[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [40k] What is the background story for Humanity in the 40k universe?

[Assistant] Humanity became an advanced star faring race first sometime in the 15th millennium. We spread amongst the stars in massive warp capable ships guided by a new breed of mutant that could see through the immaterium carrying STC machines capable of recreating all human technology. Sentinent AI called Men of Iron fought our battles for us. In the 25th millennium however, they rebelled against us. We brought them down but at a great price. It shattered our power and began the age of strife, also known as the Long Night. Humanity's empire crumbled into various tiny factions, most losing. Contact with one another.   Back on Terra, in the 31st millennium the Emperor reconquers Earth thanks to proto Astartes called Thunder Warriors, genetically engineered warriors. He begins his Great Crusade and unites most of humanity before being betrayed by his favorite son, Horus. The Horus Heresy ends with the Emperor hooked to the Golden Throne for life support and his sons dead or missing. Without the guidance of the Emperor, humanity is slowly botching up his Empire. The Imperium has held on to its power through sheer willpower and number for 10 thousand years, besieged on all sides by xenos, the threat of chaotic corruption ever looming above them. Everyday millions of guardsmen are killed on a thousand worlds protecting the uncountable trillions of citizens of the Imperium. The sacrifice of these men, and various other factions like the Astartes, keep humanity from being torn a part in a galaxy that knows only war.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [DC] What is actually wrong with The Joker? Why does his only motivation seem to be causing as much pain as possible?

[Assistant]
There are so many versions of the Joker that theres no single answer to this question.

However, one thing that pretty much every version seems to agree on: the Joker is a showoff with a huge ego.

He thinks hes smarter than everyone else and has figured out the world in a way no one else has (except maybe Batman). He lacks empathy and has a warped sense of humor, so crime and murder are just part of the show for him. He does them because he thinks theyre funny.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[LOTR] Was Pippin's fuckup at the beginning of "The Return of the King" really necessary or else they wouldn't've seen the invasion of Gondor?

With how weakened Gondor was, and how Boromir's actions showed some level of desperation, wouldn't Gondor be the most likely place for Sauron to make a move next? He and his minion Saruman were already terribly defeated at Rohan, so the only pieces that Sauron had left to move were at Osgiliath and maybe his pirate friends from the south.

[Assistant]
If you're referring to the palantr, and discussing only the film, then I'd guess the answer is yes. Gandalf thinks it fortunate that they've seen Sauron's plan, which suggests he'd have otherwise been somewhat unsure what exactly Sauron had planned.

In the books Pippin doesn't see the Minas Tirith in the palantr, he sees only Barad-dr, the Nazgl, and Sauron. Even before Pippin looks into the stone, Gandalf already knows Sauron will strike at Minas Tirith.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Full Metal Alchemist] Why can't Edward just fix his automail arm via transmutation?

Couldn't he just use some extra metal and transmutation in order repair his arm? He fixed a broken radio once, why shouldn't his arm be different?

[Assistant] In order to transmute, you have to complete a circuit... which means 2 hands. He does transmute his automail... he does it all the time, turning it into a sword glove. His leg gets destroyed completely once or twice. On these occasions the elements of his leg automail get partially disintegrated, so he's got no hope of putting it back together. ...at least in his early days. By the end of his trek he is more than able to transmute a brand new automail from base elements... but he wouldn't anyways, because he likes to see Winrey. Plus, she does a better job than he ever could. He may be a master alchemist but he can't begin to match her automail skills.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
How does cancer spread?

I've recently learned that cancer may spread into different tissues (for example prostate cancer into the bone). Since cancer is usually not caused by any pathogenic microorganism, which could infect other parts of the body, how does it spread into different organs?

[Assistant]
In order to spread (metastasize), cancer cells must detach from the primary tumor, invade into the circulatory (blood vessels) and lymphatic systems, evade immune attack, extravasate at distant capillary beds, and invade and proliferate in distant organs (such as bones in the case of prostate and some other cancers).
How cells manage to do each of these steps is very complex and the subject of intensive research.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
Why do our eyes become red when we are deprived of sleep?

It's a classical sign. Why does it happen?

[Assistant] When the small blood vessels on the surface of the eye (sclera) become enlarged and congested with blood, as a result of insufficient oxygen supply to the cornea or the tissues covering the eyes, the eyes can become red. Sleep deprivation, alcohol, and decreased tear secretion at night can all contribute.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Avatar: The Last Airbender] Why did the Fire Nations Ember Island Players portray their enemies like that?

Yeah, they make everyone look incompetent and foolish, but theyre also portrayed as goofy and likable, and a few moments (like Yue leaving for the moon) are played with relative sincerity as well as humor.

Wouldnt it be better propaganda to make the Gang and their allies look evil?

[Assistant]
From their perspective, the Gaang is already evil and that doesn't need to be explained. We're basically watching the Fire Nation version of Mitchell & Webb's "Are We The Baddies" sketch or Mel Brooks' assorted send-ups of the Nazi Party. They're mocking the enemies of the nation and crowing their inevitable defeat, but they're not looking to make atrocity porn, or Schindler's List. They need to do something with these characters other than have them eat babies and kill innocent soldiers.

Further, the Players don't seem to be an official propaganda organ of the Fire Nation. There's likely a censor making sure they don't go too far off the rails, but they aren't being dictated the entire script (note how Sokka's Player is able to ad-lib a bit using the real Sokka's notes), and are making a production they believe the people will want to see. And what they think people want to see (and based on the loaded house, they're right) is a chance to have a bit of catharsis by laughing at the largest threat to their status quo and then cheering as they fail miserably at the 1 yard line.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Vampires, Etc.] What if a zombie bites a werewolf, becoming a Zombie Werewolf, then the zombie werewolf is bitten by a Vampire? Does it become a zombie werepyre?

This is assuming that we have a full moon out through this entire process.

[Assistant]
Zombies, werewolves, and vampires are generally immune to catching each other's 'curses'.

Not to mention in most settings that have vampires and werewolves, zombies are magical creatures and not the product of some kind of virus that spreads from zombie bites.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [MCU] Does Doctor Strange remember all the times Dormammu killed him in the Dark Dimension?

[Assistant]
Yes. This is part of the reason he's so much more powerful in *Infinity War*; he had a long, long time to practice battle magics while he was bargaining with Dormammu.

The fact that he will remember each death is implied in their dialog. Dormammu says that he will kill Strange over and over again, to which Strange replies "pain is an old friend." Strange knows that he's going to suffer greatly, but he's used to suffering greatly.

You can also read into the tone in his voice. He starts out strong and commanding, but toward the end of the sequence, he's becoming playful. Strange is basically saying "hey Dormammu, remember me from five seconds ago? Still here. Wanna do this again? Okay, cool. I've got nowhere to be."


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Star Wars] How close are to the atmosphere are the tallest buildings on Coruscant?

From what I can tell, the surface of Coruscant is miles and miles from places like the Jedi Temple, which begs in question, how high up is the Jedi Temple? How are people able to breath up at that height?

[Assistant]
> how high up is the Jedi Temple?

15-16km up. It was on the surface and the highest level of Coruscant was level 5127 so the Jedi Temple would have been somewhere close to that. If each level was 3-a little over 3m high then you get in that ball park.

> How are people able to breath up at that height?

The buildings have HVAC systems just like real life skyscrapers. They regulate air quaility throughout the building pumping air up as needed, managing temperature and humidity to keep them within a comfortable levels. Coruscant also has a weather control system for the planet that probably does a lot to maintain air quality at the higher levels.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why are camera lenses round but photographs are square/rectangular?

[Assistant] Because it is easier to cut a round magnifier than a rectangular one, also, most cameras are not fixed lens, which means they have interchangeable lenses, it is easier to connect something using a thread than clasps, round objects take to threads easier than rectangular object.  It has nothing to do with the final shape of the image why lenses are round.  The reason why the image is rectangular is because the sensor and film cells is rectangular, if the focal pattern created by the lens is smaller than the sensor or film cell you get a grayish black circular outline, anything larger will expose the entire area thus no circular outline.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [Fallout Series] Why doesnt the New California Republic just wage total war against Caesars Legion? They seem like they have the firepower and troop numbers to do it.

[Assistant] The NCR is stretched super thin as it is and as long as nothing changes, the Legion should(no guarantees) burn itself out in a generation. As long as the Dam is held, the NCR can afford to play the waiting game.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Star Wars] What did Lando do the Carbonite?

In Episode V, as C-3PO is saying that Han should be OK if he survived the freezing process, Lando turns a small dial on the side of the carbonite's frame in a manner that suggests only the audience and himself know he's doing something to it. What's he doing?

[Assistant] I believe he's checking Han's life signs. Since immediately after that he says "He's fine. He's in hibernation" (or something like that). Maybe the dial was just there to adjust what vital signs he was looking at?


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
Why banks doesn't like deflation?

Why are they want to avoid deflation at any cost? I'm aware of the deflationary spilar but why are they not targeting let's say 1% deflation instead of 2% inflation every year. Banks live because of debt and with deflation that debt becomes more valuable.

[Assistant]
"banks" don't have a say in what kind of inflation or deflation to target, the central bank does, and they aren't a business who wants to earn money, their goal is price stability and low unemployment.

It doesn't really matter if you target low and stable inflation or deflation, it would just be priced in and interest rates wouldn't be different in real terms.

The issues come in when recessions happen. Those often lead to lots of deflationary pressure, and if you already have deflation, and people already expect deflation, it's much more difficult to get away from that during recessions.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
Is learning HTML a waste of time?

I want to learn how to optimize my shopify website and start selling things, so I thought it'd be a great idea to learn HTML. I already know some basics because of stuff like myspace and blogs from back in the day but I want a better foundation.

Was talking to my cousin and he said that HTML is in the 90's, and learning Javascript would be better and not to waste my time. I'm just trying to make my website look cool. What's the best route to go? Thanks.

[Assistant]
Your cousin has no idea what he's talking about. JavaScript dynamically ~~renders~~ generates HTML. You still need to know HTML in order to tell JavaScript how to mutate it. JavaScript does little to nothing if there's no HTML involved. Absolutely learn HTML first, before anything else.

FreeCodeCamp is a great resource.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why do pullies make objects seem lighter when they are lifted?

[Assistant]
Pulleys are a way of transmitting work (Force x Distance).  The pulley systems effectively reduce the amount of force required to pull an object, but inversely proportionally increase the distance you need to pull.

Thus moving a 10kg a distance of 1m with a simple 2:1 pulley system would require pulling 2m of rope with a force of 5kg.

You can then increase this pulley advantage to lift very large loads, but very slowly.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
ELI5: Why does pressure to muscles in pain, help reduce the pain?

As a massage therapist I'm curious. Also, posted this a few days ago and forgot to add a flair so here it is again.

[Assistant]
Pain can be modulated via a mechanism called Gate Control Theory.

When you apply pressure to an area of pain, it results in inhibition of the nerve fibers bringing the "pain" sensation to your conscious mind.

This is also the basic principle behind why when you bump your knee, you rub it and it feels better.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why do we try to stop coughing by using medicine, isn't our body trying to get rid of the mucus in our lungs by coughing?

[Assistant]
Pharmacist here:

First thing we were taught about OTC treatments of cough were that you "never suppress a productive cough." If the patient is clearing their mucus with their cough then it is productive and is making them better and we don't need to suppress it.

That being said, there are many times when a cough suppressant is needed.

First: Non-productive cough. Many coughs are not clearing mucus and are caused simply by irritation or inflammation in the airways. This is common in cold/flu illness. If the cough is already non-productive and the patient doesn't have chest congestion (the easiest sign of mucus in the airways). Then there is no reason not to suppress.

Second: Sleep. Our patients aren't going to get better if they spend their whole night up coughing instead of sleeping. Sometimes it's better to suppress the cough for a few hours and let them get some sleep.

ELI5 version: Because some patients just don't want to cough.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Harry Potter] What aren't the Gryffindors telling us?

In the books, the main characters are all members of one house: Slytherinish Harry, Ravenclawish Hermione, Hufflepuffish Ron are all somehow sorted into Gryffindor, the house of which Dumbledore was also a member.

These are the figures who are writing the history. Other voices, like those representing Slytherins' historic desire for protection against Muggle oppression, or the inconvenient reporting of the *Daily Prophet* or even *The Quibbler*, are generally marginalized, mocked or delegitimized.

How can one really tell what's true? What's the other side of the story?

[Assistant]
Dumbledore pretty much ruled Britain from the shadows. He was a crucial member of every important organization in wizarding society, not only did he lead Hogwarts, but also had the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards in his pocket, and commanded a technically illegal paramilitary force, the Order of the Phoenix. He accomplished everything Grindelwald and Voldemort wished they could have, just in a more subtle manner.

Of course, he arranged it so that his vision of the world would survive him. Harry Potter, widely known to be Dumbledore's protege, now directs law enforcement in the country, and ~~her~~ his friend, Hermione Granger, is Minister of Magic.

Minerva McGonagall, former member of the illegal Order of the Phoenix, is now Headmaster at Hogwarts. It's been almost 70 years of continued Gryffindor, Dumbledorist administration at the premier Wizarding school in Britain. Even Slytherin has been corrupted, with Harry Potter somehow managing to have one of his children sorted into the House.

Of course, the old families are almost extinct. The Blacks went extinct in the war, the Malfoys are disgraced and shunned by Wizarding society. It's a rapidly changing world.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Stranger Things]why is the movie theater advertising The Terminator as there top billed Halloween movie, it was envisioned low budged schlock when it first came out plus its R hated so no kids (IE the demographic Halloween marketing focused on most) can't see it?

Edits:"no kids can see it"

[Assistant]
Terminator was the #1 movie on October 26, 1984, edging out Terror in the Aisles (also R-rated).  4/5 of that weekend's top 5 were R-rated as well.

Halloween that year was on a Wednesday, assuming trick-or-treat was that night, that would have given the theater operator time to decide to push it.  The next weekend had no wide-release movies open, so leading off into that weekend with last week's #1 seems like a sound strategy.

Furthermore, even if trick-or-treat was before Halloween in Hawkins that year, it still lines up.  Of all the new movies that came out on 10/26/84, 3 were R-rated, and 2 were PG.  Of those, the PG ones weren't blockbuster material, and of the R-rated ones, one was Terminator, one was a documentary, and one was a bit more adult-oriented.  Terminator was probably just the logical choice of those five.

Also, it's not like the age restrictions are a legally binding thing.  If teenagers, or even middle-schoolers, wanted to get into see Terminator, they probably could have.

(I sourced that info off BoxOfficeMojo, if you want to corroborate)


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
What happens when piece of food fall in lungs?

What if you choke on and little piece of food fall in lungs? Is there difference be it lollypop or bread?

What about small insect?

[Assistant]
In your aerial paths (trachea, bronchi, etc...) there are cells producing mucus wich engulfs the dust, small bugs,  (small) pieces of food. And those cells present cilia which move back and forth to make this mucus go up. Once it reaches the back of your mouth, you swallow it and let your digestive system deal with it.

Inside your alveoli, there are no cils but macrophages can digest most of what comes here. Some compounds are problematic though like silica, asbestos, cigarette smoke,  smoke from exhaust pipes... When macrophages digest those, they die and release toxic compounds which can destroy the cells and create scar tissue or even tumors.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
ELI5: How did penguins develop to the stage they are at now?

 Are their flippers residual wings or fins? And how on earth did Emperor Penguins start nesting in Antarctica.

[Assistant]
Their flippers are wings that have been adapted to propel and maneuver through water instead of air. Their ancestors first migrated to Antarctica by flying there when it was a warmer environment.

As the antarctic cooled and vegetation disappeared penguins became more reliant on fishing for their food. Penguins who could swim better survived and had more kids. Over many generations there was a progressive reduction in wing size, which makes diving more efficient and flying less so. Penguin bones also thickened over the ages, as lighter bones that make it easier for birds to fly gave way to more dense bones, which may have helped make them less buoyant for diving. Finally, penguins grew larger as bigger lungs meant they could dive deeper and longer while looking for fish. They also got fatter, because cold.

There's a tradeoff between efficient flying and swimming. Penguins didn't benefit much from flying when there were no big threats left on land, but they really benefited from being good swimmers. Over time they evolved to make the best of their environment.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5:Why does it feel so miserable when it's 100F/37C outside, but so comforting when the water of your shower meets or is even above that temperature?

[Assistant]
Well, first of all it doesn't feel that comforting to take a 100 degree shower when it's 100 degrees outside, does it?  It's nice when it's room temperature, below that, or maybe a little above.  It's because your body is constantly trying to keep your body at a relatively regular temperature.  This temperature varies across your body but we commonly accept that it's around 98.5 degrees.

Now when you're cold, your body has a very efficient way of keeping that temperature up; it burns calories.  However our method of cooling down when we're too warm is less efficient, we sweat.

So, if the temperature in your bathroom is 70 degrees, your body is warming constantly.  It's very efficient at this, but to then be thrust into a warm shower that's only a few degrees above our body temperature, it's like... wow now i don't have to work so hard!  On top of this, you're not actually getting 100 degrees most likely.  Most water heaters are set to around 110, but it cools quite a few degrees as it gets to the shower head.  Plus then on top of that you're not getting that on your entire body at once, you're getting sprayed across maybe 1/4th of your body.  Plus you can spin in place, duck your head, step forwards or backwards, etc all to direct that glorious warm water wherever you want.  Then when you start to get too warm, you turn and guess what happens?  That's right, similar to sweating the water runs down your body or evaporates off, carrying heat away from that spot.

Now, lets compare it to being in a room that's 100 degrees.  First of all, there's no break.  You can't turn and avoid the heat, it surrounds you.  It's why people put fans on themselves, to generate airflow to encourage evaporation of sweat from skin.  Plus there's a further issue at play here.  A lot of times when it's 100 degrees, it's also humid.  The more humid the environment, the less effective your sweating is at cooling you.

Ever hear someone say "yeah, it's 100 degrees out, but it's a dry heat!" as if that matters?  Well, it does!  A lower humidity means your body can cool itself more efficiently.

Anyways, hope that helps.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
ELI5: Why is diesel no longer "green"?

When I was growing up, diesel was always considered the greener option than petrol, and this was reflected in the prices, diesel always cost less because it was taxed at a lower rate.

Now they say it's worse than petrol and prices are now higher for diesel.

So what changed, or what did we suddenly learn about diesel that we didn't know before?

Bonus question, considering they're both made from crude oil, what's the difference in how they're refined?

[Assistant]
Our definition of "green" changed.

It used to be purely about fuel consumption...how many gallons do you burn. And Diesel engines are inherently more efficient that gasoline (technically Otto cycle) engines. So they burned less gas, and that was greener.

But because of diesel engines' different combustion behavior, you also get differences in the exhaust. Diesel tends to have more particulates, more NOx (contributes to smog), and more unburned hydrocarbons. You can manage that to some extent with better engine designs and emission controls but those are also pollutants and we take a lot more notice of them now than we used to.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] Would spreading sugar on an icy path have the same effect as spreading salt on it?

[Assistant]
Sucrose in anything but nanoparticles dissolves very frustratingly slowly into liquid water at low temperatures, and even slower into ice that it's sitting on the surface of.

That said, sucrose-water solutions do lower the freezing point of the solution, and the saturation of the solution controls the amount of that freezing point depression.

So, granulated sugar onto an icy sidewalk might take hours to work vs. minutes for NaCl. If you poured syrup (a supersaturated solution) onto the ice, it would work pretty quickly meanwhile. Powdered sugar would probably be somewhere in between.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[The Happening] What is actually running through a victim's mind?

When a person is affected by the event what actual changes are happening to their thought process? What are their thoughts at the moment that they come under it's influence? Are they afraid, happy, sad or no longer cognizant? What logic chain is their brain following to decide to kill themselves?

[Assistant]
Have you ever heard of a real-world concept called "The call of the void"/"L'Appel du vide"? It's apparently common enough that it has its own name.

It's basically an intrusive thought a lot of people get when standing near a cliff edge, or on a bridge, wondering what would happen if they jumped. Or driving on the highway and briefly wondering what it would be like to suddenly turn the wheel and barrel into oncoming traffic. Most of the time people just brush these thoughts aside. I've heard somewhere it's possibly an evolutionary tactic that lets us consider going against social norms and survival instincts, and by not acting on them it allows our brains to be better at not getting us killed or ostracized. Or something like that. \\\_()\_/

Presumably the chemicals the plants released do something to the brain that makes it more susceptible to these thoughts, and more likely to act on them. It's possible they're actually in nearly the same emotional state they were in before The Happening, although they might be having trouble differentiating these intrusive thoughts from their own higher-level thinking.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
cmv: If given 1 billion tries I could beat any UFC fighter at least once

Me: 6 4 ; 200 lbs ; minimal fighting experience.  I start fresh for all of these hypothetical fights.

Before I start this post its important that you know that I am not some egotistical meathead who thinks they can beat anyone in a fight.  Most of the womens lightweight ufc roster would tap me with no issues in round 1.  This is purely a numbers game, with very big numbers.

My friend says Im crazy and that I have no chance, but I disagree.  I think that given 1 billion tries I would win multiple times against any UFC fighter.

UFC fighters are humans too and even though they would murder me almost every time, they could still slip up.  I could try throwing a flying knee 1 million times.  Next, do a crazy kick 5 million times,  after all these attempts I would still have hundreds of millions of attempts left.  I also think that in a billion individuals fights, even against someone inexperienced, every fighter will significantly injure themselves hundreds of times.  Just think if I was against McGregor and his leg snapped while kicking me, just like it did in his fight against Dustin.  I would just run away from him and try to kick him in the head while he was rolling around in pain.

If you happen to agree with my view, tell me, what do you think my rough odds are against the average UFC fighter.  1/1 million? 1/100 million?  If you believe I am crazy and my friend is correct, please say so.

Edit: view was changed.  I think I would struggle to KO some heavyweight champions even with a billion tries.  However its obviously not impossible.  The mental image of myself trying to KO Francis Ngannou is really what made me question my prior conclusion.

[Assistant]
We need clarification here.

When you say "given one billion tries", are you saying that this is a groundhog day type affair, where you remember every previous attempt, while your opponent is going into it fresh? Or will *both* of you remember what happened in the previous fight?


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5 How come water based liquids sting wounds but oil based liquids or ointments dont?

[Assistant]
Our bodies use water, in our blood, as the main fluid to move stuff around. So water is special to us in a way that oils are not, when water touches our wounds, it's sort of like the right plug fitting into the right outlet.

Our nerves, which are exposed in a wound, use chemicals called "ions" to transmit signals up to our brain. When water touches an exposed nerve, if that water contains too many ions (like salty water) or too few ions (like distilled water) it can cause the nerves to misfire and transmit a signal to the brain that we perceive as "stinging". If the water has just the right ion balance, which we call "saline water", it wouldn't trigger that sensation.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
I think love is just a brain state, not something "magical". CMV

First of all, no, I do not believe in a "soul" or anything. I believe that all emotion, thought and consciousness comes from the brain. Specifically, chemicals and electric impulses in the brain.

There is nothing "special" about love. A person in love is simply in a flood of chemicals and hormones and neurotransmitters. The release of these chemicals is purely biological, and exists solely to help further the biological goal of spreading your genes.

Also, while I am not completely certain about this, I would say that when a person "loves" someone, he/she is simply infatuated with the overwhelming amount of endorphins and other things in the brain that make him/her feel good.

I also think that this is also quite cynical.

[Assistant]
The most beautiful painting in the world is just paint on canvas.

The most beautiful song you've ever heard is just a sequence of pressure waves in the air.

The most delicious food you've ever tasted are just some chemicals interacting with receptors in your mouth and nose.

The most moving story you've ever read are just letters on paper.

This doesn't make those things less special, it makes them more special; that something so simple can become more than its parts and trigger such powerful feelings is amazing.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Star Wars The Force Awakens] Why is it so important to find Luke Skywalker?

Why is everyone so intent on finding Luke Skywalker that they're willing to die or kill?  What advantage will Luke offer to the resistance beyond being one more skilled pilot/ground combatant?  The First Order expends significant resources and time attempting to track him, so they must think he can somehow interfere with their plans.  What can one Jedi Master do in the face of the First Order's military might?

[Assistant]
A single force user can shift the tide of a battle, they are force multipliers whose presence alone can inspire soldiers to go above and beyond, while also demoralising the enemy.

They also make excellent commandos and covert operatives - you can't use your great big super weapon if some force happy zealot goes postal inside the command centre and/or destroys key components.

The First Order wanted a monopoly on force users to ensure their success. A Jedi Master can train other users, even a neophyte infiltrating a key facility is capable of evading capture long enough to do some serious damage, and poses a major threat to their plans for Magic Space Wizzard superiority in the theatres of battle.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: How do we know the age of the earth?

[Assistant]
Uranium dating mainly.

We find uranium deposits on earth and on meteors. We know from experiments that given a chunk of pure uranium, half will decay in 4.5 billion years. We can see the byproducts of the decay, primarily lead. If lead is mixed with uranium, we generally assume that it is there because uranium decayed to it.

We found Uranium deposits that are considered static (they don't mix/change composition beside decay), about half the uranium has decayed, a little more in fact. By this, we estimate the earth is about 4.5 Billion years old.

Edit: Misleading word deleted.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
ELI5: Why do rollercoasters feel so fast, even if theyre going slower than we would normally drive?

I live near Six Flags Over Georgia and used to visit occasionally. With a few exceptions, their coasters generally dont get above 60 mph. Mindbender, for example, tops out at 50mph, but feels so ridiculously fast when youre riding it. In a car on the highway, though, going 50 doesnt feel like much of an event at all.

Why is this?

[Assistant]
The forces that you feel on the ride are less about the speed of the train and more about the acceleration forces of the short trip.

Roller coasters typically don't travel in a straight line for long, and every turn, every hill, every drop, and every twist changes the direction and speed of acceleration on your body, causing you to feel like you are going faster and faster, as well as purposefully disorienting you.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: How do old people die from old age?

[Assistant]
Often times their organs (heart, lungs, digestive system...etc.) just straight up stop working. Causing them to die.

Things, unfortunately, deteriorate over time. Same goes for our bodies.

That is, if disease/medical problems, aren't the cause.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
Why is only one side of my nose stuffy? And why will it randomly switch sides

Whenever I get a stuffy or runny nose it's only on one side and randomly it will switch sides and I have no idea why.

[Assistant]
Perfectly normal, perfectly healthy :)

It's called a "nasal cycle", and your body is doing it intentionally.  It keeps one side of your nose from becoming too dry (you can think of it as the plugged side taking a quick bath), and might also prompt you to roll over in your sleep.  This happens all the time, even when you're not sick, but you just don't notice it.  You're probably only noticing it because you're a little sick and the snot is more noticeable.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
Why do languages use garbage collection instead of reference tracking?

In c++, a shared_ptr knows how many copies it has. When the shared_ptr reaches zero copies, it frees the memory taken up by what it's pointing to.

This means there is zero need for garbage collection but you also have managed memory. Objects on the heap are deleted deterministically without a garbage collector.

To me, this seems like a perfect solution to the problem of memory management. It doesn't require a garbage collector running in parallel but you also avoid use-after-free and memory leaks. Why isn't this approach used by any languages by default?

[Assistant]
> Why isn't this approach used by any languages by default?

It is used by python.

It has problems though: It doesn't deal with reference cycles which means that you still need a garbage collector (and that destruction isn't always deterministic). It can also be slower than a good GCs, especially in multi threaded environments where the reference counting needs to be done atomically.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [Star Trek] Assuming that it remains a thing, could other Federation species compete in the Olympics? What about foreign species like Klingons?

[Assistant] Just as male and female humans are good at different things, all the different species are good at different things. Human men dominate at most sports, and klingons would dominate them at most sports. Having them play against each other wouldn't be very sporting.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Spider Man/MCU] If Rhinos suit cant be removed, how is Rhino kept in prison? Magnets? Sedation?

Thanks for the answers!

[Assistant]
(To be pedantic, Rhino does not (yet) exist in the MCU, but Ill answer for other continuities.)

In 616, hes not exactly the brightest bulb of the bunch, but weve also seen that hes job-oriented enough to recognize when something is a distraction or waste of his time when on a mission.  If he realizes that the police or Spidey cant stop him hell straight up ignore them, but granted thats assuming he has a payday hes working for.  If nobodys paying the bills on his prison break he probably figures its not worth the time and effort since hes not a master planner on his own even if he gets free.  Theres also a point later on (late 2000s/early 2010s in our universe) where hes both separated from his suit and has turned over a new leaf, and deliberately ignores an escape opportunity when other inmates make a prison break.

In the Ultimate universe, Rhinos suit is mechanical and can also take superficial damage.  Even if they cant remove him from the suit, it can be rendered inoperable.

In the *Amazing Spider-Man* film universe, the suit is a mini-mecha and at times allows Aleksei to be relatively exposed, and it doesnt look like hed have much trouble at all being removed from the mech compared to other versions. While his fight with Spider-Man is ~~cut short by the credits~~ **ahem** *not well documented*, hes not invincible and was surely defeated by Spider-Man since that version of Spidey appears in *Spider-Verse* (the comic, not film).

Insomniac (PS4) Spider-Mans Rhino suit is both mechanical and challenging to remove, but this version is also not *quite* as dumb as hes made out to be, with Doctor Octopus even comparing him to a warrior poet.  His main goal is to be free of his suit, which before Ottos offer wasnt really in the cards.  Without a clear means of removing the suit or someone to pay the bills, Rhino probably decided breaking out just wasnt worth his effort.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why are so many buildings in the tornado zones of the USA build out of wood? Why not concrete / stone?

[Assistant]
In this thread:  A bunch of people who have never seen a tornado giving loud opinions of how lax the building codes seem in the Midwest.

People want to compare to earthquakes and hurricanes, which routinely go through and lightly destroy every single house in a city.  You write building codes to protect against those things, because if there's damage, it'll be spread equally through the whole region.  It really sucks rebuilding every last house in town, and it's worth spending the extra money up front to save down the road.

Tornadoes aren't like that.  Statistically, it's *very* unlikely for any individual house to get hit, and on average only a couple hundred per year actually do.  But if you're one of the unlucky few, it's like the wrath of god targeting your house all by itself.  Wood, brick, block, it really doesn't matter; it *will* fail.  This is no puny hurricane with some rain and gentle breezes.  This is a tiny pencil of annihilation, with wind speeds higher than any hurricane and with suspended particles from sand to gravel to farm equipment flying through the air.  If we built to withstand the worst of these, all our houses would look like hardened military bunkers and would cost millions of dollars apiece.  And even then, the windows would break out and all the stuff inside would be blended.

Basically, they destroy so few houses that it's not worth building to withstand them.  Which is good, because it's not actually possible to build that strongly.

Here's Wikipedia's description of an EF5 tornado (the strongest rating):
>EF5 (T10+) damage represents the upper limit of tornado power, and destruction is almost always total. An EF5 tornado pulls well-built homes off their foundations and into the air before shredding them, flinging the wreckage for miles and sweeping the foundation clean. Very little recognizable structural debris is generated by EF5 damage, with most materials reduced to a coarse mix of small, granular particles and dispersed evenly across the tornado's damage path. Large, multi-ton steel frame vehicles and farm equipment are often mangled beyond recognition and deposited miles away or reduced entirely to unrecognizable component parts.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why is the audio never synched with the actor's mouth in a tv show when the shot is from behind them?

[Assistant]
Because many shows are shot with a single camera. They'll often film the same scene multiple times (from different angles), or at least certain parts.

They'll then often use some footage from some shots, and then dub audio from other shots over it.

Edit: couple of words, paragraphing.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] Why does the Mars rover rely on Cleaning Events instead of having some sort of "windshield wipers" on the panels?

[Assistant]
When designing the rovers they decided that the weight that could possibly have gone towards a solar panel cleaning mechanism was better used for something else, likely some part of the sensing systems.

The rovers that have benefited from cleaning events, including *Spirit* which is non-functional and *Opportunity* which is still functional, had a planned mission duration of only 90 Mars days (approx. 92.5 Earth days) when they landed in early 2004. The fact that *Spirit* worked as intended until it got stuck in 2009,  over 20 times longer than its intended mission duration, and *Opportunity* is still working, is a testament to a combination of excellent engineering and fortune (the existence of "cleaning events" is on the fortune side of the equation).

So *Spirit* and *Opportunity* don't have mechanisms to clean their solar panels because they were only intended to last 90 days and they didn't need them for a mission of that length.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Scooby-Doo] Does Mystery Inc still not believe in Ghosts?

Considering everything they have been through, including but not limited to:

\- 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo

\- Scooby-Doo and the Witches Ghosts (picked specifically because it was the debut of the Hex Girls whom they have later run into multiple times and have greeted as friends)

\- Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated

\- Scooby-Doo/Monsters Unleashed

Do they still not believe in Ghosts, Magic and Monsters? If not, how can they remain so defiant in the face of the overwhelming fact that the supernatural exists?

[Assistant] For every genuinely supernatural situation there is an overwhelming amount of people in monster costumes to unmask, it makes sense to approach every new case like it's a person in a suit until proven otherwise.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why weren't light gun controllers like GunCon being used in console first person shooters like Halo?

[Assistant]
Because if you're using a light gun, you're not using a controller, and therefore you generally don't have any way to move your character. Almost every light gun game was on rails.

Some light guns had a D-pad, but it's pretty jarring to try to pull the trigger while simultaneously holding down a directional key to move, and it wouldn't be as dynamic because you'd have to play finger Twister to jump, shoot, and move in a direction at the same time.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[X-Men] Why do people hate Cyclops?

I mean, he was right.

[Assistant]
He's abrasive, he doesn't play well with other authority figures, and he has a tendency to do what he thinks is right and not what's actually right. Cyclops is the type of guy who will tell you to your face that he knows better than you, then do the wrong (or at least morally dubious) thing.

Basically, Scott's a dick, and this has been acknowledged by almost everyone who has had to spend any amount of time with him.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
Is it possible to have a full understanding of Einstein's theory relativity without understanding the math involved?

I have been intrigued with it since I was 10 years old. Especially the twin paradox time dilation scenario. I've thought i have had some eureka moments but even after 20 years the vast majority of it still seems foreign to me.  Is there a base level of math or physics someone would have to have to fully understand the concepts.

[Assistant]
Without a doubt NO!!!

Why? We still don't understand a good bit of it. GR in particular is very very complicated and there are mathematicians, with no physical interest, that spend their lives studying the equations of GR.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] How do electronics measure battery percentage?

[Assistant]
Two ways:

1) They can measure the battery voltage and using a pre-programmed chart of this particular battery type's voltage vs. capacity, they can estimate the remaining percentage.

2) They can continuously measure the current into and out of the battery, and by integrating this over time get a direct measurement of the amp hours drained from the battery.  Doing the math with the known battery capacity gives the percentage.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
ELI5: How does overall wealth actually increase?

Isnt there only so much money in the world? How is greater wealth actually generated beyond just a redistribution of currently existing wealth?

[Assistant]
When we convert raw materials into other resources, the value increases.

Raw steel and rocks isnt that useful, but build a building and you can house people/do commercial activities. Wood isnt useful, but you can print knowledge on paper and books are more valuable than raw wood.

This concept extends to ideas, not just physical materials. A new technology like self-driving cars increases the value of the economy. A new app that allows you to easily order food delivery also adds value.

As Long as economic activity exists, humans are constantly transforming resources, and value will increase.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Breaking Bad] Why is Walt working at a high school?

Walter White is established as a genius chemist. Even if he was drummed out of Grey Matter, it seems like he'd easily be able to get a job at a lab, or another company, or at least teaching at college level.

It's shown he doesn't terribly enjoy working at a high school.

So why can't he get a better job?

[Assistant] I got the impression that he was too prideful to use his work history or connection with Grey Matter in order to get ahead. He is pretty adamant about not taking their money when he needed it in the story. Why he didn't work as a higher level educator might have to do with that as well. Like he could easily teach at a university but in order to he would have to lean on his history with Grey Matter.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: How does putting a needle on a vinyl make it produce music?

[Assistant] Basically the sound waves are carved into the groove in the record as little hills and valleys within the trench. When the needle drags over them it produces the original vibrations that were recorded and that is picked up and played back electronically.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Marvel] If Killgrave AKA Purple Man used his powers on Carnage or Venom how effective would it be?

The reason I mention both Carnage and Venom because Carnage is genetically bonded to his host while Venom are both separate entities working together.

[Assistant] Killgrave's powers probably wouldn't work on either of them. Symbiotes grant resistance to toxins and viruses, resistance to telepathy, and a minor healing factor. Killgrave's powers are usually virus or pheromone based, but even against true telepaths Venom and Carnage are well protected.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [General Sci-fi] What are some conspiracy theories that probably exist in your favourite sci-fi universe?

[Assistant] Spider-man is a mutant who uses that obviously ridiculous 'bitten by a radioactive spider' explanation for his powers in order to (cowardly) avoid any anti-mutant sentiment going around. Just look at how his debut occurred when he sounded pretty young behind that mask, probably he was in the traditional age range for mutants getting their powers.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[WH40k] How old is the average ork?

So I am a guardsman and an ork is charging me. My first reaction is  how old is it? Is it a few months old but grows up really fast or is it centuries old?

[Assistant]
Your guess is as good as anybody's.

As far as we can tell, Orks don't have a definite lifespan. It is hard to find an average when literally every single Ork that has ever been seen has either died in combat or is still alive waiting to be killed in combat. We don't have examples of Orks dying from "old age".

The concept of "old age" gets even more complicated with Orks when you consider that they don't really ever stop growing and getting stronger. The longer they live, the more fights they will have had to win, and the more fights they win, the stronger and bigger they get. In theory there is no upper limit to this, either, as we have no data to say otherwise. So, unlike most other beings in the Galaxy, getting older is actually beneficial to them for as long as they can continue getting older.

As to your question about how old the Ork charging you is, chances are that it is relatively "fresh". That could be anywhere from a few months to maybe a few decades old. If it was centuries old, chances are it barely cares about you and will just rush past you trying to kill whatever is biggest behind you, and you'll just have to deal with the horde following behind him.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why is the weather usually pleasant after a thunderstorm?

[Assistant] Thunderstorms generally occur when a cold front moves in a warm area. The way fronts work is that the colder ones shove the warm air mass upwards since cold air is more dense. In this same way, the warm air has more energy than the cold does, so when the cold from moves in, the air is calmer. Often during the summertime a little cooler weather is welcome along with the stillness that occurs.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Star Trek] During the Dominion War the federation mines the Bajoran Wormhole with cloaked, self-replicating mines. Wasn't the use of cloaking devices i these mines a violation of the Treaty of Algeron?

The Federation is not allowed to develop cloaking technology, let alone incorporate it into mines. Shouldn't the Romulans have been upset that Starfleet personnel built and deployed a cloaked minefield?

[Assistant]
Technically, the mines were not created or deployed by the Federation. They were created by Rom, an engineering employee working for the Bajoran provisional government - his direct supervisor was Chief O'Brien, but he was actually employed by the Bajorans, not the Federation. It was similar to the way Odo and Kira both reported to Sisko, but worked for the Bajoran government.

Bajor was not part of the Federation, and hadn't signed any cloaking-technology treaties with the Romulans.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
ELI5: Why can massive games like Skyrim fit on one disc while the first season of Heroes needs seven?

It just doesn't make sense to me. Maybe I'm not approaching the question properly. The way I see it, 23 episodes of Heroes that never change, that you can't interact with, and that don't offer as much content as a game like Skyrim, should be able to fit on one disc.

Skyrim is an entire continent of places to explore, enemies to battle, and conversations to engage in. Then you have to consider all the choices the player makes, like which quest to do, and all the choices he hasn't made. It all has to exist somewhere, right? Also, I've seen people dedicate way more hours of time than your average season of television show, but it can all fit on one disc. How does that work? I feel like it's a 'bag of holding' type situation going on...

I apologize for using Heroes as a reference. It was the only thing I could think of at the time to quantify what I wanted to say. Apologies as well if this is a silly question.

[Assistant]
Your TV show is (by necessity) stored as a series of images of each frame. Playing the show means showing those images one by one. You can save some space with compression, but this is still the basic idea. The TV shows take up a lot of space because that's an inherent property of all those big images - its a lot of pixels, and you need a lot of space to store that information bit by bit.

Games do *not* store data like this. As a very basic overview, they instead store two important components; the game engine, which manages the game logic, and the various art assets. Now, it turns out that the engine itself can be suitably small, so that doesn't cause a problem. As for the art bits, the game world is constructed of polygons and textures that are mapped on to them - that is, the same image mapped all over the place, with the mapping done in real time by the graphics card rather than pre-rendered. The game isn't storing all this in advance, the actual full images of the world are constantly being constructed/updated from the relatively small art information. With this method, and the fact that the texture and polygon details are both of a much lower resolution than real life, the information stored ends up being far less than those TV shows.

If you tried to do the game a different way, such as by prerendering everything as a detailed image without duplication, it would be uselessly large or incredibly low in detail.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
What would happen to a salt-water fish if you threw it into freshwater?

Alternatively, can you season a freshwater fish by throwing it into saltwater to die?

Ignoring ethical issues and all.

[Assistant]
Most fish species would die from osmotic shock, however evolution has equipped some to survive this transition.  Salmon transit from fresh to salt and back again, and eels from salt to fresh,  However many more species, if gradually equilibrated, can live quite well in the other environment.  Guppies come to mind as a fresh-water species that can be adapted to seawater.

In nature there are many partly salty waters, called brackish, such as the central African lakes that support their own half-way ecology.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[DC/Vertigo] What would have happened if the cult did capture Death at the beginning of Sandman?

What would the repercussions be? Would the endless have gotten involved at that point to do something? Would the Justice League or other magical beings in DC do something? Would death even really stop since there's a few incarnations of death unlike there is with dream? Or would her realm run itself like Dream's sorta did while she waits to be freed.

[Assistant]
>Or would her realm run itself like Dream's sorta did while she waits to be freed.

The dreaming itself started to fade away while Dream was imprisoned, while some people slipped into an eternal slumber while others couldn't sleep at all ever again.

Death doesn't really have a realm but Dream hints at something happening if they had managed to catch Death, so it's likely people would have stopped dying and then at some point lots of powerful entities would have taken notice.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
How can we create maps of a galaxy/universe if we don't know the relative position of the celestial objects?

Allow me to elaborate; when I see maps of our galaxy or the universe, they are shown to be "complete", as if we knew the relative position of all the celestial objects at a single point of time. Since light takes time to travel from distant points, we can't know for certain where a distant object B was at a point of time when closer object A was at that same point of time. The way I see it is that the map of galaxy/universe would be best represented like an animated sonar, where it begins with our solar system as the starting point (hope that makes sense).

Are the maps of the galaxy/universe accounting for the relative disposition of objects by predicting where distant objects would be after x amount of time? Or are the maps "flattened", so to speak?

I apologise if it's difficult to understand, I'm trying my best to articulate what I'm trying to ask, please let me know if I can clarify the question.

[Assistant]
Almost always, the speed of light is so much faster than the dynamical speed of a system that you do basically get a snapshot of the whole system simultaneously at some moment in time. Predictions for current positions can also be quite accurate because accelerations are fairly small during the light travel time, again because the light is just that fast.

Within the Milky Way, most things orbit at <300 km/s, which is 0.1% of the speed of light. We're about 30,000 light years from the centre of the galaxy, and the disc as a whole is maybe 100,000 light years in radius. At our orbital speed, it takes about 250 million years to orbit the galaxy. But the light takes well under a million years to cross the galaxy. So, even for the most distant object on the far side of the galaxy, it has moved much less than a degree around the galaxy since during the light delay time.

It's similar on extragalactic timescales. The Andromeda galaxy should collide with the Milky Way in about 4-5 billion years. But it's less than 3 *million* light years away. So the error from light delay is like 0.1%. This is typical of galaxy interactions in general - in a cluster or galaxy group, you've generally got distance scales of millions of light years, and time-scales of billions of years.

Now, this is just per *system* - where a system is a star or a galaxy or a group or cluster of galaxies. But we do see distant systems as they were in the past. In that sense, you are correct that we are mapping things as we see them, and not in their present-day position. However, that's okay because we really only use these maps to understand the history and evolution of the universe, and the details of exact present-day positions aren't as interesting as seeing how galaxies have changed and interacted and changed density over time.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: If I were to swallow a spider/small snake and not chew, at what point in my body would it die? Could it crawl/slither its way back up my esophagus if it hadn't hit my intestinal juices yet?

[Assistant] If you were to swallow something like a spider, it would certainly not be able to climb back up.   When you swallow your body engages in involuntary muscle contractions all the way down your esophagus called peristalsis.  The peristalsis forces food you swallow to continually move downwards towards your stomach.  Swallowing is not a purely gravitational endeavor. So the peristalsis action will prevent anything from coming back up, but more importantly, will likely kill what you swallowed.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] What does the body do with all that extra keratin protein when someone goes bald?

[Assistant] Well when someone goes bald, usually the hair follicles end up shrinking and don't make any hair. Without any hair being made, the keratin protein is not synthesized in the first place, instead, the amino acids that would've made up the keratin protein are used for making other proteins around the body.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] In alternating current, how is electricity carried in one direction (from the power source to the electrical device) if the current is constantly changing direction?

[Assistant]
Take a circuit that's just an AC power source connected to a resistive load.

The power source provides a voltage V(t) = V*_0_*cos(t), which is entirely dropped across an equivalent resistor of resistance R.

The current through the resistor is then I(t) = V(t)/R = V*_0_*cos(t)/R.

The instantaneous power dissipated in the resistor is P(t) = V(t)I(t) = V*_0_*^(2)cos^(2)(t)/R.

So the current is a cosine function, which has both positive and negative swings as a function of time. But the power is a cosine-**squared** function, which is never negative.

And while the current through the resistor switches direction, the power dissipation doesn't care whether the current is moving "forward" or "backward". When there is current flowing through the resistor in either direction, there is a positive power dissipated.

And if you average the current over an integer number of periods, you get zero, but if you average the power over an integer number of periods, you get something positive.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: If bananas don't naturally reproduce and are all the result of cloning by humans, how are there different types of bananas?

[Assistant]
Imagine that you took one sterile person in a family and you repeatedly cloned them.

You could do the same with a different person in their family.

It's kind of like that with bananas. That's how you get different varieties.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] If hot air rises, why is it colder at higher altitudes?

[Assistant]
when we talk about hot air rising, we are talking comparing it to colder air with the same pressure. However as you increase in elevation, the atmospheric pressure decreases. It is the smaller pressure which makes the air colder at higher elevations.

For an example of gas that is lower pressure becoming cooler you can just look at aerosol cans. The gas inside is the same temperature as the outside world but it is stored at high pressures. When you spray the gas out, it instantly reduces the pressure since it's not in a can any more and becomes much colder.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
ELI5: why don't ATMs give out $10 bills

It frustrates me to no end.

[Assistant]
I have seen plenty that do. Its very much dependent on the bank/location.

But the actual answer to your question, is that most atms only have one drum, the container that holds the bills. So only one type of bill can be in an atm. $20 is big enough to do some spending, but not too impractical, most places can break one no problem.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Scooby Doo] Why are such high-quality costumes and special effects so widely available and easily affordable?

Also, robotics and animatronics seem a lot cheaper as well.

[Assistant]
Cracked.com examined the Scooby-Doo world and determined that it's in the middle of the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression, which is why there are so many abandoned buildings and even entire towns.

Many of the villains that the Scooby Doo Gang encounters are highly educated people: scientists, doctors, inventors, etc... The economy is *so bad* that even the intelligentsia can't find work, so they're compelled to use their talents for scams and outright theft in order to survive.

Almost all of these scams and thefts involve scaring people away from uncovering them with some sort of supposedly supernatural creature. In order to make that work, the "creature" needs to be as convincing as possible. Since the intelligentsia have both talent and free time available in abundance, they are able to create very high-quality costumes and special effects for use in their operations.

The American Dream has unquestionably died when a guy with a Ph.D in Robotics decides that his best shot at a decent life is to create a mechanical Frankenstein and use it to extort a hotel for money by threatening to scare away all the hotel guests.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why do you get so hungry from smoking weed?

[Assistant]
I wrote a paper on this for a class....

THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) binds to the cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors in the olfactory bulb (sense of smell) of animal brains and stimulates them, which increases the animals ability to smell food. Scent and taste are very closely related, with as much as 80% of flavor sensation coming from the smell of food as opposed to the taste.

THC also acts on the nucleus accumbens (part of the pleasure and reward system) of the brain, increasing the release of dopamine (a "pleasure chemical") that accompanies eating, causing an increase in pleasure that goes along with it.

Finally, another effect of THC's action on the brain is that it mimics the sensation of being food-deprived, which is believed to be the underlying cause of both the above effects.

So tl;dr - it makes your brain think you're starving so food smells stronger and tastes better and you feel more pleasure (more rewarded) for eating.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] Eli5: Why does that stick that collects honey contain multiple layers, and why is it better than a spoon?

[Assistant] Honey is viscous. Two layers of wood pretty close together will not only trap a little on each but a thicker layer between them. Spin it gently and it won't drip, because the potential drip at the bottom will be rotated up to the top before it falls off. Then hold it still and most of the honey will run off onto your toast or whatever.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why does wool keep you warm when its wet but cotton doesnt?

[Assistant]
The shape of wool fibrils creates air pockets in the large- scale structure  of the fabric even when the fibers are wet.

And the structure of the fibers allows for then to get wet,  but the moisture is wicked to the center of each fiber,  so the surface stays drier than the equivalent area of a cotton fiber.

These pockets provide insulation and are absent in wet cotton.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Black Panther/ Coming to America] What's the relationship between Zamunda and Wakanda?

Clearly Wakanda wasn't exactly outgoing, but Zamunda also had some success at resisting outside forces.

[Assistant]
In universes where they coexist, not much. Wakanda is isolationist and Zamunda is cosmopolitan.

- All the tech in King Jaffe Joffer's palace (like the phones in the dining room) is of Western make.
- Akeem and Semmi have maps of the world, which is how they choose Queens.
- They arrive with an assortment of modern (if gold-plated) accessories.
- Despite not knowing how to use a mop, Akeem is not technologically-impaired.
- Neither is Semmi, who outfits their apartment with a hot tub and the latest electronics.
- Travel from Zamunda is easy enough for New York to have Zamundan immigrants and for the king to think nothing of visiting his son.
- Zamunda uses Western-style banknotes and the king understands the value of one million dollars. ("Very well then, *two* million.")

All of this points to King Jaffe Joffer's domain as having a great deal of contact with the rest of the world. Wakanda, which wants the exact opposite, is probably leery of Zamunda. Akeem and T'Challa are probably acquaintances and may have bonded over a shared interest in the martial arts but that is the extent of the two nations' interaction.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5 What is Non-Euclidean Geometry?

[Assistant]
Euclidean geometry is based on 5 unprovable truths called Postulates.  In basic modern English, they are:

1. You can draw one straight line between any two given points.
2. You can infinitely extend any given line segment in a straight line beyond either end.
3. You can draw a circle given a center point and a given radius.
4. All right angles are equal to each other.
5. If two lines cross a third, the two lines, if extended, will eventually cross each other on the side of the third line where those two lines make angles smaller than right angles.  (Or, two lines that cross a third at right angles are infinitely parallel.)

Non-Euclidean geometry discards or alters at least one of these 5 postulates.  Usually the 5th.

Elliptical geometry, like that on the surface of the Earth, allows for parallel lines to cross.  You can see this by looking at a globe.  Any two lines of longitude are at right angles to the equator, but cross at the poles.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: How is Jurassic Park's CGI able to hold up and even beat movies that are released in this century, even though their budget was $63 mil?

[Assistant]
JP used a combination of CGI and "practical" effects, meaning real effects. A LOT of what you see is puppets.  Most of its CGI is just the combination of the two shots or enhancements to them.

Modern CGI doesn't quite have the same effect.  One of the major problems is lighting.  Animators never seem to get it quite right and so you can more easily tell it's CGI.  With a practical effect, they can better match lighting, etc.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Corruption of Champions] Wouldn't dealing with... well, everything drive a human insane?

This protagonist is confronted with demons, goblins, person sized bees, constant risk of pregnancy (even if male), repeated risk of death, and somehow, the character seems almost completely normal in conversation, and doesn't act all that weird.

Just got raped 5 times? Go back to camp and chill, sleep for a couple hours, and go out again without any dwelling on the past.

Does this person have any actual mind?

[Assistant]
Typically the people selected from the village to enter the portal are ones the town has deemed 'suitable' for the task. Remember, the initial task about you being a Hero is a lie, you're really a sacrifice to keep what's on the other side of the portal satiated for a while.

In order to keep from frequent sacrifices, the town would have to pick someone who wouldn't buckle immediately from the stress and pleasure this world is fraught with. Even if they did give into their urges straight away they are still performing their task well enough; keep whatever is on the other side occupied.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
ELI5: The Warhammer 40000 Universe

Specifically how the chapters came about. Im kind of a fair weather fan of Warhammer. Enjoy what little of the lore I understand. Play the videogames. Sorely tempted to buy and paint some. But too "proud" (replace with overwhelmed, bashful, shy) to actually enter a Games Workshop.

Today I was playing Dawn of War II and was delighted to find out you play Blood Ravens in the campaign, my favourite chapter.

However even though Ive read the wiki article I don't understand how the chapters came about. Something about the emperor sending out people who mutated and something something...

So explain like I was 5 please.

[Assistant]
At the beginning of the 29th millennium (year 28,000), the Emperor, an immortal being, perfect in nearly every way, began a project to create for himself 20 sons. These 20 sons, the Primarchs, would each embody a particular aspect of the Emperor's perfection.

The project nearly came to fruition, but for the intervention of the Chaos Gods, four representations of humanity's darkest emotions. Their powers scattered the 20 children across the galaxy, each to a separate planet, to be raised in different ways.

After the scattering of the primarchs, the Emperor decided to launch a Great Crusade, to reclaim the galaxy for humanity, to reunite the planets separated by 7000 years of darkness and war, and to find his sons in the bargain. To this end, he created 20 Legions of genetically-enhanced super soldiers, the Space Marines. Each of these legions were thousands strong, and each Space Marine's enhancements came from the genetic code of their primarch.

As the 30th millennium, and the Emperor's Great Crusade, raged on, the primarchs were found, one by one. The first to be found, and soon to be the Emperor's favorite of all, was Horus, primarch of the 16th Legion, the Luna Wolves (soon to be renamed the Sons of Horus). Horus most closely embodied the perfection of the Emperor. The last to be found was Alpharius, primarch of the Alpha Legion, and he embodied the Emperor's secretive nature. There were, however, two primarchs about which very little is known. Their Legions have been struck from Imperial records, and the primarchs themselves were forbidden to speak of their unknown brothers.

In the beginning of the 31st millennium, Horus found himself lured to the Chaos Gods, and convinced eight other primarchs, and their Legions, to rebel against the Emperor in what would be known as the Horus Heresy. At the end of the Heresy, three primarchs lay dead. Horus himself was obliterated by the Emperor's own hand. The cataclysmic duel between Horus and the Emperor would force the Emperor to be enshrined in the Golden Throne, a life support machine powered by the souls of humans.

Shortly after the Emperor's Ascension to the Throne, Roboute Guilliman, the primarch that embodied the Emperor's tactical genius, wrote the Codex Astartes, a book that defined tactics and organization for the Space Marines. Shortly after the completion of the Codex Astartes, the nine loyal Legions were broken down into forty one-thousand-strong Chapters of Space Marines in the Second Founding. Nine of these chapters retained the names and insignia of their founding Legions.

Since that time, there have been at least 24 other Foundings of Space Marine Chapters, as chapters wax, wane, and are destroyed altogether. The great majority of Space Marine Chapters can trace their genetic lineage back to a founding Legion, one of the original nine, and this lineage defines many aspects of a particular chapter, including the level at which they follow the Codex Astartes, the value they place upon different aspects of war, and even some genetic traits, such as the Salamanders' coal-black skin or the Blood Angels' Red Thirst.

The Blood Ravens in particular are notable because they have no knowledge of their primarch, and as such, have no chapters that they can truly call "brother." This is extremely rare, for a chapter not to know their primarch, and is a source of great frustration for them. The Blood Ravens therefore value knowledge above all else, as there must be someone in the galaxy that knows the identity of their primarch.

I think that should do it...


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
When Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche says God is dead, does he mean it literally or that humans abandoned God's morals?

I'm confused by the famous line in "Beyond Good and Evil".

[Assistant] It's not literal.  Nietzsche doesn't believe any god exists.  For Nietzsche, human reason has advanced to a point where God is dead because we've killed the need for a god.  There is nothing left for a god hypothesis to explain.  Since religion gave meaning and morality to life, we may be tempted to go into some sort of nihilism, believing there is no morality and nothing matters in life.  Nietzsche is trying to combat that as well by saying we can create our own morality and values in life.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5:Why does restarting something usually fix the problem?

[Assistant]
Problems can be caused by a number of things: A rare, randomly occurring error might overwrite some memory. Some unexpected combination of events can send something into an infinite loop or crash a critical part due to a programming error. A bit in memory may flip randomly due to pure chance, heat, or cosmic rays. Something stupid may have decided to consume all memory, grinding your system to a halt. Some programs reserve memory to do a certain task, but forget to release it again when they are done (or they don't realize that they are done). This is called a memory leak, and will slowly occupy your available memory.

When you restart a system, it forgets it's current state and initializes a new, clean, known-good state. All services are started again - whether they were crashed before or not. The data is reloaded and rebuilt in memory, no matter whether it was valid or not. Since all memory got reinitialized, the memory taken up by memory leaks is now free again, ready to be used (or slowly filled up by more leaks until you restart again).

Thus, all the effects of most random or accumulating errors are gone with a restart. Sure such an error could have broken something in a way that a restart won't fix it, but that's rare.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
CMV: Die Hard is in fact a Christmas Movie.

To constitute a Christmas movie, in my opinion, the movie has to follow a few key criteria.

1) It must be set in Christmas time. (Obviously)

2) The plot must be dependent on Christmas as a theme.

The second criteria is key here. Without Christmas, Die hard doesnt really make sense.

-The setting of the terrorist attack on Nakatomi Plaza wouldnt have happened if the building wasnt at bare bones staff, with a small amount of people attending a party.

-A lot of key aspects of the movie wouldnt be available if it werent Christmas, such as disinterest in the police originally.

Im currently watching the movie so please feel free to try and prove me wrong, or change my view!

[Assistant]
"Die hard is a Christmas movie" is only a thing because of the quasi ironic subversion of expectations of what a Christmas movie is. You are not actually trying to make the case that die hard is tonally or thematically in line with other movies traditionally considered Christmas movies. The only reason to bring up die hard in this context is because it is so very different from those movies and the only qualification it has is that it's tangentially set in Christmas time. This *was* kinda funny the first time it was pointed out and passed around but is super tired and played out now.

That being said: A Christmas movie is any movie you traditionally watch on or around christmas.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
Why does the infinite series 1/n diverge?

I get that the integral of 1/x is ln(x) and ln(x) increases with x to infinity, but 1/n also approaches 0 as n approaches infinity. Shouldn't the series converge if we're eventually just going to be adding 0 to it?

[Assistant] Something a friend told me is a cool trick to think about it. The first term is 1, so leave that. The second is 1/2, also leave that. The third and fourth is 1/3 and 1/4, but if we subtract a little from that we can change the terms to 1/4 and 1/4. The next four terms are 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, and 1/8. If we subtract some amount from those terms (calculating the exact amount doesnt matter), we can change those terms to all be 1/8. Continue doing this infinitely. Then simplify the terms, so the two 1/4s become 1/2 and the four 1/8s become 1/2 and so on. Then we are left with 1+1/2+1/2+1/2... which is clearly a divergent series. The amount we subtracted doesnt matter because even though we subtracted from the series, it is still divergent, so it will tend towards infinity if we include the amount or not.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Pokemon] There's a Snorlax blocking the road, why can't I just catch it?

I can battle and catch other sleeping Pokemon, and I can even catch THIS Snorlax if it falls asleep after I start the battle, so why do I need to wake it up first?

[Assistant]
Because Snorlax doesn't sleep. He waits. Waits for some dumb twelve-year-old to come along, and then quick as lightning he leaps up, snarfs his victim down, and then resets the trap.

How do you think he got so fat?


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[MCU - Jessica Jones] What would have happened long term if Jessica accepted Kilgrave's offer

So towards the end of the first season, Kilgrave buys Jessica's old family home, then offers to go with her to fight crimes together. Kilgrave said that he could do this together with her, but we know that Jessica didn't agree to that.

So what would've happened if Jessica did accept this offer? To go around with Kilgrave and act as his moral compass and try to use his powers for good?

[Assistant]
He would have gotten bored or careless and gone back to his old habits. And Jessica depending on how off-guard she was would have either killed him or turned into his sex slave.

Kilgrave didn't actually change because he felt remorse, learned from his mistakes and wanted to be a better person. He wanted Jessica back and this was his twisted way of making her happy so she would be with him. It's an shallow mockery of love. The moment he finds her boring or no longer worth the trouble, he discards her and moves on.

Jessica knew this and that's why she rejected him.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[DC] What do the other villains think of the Joker?

Is the Joker on good terms with the rest of the villains? Do they respect him at all or is he generally just considered bat shit insane by everyone except Harley?

[Assistant]
He's generally respected in the sense of being extremely feared thanks to his sheer unpredictability and potential ruthlessness.

There was one crossover story where Trickster remarked "When super-villains want to scare each other, they tell Joker stories."

The only other regular supervillain who seems most able to deal with him is Lex Luthor, because Luthor can usually direct Joker's attentions towards objectives they find mutually beneficial (and in the case of Joker, 'fun') for a not-insignificant period of time before they inevitably try to double cross each other. Namely team ups against both Batman and Superman or the entire JL.

Even then though, Luthor wouldn't say that he necessary respects Joker as a peer, but respects him in the same way one would regard a natural disaster or a great beast.

There was one JLA story where Joker laughs about how he arranged to have the corpses of some children him and Luthor indirectly killed be defiled, which prompts Luthor to punch him in disgust. Joker surprisingly lets the punch slide, and rather than rage at Luthor, finds Luthor's perceived sense of honor in that instance amusing.

Conversely, the Infinite Crisis ended with Joker disfiguring and murdering a Lex Luthor from a parallel Earth, while the main Luthor watched from a few feet away. Main Luthor plainly says that his parallel self did something stupid which he never would have done, which was to hatch a giant potentially universe-destroying scheme and forcibly put Joker on the sidelines, depriving him of his' fun'.

So as far as he's concerned, it's no surprise his parallel self was paying the price.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Star Wars] Is Yoda really a gifted Jedi or is he only powerful because of the shear number of years he has had to practice?

Now to be clear, this isn't shitting on his power level or anything, I know he's very skilled. In Star Wars, it's pretty well established that Anakin is more talented than Obi Wan, but Obi Wan won the duel because he was older and more experienced. This sort of got me thinking about Yoda's level of natural talent.

See, it's just that his power level simply isn't proportional to his age. Other gifted Jedi and Sith who are in their 30s to 60s like Windu, Dooku, and Sidious seem to be near his power level even though he's literally had 10+ times their experience.

Sure, it can be argued he's more powerful and if the duel went on uninterrupted, Yoda would have won, but given his age and mastery, shouldn't he literally be blinking opponents out of existence or something? Does this mean he's really only a mediocrely talented Jedi who's simply has loads of time to train and perfect his craft?

[Assistant] Yoda is an extremely powerful force user. All members of his species are similarly gifted. Their longevity doesn't effect their force abilities but does give them more time to ponder the force. Yoda knew a lot about the force but wasn't an avatar of it. He made mistakes and had wrong ideas about things that he learned later. He couldn't blink someone out of existence because that's not how the force works. If he so chose he could easily quash many threats but prefered to move with the force than to impose his will on it like a sith would. In his fights he pulled punches but only because he knew it wasn't the will of the force to go ketamine mode on everything that could be solved with a few words. And Darth Sidious was stronger than him, Dooku a better duelist, Anakin a greater potential force user.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [Harry Potter] So I was born with a rare condition into a magical family that leaves me unable to speak. It cant be cured with magic, im completely mute. Will I ever be able to learn magic with any proficiency?

[Assistant]
The first time a wizard uses magic is usually accidental, without any words or wands. They're usually given a wand and taught incantations for spells so that they can learn focus and control to keep themselves and others safe, but those are not essential. Skilled wizards don't need them.

You should probably get a good wand from a reputable seller who can match you with one that's a good fit for you, as you want as few obstacles as possible. You might have some trouble focusing your magic without words, but it's hardly an insurmountable handicap.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
How fast does a pressurized gas move to a lower pressure area?

I remember being told that the pressure wave velocity is limited to the speed of sound in that medium at whatever temperature it is at.
So if you had two tanks (A and B) joined by a pipe with a valve, tank A is pressurized and tank B is at atmospheric pressure. The valve is then instantly opened.
Is the velocity of the gas in the pipe just proportional to the pressure differential between the two tanks? Or is there some sort of choked flow condition that occurs?

The reason for the question is that I just watched an episode of MythBusters where they were able to accelerate a ping-pong ball to 1100mph, which is much faster than the speed of sound. I wasn't aware that this was possible.

[Assistant]
The velocity of a pressure *wave* is not the velocity of the medium itself, but rather the velocity of the change in pressure *relative to* the medium. The medium itself can have any velocity, like the cabin air in a supersonic airplane.

The speed of sound still matters, but only with how a change in velocity due to pressure will spread. For example, if you open a valve on a pressurized tank, the wave of movement will spread inwards from the valve at the speed of sound.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
Is "Cogito ergo sum" a logical fallacy?

Hi, this is my first question here, hope I don't break any rules.

I think I've heard that Descartes' famous "Cogito ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am") was recognised as a logical fallacy already in his own day. I believe the problem is supposed to be that it's circular to some extent.

What are your views on this? What problems does the claim have, and is there any way to save it? If so, how?

Personally and at first glance, I think it seems fairly clear that there must be some kind of "I"-identity that thinks, but the whole thing also feels a bit circular in some vague way.

Thank you.

[Assistant]
Its not on the face of it fallacious. Moreover circular arguments are always valid. Theyre just unhelpful and unpersuasive because you have to already endorse the conclusion to accept all the premises.

There have been objections on the grounds of circularity (some says he goes to far to assume that it is him doing the thinking and that rather we should argue something like there is thinking going on so something exists) but that wouldnt amount to a fallacious use of logic. The charge here is that hes already assuming that the self exists by stating that the self is thinking. If he was doubtful of his own existence he would instead only posit something like there is thinking going on.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: Why would a city like Sydney invest in Light Rail instead of just creating dedicated bus lanes? Wouldn't the dedicated bus lanes provide greater flexibility and a lower cost?

[Assistant]
The initial outlay for light rail is higher, but the running costs are far lower for light rail than bus services.

You need to find the balance between where to lay the tracks, and where to rely on busses.  It would not be viable to run tracks from (say) Rooty Hill to Parramatta, as the ridership would be so low.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[Witcher 3] Are gwent cards canon?

It strikes me as strange that there's cards floating around like Dijkstra's. You know, the spymaster who would probably be better off without pictures of him and his name floating around everywhere. And, IIRC, Geralt has a card of Ciri, with Ciri's current appearance, before asking Dudu to shapeshift into her so he can see what she looks like.

[Assistant] Many Gwent cards are based on bardic tales, and a large number are based on Dandelion's stories about Geralt, Ciri, etc., so those cards have been accepted into canon as his stories have grown in popularity.I imagine the high quality of artwork is what separates a fake card from a real one, so an accurate image is hugely important.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [Transformers (Bayverse)] It's shown in transformers 5 that the robots have been on earth for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. What did they disguise themselves as prior to the industrial revolution? Stage coaches? Covered wagons?

[Assistant]
i know you specified the Bayverse, but in other variations of the lore, the robots had done some of the following:

In the OG animated series, they were just dormant for millions of years until they were woken in modern time (the mid-80s).  Now, the Bayverse suggests that they were up and about before the mid-80s, but suffice it to say they may have been dormant until such time they appeared in the Bayverse.

In Beast Wars, they took on the visage of wild animals and blended in that way. They may have done something similar.

and it's possible they just stayed out of sight and didnt interact with humans until they could replicate something more apropos to their size, build, and stature.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [SW:TFA] Why is Captain Phasma standing with General Hux when he makes his speech? Captain is a pretty low rank as officers go, unless you're talking about a naval officer which Phasma is not.

[Assistant] The First Order military rank structure isn't congruent with others that you may be familiar with.  Captain Phasma is part of the First Order's highest level command structure.  She commands the entire Stormtrooper corps, and is functionally equal in rank to Hux and Ren and reports directly to Snoke.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] [DeadPool] What caused Deadpool to be able to break the fourth wall? Did his mutation drive him insane or is he genuinely aware he's in a comic?

[Assistant]
Basically Deadpool has cancer of the [everywhere] *and* a very powerful regeneration ability.  His brain is constantly being eaten by the cancer and rebuilt by the regeneration.  As a result he's crazy.

**However** his insanity just happens to perfectly correspond to our perception of his reality.  In-universe he thinks he's a comic book character and is wrong.  To us he thinks he's a comic book character and is correct.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User]
[SW ROTS] What turned Anakin from "Your friendship means everything to me." to "This is the end for you my master" in a couple of hours at most?

Yes the Dark side etc but really? A decade long friendship over in a few hours and for no real reason. That's gotta be the quickest turnaround in history.

[Assistant]
As with all things, the (sadly) non-canon Revenge of the Sith novelization humanizes it much better.

You have to understand that Anakin is super fragile, emotionally.  When Padme tries to tell Anakin that she's pregnant, his mind immediately jumps to "Has she changed her mind about me?  Is there someone else?" and the rage builds before it's obliterated by her revealing her true secret.  He does this several times with her, and his trust in her frays and erodes just as everything else about him does.  He describes his life as a free fall in the dark.

Add on to that, the Jedi are proving untrustworthy, even to the point where Obi-Wan Kenobi, the most trustworthy guy around is using Anakin to do their dirty work for them by asking him to spy on the Chancellor.  Through it all though, Anakin really means what he says to Obi-Wan the last time that they meet as friends.  That friendship does mean everything to him.

Which is why his fury is unstoppable when Padme arrives on Mustafar and all her suspicious scheming and sneaking and *politicking* comes to a head when she starts telling him about these awful things Obi-Wan has said about him.  Anakin tries to brush it off.  "I don't want to talk about Obi-Wan anymore", but it's soon crystal clear, to him, that Obi-Wan has poisoned Padme against him.  She won't, can't, understand where he's coming from, the things he has had to do to keep her safe, to keep her alive.

And then Obi-Wan himself steps out of *her* ship.

And Anakin can no longer control himself.

The Jedi betrayed him.  Treated him like an unclean thing stuck to the bottom of their boots, but they used him none the less in underhanded and traitorous ways.

Padme betrayed him.  She refuses his offers of a better world, a better future.  Their love?  It means nothing.  Their upcoming child?  She'll take it away.  Her politics means more to her than he does, and he sees that now.

But Obi-Wan?  Anakin could have never expected Obi-Wan to betray him so much.  Even when doing the council's dirty work, Obi-Wan hadn't exactly been *happy* about it.  But here he is, on Mustafar, at the site of what should be your greatest triumph, with your wife who is now saying she can't be with you anymore, and it's all because of the stories that *he* told her.

Obi-Wan's friendship meant everything to Anakin Skywalker, and the perceived betrayal of that friendship turns Darth Vader's heart into a furnace of fury.  With one last controlled effort, he offered his friend, his *betrayer* the opportunity to walk away, to go 'meditate in a cave somewhere'.  But Obi-Wan does not, and the last traces of Anakin Skywalker burn away in the furnace heart of Darth Vader, and nothing will ever extinguish it until Obi-Wan is dead.


[System] Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:

[User] ELI5: If a person were to travel in a linear path around the world would he/she be able to constantly see a setting/rising sun?

[Assistant]
Yes.

On the international space station, there is a sunset and a sunrise every 90 minutes. Now, the ISS is in orbit, but that doesn't change the fact that it orbits the earth once every 90 minutes. If you were able to drive a car that fast, you too would see a sunset and a sunrise every 90 minutes.