only_sometimes_haiku,letsdothisepic, marmorset, smileylinzi and count2zero To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected] Other Episodes Mentioned in this discussion: Our latest episode (00:00:05) 00:07:13

Why do dragons capture our imagination across different cultures and eras when it isn't a real creature? What psychological factors contribute to our collective fascination with dragon legends around the world? What fascinating connections exist between ancient civilizations and the stories of dragons they created? Why do dragons symbolize chaos in the West but represent good fortune in cultures like China? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: emergency_table_7526, lithuim, th35ky, thrw2367, unidan, uniquesnowflake1729, lopezjessy, and jrrfolkien. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Could jaw surgery be the faster solution for realigning teeth, and what are the risks? How exactly does wearing Invisalign gradually shift your teeth into the desired position? What’s the biggest misconception people have about Invisalign compared to traditional braces? How has aggressive direct-to-consumer marketing made Invisalign a household name despite its origins? What role does 3D printing technology play in the production of custom Invisalign aligners? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: doggoisniceo, skunkrider, professional_row8960, zahnsaw, gothiclg, zimagotchi, foximus_91, flipmode_squad To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is Stoicism, and how does it apply to our modern lives today? How does Stoicism differ from popular self-help interpretations of its principles? Can you explain the four key Stoic virtues: Wisdom, Courage, Temperance, and Justice? What makes Stoicism relevant during challenging times, such as the recent pandemic? How can mastering emotions enhance our practice of Stoicism in daily life? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: monk_cat, timmibal, germino1227, tclark5193. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What makes the Panama Canal’s lock system so essential compared to the Suez Canal’s lack of locks? How do locks help manage the canal’s significant elevation change across mountainous terrain? Why was constructing a wide trench connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans deemed too complicated and risky? Why did the U.S. ultimately choose Panama for the canal after initially considering Nicaragua as a better option? What historical challenges did the French face while attempting to build the Panama Canal before the U.S. took over? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: taimo-kun, jamesthejust1, regularnormaladult, aj_mexico, misappliedreference, bettinafairchild, lazy-equivalent1028, and breckenridgeback. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What fascinating adaptations led to the evolution of diverse blood types in humans over millennia? How does our immune system interact with foreign entities to determine blood type responsiveness? Why is Type AB blood considered rare, and how does intermixing populations contribute to its existence? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: greengulred, foxtofu, darthrado, ezekielraiden. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Does fish oil actually help? What makes it help? What are the specific types of Omega-3 that are good for you? If it’s so good for us why not use it more for cooking? Why are there some eggs that have Omega-3 on the label? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: adapid, baggier, dvlpr404, ridcullylivces, siznit, mandolele and scarydare5. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How intelligent are traffic light systems? What sensors are used? Why not use pressure sensors under the pavement? How do traffic systems coordinate across intersections in a city? Do emergency services like fire trucks and ambulances have the ability to control traffic signals? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: anthonypalumbo, blipsman, powerclean, nagisan and bigredinmass. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What distinguishes CPUs from GPUs in architecture, and how does this impact their performance in computing tasks? Why are GPUs considered better at handling tasks like graphics rendering compared to CPUs? How do different rendering techniques in games versus offline programs affect the processing demands on CPUs and GPUs?  ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: insane_eraser, popejustice, warlocktx, pourliver, dmartis, and arentol. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What makes sunrises and sunsets visually unique experiences despite being technically the same phenomenon? Why do atmospheric conditions lead to warmer reds during sunsets and cooler blues during sunrises? How do variations in dust, humidity, and pollution change the colors we perceive at sunrise versus sunset? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: username1, username2, username3, username4, username5, and username6. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What makes sliced bread the “greatest thing since” anything? How did the invention of sliced bread in 1928 change consumer habits? Why do traditional French and Italian breads mold faster than commercially sliced bread? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: zeusthunder369, fallenjoe, much-apricot, de-bunker, lyd_euh, glm409, lordginger_, immortal_azrael. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

We explain the fascinating concept of nautical miles, an essential unit for navigating our oceans. What exactly is a nautical mile, and how does it relate to the way we navigate? How does a nautical mile differ from the standard road mile we’re used to, and why does this difference matter for sailors and pilots? What practical advantages does using nautical miles provide in terms of ease of navigation, especially when using coordinates and charts? Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: throwawayoregon12, nephroidofdoom, asscrap69, carlfazu, kalyugikangaroo, and keizzer. To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What makes AA batteries the go-to choice for so many devices when alternatives exist? Why do we have so many different battery sizes like AA, AAA, C, and D? What led to the standardization of battery sizes in the 1920s? Why do some devices require two AA batteries instead of just one? What factors contribute to the performance difference between name-brand and generic batteries? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: tmahfan117, twotall88, brianbell_, ccsica, jwink3101, reddit1651, wrsaunders, santhonyh To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How does meditation physically alter our brain’s grey matter? Is it true that the amygdala shrinks after mindfulness meditation? How do Tibetan monks increase body temperature through meditation? What training techniques enhance focus and mental stamina through meditation? How does meditation compare to other stress-relief practices, like exercise or art? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: klockwerk, historical_elf, dim7altone, prieztiano, towerss, kotama, ozy193, force3vo To the community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why are there big cats but not big dogs in the wild while there are lots of big cats? Why are wolves so hard to tame? How were prehistoric men able to domesticate wild wolves? How have wolves been portrayed in different cultures and mythologies throughout history? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: minntyy, avec_serif, fiendishrabbit, logicalbasher, lithuim, agilepersonality2058, copperpoint, mrmikejj, good-mcrn-ing and fimbulwinter91 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly is E. coli, and why should we care about it? Why is it used a lot in scientific research? What does E. coli pop up often in food contamination cases? What are the symptoms? What are some notable outbreaks? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: pckman, jacksmith8001, coldpizzza4, mistercortez, cutegun, likesmoonpies and ehcksit To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Explain Schrödinger's Cat in simple terms. Why did Erwin Schrödinger propose this thought experiment in the first place? What was Schrödinger trying to argue against with his cat example? Which other scientist inspired Schrödinger to devise the cat?  ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: culturedgoat, flurb4, use-paragon, tenor1, hackey_sack, western_ground7478 and burnoutbrigheter6 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What makes these metals so special and why are they called ‘rare’? What technologies are they used in? Why are they so hard to substitute? Where are they found geographically? What about unobtanium and adamantium?  .. we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: wookiebadass, wrsaunders, commentingrobot, chauncy_prime, undyingcorn and diavolo_rosso_ To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly is LASIK, and how does it differ from other vision correction procedures? Is it painful? How does it differ from PRK as a procedure? How does the cornea heal after a LASIK procedure if there is no blood flow going to the cornea? Which celebrities have famously had LASIK surgery? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: aggressive_elevator, razzbaronz, vladimyrputin, just_a_pyro, lakefargo and iamkeerock To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail. [email protected]

Why are Ligers larger in size than both Tigers and Lions? Why can only certain species interbreed? Why are Lions and Tigers polar opposites in terms of their character and physical attributes? Lions and tigers have a significant cultural presence in art, literature, and media. How do these representations influence public perception in different countries? Who would win in a 1 on 1 fight between a lion and tiger? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: pigthewise, mistersixfold, sohamp97, culturalappropriator and kingofthekingpeople To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly is that sensation we feel with wasabi? Is it the same as the heat from chili peppers? Why does it go straight to the nose? How does it differ from similar foods like mustard and horseradish? Is wasabi outside Japan really fake? How do you tell if it’s real? Why is it paired with sushi? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: stuthulhu, followups, suffaluffapussycat, jeffboyardean, infinity__now, reese_tora, abaday789 and mike_zzzzz To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Ever wondered why biting into a chili feels like setting your mouth on fire? Is it a taste or is it something else entirely? Why do some people seek out this fiery sensation? Can you build spicy food tolerance? Does drinking water help deal with the spice? Is there a limit to how spicy food can get? What are the hottest peppers out there? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: racoononbeers, vadered, rapafon, copnonymous, gramoun-kal and mathikaru To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What are rubber bands actually made of? Why do they become brittle over time? Why is it near impossible to let go of a stretched rubber-band with both hands at the same time? Which drug cartel was spending a reported $2500 per month on rubber bands? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: party-pupper, tdscanuck, jozer99, uhly, carlmmii,readdit___4score, and iklegemma To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How is spearmint and peppermint different? How did mint become associated with freshness and cleanliness in products like toothpaste and gum? Why does mint create that feeling in our mouths? Why do mint and citrus flavors clash? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: much_blank, thectcamp, redcat_51, jellyel88 pinkie3141, kakapo117, ilmt206 and socks405 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is it called Black Friday? Why is thanksgiving itself always on a Thursday? Was Macy’s the first American department store to sponsor a parade in celebration of Thanksgiving? How did American football become such a big part of the thanksgiving tradition? Is it true that the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day for plumbers? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How common is myopia around the world? Is it caused by genetics or lifestyle? How has myopia evolved with human activities? In aAmerican drug stores you often see a wide variety of reading glasses. Why are there no pre made options for myopia or near sighted people? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: notofyourworld, forams__galorams, cultish_alibi, pearlsb4pigs, explosivelydehiscent, norrisn and queltis6000 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why can't we just throw our trash into volcanoes to incinerate it? Why do some volcanoes erupt explosively while others have gentle lava flows? Why is Yellowstone National Park considered a super volcano? Which volcano created the loudest sound ever recorded? Can we use volcanos as energy sources? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: notofyourworld, forams__galorams, cultish_alibi, pearlsb4pigs, explosivelydehiscent, norrisn and queltis6000 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How are lab grown diamonds made? Are they exactly the same? Why do they have different prices and resale values? Which is more environmentally friendly? How have cultural and social attitudes evolved? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: pahpichulo, greenstrong, h0ly_s0x, twin_spoons and krimmson_ To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How do MRIs work? Why are they so expensive? Why are they so noisy? Are MRIs related to other scans like x-rays, CT scans and PET scans? Why aren’t full body MRIs more part of routine checkups? Why are they so expensive? If there is iron in our blood, is this affected by the magnetic fields in an MRI? Why was there controversy with the nobel prize awarded for MRI technology? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: danielaumbrella, superdad0206, duferino, 8daysuntiltheweekend, war-ear, glittering-ocean1, let_me-out, one2manythrees and truguido To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do military planes like the Hercules C-130 and Airbus A400M military transport planes use propellers instead of jet engines? What makes them more versatile for shorter runways? Why is a turboprop engine not the same as regular piston propeller engines? Explain the difference between a turbojet, turbofan and turboprop. ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: elena1995x, dirschau, airbornerodent, frat_guy_pa, arztnur, noxious89123 and kaiisim To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did we even measure it if it’s so fast? Why can’t anything go faster than the speed of light? If I were to take a really really really (light years) long stick and push something on the end of it, would it happen “instantly”? What are some of the loopholes that would allow us to theoretically exceed the speed of light? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: sometimesokayideas, diogeneskuon, maadmaxx, acrazygerman and tofuattack, thrasher1236969 and javanator999 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How are QR Codes better than regular barcodes? How do they work? The fourth corner square is kinda important - what kind of processing is going on for a QR code to be decoded? Why is error correction so important in QR codes? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: puppett_master, berael, middlefingerin, jagedmetalos, superpansy, simbonegtp and jcdu To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly is a Dyson Sphere? What materials would be required? What is a Dyson Swarm and a Dyson Bubble? Could any other civilizations have built a dyson sphere already? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: apprehensivemedia999, loki-l, kriss3d and joushmark To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Are the 100+ year old skyscrapers still safe? How do skyscrapers get built straight up without any leaning or imperfections or off angle walls? How does the concrete get poured so perfectly? How have designs changed over the years? What NYC had a 6% chance of falling in any given year? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: troyisawinner, justasking1t, johnproof, monkshabit, torostein, hopefulmonstr, hippityhoppityboop, flannelheart and krisalyssa To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did Shigeru Miyamoto come up with Mario, and how has this character evolved over the years? How is it that the first Mario Bros. game was about 32kb, but a JPEG of the game is over 300kbs in 2023? What made the game mechanics so special? Why is the first level of Super Mario still studied today? Who is the real-life Mario that the character is named after? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: mrblackops16, sneaky_gopher, displacedpie, grumblyoldman, summerandtinkles and mrdrofficer To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How does a lie detector test work? If people don’t trust their accuracy, why do agencies like the FBI and CIA still use polygraph tests? How is a polygraph test actually conducted? Are there any proven methods or techniques to "beat" a polygraph test? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: amainterrogator, rhomboidus, slightydamp_clothes, jetscootr, happy_bridge, baliflipper,jarljam and antechronos To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why does the moon perfectly cover the sun during a total solar eclipse? What's the difference between total, partial, and annular solar eclipses? It’s dangerous to look at the sun during a solar eclipse without proper protection, but is it more dangerous than staring directly at the sun when there isn’t an eclipse? How frequently do we get solar eclipses?Any tips for those wanting to photograph or view an eclipse? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: nolablue1024, troldann, lowtoiletsitter, antilokhos, thejeeronian, moonlightvenator, markydsade, csklmf86, blakeh95 and transparent_gilas To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

If all the cells in a person’s body have their individual DNA imprinted in them, then what happens after an organ transplant? Does the organ eventually adapt the DNA of the recipient or is the donor’s DNA permanently a part of the recipient? Do donated organs age according to the donor´s age or do they adapt to the age of the new body? Why do some countries have much higher percentages of people donating their organs compared to others? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: toitsExersNexqr, myxomatosis8, lazyfiish, lolziminreddit, tampeiter and suckatyourjob To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What are the two reasons that 1 is not classified as a prime number? How did the definition of prime numbers evolve? What is Euclid’s theorem and how does it relate to prime numbers? Explain the Twin Prime Conjecture. How do prime numbers play a crucial role in encryption methods, especially in securing digital communication? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: hypertinks, jamcdonald120, viskerratio, vladdy-the-impaler, frostyfingertips and functor7 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly causes a burp, and why does it happen? How do cows and their burps play a role in greenhouse gas emissions? When they say  “livestock are responsible for burping the methane equivalent of 3.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually" what does the methane equivalent of CO2 mean? Where was the world’s loudest burp recorded? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: yeetonem, purehatred89, insane_eraser, shakeshuka, mmmmmmbacon12345, bishopdamage, creasedjaw and rudimentarysasquatch To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do we feel the urge to yawn just by seeing or hearing someone else do it? Do animals yawn? Why do we yawn when bored or tired? Is the oxygen explanation a myth? Why does everything sound muffled when I yawn? Why do I tear up when I yawn? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: rhapsodysparkles, stonefan, fireindeedhot, sleozz, leafmeb, greshirtbrownguy, duzzeno and fendrbud To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why were the Olympics so strict about amateurism in the first place? Why were professionals not allowed initially? Who was disqualified for being a professional? How did the lines between amateur and professional blur? Are there any sports left in the Olympics that still maintain that strict amateur status? ... we explain like I'm five To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why should we ‘eject’ before physically removing a USB device? Who came up with the idea of USB in the first place? What is ‘juice jacking’ and why do we need to watch out for it? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: perkovic15, nmxt, admiralakbar1, thezhoumustgoon, dcsantonio, imlagginghelp, tstack123, intanetto, ddbaby, peppercakerinkiki and tbf16 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What causes a sore throat? Why is it that alcohol, which is a disinfectant, doesn’t cure a sore throat? Why is honey a popular remedy? Explain the science behind the "lump in your throat" feeling. Did George Washington die of a sore throat? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: perkovic15, nmxt, admiralakbar1, thezhoumustgoon, dcsantonio, imlagginghelp, tstack123, intanetto, ddbaby, peppercakerinkiki and tbf16 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly is a Dyson Sphere? What materials would be required? What is a Dyson Swarm and a Dyson Bubble? Could any other civilizations have built a dyson sphere already? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: apprehensivemedia999, loki-l, kriss3d and joushmark To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How does collagen differ from other proteins? What are the different types of collagen? Is there a way to slow down collagen loss as we age? What is the relationship between collagen and gelatin? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: leosar, kkl81, leg3ndwaitforitdary, thehealadin, yet_md, diffyqgirl, catortle- and jorhiru To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is the Mona Lisa the most famous painting in the world when many other paintings are technically harder? How was it stolen? Who is Lisa? What is so captivating about her smile? What happened to Louvre visitor numbers after the painting was stolen? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: w00dzy87, idrinkyrmilkshake, denisedenephew, tritter211, sidkkk, bird_thewarbearer, flyingblues and plasma_dan To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Is there a nutritional difference between frozen and fresh blueberries? Why do some blueberries taste sweet while others are tart? How are blueberries cultivated, and what are the different types? Does the "blue raspberry" exist? What is Bluetooth’s connection to blueberries? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: patricide, dawsomeofthat, krystar78, svarogteuse, bleach_on_a_turtle, fogobum, arpressah and maver456 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why has the three body problem been puzzling mathematicians for centuries? What is a real world example? What is its connection to chaos theory? Who wrote the famous fiction novel? Is there really any solar system out there like described in the book and Netflix series? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: takenorinvalid, jonboy82, afcagroo, emyrssentry, koooooj, hasenpfeffer_, ankhcinammon and rainerng. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did we go from secret handshakes to digital codes? Explain “something you know, something you have, and something you are”. Where was the first computer password invented? Why are SMS codes considered not that secure? Which former CIA director had their phone compromised via a teenage phone hack? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: aschentei, nottherealslash, elskerelks, mazaru , dissentologist and trueeyes To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is low earth orbit and how does it enable Starlink to deliver high quality internet? Do they need regulatory approval to operate in each country? With so many satellites, space debris and the risk of collisions must be a major concern - how does SpaceX manage these risks? Weren’t there some near misses early on? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: thaw4188, dkf295, makeitfermi, mfb-, darkalman, celem83, skrillex_wtf and cyanclam To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Who invented boba? Are bubble tea, pearl milk tea and boba all the same thing? Where is Tapioca originally from? If many people in Taiwan are lactose intolerant, how is it that milk tea would be invented there? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: thedarkabys, bazinga-5713, h1deki, fiercelyfuzzy, jordans_channel_, aeolianbroadsword and llanite To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly is the Higgs boson and why is it often referred to as the 'God Particle'? What is the significance of its discovery? What is a Boson? How does the Higgs Boson relate to the Big Bang Theory and the formation of the universe? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: aschentei, nottherealslash, elskerelks, mazaru , dissentologist and trueeyes To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How does life insurance actually work? What is the difference between term and whole life insurance? How do life insurance companies make money if everyone already dies? How do my lifestyle and health affect my premiums? How did a horror movie use life insurance to sell movie tickets? What happened when the astronauts of Apollo 11 tried to buy life insurance? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: querycrook, lord_probability, andrewtyne, demanbmore, babybunnybelly, longhorninnebraska, upset_force66 and blipsman To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

When did people start noticing El Niño and La Niña? What exactly are they? Where does the name come from? How do they affect global weather patterns? Do they really affect the Earth’s rotation? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: impar-exspiravit, thefiercedeity, nianp, colin52 and genxcub To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Can you explain the role of a jockey during a horse race? Why do horses start side by side in a race instead of a staggered start like in human races? How does horse racing differ from dog racing, and why is the latter often frowned upon? How betting odds work in horse racing? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: k0fi96, anecdotallyextant, alienfreaks04, the_camperdave, gameofchat, theicklestone, sceneofshadows, rsdancey and yourdadsbff To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did the NATO phonetic alphabet come about? Why were specific words chosen for each letter? Has it changed over time? Why is the number 9 spoken as “niner”? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: i_hate_platpi_ama, mykro76, hugepilchard, instantpowdy and randomusefulbits To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What do all the signs on an airport taxiway mean? What do the various markings and lights indicate? How are parallel runways numbered? Why does Atlanta Airport use an alternative NATO Phonetic Alphabet?  ... we explain like I'm five To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is it and why is Gore-tex so special?  Aren’t there other materials that are just as waterproof? How was it discovered? Why does proper care of Gore-tex jackets involve the tumble dryer? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: leonagano, kanobe24, oliverhazzzardperry, ligrgame and bassonb To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How do trains maintain traction on the tracks, especially during rainy or icy conditions? How do the wheels not slip off? Why do we always see stone or gravel on train tracks? How did early trains in the 1800s make sure they didn’t collide into each other? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: leprechaun2me, lblluke, kuddemuddel, toxiclayishimura_mjd, darthartero and dcsantonio To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What exactly is a bailout and how does it work? If a company gets bailed out with taxpayer money, shouldn’t the public now own it? Why do governments often choose to bail out banks? Why don't they just let them go under? How do CEOs from failing companies bailout with golden parachutes? Where does the money come from? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: leokz145, max_p0wer, effofexisy, dirt_mcgirt, dawnoftheshred, vivekparam, dudeitsmeee To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Is it possible for a regular passenger jet to break the sound barrier by riding on a really fast jet stream? How do jet streams form in the first place? Do they change throughout the year? How are they related to the polar vortex? How do commercial aircraft make use of the jet stream? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: warshadow, hugepilchard, stknrdr, burninatingpeasants and hemlockone To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Is matcha Japanese or Chinese? What makes matcha different from other green teas? How is it made? What is the special whisk for? How do you tell if the matcha you’re buying is high quality? How much caffeine is in matcha? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: vertexoflife, appleanche and rivertea To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]  

What else determines the quality of olive oil and what's the difference between extra virgin, virgin, and refined olive oil? How is olive oil extracted? What are the proven health benefits of consuming olive oil? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: probbablyacantolope, frommerman, gcarsk, natureman123 & attackads To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did ancient civilizations in 45 B.C. with their ancient technology know that the earth orbits the sun in 365 days? What is the exact length of an Earth year? How does the Gregorian calendar adjust for this discrepancy? There are some exceptions to leap years right? What is the Birthday Paradox? And does it apply to leap year birthdays? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: tommymikhaylov, davidrfz, pleural_mesothelioma, ansuz07, antithesys, mantufelis, evilabed24, ultopsso_yt To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is hypnosis capable of? Can anyone be hypnotized? Are there certain people who are more susceptible to it? Are there any potential dangers or side effects associated with hypnosis? How is hypnosis induced? Can someone put themselves into hypnosis? Can hypnosis be used to control or manipulate people against their will? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: thelazyguy001, lindsaymurray, thetimeischow, omarwazhere, aikawa_kizuna, animalprofessor, solidgol and the_wandering_mind To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]  

Why does scratching eczema affected skin feel good in that moment, when it actually worsens the skin condition? Why is it that eczema often appears in small patches on the body rather than being spread out? How does hydrocortisone work to relieve itching and inflammation caused by eczema? Is Eczema contagious? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: trianglesaurus, picklesrnoturfriend, qblez, 7superbaby7, jaydenlzw and oopsielalala To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Is there a significant difference between hand soap and body soap? Why does using bar soap often leave a "squeaky clean" feeling compared to liquid soap? How about antibacterial soap that has become popular in recent years? Is it more effective than regular soap? Is it alcohol in them that kills the bacteria? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: dankutobi, andiell, parallax3, germtheory, typhoneus, wafflebauf, formyfrog, catwhowalksbyhimself, amaranth1977 and lumpywon To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How do researchers accurately estimate the population of endangered species in the wild? How can the axolotl be both critically endangered and readily available in pet stores? How did the giant panda get off the endangered list? What is the process of how a species is declared endangered? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: inkypaws, nephisimian, jeremy_martin, iprocrastina, breckenridgeback, kulalolk, shejesa and cosmic_gallant To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is the Aurora Borealis? How do the various colors come about? Why are the northern lights primarily seen at the poles? Isn’t the magnetic north moving and what does that mean for where to spot the Aurora Borealis? What would it be like to be inside an Aurora? Is it even possible? Can you see the northern lights from space? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: venbrou, speckledjim, target880, anomalousenigma, itsapeljax, uncledan2017, jermleeds, zhendejiade99, thejeeronian, moogiemcfly and karlrutabaga To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is the difference between venomous and poisonous? How do snakes never get in a knot and if they do, how do they untangle themselves? Why do snakes have such potent venom? What happens when predators eat part of a snake that contains venom? Why are snakes evolving to not use their venom? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: casperslakes, xychologist, freestyle-scientist, freebytes, qyle95, yesssssssssssno, cameltrowe and phage0070 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why was VitaminWater sued over the 33g of sugar in each bottle? How do our bodies work with artificial sweeteners? Why do diet sodas taste different to regular ones? Are artificial sweeteners a good way to lose weight? Do they cause cancer? Why nutrition labels for TicTacs list zero sugar? ... we explain like I'm five Study referenced in this episode: Association between intake of sweetened beverages with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/pubmed/fdab069/6218497 Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: rhumsaa, iamaddicted2r_ddit, sablemint, richmana, phenylacetate, clburton24 and joe6161 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why are onomatopoeias different in different languages? If the sound is the same, why is it that the word for the sound is different? When was the first Onomatopoeia? Why is the word ‘cliche’ an onomatopoeia? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: masher_oz, drunken_assassin, seductive_cactus, drsjsmith, yoshiboo22, lobsang_ludd, vamosity-cosmic, mrdeathchicken and nkalinos To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How does the body decide where to add or take away fat when gaining or losing weight? Why is it that lower stomach fat and lower back fat are harder to lose compared to other areas? Why does working a muscle with low weight and high volume vs high weight and low volume yield different results? Why do powerlifters wear those big belts around their waists? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: gailson0192, sirduke6, limbonics, maxwellvador, maximov86, dirtydbag, Mookie_Merkk, djmcmayhem, thetreece and bakemechocolatecake To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

If the winter solstice is the longest night of the year, why does it mark the beginning of winter? Shouldn’t it rather mark the very middle of it? Why not have new years day be on the winter solstice?  ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: 2biggij, bobbyp27, zmech, markusx06, enigmasolver and mallad To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why are red, blue, and green considered primary colors for our TVs and Computer Screens, but for our printer ink, we have cyan, magenta, and yellow are primary colors in ink? What about red yellow blue as we are taught as 5 year olds? Could there be a fourth primary color? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jefferey1313, themuffinman91, amoebachant, goldgibbon, dodweon, try-catch-finally and kile147 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What are bed bugs? Can you see them? How long have they been around? We thought we had eradicated them at one point in the mid-20th century but why did they come back? Are there any health risks? How do I tell if I have them, and how does one get rid of bed bugs? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jigmest, loimographia, animaanon and btrpiii To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is Where’s Waldo called Where’s Wally in the UK and different names in other countries? How did the illustrator come up with the idea in the first place? Has Waldo become harder to find? Why is Where’s Waldo a well known example in cryptography for zero knowledge proofs? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: blob_io, evenspoonier, tdscanuck, vvbb22 and nuditi To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is it called Black Friday? Why is thanksgiving always on a Thursday? Did Macys invent the thanksgiving parade? Why is American Football a thanksgiving tradition? Why is the weekend after thanksgiving the busiest day in the year for plumbers? ... we explain like I'm five This episode was originally recorded in November 2021. Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: optoomistic, jcd1974, buddythebear, and cjk_exstream To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why aren't power lines in the US buried underground so that everyone doesn't lose power during hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters? What causes the audible electric 'buzzing' sound from overhead high voltage power lines? Why does Mozambique have some unique regulations for overhead powerlines? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: asanf, nebonit, stu_dying24, spectacularocelot and blade740 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

If crab fishing is so dangerous (think Deadliest Catch) why aren’t there crab farms like we have with fish? How do crabs breathe both in the water and on land? What does the phrase ‘crab mentality’ mean? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: lthawkington, yensid7, johan_no, imunown frosti11icus, kynthrus, alienrouge To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What’s the use of the cart that pushes back the airplane? Can planes not reverse without it? How can a cup of water not spill in an airplane when the plane tips its wings to make a broad turn? Why do military planes tend to have wings above the body and commercial planes have wings underneath the body? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: runborgondy, ableseacat14, nil_defect_found, cow_launcher, tehwildman_, jonnycruz666, mak-15 and plane_pro To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do warmer countries/closer to the equator tend to be poorer than colder countries? Is it the temperature? Was this always the case, throughout history?  Why did the Industrial Revolution happen in Europe and England instead of somewhere else? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: oustthetortol, thaddeauz, that_other_goat, majorex64, logicaljoiurnalist517 and burgergold To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

If hot air rises and cold air falls, why is it generally hotter at lower elevations and colder at higher elevations? Why is the temperature near the equator hotter than at the poles of the earth? Why is Death Valley the hottest place on Earth when it’s not near the equator? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to Robert for Pittsburgh, Pa. for writing in with this question. Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: cursed_gungan, mrs_roronoa, drcrno, purple_haze96 and the_origina_retro To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do we have two different types of screws?  If the Phillips head is superior, why haven’t flathead screws just been phased out over time? What are the benefits of the Allen and Torx type screws? Why do manufacturers like IKEA like to use Allen wrench screws for self assembled furniture instead of standard Phillips or flathead screws? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: darthhfaded, dmullaney, lucythefur, nagmay,dusktheumbreon and hawkeye18 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Do laser beams get wider over a distance? Why are most lasers red and not white in color? What’s the difference between a powerful flashlight and a white laser? Did Albert Einstein invent the laser? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: titaniumdragon, skoncol17, syloh, gibson45 and e_snap To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How does siri hear me say “hey siri” if it isn’t constantly listening to my conversations or me speaking? Why are most voice assistants’ wake phrases 3 syllables? “Hey Siri”, “Alexa”, “Hey Google”. How are synthesized voices (like Alexa and Siri) made? Why did the guy who is the voice of Siri not even know his voice was being used? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: buildedit, gnonthgol, xtremeed, mjmurcott, bigmamamk, sacredfool, taxoro and scienceissexy420 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How does a country devalue their currency, and why would they want to do that? What does it mean when people say a government is manipulating a currency? And what does it mean to either ‘peg’ or ‘float’ a currency? Explain the Bretton Woods system? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: sakiliya, wrsaunders and baldbear_13 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

When and where did money originate? Why are there two prevailing theories for how it came about? Why are there issues with the barter theory? If not the barter theory, what’s the other theory? What are some of the interesting phrases written on paper money? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Do Saunas and Steam rooms offer any actual health benefits? Do they help one’s skin? What happens to your body in a sauna? How can I sit in a 85 degree celsius sauna and not get burned, while water of the same temperature would scald badly? What is the Finnish connection? How do wood structures in saunas not rot or get moldy? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: billsauntieshouse, boobooaboo, maxweehus, saedius, groundbreakingcar379, sinistercheese, misomiso82 and onwardupwardforward To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How effective are ice baths and what are the benefits? How did they become so popular? Is it wrong to take a hot shower after a big meal? Is there danger from taking a shower in a thunderstorm? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jimmyb3121, qjkxkcd, copnonymous, sixpennydruid, nova_saibrock, xylarthetimeless and greenstrong To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

If there's 3.2 billion base pairs in the human DNA, how come there's only about 20,000 genes? What is a gene? What is the double helix? Why is it significant? Who deserves credit for the discovery of DNA? Why do some people think Rosalind Franklin should have been awarded a Nobel Prize? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: 1994x, coolbeans1114, xandarg and nickcagefan2 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Is it true that the temperature on Saturn is hot enough for it to rain diamonds. How can this be when the planet’s so far out from the sun? And how can this be given that Saturn is a gas planet? Why does Saturn have a Hexagon on its North Pole? Why are Saturn's rings almost perfectly flat and flush with each other? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: 10sans, kschoes, agate_, cessnablackbelt, jaa101, drdimebar, turboaoul81, wild_tetsujin and busterwasmycat To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How do bears manage to keep their muscles strong after hibernation? If bears can hibernate through the winter living strictly on fat, could people potentially do the same and just sit around and not eat anything? What mechanism allows seed to hibernate for thousands of years and simply wake up to the first sign of water? Would a bear that's raised domestically, including sleeping indoors, still go through hibernation? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: ripghost, nesbiteme, riconquer, auswanderer, zodadoza, 7ambez, inspectormac9, coolappz and meowsaysdexter To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why does every elevator have a "door close" button if almost none of these buttons actually work? Is it a placebo? Why do some elevators have an up and a down button on their door, when they call the elevator to your floor regardless? If an elevator is falling to the ground, would jumping right before it hits save your life? Why do engineers say a space elevator would have to be built at the equator? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: benignevil, elev8torguy, different_secret4912, ansuz07, captainpatent, flexipiezo, tomrlutong, ravingrook and professorferox To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why are there exactly four strokes in swimming? Why are the Native Americans credited with the invention of Front Crawl and why is it also called the Australian Crawl? How did Butterfly come about as a variation of breaststroke? When was the dolphin kick invented? ... we explain like I'm five To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]  

What’s the difference between Pickleball and Padel? Why is it called Pickleball? Was it named after the family dog? Why is the court the same size as a badminton court? Who is investing significant money into the sport? Can Pickleball or Padel surpass tennis in popularity? ... we explain like I'm five To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is the tesseract? The geometric shape, not the fictional Marvel space stone! How can we visualize a 4D shape in a 3D world? What did the great Carl Sagan say about why it’s so hard for us to imagine 4 dimensions? Who discovered the tesseract in the first place? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: lifewitheloise, portarossa, geetarmikey, green_meklar, sabertoothedpudding and okami31 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What does a central bank do? What’s the difference between a central bank, a reserve bank and a monetary authority? Why are some people against having a federal reserve? What is a CBDC, a central bank digital currency? How is it different to crypto currencies? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: reingding13, yellowjacketcoder, ronquistador, rdavidson24, sakiliya, wrsaunders, litecow and cross_keynesian To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How realistic are the Hollywood movie portrayals of amnesia compared to real-life amnesia? Why is it that when people get amnesia, they don't forget everything? Why do people with amnesia not forget their primary language for example? What’s the difference between retrograde and anterograde amnesia? Is there anything that can be done to treat or manage amnesia? Is it possible to ‘fake’ amnesia? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: favoritecolorsreddit, jowwill, stuartgotz, dildingo, rosemourne, cerberus73, wzup, untenabell, faelyn42 and omegaprimus To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How do French words like “cul-de-sac” and “hors d'oeuvres“ end up part of the English language without being translated to English words? Why did a language as widely spoken as Latin completely die? Why does this 'dead' language still have such a powerful presence in modern English? What is a calque? Why do some Latin phrases remain untranslated in common usage, like "status quo," "vice versa"?  ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: fergi20020, nmxt, schnutzel, nico87ca and phasmafelis To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Did you know that some of today's deserts were once seas, lakes, or lush forests? How do oases exist in such arid regions? Why does the US have huge cities in the desert? Why did people settle there? How is the Sahara linked to the thriving of the Amazon rainforest? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: dreadmcyt, murky-entertainer-81, toddwhiskey, teelmetheworld, fehnboi, exponentials, a_saddler and chel_of_the_sea To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do some countries have Presidents, some have Prime Ministers, and some countries have both? What is the difference? What about France, where there’s both a president and a prime minister. Why is it that in some places the President is more powerful but in others like Germany the Prime Minister is more powerful? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: lawstuden2, lancashire_lad, feb914, winstonl, psyk60 and chickentrousers To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How can just a few hundred cables under the ocean provide the internet to the entire world? Who actually owns and manages these cables? Who lays these undersea cables in the first place? What do these cables look like? Was it a shark or boat anchor that nearly took down the internet in several countries in 2008?  ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: tezoatlipoca, newpassionfruit and chaotic_lemming To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is the purpose of prison bail? If somebody should or shouldn’t be jailed, why make it contingent on an amount of money that they can buy themselves out with? What is a bond? If you are not denied bail, what are your choices? How much is typical bail? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: lyghtpete, petwins, yglorba, umassmza, drafterman, red_atnight and willvasco To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How are they and other surfaces you see around in public places considered antimicrobial without cleaning them? What does it even mean to be antimicrobial? How exactly does silver and copper kill bacteria? What did ancient civilizations do with copper? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: secretantworshiper, ghosttrees, notrickwick, shinyafro and goldenslye. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do we have a limit on the amount of hand carry liquids when we travel, and how is the fluid limit in airports an effective security measure? How was the TSA formed? Are those full body scanners at airports safe?   ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: thestarkreality, bunjay, mocha-shaka-khan, genxcub, newfocus1964 and xonth To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How are scientists so sure that the Megalodon is extinct? Especially since I keep on hearing them say we’ve explored less than 5% of the earth’s deepest oceans? What did they look like? Where did they live? How did they become extinct? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: blackwolfeone, m8asonmiller, rawrthedinosawrr, tomalator, theworthing, ippus_21 and indigoindica_za To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?” Where did the terms originate? What does “aft” mean and why is it different from the stern? Why do large ships have their anchors in the bow and not the stern or either port or starboard sides?  ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jattopotamus, dbht14, commissaraj, quintus_horatius and proofbox To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What in energy drinks provides stimulus over and above that from caffeine? Are they superior to coffee or tea? How did Pepsi and Coca Cola start out as energy drinks? Why are their health warning labels on some energy drinks? What are the benefits of energy drinks? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: svijetokonas, gingrpenquin, seaztheday, harrietbeadle, astroember, -kibbles-n-t**s- and m_t_rv_s__n To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What happens inside your brain when you inhale nitrous oxide? Why is it called laughing gas? When did we start using laughing gas for medical use cases? Is it safe? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: linguista420, slugcunt69, infinitysquared and kodack10 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How do sinkholes happen? What exactly are they? What are Cenotes? Why do sinkholes have so many different names around the world? What is the deepest sinkhole in the world? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jaded57, dixonmyaz, berkeleykev, back2beantown, francischarlesbacon and fish_823543 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How is GPS free? How is it profitable for companies to offer services like navigation without subscription fees or ads? Why did the US government open GPS up to the public? Why does GPS work even when underground and in buildings? Explain triangulation like i’m 5! ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: gentlemantroglodyte, trick_individual_42, samkusnetz, thedankbank1021, bareback_cowboy, secretantworshiper and bbqroastgentlemantroglodyte, trick_individual_42, samkusnetz, thedankbank1021, bareback_cowboy, secretantworshiper and bbqroast. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is nuclear fusion and how is it significant to us? How is it different to nuclear fission? What is the significance of the recent news that we have reached ‘ignition’ of nuclear fusion? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: wickinked, straight-faced_solo, km89, aetius476, nerdofnight and hurricanebrain To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is there a ring at the end of the opening of a balloon? What creates the noise of a ballon popping? Who invented the ballon? Why do helium balloons shrink in size over time? .. we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: marv1nnn, trooper_x, secretantworshiper, fujikitakyusho, brian_vogel, 18_usc_47 and moskau50 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did people maintain their teeth before toothpaste? If the first modern toothpastes were not sold in tubes, what were they sold in? When did they add fluoride? Why can't our teeth heal like our skin and bones? .. we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: dude-e, wenchister, the-illusiveman, duplojamaal, nemesis24k, perseus_turambar, who_cares_about_name and radbadtad To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What was the point of the skull and bones pirate flag? why would you give away that you are a pirate? What does no quarter mean? What is the jolly roger? With pirates in literature like Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Long John Silver and Captain Jack, which pirates were historical and which were fictional?  .. we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: hairweawekiller, stairway2evan, caesar_, pegajace, bulbliksmaz and tmahfan117 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is the abbreviation for the unit of weight, pounds LBS? Where did the metric system come from in the first place? Why is it so confusing to figure out if the USA an adopter of the metric system or not? Is there a metric system for time? .. we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: stratocast7, londonpilot, wengerista, foxmt, tmdaniel, invincibill, voltronforlife and carbondnb To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Where did the word ketchup come from? Why do the Cantonese and Malaysians both claim it originated from their languages? Where does the Indonesian, French and Arabic connections come in? What makes Ketchup special as a non-Newtonian fluid? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you as always to the r/explainlikeimfive community. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Are tomatoes a fruit or vegetable? Why is ketchup considered a legal vegetable in California? Why are sun-dried tomatoes safe to eat, while eating a tomato you left on the windowsill for too long would probably make you ill? How can restaurants leave ketchup and mustard out all day but the bottles you buy in the store say to refrigerate after opening? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: spczippo, cbd03b, lolgobbz, kgisaboss, amoeba, sadoni, oneandonlyjackschitt and barrysquatter To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is the Streisand effect? How was Barbara Streisand involved? Why is it such a universal from China to South Africa? What are the implications of the Streisand Effect in recent ‘right to be forgotten’ legal cases? ... we explain like I'm five As always, thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community. To the ELI5 podcast community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Could you give a person with Alzheimer's a fact sheet to carry with them, reminding them of every truth about them, including the fact that they have Alzheimer's? What is the difference between Alzhiemers and Dementia? What causes Alzheimer's disease? What were the breakthroughs of the 1990s? What were the recent breakthroughs that made the news? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: lordica, waspocracy, angelamotorman, carduus_benedictus and mistermarchmont To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

If I send a letter or postcard from the UK to the USA, who gets money from my stamp? Once it reaches the receiving country, what makes them obliged to deliver my letter if they are not receiving payment for it? When was the global system for postage established? How does overnight shipping get where it's going faster than a normal package? Why not make everything overnight? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: riconquer2, riphitter, rhynod, psunavy03, prudent-artist-274, p33k4y, arcturusflyer and admirable_cry_3795 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How and when did the food pyramid originate? What has since replaced it? What is the Sweden connection? Why have many people been critical of the food pyramid? What is the hamburger question? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: paul277, andyfox1979, comissaraj, jbass55, caboosetp and overim To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do cardio machines require you to put two hands on them to measure your heart beat when a wrist watch can do it just with one wrist? What’s the difference between an ECG and EKG? Which types of monitor is most accurate? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: saltyson32, internetboyfriend666, blindedbythesight, iuse2bgood, vexx_nl, angryocelot and notwearingatie To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is a run on the bank? Why it can happen in a fractional reserve banking system? What’s the best thing to do when there’s a bank run? When was the first bank run? Can we prevent bank runs? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is the difference between swiping my bank card as a credit vs. a debit? Why do you need to use credit to get rewards points?  What role does Visa and Mastercard play in the process? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: bringer_of_words, tehwildman_, herohas, niuniu1218, civil_politics, goldzatfig, londonpilot and loodog To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What causes turbulence? How do airplane pilots sometimes know when they about to hit turbulence? Why have heat waves caused airlines to ‘bump’ passengers? How did Van Gough depict turbulence before physicists had even discovered it? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion, especially the following users: miles_by_the_inch, 9country, optionsquare, apleima2, interneerd9 and p_u_c_k_iv To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is it called Coca Cola? How did we get the nickname Coke? Where does the logo come from? Who invented it and who is responsible for all the advertising that Coca Cola has been associated with? Why is it made with different types of sugar in different parts of the world? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What two fears are we all born with? What is the most common phobia? Why are phobias categorized as specific and social phobias? Who are some famous people with phobias? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What’s the difference between a pyramid scheme and a Ponzi scheme? Why is it called a Ponzi scheme? What are some of the most famous Ponzi schemes in history? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: brentrs89, megatron_mclargehuge, eyeheartboobs, fifth_down, rodneymunch11, lazydracula and kevlarbuns To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How exactly does turning a device off and on fix such a wide array of tech problems? Why are you sometimes asked to turn something off and wait 20 seconds before plugging it in again? Why did ctrl-alt-delete get invented and why this particular key sequence? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: anthraxl0l, damienwithrice, additional-you-5979 and nit3fury To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do "bad smells" like smoke and rotting food appear to linger longer and are harder to neutralize than "good smells" like flowers or perfume? Why is the smell of garlic so hard to get rid of? Why does airplane food universally taste bad? How do our genetics affect our sense of smell and taste with herbs like cilantro / coriander? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: faerlina, bostwickenator, bigdipper80, darth_mufasa, bobatsfight, darwins_dog, unsubtleflounder, godsenfrik and cyberneticpanda To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do European trucks have their engine below the driver compared to US trucks which have the engine in front of the driver? What are the weightstations on US interstates used for? Is Optimus Prime European or American? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: shaaeft, sgrumpy, holyhand_grenade, missionred, krimin, sliceoflife and serath62 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How do ants deal with raindrops? Why don’t they hurt or drown them? How do ants cling to a surface so well that blowing at them hard doesn't budge them, even if the surface is somewhat smooth?  How do queen ants get so big? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: raydenbrough, wutzupples69, roydragoon89, graebot, rickyy1900 and notsocoolnow To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is the discovery of e=mc^2 such a big deal? How important was it really? In what way did it make smartphones possible? What was special about the way Einstein was taught algebra? Why do we always think of the iconic photo of Einstein with his tongue out? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: cumoisseur, grungyit, rasye and polar_roid To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

If we breathe out carbon dioxide, why does CPR work? Why does modern CPR training de-emphasize rescue breaths? CPR manuals talk about doing 100-120 chest compressions per minute - why so much faster than the average pulse of around 60-80? What does Michael Jackson have to do with CPR? Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: derstherower, voijarisa, cakeday173, marconidas, vaingloriou5, mavetju, joetomic, cashmoneykat, tezoatlipoca and rumble_n_the_bronchs To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Is it ok to pee in the swimming pool? Is pee poisonous or sterile? Which famous swimmers admitted to peeing in the pool? Why is it ok for sea creatures in the ocean, if all the creatures are peeing in there? How does urine indicator dye work? (hint it doesn’t) ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: nybiggs, sciviasknows, wubaluba_dubdub, that_biology_guy, gumburcules and bananajesus Details on the Canadian study we referenced: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/mar/01/how-much-pee-is-in-our-swimming-pools-new-urine-test-reveals-the-truth To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What do they mean when they say Jupiter is a "gas" planet? Could a rocket be shot through it? Can a space ship land on it? If Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a storm, why has it been there for so long? Why was the Juno mission one of NASA’s most difficult? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: simonowens, billandteds69 and spriddler To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How is it possible to get the caffeine out of coffee beans? How was the process accidentally discovered? What percentage of caffeine needs to be removed for it to be considered decaf? Is it true that coffee makes you want to go to the toilet? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: realnotfake, subzerot, another1mitesthedust, darthvirgin, gregw134, brackattack27, yalloc, gnonthgol and jwstap To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How common is dyslexia? How does dyslexia work? Is it genetic or environmental? Who are the famous dyslexics? Are you dyslexic in all languages? Why is the font Comic Sans notable for people with dyslexia? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: blitzwolf, -monarch, fl-etchersketch, ezferns, firestorm8880, faaizk and plebdog To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why do powdered donuts feel cold? Why are donuts often associated with the police? Where does the donut come from? How did the hole get invented? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: cmonster194, speckledeggs, informationhorder, daracmarjal, liamthebobbitt, zyreal and crazykiahl To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why does the ampersand exist? Why do movie credits have a specific use of the ampersand? When did it stop being the 27th member of the alphabet? What does ‘per se’ mean in the context of the ampersand? Why is the ampersand written the way it is? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: moongosling, uniqueusername014, jayman419 and kaffekalle. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did they disprove the common assumption that our skin wrinkles or water aging occurs because water makes it swell? What did they observe and how is this fact used in the medical field today? What evolutionary purpose does wrinkled fingers serve? What other medical conditions could wrinkled fingers be linked to?   ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: forgivethepast, axel927 and dday0123. Nature article referenced in episode: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2013.12175  To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why does it feel so strange to step onto a stationary escalator? What do the brush type things on the side of escalators do? Why are escalator steps jagged with the brushlike shape at the top and bottom? Why do escalator handrails often run at slightly different speeds than the steps? Why does it feel so strange to step onto a stationary escalator? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: ferdinand00, v0kun, banauuuuh, teddyjules, rashikun, south5, ac7ss, voltenic and aptom203 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

What is Occam’s Razor? Why is it so commonly misunderstood? Why do people talk about hooves and zebras when describing it? Who was Occam, and why is it his razor? What is Occam’s broom? What are other philosophical razors that we should know about? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: shadowofthewild, stairway2evan, bakanobaka, albatroopa, zjm555, lukavwolf and mredding To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why is it called a bear market? How did it become used to describe financial markets? What does it have to do with bear skins? What does a stock market ‘dead cat bounce’ mean? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: tallahazey21, lazerslayer, azotta and willtheyeverlearn To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

We talk so much about oxygen and carbon, but 80% of the atmosphere is nitrogen. How does it fit in? Why does it not get talked about? Why does 1% of the world’s energy go into speeding up the nitrogen cycle? Why do divers know a lot about nitrogen? Why is liquid nitrogen so useful? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: chicagofaucet, edman007-work, topomouse and scarabic. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How did white become the standard color for golf balls, when a more vibrant color would make it easier to see as it’s flying through the air? How do TV camera people follow golf balls so accurately? How is ‘par’ determined for a golf course? And of course, the classic golf question - why are there dimples on golf balls? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: thepainapple, the_original_retro, cyb0ninja, zippo16, tezoatlipoca, xmosse, fringeaverage, robbak, toro816, akylax To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why did we settle on chicken eggs as our standard eggs? Why not quail eggs, duck eggs or even ostrich eggs? What in evolution made chickens so productive? How did cow’s milk win over goats milk or bison milk? What is the concept of the butter line and why does it matter? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: budford12, misanthropeX, greenstrong, acceptablemadness, alexl14, darkalman and cavemanjoe47 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]  

What’s the difference between natural gas, gasoline and crude oil? Why doesn’t the flame from a gas stove ignite the supply line? How is natural gas transported via pipeline if it’s a gas? Why do gas pipelines have bendy sections? How come we see clean air natural gas buses, but not really any natural gas cars? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: cheetahs_never_win, cerebralaccountant, darkalman, Badcat7, hezec, bigflagellum, evr-, individual-manner-27, loydhenderson, diamondicens and gazzaggerty To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Some people say Coca Cola tastes different from an alumninum can compared to when drinking out of a glass bottle? Why is the level of fizziness also different between aluminum, plastic and glass bottles? What is so hard to replicate about the original Coca Cola? How can soft drinks like Coca-Cola Zero have almost 0 calories in them? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: mossimo5, wanerious, chabays, ammon-jerro, decademoon and moy2093 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Which is more popular, driving on the left side of the road or the right? How has this changed in the last 100 years? How did Sweden manage to make the switch from left hand traffic to right hand traffic in one day? What are the practical considerations? Is this the same for rail and boat transport? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: cincy2000, rappatic and definitely_robots To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

Why are clothes that are hung to dry crunchy/stiffer than clothes dried in a dryer? How does spandex make cotton stretchy? What does it mean when they say cotton 50% and something else 50% like polyester or lycra? Please explain bed sheets and thread counts?   ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: ldi1, prionbacon, dbmaniac, shoziku, aktuarie, motomike256, dansworth, quantumhamster, demanbmore, kstakka, platanosinpantalon, jarjarawakens and pescodar189. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]

How is monkeypox related to smallpox? Why was it possible to eradicate smallpox, when it’s been impossible to do for other diseases? Why do vaccines owe their name to smallpox? What is cowpox? How does chickenpox fit into all this? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jimmiekosmo, afinkawan, meerkatmanor987, gingercunt101, prasiatko, mikeevans1990 and jefetoro1234 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]  

What are stable coins and why do we even need them? What’s the mechanism that makes them stable? What are the different types of stable coin? How did the algorithmic stable coin Terra work, and why did it unravel?   ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: fihaal42, tehwildman_, enough_blueberry_549, sleep_naked, red_atnight and lawproud492. Some extra resources: https://medium.com/@lawrenceg/what-are-stablecoins-and-why-do-we-need-them-db83c85b86b https://multicoin.capital/2018/01/17/an-overview-of-stablecoins/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stablecoin To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: [email protected]