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

[User]
ELI5: Why do flames come out the exhaust of high performance cars?

So, I'm looking through Instagram, and I follow a lot of car accounts and i saw a video of a McLaren shooting at least 4 inch flames out of its exhaust pipes in a constant stream. What's going on and why does this happen?

[Assistant] The cars are tuned for maximum power without regard to efficiency.  Lots of fuel gets dumped into the combustion chambers to get a big explosion to move the pistons.  Not all of the fuel gets burned.  Leftover fuel can ignite in a hot exhaust system, causing the flames you see coming out of the exhaust tips.


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

[User] ELI5 What is potential energy? Is it a philosophical thing, or does something actually change within a the subject's atoms?

[Assistant]
Potential energy is a property of systems rather than of individual atoms.  For example, if you have two atoms which are gravitationally attracted to one another and are far apart, or two atoms which are electrically repelled by one another and are close together, or two atoms which are not chemically bonded but could be, there is energy stored in that system configuration, and we can extract that energy.

So it's at least as real as other emergent, macro-scale properties such as "temperature" and "pressure".

Whether it's as real as fundamental, micro-scale properties such as "mass" and "spin" is less clear.  It could be, if *spacetime* turns out to be emergent, but our theories of quantum gravity aren't really working well enough yet for us to say for sure.


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

[User]
ELI5: How does a mobile phone "try" to find a signal?

Most of us have had a phone eat up a ton of battery when we were in an area with bad coverage because the device was working to find a signal.  Isn't the antenna on it just passively receiving available cell signal?  Could you make a stereo use more power by having it "try" to find a better signal on a radio station?

[Assistant]
A mobile phone generally does a couple of things when it is just kinda lounging around:

1. It has to tell the world where it is - this is so that the tower can route incoming calls to the phone.  This is done with an amount of power based on its current "status" of connection.  So...power consumption here is _variable_, based on signal strength.

2. When it doesn't have a connection, it will attempt to do so.  This "find a connection" signal is sent out at _full power_.  It does this after anytime it's lost its connection to a cell.

So...no, it's not just listening passively - it's initiating and maintaining conversations with cells, so to speak.


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

[User]
[A Series of Unfortunate Events] How many felonies do we see Olaf commit? Approximately how long would his prison sentence be?

If it makes a difference use Massachusetts for the state.  Doesn't have to precise for either.

[Assistant]
Well, kidnapping and identity theft are federal crimes at the very least. His arson at the Hotel Denouement alone could get him up to twenty years in state prison. It is also almost certain, though we didn't *see* it, that he burned down the childhood home of Dewey, Frank and Ernest Denouement.

Which brings us to the fact that that fire *killed people*. But, since we didn't see it, let's just go over the people Olaf murdered either in front of us, or was proven to have done so after the fact.

He drowned Gustav Sebald, poisoned Doctor Montgomery, threw Josephine Anwhistle to carnivorous leeches, murdered Jacques Snicket, and the fire he started at Heimlich Hospital killed his Henchperson of Indeterminate Gender.

There are others that were not quite confirmed, and *many* others that are possible, but those are the ones we *know* were Count Olaf by either seeing it firsthand, his own admittance or by it being deduced. There are other people who he at least *attempted* to kill (like pushing Babs off a roof) but it is never confirmed that they died, and it's implied he killed a great many other people in a great many other fires, like the White-Faced Women's parents and sister.

And every single one of them carries a penalty, in Massachusetts, of a sentence up to and including life in prison without parole. If the true nature of Count Olaf's many crimes were recorded and abled to be evidenced in front of a jury of his peers before his untimely (a phrase which here means 'before he could get what he truly deserved') death, he would have been sentenced to multiple life sentences in state prison.


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

[User] When I pour sugar into microwaved water, why does it fizz, whereas when I pour sugar into water boiled on the stove it does not?

[Assistant]
The likely reason would probably go like this:

Tap water tends to contain a decent amount of dissolved air in it, and gases are less soluble in hot liquids than cold ones. So boiling water removes most of the dissolved gas, which you can actually see if you look closely at boiling water, as there are no small bubbles around once it's boiled for a while.

If you heat water in the microwave, it heats up much faster. It'd also typically be in a smaller container, with ~~less~~ more surface area for the bubbles to form (nucleate) on. For which reason you have to be a bit careful with microwaving water, as it might not form steam bubbles (i.e. boil) at all either. Instead becoming superheated, only to suddenly and dangerously flash-boil once you stick a spoon or something into it. So you're more likely to end up with a significant amount of air still dissolved in your microwaved water.

When you then pour the sugar into the hot microwaved water, you're suddenly providing a whole lot of nucleation sites and allowing the still-dissolved air to escape in a fizz, while in the stove-boiled water it's already escaped.

It's much the same thing as the famous menthos-in-coke phenomenon, except that it's a small amount of air and not a large amount of CO2 being released.


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

[User]
[Star Wars] It is said that the Galactic Empire is fascist, but does the Empire fit Umberto Eco's description of fascism?

Umberto Eco's Ur-Fascism has these features:

1. *The cult of tradition. One has only to look at the syllabus of every fascist movement to find the major traditionalist thinkers. The Nazi gnosis was nourished by traditionalist, syncretistic, occult elements.*
2. *The rejection of modernism. The Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, is seen as the beginning of modern depravity. In this sense Ur-Fascism can be defined as irrationalism.*
3. *The cult of action for actions sake. Action being beautiful in itself, it must be taken before, or without, any previous reflection. Thinking is a form of emasculation.*
4. *Disagreement is treason. The critical spirit makes distinctions, and to distinguish is a sign of modernism. In modern culture the scientific community praises disagreement as a way to improve knowledge.*
5. *Fear of difference. The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders. Thus Ur-Fascism is racist by definition.*
6. *Appeal to social frustration. One of the most typical features of the historical fascism was the appeal to a frustrated middle class, a class suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation, and frightened by the pressure of lower social groups.*
7. *The obsession with a plot. Thus at the root of the Ur-Fascist psychology there is the obsession with a plot, possibly an international one. The followers must feel besieged.*
8. *The enemy is both strong and weak.By a continuous shifting of rhetorical focus, the enemies are at the same time too strong and too weak.*
9. *Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy. For Ur-Fascism there is no struggle for life but, rather, life is lived for struggle.*
10. *Contempt for the weak. Elitism is a typical aspect of any reactionary ideology.*
11. *Everybody is educated to become a hero. In Ur-Fascist ideology, heroism is the norm. This cult of heroism is strictly linked with the cult of death.*
12. *Machismo and weaponry. Machismo implies both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality.*
13. *Selective populism. There is in our future a TV or Internet populism, in which the emotional response of a selected group of citizens can be presented and accepted as the Voice of the People.*
14. *Ur-Fascism speaks Newspeak. All the Nazi or Fascist schoolbooks made use of an impoverished vocabulary, and an elementary syntax, in order to limit the instruments for complex and critical reasoning.*

[Assistant]
Yes.

For point one, The Galactic Empire is ruled by Palpatine who follows the cult of the Sith. The empire itself is a revival of the Sith Empire that ruled the galaxy.

For point two, the Empire is a rejection of the Jedi Order, the Republic, and equity between human and non-human species.

For point three, the empire created a planet-busting superweapon just to destroy the rebel base.

4. The Empire does not allow political dissent.

5 and 6. The Empire is very racist and promotes human supremacy and fosters anti-alien and anti-droid sentiment

7 and 8. The Empire is simultaneously all-powerful yet constantly besieged by the Jedi and the Rebels. The path of the Sith is considered superior, yet Jedi are such a threat that they must all be exterminated.

9. Subjects of the empire are regularly drafted into the military against their will.

10, 11 and 12. This is Sith philosophy in a nutshell.

14. The Empire traffics in Nazi-esque propaganda to shape it's image throughout the galaxy.


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

[User]
[Star Trek]In multiple shows, transporters make extra people. Without extra mass. Which means that the magic box somehow converts energy into mass. So why don't civilizations like the Dominion use transporters to make tons of soldiers on demand instead of training them?

There are cultural reasons that many civilizations would not do this, but there are lots that would. We don't know exactly how a transpoter works, but on so many occasions it ends up making extra people. So it can't simply be moving atoms from location A to location B.  Any in niverse source that says that, must be lying or wrong. Probably just lying, since the other implication is the transporter might be a murder box and then civilizations like the Federation would not be comfortable using it.

[Assistant]
Because in literally every instance of it happening it was a massive fluke with very special non repeatable circumstances.

The next best thing is to grow your own troops. It's reliable, controllable, and gives you all the ketracel white you can bury your face in.


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

[User] ELI5: Why are Flies so good at getting into a home through a window, but incapable at getting outside through the same or multiple windows?

[Assistant]
Because of the different senses they are using to get in and out.

Flies get into houses because they are searching for food.  Flies find food by smell.  Smell diffuses through air.  So imagine a fly trying to get into your house.  If it comes to a closed window, it can't smell food through the window so it ignores it.  If there's an open crack at the bottom of the window or an open door or something, it can smell the food and will follow the scent through the opening, which will actually let it get inside, because usually where the smell is going out there is an actual passage for the fly going in.  The exception here is screen doors and windows, and sometimes you _will_ see flies buzzing all around those trying to get inside and failing, because they can't follow the smell.

Flies bump into glass windows but can't escape because flies, when not following a scent towards food, are attracted to light.  Flies aren't very smart, so they usually just home in on the brightest light source.  Inside a house, the light source is usually the window.  The fly doesn't really understand glass, so it keeps banging against it trying to fly toward the light.  It's not smart enough to realize it isn't making progress and search around for another way out.

To sum up: Flies following the light to leave a house tend to run into an impassible barrier (glass) while flies following smells to get into a house tend to find actual openings (open cracks, open doors).  So they get in more easily than they get out.


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

[User]
CMV: d&d druids are fundamentally uninteresting characters

When creating characters for d&d (or any tabletop), I try to make a character that stands out.  Someone memorable and interesting.  But when I try to make a Druid, those efforts fall flat.  I believe this is because the core principles behind being a Druid are boring, from a character perspective.  Theres just nothing to latch onto to put something interesting in someones personality or backstory.  The closest I can come is some kind of flower child hippie whos constantly baked, but that in itself is still pretty boring. Ive looked online and a lot of other people have similar issues.

[Assistant]
You can have a character who is part of a druid order whose forest(or whatever natural feature) is being destroyed.

You could be a storm/weather focused druid who is a part of a pirate crew.

You could be a hermit who has spent their life alone in the wilds.

You could be the defender of an ancient site.

You can be the master of an entire pack of wolves.

You could be the person who has saved a village by providing vegetables in winter.

There are a lot of possibilities.


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

[User]
[General SYFY] Time Machine Question

How do Time Machines compensate for earths movement?

For example: if i were to travel 2 weeks into the future in a time machine wouldn't I end up in outer space since the earth has moved from its previous point in space?

[Assistant] Spacial compensation is trivial. Your smart phone is powerful enough to plot the past and future path and rotation of earth. And any "time machine" is also a "space machine" since time and space are just aspects of space-time.


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

[User] [Titanfall] Those auto-aiming pistols that they give to elite pilots are awesome. I figure they must be absurdly expensive, since they don't give them to everyone. Do they fire diamond bullets or something?

[Assistant] No, soldier. They fire computer controlled micro rockets. Those practically grow on trees. Now get out there and prove to command that you're worth a tenth of one of those munitions and maybe someday you'll get recommended for pilot training! **MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!**


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

[User] ELI5: How does an animal horn grow so that it tapers to a point?

[Assistant]
It's basically the same process as claws. They grow from the root, just like hair (and indeed are very similar in various other ways)

The growth rate at each point isn't exactly the same, so they will curve as they grow. For example, claws will grow faster in the middle than at the sides and so will curve into that distinctive shape. Humans don't have "claws" but rather "fingernails" because the growth rate is more even.

With horns, this curvature is more subtle because the growth is from a patch, rather than a line, allowing more scope for shaping.

Also, wear affects the shape such that it tends to sharpen as it wears - animals with claws / talons / horns will usually sharpen them with instinctive movements that sharpen rather than blunt them.


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

[User]
When new elements are created in the lab, why do we smash together individual atoms instead of just smashing two bigger clumps together?

Surely if our goals is to perform thousands and thousands of collisions, wouldn't it be easier to collide larger clumps of atoms than single atoms? Or is it something about the acceleration process that prevents us from doing that?

[Assistant] To reach the speeds at which collisions will cause the nuclei to interact, we have to ionize the atoms and accelerate them into a beam in a particle accelerator. There are many atoms in the beam - it's not as if we're performing the experiment one atom at a time - but the process of ionizing and accelerating breaks up any multi-atom clumps into a stream of separate ions.


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

[User]
What can be learned from bringing a martian sample back to earth, that can't be learned with a rover?

What significant benefits would there be using earth's tools? Would it be worth the cost to return the sample?

[Assistant] While the instruments we can put on rovers are good, they are nothing compared to the kind of instruments we have here on Earth, which could offer a massive increase in sensitivity, accuracy and sheer breadth of analysis.


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

[User] [MCU] Did the suit help lessen the damage of the Gauntlet when Tony Snapped? If so, then wouldnt it been less bad on Hulk if he wore the Hulkbuster suit when he did it?

[Assistant]
The suit (aside from its gauntlet) didn't protect Tony at all. To wield the power directly it must course through you - we can see it passing through his veins - and thus external armour is of no relevance only your own personal toughness and willpower.

Hence why normal usage of the stones is to put them in tools of some sort where they perform a specific purpose, because most people cannot survive an infinity stone.


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

[User]
[Dune] What are the tenets of Buddislam/Orange Catholicism?

Also, how do you play Cheops?

[Assistant]
The basic tenet is the one that the great ecumenical conclave found was at the heart of all commandments in all religions: "Thou shall not disfigure the soul".

As for Cheops, you move your pieces around until you've got the opponent king in check and your own queen at the apex.


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

[User] ELI5: Why does a small wet stain on a shirt dry in minutes but a wet shirt takes hours?

[Assistant]
Because a wet shirt has *much* more water soaked into it than a little spill.

On top of that, the air itself can only contain so much water vapor, so if the air isn't particularly hot or dry, the shirt might saturate the water in the air all by itself, requiring waiting for the wetter air to disperse before more water can evaporate.

Finally, if the water is soaked into the shirt, less water surface area is exposed to the air, so it will take longer to dry as a result. This is especially true if you are trying to wear the shirt, since the heavy water will pull the shirt down against your skin, meaning even less surface area for the water to evaporate from. This makes a pretty big difference in and of itself and can easily be tested by just taking two pieces of cloth and getting both wet with the same volume of water. Get one wet by just pouring the water in one spot so that it forms one big wet spot, and get the other wet by sprinkling the water around a bit instead. You'll notice that even though the same amount of water was used, the sprinkled one will dry faster.


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

[User]
ELI5 how does Amazon go from 2 day shipping to 1 day shipping?

It seems like such a huge jump. How do you cut your industry leading delivery times in half? It's one thing to send a package in 1 day, it seems crazy to ship a random assortment of 1 million packages all in 1 day.

[Assistant] It really comes down to where they have warehouses . Storing the items close to where people are so that when something gets ordered it's really just gonna ship from somewhere close by. Amazon has been devloping their network of warehouses aka the fulfillment centers specifically for this purpose.


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

[User]
[Superheroes] Whats the lowest sustained max speed required for someone to still be considered a Speedster?

The top human speed is around 27 MPH, which was achieved by Usain Bolt briefly during a sprint. Running at this speed for a sustained amount of time could be considered a superpower, but it would count more as a stamina power rather than speed. So a sustained running speed somewhere between 27 MPH and C is the cutoff point for someone to be considered a Speedster.

What is this speed?

[Assistant]
I think the real question you should be asking is who and what counts as a speedster? Because in a lot of worlds, simply being above-average in speed to the average human or being faster than sound still wouldnt count someone as a speedster in that world.

Genos from One Punch is one of the fastest characters but isnt seen as a speedster at all. Simply being as fast as 28 MPH in the One Punch Man world is seen as absolutely not noteworthy at all.

It would be good to look at some examples and see what type of criteria to narrow down the speedster concept at the core.

*Classification*

- In the DC world, Superman has super speed comparable to some speedsters. He is not classified as a speedster. Because in this world, speedsters are characters tied to the Speed Force (basically a cosmic speed energy.)
- So being called a speedster would vary and need to fit the worlds criteria. Them having it as their major trait or falling under a category.

*Differences in speed comparatively*

- In the Sonic world, almost all major characters are extremely fast. Far beyond that of normal humans and non-humans like the anthropomorphic animals in Sonic Forces. That said, characters like Knuckles and Tails while fast arent considered speedsters.
- Characters like Sonic and Shadow are considered speedsters however. Due to them being leagues above everyone in speed comparatively.

*Speed celling and floor*

Of course, how fast someone would need to be different by the series.

- Kizaru from One Piece is the fastest character in the world thus far. Being as fast as light, thats the speed celling. Now as far as the floor for worthwhile mentioning is faster than the human eye. This is the bare minimum of what is expected.
- So for someone to considered a speedster, their speed would need to be above the speed floor and somewhat comparable to the celling. Of course as the story progresses, will see even faster characters and the metrics will be used to find a general idea.

TL;DR - Being a speedster is more about how its portrayed and seen in each world then a concrete number. Varies but the general consensus is that character must at least above normal human speeds at a minimum. As well as need to have speed be a major trait and need to have their speed be fast enough to other fast characters.


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

[User]
How can social norms be changed?

I mean, what efforts can you make to induce the change of a social norm?

[Assistant]
Here's one way to look at it. In a well-known (at least within the field of political science) article titled *International norm dynamics and political change* (1998), Finnemore & Sikkink suggest a way of thinking about this by presenting the *norm life cycle*. The life cycle has three distinct stages.

The first and most salient stage to your question is *norm emergence*. In this phase, a new (or emergent) norm is suggested by an individual or organisation referred to as *norm entrepreneurs*. Norm entrepreneurs typically have strong convictions or other interests that inspire them to want to shift the rules of appropriate behaviour in society. An effective norm entrepreneur calls attention to specific issues, and highlights current normative inconsistencies present within the status quo. By framing the issue in a certain narrative, they argue how the norm they are suggesting is, in fact, more appropriate. Often, frames are supported by referring to commonly held values and subsequently alluding to how these values may be threatened, or how behaviour could be improved in order to get closer to the ideal set out by said values. For example, if we everyone agrees that all men are created equal, how can we still condone slavery?

If the emergent norm gains traction and gets support by enough actors, the next stages of *norm cascade* and, finally, *norm internalisation* follow. Once internalised, the new norm has become embedded in what is considered appropriate behaviour within that social context, and transgressing it could result in consequences, ranging from raised eyebrows to punishment by death.


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

[User]
[Spaceballs] Does Major Asshole have the rank of Major, or is he called that because he's a major asshole?

Or is it both?

[Assistant]
Yes.

Mjr. Asshole's uniform is the same grey-and-black officer's uniform worn by Col. Sanders. Major is just below Lt. Colonel, and Colonel as a rank, so it's reasonable that a Major would have the same officers uniform.

This *might* be a "Maj. Major Major" situation, but evidently the "Assholes" are a respected and prestigious military family on planet SpaceBall, as evidenced by having members spread throughout basically every rank.


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

[User]
So how old is the water I'm drinking?

When I go to the faucet in the morning and fill up a glass of water, how ancient is the water that I'm drinking? Has it been around and in circulation since the formation of lakes and oceans on earth?

[Assistant]
It really depends on your definition of old.

If you take a sample of water as a sort of bulk material object, it has a history and special properties, such as dissolved minerals and pH. Those bulk properties will change a lot any time the sample environment changes, for example moving from the pipes in the ground into your digestive system. From that perspective the water gets new life in each different use as it moves through the water cycle.

If you look at a water sample as a collection of H2O molecules that happen to be connected to other stuff, then the state of the H2O is the focus. From that perspective, state changes from gas to water to ice could be considered a type of rebirth, or it could be considered the continued life of the specific H2O molecules.

If you consider the trajectory of the specific H2O molecules in question, then your water is as old as the last time the H2O emerged from some other chemical process. From that perspective, new water is being "born" in the tailpipe of a car, as complex hydrocarbons and oxygen are burned to produce H2O and CO2. In that case much water would be extremely ancient, moving between different thermal states but having the H2O molecules remain whole.


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

[User]
[General] Is there such a thing as a "superhero"?

My friend and I got into a debate about the term "superhero". He considers Hulk to be a mutant or mutate with heroic tendencies (thus a Mutatehero instead), and I argued by that logic that Superman and Thor can't be superheroes as they are simply aliens (or extraterrestrial beings) whose abilities are standard for their races.

What actually makes a superhero? Some people suggest powers surpassing the peak skills of an average human. However, this conflicts with the tier system where Street Tier superheroes and lower are barely above human standards, and peak humans like Batman or Captain America (also, isn't he technically a mutate?) can be considered superheroes whilst regular weight lifters or martial art black belts who perform heroic actions are simply dubbed "heroes" or "heroic".

Is there something that makes a peak human, mutant, mutate, hero with access to significant tech or an alien a superhero?

[Assistant]
Actually, Thor's abilities are beyond that of his race. Most Asgardians top out at around thirty tons. Thor shatters planets with a punch. Most Asgardians can't fly, Thor can stand in mid-air.

So, even for the Asgardians, Thor still counts as superhuman.


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

[User] eli5 What is nuclear fusion and how is it significant to us?

[Assistant]
Nuclear fusion is the process of taking two atoms and smashing them together. This creates a new element, but more importantly it produces a ton of energy. For example we could take some hydrogen atoms, smash them together and make helium. Helium isn't dangerous to the environment and we are actually running out of it so it being a byproduct would actually be a pretty cool bonus.

In other words it would basically grant massive amount of clean energy anywhere in the world. Currently our fusion generators aren't efficient enough to produce enough energy to counteract the amount need for containment on a reasonable scale, but hopefully we get there. Clean borderline limitless energy.


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

[User]
Is there a reason dictionaries of philosophy are not widely used or mentioned?

I've noticed that there are no dictionaries of philosophy online and not too many have been published. I've just finished a paper on The Transcendental Deduction and found myself wanting for explicitly defined terminology. I suspect its due to a lack of consensus and the complexity of some terms. Can anyone confirm this? Is it considered poor form to search explicitly for the definitions of philosophical terms?

[Assistant] Don't go to papers if you want to define terms, go to encyclopedias, e.g. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (preferably the former if it the entry isn't too difficult).  Going into a paper and looking for definitions is difficult in every discipline (e.g. you're expected to know what DAPI and actin are if you're in cell bio).


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

[User] [Fallout] What could the Sole Survivor realistically change as Director of The Institute?

[Assistant]
Sole Survivor has a unique ability to build entire cities out of pencils, desk fans, and duct tape.  Build that ability into Synths, replace a few community leaders, and Boston will practically rebuild itself.  Do so under the guise of the Minutemen or raiders (never played Nuka World) and the Institute can basically Illuminati the Commonwealth to prosperity while subtly directing resources and notable intellects underground.

Plus, SS has an uncanny knack for outliving the opposition.  Particularly stubborn Institute leaders could find themselves waking up to a high-tech knife in their gut and an oddly familiar Synth standing over them.


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

[User] ELI5: The difference between Parliamentary Republics, Presidential Republics, Federalist Republics, and Presidential Democracies?

[Assistant]
**Parliamentary Republic**:  The executive branch gets it's power directly from the legislature(or parliament). Normally the party that wins the most seats gets the prime minister but sometimes there are coalitions governments. "The Head of State" is normally a ceremonial, sometimes a monarch or a "president" with no major powers.

 EX: UK Theresa May prime minister of the UK is a member of the legislature and is voted by the other members for the post.  If the USA had a parliamentary republic either Mitch McConnel(Senate majority leader) or Paul Ryan(Speaker of the House) would be the head of the executive branch.

**Presidential Republic**: The head of the executive branch also the head of state , is separate from the legislative branch.  The president is normally elected by the people in a nationwide election. While most legislative and executive branches have some checks and balances on one another, the two aren't the one in the same like with parliamentary systems.

EX: The USA is a full presidential republic along with most of North and South America.  If the UK was a presidential republic, the head the executive branch would need to be elected.

**Federalist Republics**: A Republic that gives provinces and other individual areas limited powers. One can be a federalist republic and a parliamentary of presidential at the same time.  EX USA is both federal and Presidental republic while India is parliamentary and federal.

**Presidential democracies**: Used interchangeably with Presidential Republics.


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

[User] ELI5 How someone managed to build a CPU in Minecraft and what it actually does...

[Assistant]
There are a lot of different components to a CPU. One component is an AND gate. An AND gate will take in 2 boolean values (boolean values are either true or false) and spit out true if both values are true and false otherwise.

On a standard CPU, AND gates are incredibly small, but they don't *have* to be small. Instead of some transistors, we could simulate an AND gate with 3 buckets, some string and a stick. One bucket we place on the stick in a kind of precarious position. The other 2 buckets are placed above the first bucket. There is also a string connected to the top 2 buckets that will (when pulled) tilt their contents into the first bucket. If the first bucket gets enough water in it, then it will tip over spilling the water on ourselves.

We then ask a question like "Is the left top bucket filled AND the right top bucket filled?", then we pull on the string. If both buckets have water in them, the bottom bucket will tip over and we will get wet. If only 1 or the other bucket is filled, not enough water will make it into the bottom bucket, and we won't get wet. If neither bucket is filled of course nothing will happen.

So we've made an AND gate with cascading water. Again, we didn't have to use water. We could have used any predictable mechanical process.

Redstone in minecraft is a predictable mechanical process. Clever players used redstone to simulate AND gates, as well as all the other components of a computer.

The end result is a CPU. The CPU is much less complicated than the ones in your computer (not to mention much less efficient), but the point of the exercise isn't to make a complicated efficient processor.

As to the "What does it actually do". Generally all CPUs take in 2 numbers and an instruction, and minecraft CPUs are no different. The instruction is usually something like "add these two numbers" or "tell me if these 2 numbers are equal".


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

[User]
[avatar: the last airbender] air nomad genocide...

in your opinion, how do you think the fire nation came to the temples? since according to aang the only way to get there was by flying.

[Assistant] As weird as it sounds its possible they actually just flew up there. Its stated that the invasion of the air temples took place during Sozins Comet. Considering that even without the boost provided by the comet some fire benders are capable of short bursts of flight its not unlikely that the Fire Nation Army was able to rocket up the sides of mountains.


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

[User]
How similar are Nietzsche and Spinoza's will to power / conatus, amor fati / amor dei?

Also: the free spirit / the free man, the Ubermensch / God or Nature. Also their analysis of passions.

What deep differences divide them w.r.t. their common concepts?

[Assistant]
Considering that Nietzsche saw Spinoza as his "only predecessor", apart from the pre-socratics, it wouldn't be too bold to think so. They both are thinkers of immanence and their works are characterized by the rejection of the transcendental.

You can also see the unification of these two thinkers concepts in the works of Gilles Deleuze.


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

[User]
Does the wood from different trees burn at different temperatures when made into charcoal?

Specifically I was wondering about a particular tree, Osage Orange, that has an extremely high burning temperature. If charcoal was made from its wood would it burn hotter than charcoal from another tree thats wood doesn't burn as hot? Sorry if I got the tag wrong, i wasn't sure whether to use chemistry or biology.

[Assistant]
Softwoods have more air pockets so will burn hotter and faster, hardwoods have fewer air pockets, so will burn for longer but at lower temps.

Osage Orange likely has a high amount of resin - diesel veins running through it's trunk - which would cause it to burn hotter if used as firewood, but it wouldn't make a difference once you turn it into charcoal.

Charcoal is made by burning wood without oxygen. During that process, any resin in the tree would no longer be there, it would drip out through the grains of the wood, no longer being present.


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

[User]
ELI5: Does Chinese Herbal Medicine work?

Coming from a family that believe in Chinese herbal medicine, I've been to the Chinese doctor plenty of times. They take a look at you, measure your pulse from your wrist with 2 fingers and just blank out for a few minutes. Then they list out a whole list of problems and prescribe herbs where you boil and drink (I call it Liquid Tar).

My family believes in these practices as it has been practice over a long period of time but there doesn't seem to be a lot of research involved. I've asked my regular family doctor about this practice and he didn't have much to comment on it.

So does Chinese Herbal Medicine work or is it just a Placebo effect?

P.S. I drink the stuff but I don't know if I get better because of it or it's just my body recovering naturally.

[Assistant]
Technically, we have to say "it depends", as all actual FDA-approved medicine was once herbal medicine that was studied for active ingredients, and we now know exactly what to extract that produces desired results.

Eg; Your grandma's secret poppyseed bread may always remove pain because it's loaded with "milk of the poppy", aka Opium.  Or that jar of mold she spreads on a cracker to cure your food poisoning is incindentally a raw version of penicillin.

More than likely though, it's just placebo, or at least giving you vitamins and nutrients you haven't been eating because you hate your grandmother and don't eat your vegetables like a good boy.


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

[User] ELI5: How did the Abrahamic Religions become such a behemoth? Why aren't we all going to temples to pray to Odin or Zeus?

[Assistant]
There's a good book called Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe that touches on why Christianity was such a powerful colonizing force versus religions like Norse paganism (Or Igbo religion in the book's case)

One big thing is that the people spreading Christianity were very powerful and had a lot of force to back up their proselytizing.  Beyond that, when you look at Norse religion and similar old polytheistic religions, they tend to be very inegalitarian.  With Odin, if you didn't die on your feet like a man you went to hell.  With Igbo shamanism, a man who didn't have wives and cattle and property was less than nobody.

As you'll see if you read that book, the people who didn't succeed in the old structure were drawn to Christianity as a way to get what they can't have as pagans.  This splintered traditional societies and led to internal conflicts, preventing them from putting up a unified resistance to colonization by Christianity.

When you add in the force mentioned above, you've basically got natural selection going on. The ones who are amenable to Christian/colonial (you really can't separate them) power survive and get to work for the invaders, while the ones who fight back (usually the ones with something to lose in the new power structure) get killed.  The path to power changes and the cultural values change with it.


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

[User]
[Harry Potter] How many wizards exist in the Harry Potter universe?

Its been mentioned that theres wizards and magic schools all over the world and in that one tournament during the start of the Goblet of fire there were tens of thousands of spectators just in that one arena. So how many wizards are there in the world? Was a rough estimate ever mentioned in the book?

[Assistant]
We can extrapolate.

There are apparently 3000 wizards in the UK. In the 90s, there were 57,000,000 people in the UK. Assuming this is representative (which is a bit of a leap of faith, but we don't have any other data), this gives 0.005% of people as wizards- 285000 wizards worldwide in the 90s, 400000 today.

This seems a little bit small, so lets assume it's maybe twice as many, 6000-  luckily, the ministry's incompetence makes it easy enough to propose a mistake in the census. This gives us as a UK population equivalent to as a small town- small enough to explain why there's only one bank, one wand store, one clothing store etc, but big enough that a functional society can exist.

This gives us, in the 90s, just under 600,000 wizards worldwide,bumped up to 800,000 today. Enough for a global society, but small enough to avoid detection. So that seems reasonable.

600,000 during the time, 800,000 now.


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

[User]
[Star Trek TNG] What did the bridge officers do with poker chips they won? Could they convert them into anything worthwhile (maybe not money but favors from each other or something like that)? Or were they always completely playing for fun/for no real stakes?

There is an episode where at the end of a poker game Riker bets all his chips to Data that he can find Data's card (do a magic trick). If the game is over and the chips are useless why do they even care about the chips? After Riker's attempt to trick Data fails, Data takes all the chips, as if they're worth something. But why bother?

[Assistant]
Some crewmembers will set up systems where they trade shifts or holodeck time and whatnot, but most of the time, and particularly for Riker and the gang, the chips are just a way to keep score.
They bother keeping the chips for the same reason folks try to set the high score in any kind of game.  Competition is fun, and it's fun to know who's ahead and who's not.


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

[User]
[Wheel of Time] Were there any ages where the Dark One phoned it in?

So, while most things that the Father of Lies says are suspect, one that nobody has any issues with is that the battle against him was fought "countless" times.  It even makes sense given the cyclical nature of time.

But, given that he knows with certainty he gets to try again and again until he finally succeeds, does he really give %110 each and every time?  Are there any ages where he sees the dragon and thinks *.:This new Dragon seems mightier even than Lews Therin, I shall send a few darkfriends to ruin his day and then I shall go back to bed until the next age:.*?

Or does he go all in each and every time?

[Assistant]
He has no reason to not give it his all.

There is no price for failure, he doesn't lose power, he doesn't really have a physicality that is punished. Yeah, being imprisoned sucks, but it's not like torturous like it was for the Forsaken. Considering that vs what he gains when he wins, pretty worth trying as hard as he can.


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

[User]
Help me understand the origins and reasons for "Continental" philosophy's notoriously difficult language

Sorry if this post belongs somewhere else but here goes.

I've studied philosophy for many years at the University level and consider myself at least reasonably well read in the field.  My problem is that I have yet to find a clear explanation as to why so much 19th and 20th century philosophy from the "continental" tradition and it's precursors uses such impenetrable language and often seems frankly nonsensical. I'm assuming everyone has some idea of what I'm talking about, but to be clear I'm referring mostly to the German tradition starting with Kant, getting progressively weirder through Hegel, Heidegger, and then adopted by the French eg Derrida.

Caveat - I'm aware this covers a long period of time and diverse thinkers who can't all be lumped together, but there are similarities common threads that I believe justify thinking about them as a group to some extent.

The best explanation I've gotten so far is that these guys are talking about really complicated things difficult to express in language and therefore it's tough. But that isn't really satisfying, especially since many other philosophers have talked about very difficult problems and don't have totally impenetrable language - Plato, Aristotle, Pascal, Montaigne, Nietzsche etc etc.

Additionally, even for very difficult ideas, it should at least be possible to say something intelligible about what the main points are.  But no one seems to be able to say with any clarity what Hegel is really talking about in Phenomenology of Spirit, to pick one example among many.

My working hypothesis is that some of what they are writing is more akin to poetry and hence may seem difficult to understand if you're trying to read it as you would Bertrand Russell.  This is especially true with someone like Heidegger.  But I also think a fair portion of it really is nonsense and that a culture has arisen in which you need to sound opaque and indecipherable in order to be seen as profound.

I'm looking for better explanations for this phenomenon, or even to be convinced that they aren't as opaque as I'm claiming.  I want to be as charitable as possible so please show me why I'm wrong.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Assistant] The people who get frustrated with this sort of writing tend to get turned off from Continental philosophy and thus avoid it. The people who do not get turned off from this sort of writing often get in the habit of writing like this because you learn to write in part by emulating what you read. Continental philosophy often sounds like other Continental philosophy for the same reason analytic philosophy often sounds like other analytic philosophy - like attracts like. If you read much more Continental philosophy it becomes much less opaque, and if you had not read much other sorts of philosophy that other sort would be opaque too.


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

[User]
ELI5: Why/how does the body know when to wake up after routinely waking at a certain time, even though you dont always fall asleep at the same time every night?

When I wake up at the same time every weekday  using an alarm, I wake up at that same time on weekends, even though I fall asleep a lot later Friday evenings.
Ive been told there was an inner clock, but how does the body measure time? (Sorry if this is unclear)

[Assistant]
The *Circadian Rhythm* is the "internal clock" of the human body. Many stimuli affect it (Habits, mental state, physical state, genetics, environmental factors, medication, etc).

One of the main components of it is a hormone called Melatonin, produced mainly in the *pineal gland* of the brain. It is mostly influenced by light (hence, using smartphones at night might cause insomnia and other sleep-related issues). Cortisol is also important in the alertness process (Waking up).

This process is also influenced by learning, i.e. the thing we call habit. If you wake up at a certain time for a period of time, the Circadian Rhythm will adjust.


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

[User] ELI5: How can Mega.nz get away with hosting copyright material the same way Megaupload.com did but got busted for? Nothing seems to have changed.

[Assistant]
Taken from the site:

>All files stored on MEGA are encrypted. All data transfers from and to MEGA are encrypted. And while most cloud storage providers can and do claim the same, MEGA is different  unlike the industry norm where the cloud storage provider holds the decryption key, with MEGA, you control the encryption, you hold the keys, and you decide who you grant or deny access to your files, without requiring any risky software installs. Its all happening in your web browser!

Basically, they can claim that they have complete lack of knowledge of what they store. Users only upload encrypted data. Anyone attempting to analyse traffic or stop particular content sharing would have to target the user rather than the company.


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

[User] Do different gasses have different drag coefficients? Do they generate different amounts of resistance based on their molecular structure?

[Assistant]
The wording is a little wonky. Gasses are fluids, and thus have the property of Viscosity. Yes, molecular difference creates different viscosity.

Drag coefficient is more based on the shape of something in a fluid flow. It is independent of the fluid.

Maybe what youre asking about is Drag (force).  Drag is a combination of Drag Coefficient, frontal area, fluid viscosity, and fluid velocity.


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

[User]
are two puppies who are litter-mates more related to each other than to a puppy born in another litter, but to the same parents?

Does sharing a placental environment affect the relatedness of the puppies?

[Assistant] The puppies will have exactly the same genetic relatedness, but there is a chance they end up sightly more similar to one another than to a different litter based on the effects of non-genetic influences. For example, the environment and experiences they all share after birth during the critical socialization period, which might be different for each litter, and which can be profound in their effect on behavior in dogs. (One reason why cloning will never actually get your beloved pet back- you simply cannot duplicate all the variables even if the genes are identical.) Or before theyre born, the mother may experience some level of stress or illness that may prime the puppies to respond to stress slightly differently. Also, theres a prevailing theory that mild illness in the pregnant mother dog, or unusually cold temperatures, can both contribute to slow melanocyte migration in the fetuses which is why some solid colored dogs are born with incidental tiny white snips on their toes, chins, tail tips, or the center of their chest or belly, as these are the last places those cells migrate during development, and this doesnt seem to be heritable (though the tendency to be susceptible to this effect might be heritable, that doesnt seem to be cleared up yet, and most heritable genes for white also follow a similar pattern of slowing melanocyte migration even in ideal conditions, which is why if a dog is going to have white its most likely going to be socks/ruff/blaze etc). In that case one litter of a certain purebred might have tiny show faults if the mom was going through it during her pregnancy, and another might not. But the actual genetic relationship between all the puppies would still be full brother and sister.


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

[User]
CMV: I see nothing wrong with the word "retarded".

I don't mean when talking about someone with any disabilities, I mean strictly when you are talking to a friend and they did something dumb, and you yell out "Are you retard?!" Many people will have problems with this, yet I don't get why.

Person A and Person B are driving in a car. Person B is telling person A to turn on X road. Person A misses the turn and Person B says "What are you, blind?!" No one is going to be offended by this. Not a single eye will be batted.

Or, If Person B is yelling for Person A and after a minute or so, finally get's his attention, Person B may say "What are you, deaf?!" Again, no one will even flinch at this .

However, if Person A does something dumb and Person B says "what are you, retarded?!" the PC Police will be all over his ass and saying how insensitive he is being.

I believe that the use of retard in this case is perfectly fine and shouldn't offend anyone, just like calling someone deaf or blind doesn't.

[Assistant]
Deaf people don't hear, and blind people don't see, but people with mentally retardation do think.  If you'd said "brainless" people wouldn't be offended.

Separately, blind people and deaf people embrace the terms blind and deaf.  They use those words themselves.  Whereas parents of children with mental retardation don't tend to like or use the word retarded.


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

[User] ELI5: Sometimes when we hurt ourselves the pain doesn't register until after we have seen the wound. Why?

[Assistant]
Adrenaline surpresses / dampens the feeling of pain and you usually only start inspecting your wound once that wears off.  Your body wants to maintain functioning until the immediate danger is avoided and it can safely regenerate.

You can't just not look at it and it wont hurt, it's more like that you only begin seeing the wound when its starting to hurt.


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

[User]
[DC] What would Gotham look like if Batman never existed?

If Bruce Wayne never became vigilante, how would Gotham had looked like?
How would the rogue gallery differ, would there be a new hero that surfaces?
Would Superman keep Gotham under his watch?

[Assistant] Without Bruce Wayne being Batman it's likely Gotham would have decayed and become abandoned years ago.  He chooses to keep Wayne industries there to keep jobs and money flowing into the city. Without batman or an urge to "save" the city Wayne industries would have moved to metropolis to save costs and the city would have become like modern day Detroit.  A lot of his rogues wouldn't exist because they'd either have no nemesis to face or would be bulled over by the more powerful criminals unfettered by the bat like two face and the penguin.


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

[User] Someone please please help me out. I am a graduate in philosophy and now I am applying for a job in an insurance sector. And the interviewers will definitely ask "how philosophy and insurance relates or how philosophy can contribute to insurance?" And I can't come up with some solid points.

[Assistant]
Some insurance companies literally administer a logic/critical thinking test to their applicants.

Talking points:

1. Processing a claim requires recognizing whether conditions do or do not apply to a case. You can connect idealized rules to concrete instances, especially with a nuanced attention to detail. Philosophers are well-attuned to recognize general rules, what could count as counter-examples, and whether the necessary and sufficient conditions obtain.
2. Clients/customers give stories about what has or has not occurred. You are working to make a coherent picture of what happened. This requires weighing evidence, spotting tensions and contradictions in information, and then performing some inference to the best explanation (IBE). Philosophers are trained to make inductive inferences like these and weigh evidence in an unbiased manner.
3. In the office you will be expected to present information, at some point. Philosophers have experience writing persuasive pieces, presenting works in seminars and conferences, and oftentimes teaching courses to undergrads. This makes you an asset to translate information across domains to different audiences.
4. One sub-field in philosophy is that of ethics. You have been trained in a variety of ethical theories, and can recognize the highest standards of integrity. You have been well-trained to be able to recognize a healthy workplace and can interface well with HR.


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

[User] Does pupil constriction only happen when your eye is exposed to light in the visible spectrum?

[Assistant]
Yes, it only reacts to light, if it is visible, which can be dangerous to your eyes, if you are exposed to strong UV or infrared light sources.
E.g. people who blow hot glass without protection often get eye problems later in life, due to the infrared exposure. Their pupils don't contract, because in the visible light, the hot glass only has a faint orange glow.


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

[User] Is there a branch of academic philosophy that specifically includes the study of what makes a person believe in something?

[Assistant]
If you mean "causes" at the level of precedent individual determinants, that's psychology.

If you mean "causes" at the level of determinants in communicative interaction, that's rhetoric.

If you mean "causes" at the level of precedent systemic determinants, that's sociology or anthropology or political science.

Academic philosophy intersects with all of these, to varying degrees.


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

[User] Eli5: why does a person in remission end up getting the cancer back but at a more aggressive rate?

[Assistant]
If a person in remission develops growth of their tumor, it will be made up of cells that survived their immune response as well as the treatment they received for the cancer.

This is a rather obvious point, but it's important to note. The previous tumor(s) clearly had a majority of cells that were susceptible to the person's immune system and the chemotherapy/radiation/surgery that they received. The tumor that develops following remission is going to be made almost completely of cells that were not susceptible, or at least much less susceptible to those things. For this reason, it may grow back faster or metastasize earlier. It will also likely require different types of treatment.


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

[User]
ELI5: Why do I need to get my oil changed in my car?

What exactly happens to the old oil?

[Assistant] The purpose of oil is to lubricate and aid in keeping engine parts cooler.  It forms a thin barrier around things like bearings to prevent excess friction.  Over time the viscus property starts to decay and the parts basically rub against each other and start to wear out and thus the requirement to change oil.


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

[User] ELI5: How do all the scams promising you six figures, just by sitting at your computer and clicking you finger actually work? What are their purpose? How people allowed to get a way with such malicious activity?

[Assistant]
Their purpose is to trick the greedy and the easily fooled into sending the scammer money, giving the scammer bank details, or simply performing work for which they will never be paid.

People get away with it because the scammers are usually based in countries with incompetent or corrupt law enforcement.


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

[User] Does the brain react in a certain or special way to the reception of information that undermines/contradicts/proves to be false something we whole-heartedly "know" to be true?

[Assistant]
Yes, this is known as the backfire effect.

If you provide someone with information that contradicts their known belief they can become more confident in their own belief. The brain registers this in the same way that it registers pain. This actually activates the fight or flight response, which is a reason people can become physically aggressive or flee the conversation when there is a disagreement.


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

[User]
ELI5: Why can I stream live TV, Netflix and even porn in crystal clear HD, but YouTube buffers and lags like no tomorrow?

It's infuriating.

[Assistant]
YouTube has long been notorious for having lousy servers. To an extent, it's probably "you get what you pay for". Netflix has a vested interest in insuring a feed that isn't laggy because you're paying them every month for the service. But YouTube is free, so Google isn't going to turn the world upside down to make sure you get a great feed 100% of the time.

Indeed, you'll often find that when YouTube feeds you an ad before the video, it comes through just fine, then the video itself will look like shit, or sometimes end up not even loading at all. That's because someone's paying for those ads, so they're sent from a completely different set of servers, and funny enough, they NEVER seem to have any problems with those.


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

[User]
ELI5: what happens with a donor organ's DNA after a successful transplant?

My assumption is that over time the organ regenerates new cells with the host's DNA. Or do the two stay distinct for life, or do they merge into a mix of the two? If they stay separate, is there a definite boundary, and does the host's future offspring bear the DNA of three bloodlines instead of two?

[Assistant] The host cells keep the host's DNA and the implanted organ's cells keep the donor's DNA, and certainly possible future offspring will have the host's DNA only. They do not mix, the host cannot regenerate cells he does not have anymore only the organ itself can regenerate those cells (if it can regenerate), the host actually has immunosuppressants for the rest of his life so his immune system does not destroy the implanted organ.


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

[User]
ELI5:How does a company like Northrop Grumman benefit from all the television advertising they are doing?

It seems to me like there are a limited number of customers for their product. I'm not going to buy a stealth bomber because I saw it on TV.

[Assistant]
Superstar military contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, McKesson or Northrop Grumman show ads to appeal to those aspiring to enter the lucrative and almost magical world of developing the most advance technology for the armed forces.
These employers cherry pick the best of the top applicants, and what better way to get greater access to supremely qualified candidates then by showing ads that *will* reach the eyes of students with the hopes of inspiring them to eventually apply to their company.


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

[User]
[DC]Why does Superman usually engage in melee combat when foes bust out the kryptonite when he has so, so, so many other options to deal with it?

Usually when his opponent takes out kryptonite he continues punching away despite the fact he is not totally powerless instantly.  He has so many options.  He could use super breath to blow it away, run away and throw something heavy at his foe, or just throw something at the kryptonite, tunnel under his foe and throw them into low orbit so they lose hold of it.  He has many other better options virtually every time, than stay and keep punching.  So why is that his go to strategy?  He could also just run away, even with kryptonite he is faster than most of his opponents.

[Assistant] Its possible the kryptonite also impacts the brain.  At superspeed both the flash and superman are so over powered they should both never lose ever in a match against a villain.  They both can run as fast as light.  So imagine this. You see Superman or the Flash, and before you can react, you are dead or in cuffs.


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

[User]
ELI5: Why do people keep saying the government is profiting on the war on drugs?

I just don't understand, from my perspective it would seem like they are pouring money into manpower to make drug busts and operate the prisons full of minor drug offenders. Where does the money come in, and why is it more than what could be made on taxation?

[Assistant] The raiding agency (DEA/local law enforcement) can keep any money/arms/vehicles seized during a drug bust. Don't know how the bureaucracy would benefit from it, though people point out general corruption and lobbying by private prisons.


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

[User]
Why does the 22nd Amendment exist? I know the historic reasons, but what benefits to the country does limiting a President to two terms?

I'm not from the USA so apologies if this is a question answered with common knowledge or is a bit stupid. But obviously we've just seen the inauguration on TV over here and there was talk about this being his last term, but no real explanation as to why this amendement was made.

To me it seems strange that even if there is the backing and confidence of the party and the people a President couldn't stay in power for more than eight years.

I would be grateful if someone could give a quick explanation to this!

[Assistant] The "two-term limit" for US presidents was an infomal rule that goes as far back as George Washington. Until Theodore Rooselvelt (unsucccessfully) attempted a third term in the early twentieth century, everyone had respected and followed the rule, which was thought to be essential to the avoidance of the type of tyrrany inherent in monarchies and other non-democratic systems of governance. After Franklin D. Roosevelt successfully retained the position of US President for thirteen years, and in the aftermath of defeating a set of tyrannical dictatorships, it was deemed necessary to formaly codify the two-term limit rule. There are some historians who argue that the in-office illnesses suffered by both Franklin Roosevelt and earlier by Woodrow Wilson also played a significant role in the adoption of the 22nd Amendment, as there was significant concern that the President's power could be (and had been, in the case of Wilson) coopted by another person when the president became disabled. The 22nd Amendment would preclude the continued cooptation of presidential powers through the legal time limitations on that president's power. There are a number of other factors as well, but these are arguably the most important ones.


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

[User]
Changing your name after marriage?

Hi folks,

I'm in the first year of my MA psych program and I got hitched (yay!!) in October.

Under my maiden name, I have been second/third author on two published chapters, and have presented about 5 posters at local & international conferences.

My question: will changing my name legally negatively interfere with my academic life? There will obviously be some discontinuity in my CV, which I'm not super worried about.  I'm more wondering about perceptions of women in academia who change their names to take their husband's last name.

Also - is it possible for me to legally change my name and use that socially whilst still publishing and working under my maiden name?

Any input is appreciated :)

Thanks!

[Assistant]
You can change your name and publish or work under your birth name. You will need to tell HR for legal/tax reasons, but tell them youd like to maintain your original name within the directory, email, etc. Also tell whoever maintains your department website to keep it the old way.

If youd rather change it professionally though, in your CVs publications list, bold your name wherever it appears (whether old or new name), and you can also check with the journal editors of your publications to see if you can change your name on the publication.

I suspect there are guides out there for changing your name for academics, aimed at academics who take a married name, and/or at trans academics, they can likely help you make decisions on what to change and then how to do it.


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

[User]
CMV: If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to eat out or get delivery.

I work as a delivery driver and I get this excuse a lot from people who will order pizza more than 2 times a week. They will say "I just don't have it today" when talking about my tip. And I just think to myself "well if you can afford to tip at least a dollar, how can you afford $50worth of Dominos every week?"

I understand that sometimes things come up and someone might only have $15 to get their kids something quick to eat and they might not tip and that's okay. But if someone is ordering out all the time and don't tip, they aren't broke, they're just greedy.

[Assistant] Tipping is an option, not a requirement. If they can afford food at your workplace then they **CAN** afford to eat out or get delivery. Those people work for their money so they may spend it as they please. If they don't feel like giving it to you when they don't have to then they aren't obligated to do so.


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

[User]
How did The Doctrine of Double Effect "wash out" of popular Trolley Problem discussion?

Just realized that most people don't realize that the Trolley problem is originally about Doctrine of Double Effect, intention & people making different decisions in similar scenarios, etc, etc, etc.

How/why did this wash out of the discussion completely, to be replaced by a simple Will Ya Pull The Lever?

[Assistant] In philosophical discussions it has not washed out. What might have happened is that the trolley problem is easy to present in a three minute video, it lends itself to animations, is easily written up for a 500 word article, etc so the washed out version is what most people get access to.


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

[User]
In Kierkegaard's jargon is there a difference between dread and anxiety? If so, what is that difference?

Thanks!! :)

[Assistant] I honestly dont know. However, one of Kierkegaards books called Begrebet Angest has been translated as both The Concept of Dread and The Concept of Anxiety. Thus the same concept has been called both dread and anxiety. This could mean that there is really no difference between dread and anxiety in the kierkegaardian sense as they are both translations if the same word (angest)


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

[User]
[Dredd 2013 film] What did Judge Anderson see in Dredd when she first encountered him?

"There's something else, something behind the control.  Something ... almost -"

At first I thought this was probably a portent of some future "unknown darkness" which might be related to him and brewing.  But I'm watching the security footage again now and I think she might have thought she saw a spark of compassion in him.  Behind the control, his real motivation.

Thoughts?

[ E : sorry, I meant "Dredd 2012 film" ]

[Assistant]
That's pretty much it.

Dredd is iron control and the applied use of force and the LAW.

But he also cares about the citizens of Mega-City One. He couldn't operate as efficiently as he does if he didn't. He will die to protect the citizens, and he expects other Judges to be willing to make the same sacrifice.


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

[User] ELI5 - How does the body regain conciousness after being unconcious? What triggers us to wake up?

[Assistant]
It's not just one thing, or patients wouldn't be stuck in comas.

In order to be conscious a lot of things need to be working properly.  The brian needs to be undamaged, at normal pressure, and the blood needs to be at the right chemical balance with oxygen and sugar to power the brain.


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

[User]
CMV: Plot involving Squidward is usually ill-conceived

Yes, there are a few times where the writers of the show have given the audience reasonable reason to take side with SpongeBob; but, for the most part, Squidward is unfairly vilified.  This especially happens when he gets upset over SpongeBob's shenanigans that disrupt or destroy his hobbies or even basic functions such as sleeping.

Take episode 15 of season 1 - "Jellyfish Jam" for example: SpongeBob decides to take in a jellyfish as a pet and looses control of the situation.  Even after SpongeBob is advised by Squidward that taking a in wild animal as a pet is not a good idea; he does not listen and predictably, Squidward pays for it.  The music from SpongeBob's house plays for so long and so loud, that it completely prevents Squidward from being able to sleep.  Now, instead of making the audience sympathize with him when he becomes understandably upset, he is vilified to the tune of him being attacked by the jellyfish that SpongeBob no longer has control over.  Worse yet, the audience is, instead, lead to sympathize with SpongeBob.

[Assistant]
It's not as simple as Squidward gets attacked->bad things happen to Squidward--> Squidward is the bad guy.

Rather, Squidward is the normal guy to which bad things happen for no reason.

Good things don't always happen to good people in spongebob, and bad things don't always happen to bad people. Mr. Krabs is just as evil or worse than Plankton, but Mr. Krabs tends to get what he wants more often than Plankton. Patrick is a loser and drain to society, yet he's one of the happiest people in town.

The central theme of Squidward's existence is that he lost control of his own life. He has to deal with the stupidity that Mr. Krabs throws at him. He has to sit and deal with Spongebob ruining the small parts of his life where he has autonomy and freedom to express himself. He gets hurt, blown up, and has mental breakdowns in half the episodes. It's almost always clear that he doesn't deserve what's happening to him-in his own words, "Why me?"


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

[User] [Tarantinoverse] Who's the weakest character that could have killed the Bride at the height of her post-coma rampage?

[Assistant] Anyone of them could if they had done what Bud did and just shot her from an ambush. Pride is what killed O'Ren and Elle, refusing to do what they would have done with any other assassin, and going soft is what killed Vernita Green. Not realizing the depth of Elle's hate killed Bud, and Bill was killed by his love for the Bride.


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

[User] [Harry Potter] I'm ambidextrous. Will learning to use two wands at the same time actually work and give me an added advantage?

[Assistant]
Assuming you can even be matched for two different wands which is highly unlikely, you can't perform two different spells at the same time. The wands are only channels for your magic. You'd have to learn to cast spells at the same time

In theory, you could learn to rapid fire, but you can do the same thing with one wand.


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

[User] [Marvel/Delivery Man] Post-thaw Steve Rogers is short on money and generously donates hundreds of times to a sperm clinic resulting in 533 children. Assuming the SSS is passed down, what happens next with these hyper athletic, superhumans?

[Assistant] > The National Hockey League today signed on to the Rogers Accord, barring any team from fielding more than four superathletes at a time. This decision follows on the heels of Major League baseball, football, and basketball signatories last year, and the banning of superathletes from the Olympics two years ago; special superathlete-only Unlimited Leagues for these sports are due to start their first seasons this Spring, with Amazon and Netflix both vying for the broadcast rights. Of course, there are other issues superathletes have to deal with including accidental super-*incest* from half-siblings. For more on the potential implications, we turn to our guest today, Dr. Hank McCoy...


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

[User] ELI5: How do tattoos not wear off? Don't the skin cells at the tattoo get replaced by newer cells?

[Assistant]
Tattoo ink becomes embedded in fibroblasts, cells that are very important in healing. Andi t just kinda stays there, the tissue they heal carrying the same color as the ink. It actually intentionally destroys a bunch of the epidermis tissue that was ther ebefore the injection.

Unfortunately this does tend to over time migrate deeper into your skin, resulting in the faded colors you see in older tattoos.


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

[User] [Marvel] Can Black Panther survive a landing if he jumped from a very tall hight, while wearing his Vibranium Suit?

[Assistant] Not really. The main thing that kills you when you fall down is the damage to the soft tissues and blood vessels when there is a sudden stop while moving so fast. A vibranium suit would protect him from the force of the impact but the sudden deccelaration would be fatal.


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

[User]
CMV: Graverobbers of ancient times arent villains

I like to read history things, and I see a lot of by the time such and such archeologist got there, the grace had been looted by graverobbers. A thousand years of history lost, just like that. And it paints the graverobber as this terrible person/people who has deprived humanity of this chance to learn of the past

But I dont see it this way. Ancient civilizations, by all accounts, were pretty unequal societies. Kings and emperors lived like actual gods, while the majority of people toiled in extreme poverty. So if someone had a chance to take things from a grave, where the dead person wasnt using them anymore, in order to improve their (presumably awful) stock in life, why wouldnt they?

[Assistant]
You're assuming that the graverobbers were from the same ancient times as the graves themselves, and not from more modern times, where there are many better ways to get out of poverty than grave rob.

Even if they were poor ancient peasants, it doesn't change the fact that our historical knowledge is now lesser because someone took all the interesting historical artifacts. That is shitty no matter the reason.


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

[User]
[Star Wars] why are night vision and thermal devices so uncommon in the galaxy?

Walkers, speeders, tanks, and even ships; you will always see these use headlights and spotlights in the dark and adverse weather conditions, even in combat.

However, we know night vision and thermal sights and devices do exist in the Star Wars universe, because we have seen these a few times, used by special forces, mandalorian armors and in the Slave I ship.

So, how come most ground war machines and ships arent equipped with these as a norm, and, instead, are limited to flashlights?

Like, even nowadays every war machine is equipped with night vision and thermal sighting... is there any in-universe explaination why these arent common or popular?

[Assistant]
Intimidation is the primary factor. The Empire doesnt need to be sneaky, they have all the toys. Their military doctrine doesnt require night vision as the norm.

Secondly, its another point of failure. Why use nigh vision more when cheap and easy to use lights get the job done?


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

[User] eli5: Why do drowned bodies sink and then float?

[Assistant]
As someone who has recovered bodies from waterways... The bodies are almost neutral bouyancy at time of death, but then take water in and loose air from those balloons we call lungs after death causing the remains to sink.

Go float in a pool, and exhale. See how fast you sink without that air in your lungs.

The resurfacing occurs due to mostly natural bacterial flora inside your body beginning the decomposition process. This produces gasses inside the carcass, causing swelling and bloating. This eventually acts just like the air in your lungs and the body resurfaces. Actually much more boyant.


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

[User] ELI5: How does the US dollar come back to the US when it has been used in other countries?

[Assistant]
If you come to NZ you'll come, bring your US dollar and trade it for NZ dollars (like 1 USD is about 67004 NZD for example) that same day someone traveling to the US for some reason from NZ will trade their NZD for USD and tada, it's back in the US.

Money rarely stays put, it's always circulating. Exchanges, either at banks or through exchange companies, ensure that foreign currency stays circulating.


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

[User] ELI5: What's the reason for absurd jail sentencings like 300 years? What's the logic and method for calculating that many years of jail time?

[Assistant]
The first explanation is that judges simply calculate the number of crimes committed times how many years the sentence is for each crime. If a thief commits 30 acts of burglary and each conviction carries a sentence of 10 years then you end up with 300 years of jail time.

One of the benefits of such long jail time is that parole decisions are often made based upon what percentage of the convict's sentence has been completed. Someone might be eligible for parole after they have served 50% of their sentence. Having a 300 year sentence makes sure that they will never be eligible for parole, no matter how lenient the parole decisions are in the future.


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

[User] ELI5: Why do we need to go through a company to access the internet and why can't we come up with a way of accessing it ourselves? Do they own the internet?

[Assistant] The internet is not owned by a single company. It's a network of computers (called servers) spread throughout the world. However, to be able to connect to all these other computers, you need some type of infrastructure that connects you to the 'net. That's what the ISP provides. They don't own the internet, but they make it easy to connect to it.


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

[User] [Star Wars] We have seen Mediocre, Good, Master and God tier Jedi. What happens to the bad, flunkies, one trick force users. That wish to stay in the order.

[Assistant]
Depends on how you measure what makes a Jedi good, master or god tier. Jedi dont really look to combat strength alone. One of the requirements for being on the council wasnt some combat test but rather successfully training a padawan to knighthood.

That said jedi who arent super skilled have plenty of options in the order from archives, disaster relief, exploration etc.


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

[User]
Mathematics in computer science

Hi guys,
I'm currently taking a computer science degree and math major on the side. I was planning to do M.L. but I found out I disliked statistics so I was wondering what other fields of computer science, mathematics is useful in.

[Assistant]
Theoretical computer science is very literally the mathematical theory of computer science, and sometimes considered as its own branch of math!  There are many very active areas within TCS including algorithms, complexity theory, coding theory, combinatorial optimization, learning theory, programming language theory, etc.

Many branches of math find applications in different areas of TCS.  For example category theory has been used in programming languages, linear algebra and graph theory find uses almost everywhere in TCS.


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

[User]
ELI5: How exactly does the Atomic Clock work?

What material does it use to power it, if I'm wording this correctly...?
What would happen if it was off by a few seconds? Would a new position effect the time displayed?

[Assistant]
An atomic clock can be based on several different designs, but they all work on a basic principle of measuring the frequency of radiation emitted by atoms of some element in a chamber.

Knowing the frequency that the particular element "oscillates" (a very general term but serves for this discussion) at allows it to be used as a very accurate metronome, which then acts as the basis for a clock.

Most atomic clocks use the element cesium, which has a frequency of 9,192,631,770 Hertz. That means it "oscillates" (actually, transitions between energy states, but that's not important to understand how it's used as a clock) a little over nine billion times a second.

Knowing the oscillation frequency and then measuring it in a device creates an incredibly accurate timekeeping mechanism.

As to accuracy of the time displayed, it's important to understand that any clock is really just a device that counts out moments of time- they may be larger and less accurate, such as with a grandfather clock and its pendulum, or smaller and far more accurate, such as a cesium clock.

But the time displayed is simply a function of knowing what time it is and then letting the clock drive the display by counting out those slices of time. If the clock is inaccurate because it does not measure its moments very accurately - such as with a grandfather clock or a wind-up clock that may lose or gain a minute every few days, for example- then it has to be adjusted.

Atomic clocks have a very, very small amount of drift in their measurements, simply because it's impossible to *continuously* monitor time changes with our current technology- we have to do it in slices, like a pendulum, metronome or changes in energy states of an atom.

But atomic clocks are the most accurate timepieces we've ever created, and their drift is so small as to almost not bear mentioning.


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

[User]
[OPINION] Is it wrong or should you feel guilty of looking at someone else code

As the title says, is it wrong to look at someone else's code or learn from their code and implement it to your own project?

The thought of looking at someone else's code, learning from it and implementing it into a project made me think that I am not solving something or creating something that I am thinking of making.

This question has been stuck in my head ever since I started coding which made coding my simple calculator app on and off.

[Assistant]
"Is it wrong to learn to write from reading other people's writing?"

"Is it wrong to do math by looking at other people's math problems?"

"Is it wrong to learn to paint by looking at paintings?"

There's a big difference between using other people's code wholesale versus seeing how something is done on Stack Overflow and then implementing the same concept. This isn't a priori computing, you learn by seeing how things are done. You should still try to understand what you're doing, solve problems your own way (even if you know there's a better way, then yoinking that off SO), and figure out why one solution or method works while another kinda works but not quite. That's the whole job.

Something you're also overlooking is you're using other people's code all the time. Libraries, modules, and boiler plate are someone else's work, that they've put out as, "Go nuts" (or, "Pay me", read your licenses!) and that's not just fine, it's best practices. Reinventing the wheel isn't the job, fixing this problem you have now is the job.

It's a funny grey area as the best programmer is, by far, Stack Overflow, but you can't write software just from looking for a hundred SO answers...


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

[User] ELI5: Why are giants in movies, games, stories, etc all moving "slow" or is it in reality that they're actually moving as fast as human (or even faster)?

[Assistant]
Consider how quickly you move your legs. You move them at normal speed right? Now consider how quickly an ant moves its legs. It moves its legs super fast. Now imagine if you were the ant. The ant's legs would move at a normal speed and the human's legs would seem to be moving very slow in comparison.

Now think of how quickly you can walk across a room and compare it to how quickly an ant would be able to cross the room. Although the ant moves its legs faster, you get across the room faster because each step takes you a much greater distance than the ant.


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

[User]
Why are the Great Basin, Mohave and Sonoran Deserts considered distinct?

Looking at a map, these three deserts look like they are right next to each other.  Why wouldn't they be known as one big desert?

[Assistant] Mostly because of distinct plant life and weather. In the Sonoran desert you have several varieties of cacti that are not present in either the Mojave or Great Basin desert. The Sonoran also has two rainy seasons, summer monsoon and winter rains while the other do not. Also separting the Mojave and Great Basin is temperature. The Great Basin is considered a cold desert, whereas Mojave is a warm desert. There are also varieties of plant life, such as Joshua Trees which are plentiful in the Mojave but rarely occur in the Great Basin. Even though they are close different weather patterns cause a division of plant life in them and separate them.


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

[User]
[MCU] After the five year time jump in Endgame, who is funding the Avengers compound in New York?

Black Widow is managing the Avengers when Steve comes to visit. Everything is up and running, she seems to be mission HQ for everyone. I guess we can assume that Stark Industries is still paying the bills, but Tony seems pretty disconnected. Not to mention the Sokovia Accords are still in place... are they now sanctioned and funded by the UN? Cap seems to be out of the superhero game at that point, which would make sense since he never signed.

[Assistant] Pepper Potts wasn't snapped and was largely in control of Stark Enterprises. She would have supported them until Tony was found which was only a couple of weeks after the snap. With Tony's retirement she would probably have created a Board of Trustees to.manage the financials so that it didn't create a conflict of interests at home.


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

[User] ELI5: If I own 10% of a company do I get 10% of the profit it generates?

[Assistant]
No you don't. Those profits belong to the company, not to you.

The directors of the company might decide to pay dividends out of those profits. If they do, then you should get 10% of all of the dividends that the company pays out.


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

[User]
I don't think that employers should be forced to accommodate religious attire, even in cases where they don't negatively affect job performance. CMV

So I was watching some clips from that show "What would you do" on Youtube the other night. Normally, I like the scenarios that the show creates but one of the clips rubbed me the wrong way. A man (Sikh I think) was wearing a turban to a job interview and the boss said that he had to lose the turban if he wanted to get hired. The guy made a big stink about religious discrimination and honestly, it kind of pissed me off.

I don't think there's anything wrong with what the boss did, especially since I live in a country that considers itself secular. Religion is a choice, and so is wearing that religious attire. Nobody would care if I didn't hire somebody because they had a pink mohawk, were covered in tattoos, or had ear ear gauges, even though the particular subculture that they belong to may be just as important as a religion is to somebody else. Why should employers be forced into accepting religious attire if it doesn't meet company dress policy?

I mean, I have nothing against employers who *do* accommodate that kind of thing, in fact, I encourage it. But I think it's wrong for employers to be shoehorned into accepting attire from something that is ultimately, a choice.

[Assistant]
Clarifying question:  People choose to get married and have kids as well.  Are you arguing that employers should be allowed to discriminate against people who are married, or people who have children?

Should employers be allowed to discriminate on anything that is a choice, or should some choices be protected, while others shouldn't?


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

[User] ELI5: What makes something microwaveable or non-microwaveable? Is all food microwaveable?

[Assistant]
Yeah, all food is microwaveable (well, unless it has gold or silver leaf in it as some pastries may).

Non-microwaveable cookware absorbs microwave radiation and so it'll get hot, and also prevent the food from getting hot.  That's all.

Microwaveable cookware generally does not absorb much microwave radiation.


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

[User]
CMV: Schrdingers Cat seems like a dumb concept

I don't know if superposition is described in different ways, but Shrdinger's cat is a dumb concept. I personally believe that the cat cannot be alive AND dead be that's not how real life/ rational life works. For example, if someone painted my house while I was on vacation, and they told me it was either painted blue or red, it's not both, or purple! I know it has to do with Quantum Mechanics, and not necessarily everyday logic, but it just seems irrational imo. If anyone could please describe its meaning in superposition, thatd probably change my view bc I just cant seem to wrap my head around it. The simpler the terms the better. Thank you!

Edit: My view has fully changed, so I wont be replying to comments anymore. Thanks to all of the ppl who have changed my view!

[Assistant]
Schrdingers cat was his criticism of the uncertainty principle, it was meant to be ridiculous.

Im certainly not qualified to explain Quantum Mechanics, but simply hes referring to the uncertainty principle and the observer effect. According to the math (which works) particles are in a superposition of all possible states with differing likelihood until it is measured (observed). Check out the double slit experiment for more on that subject.

It seems counterintuitive because it is, and it wont make any sense from our perception of reality.

Just to get ahead of this before it comes up - the observer effect has nothing to do with consciousness. We can observe an apple across the room without affecting it much, but the only way to observe a particle is to interact with it, like if we had to poke the apple.


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

[User] Is there any studies on how Covid has spread in North Korea? Has the country's isolation protected it? In what ways has it managed to spread?

[Assistant]
Studies?  Who do you think would perform these studies?

North Korea always limited travel across it's border.  They shut it down entirely in January of 2020 and it hasn't been re-opened since.  They even had major success in shutting down the black market smuggling, or so it's been told.

Your only source for news is the North Korean government.

Officially there are zero cases in North Korea.

Unofficially a sate of emergency was declared in Kaesong City.  The government propaganda machine started reporting that a South Korean defector may have been found with the virus in this city, then the propaganda machine went dark and Kaesong City was never mentioned again.

As of January 8, North Korea has sent samples from 13,529 people to be tested in South Korea.  So far all tests have come back negative.  Make of that what you will.

There's no WHO members, or Red Cross members, or any outside organization left in the country, so the only source of any information is the government.


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

[User] ELI5: why would Pi not be a rational number? If the entire universe can be expressed in mathematical formulas, why would such an important constant be so random?

[Assistant]
Irrational does not mean random, and pi is not at all random. It just can't be written as a fraction of integers.

A circle can be thought of as a polygon with "infinitely many sides", which suggests the idea of using a limit to calculate it. Since pi is defined as the ratio of the circumference (=perimeter) of a circle by its diameter, we can calculate this ratio for 3-sided, 4-sided, 5-sided, 6, 7, and so on, and we expect that in some sense it will approach pi. And it does! But limits of this kind frequently do not produce rational numbers, even when the finite steps are all rational, and this happens to occur in the case of this particular limit.

This is why the distinction between rational numbers and the number line is important - the number line contains, in some sense, infinitely more irrationals than rationals; "most" numbers are irrational. But any irrational can be approached by rationals in a similar way to the one above, and in fact, that's actually how we go about *defining* what a real number actually is. Or it's one way to do so, anyway.