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

Latest Episodes:

ELI5 Planes - why the need for a ground cart to push them back? Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

What’s the use of the cart that pushes back the airplane? Can planes not reverse without it? How can a cup of water not spill in an airplane when the plane tips its wings to make a broad turn? Why do military planes tend to have wings above the body and commercial planes have wings underneath the body?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: runborgondy, ableseacat14, nil_defect_found, cow_launcher, tehwildman_, jonnycruz666, mak-15 and plane_pro

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ELI5 GDP and the Equator - why are countries richer away from the equator? Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

Why do warmer countries/closer to the equator tend to be poorer than colder countries? Is it the temperature? Was this always the case, throughout history? Why did the Industrial Revolution happen in Europe and England instead of somewhere else?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: oustthetortol, thaddeauz, that_other_goat, majorex64, logicaljoiurnalist517 and burgergold

To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter:

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ELI5 Altitude and Heat - why is it colder at higher elevations? Oct 20, 2023

Show notes

If hot air rises and cold air falls, why is it generally hotter at lower elevations and colder at higher elevations? Why is the temperature near the equator hotter than at the poles of the earth? Why is Death Valley the hottest place on Earth when it’s not near the equator?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to Robert for Pittsburgh, Pa. for writing in with this question.

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: cursed_gungan, mrs_roronoa, drcrno, purple_haze96 and the_origina_retro

To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter:

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ELI5 Screws - why do we have two different types? Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

Why do we have two different types of screws? If the Phillips head is superior, why haven’t flathead screws just been phased out over time? What are the benefits of the Allen and Torx type screws? Why do manufacturers like IKEA like to use Allen wrench screws for self assembled furniture instead of standard Phillips or flathead screws?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: darthhfaded, dmullaney, lucythefur, nagmay,dusktheumbreon and hawkeye18

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ELI5 Lasers - why don’t you see many white laser pointers? Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

Do laser beams get wider over a distance? Why are most lasers red and not white in color? What’s the difference between a powerful flashlight and a white laser? Did Albert Einstein invent the laser?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: titaniumdragon, skoncol17, syloh, gibson45 and e_snap

To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter:

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ELI5 Voice Agents - How does “hey siri” respond if it isn’t constantly listening to my conversations? Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

How does siri hear me say “hey siri” if it isn’t constantly listening to my conversations or me speaking? Why are most voice assistants’ wake phrases 3 syllables? “Hey Siri”, “Alexa”, “Hey Google”. How are synthesized voices (like Alexa and Siri) made? Why did the guy who is the voice of Siri not even know his voice was being used?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: buildedit, gnonthgol, xtremeed, mjmurcott, bigmamamk, sacredfool, taxoro and scienceissexy420

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ELI5 Currencies - what does it mean to float a country’s currency? Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

How does a country devalue their currency, and why would they want to do that? What does it mean when people say a government is manipulating a currency? And what does it mean to either ‘peg’ or ‘float’ a currency? Explain the Bretton Woods system?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: sakiliya, wrsaunders and baldbear_13

To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter:

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ELI5 Money - why its origins were not about bartering? Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

When and where did money originate? Why are there two prevailing theories for how it came about? Why are there issues with the barter theory? If not the barter theory, what’s the other theory? What are some of the interesting phrases written on paper money?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community. To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter:

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ELI5 Saunas - how do near boiling temperatures not burn you? Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

Do Saunas and Steam rooms offer any actual health benefits? Do they help one’s skin? What happens to your body in a sauna? How can I sit in a 85 degree celsius sauna and not get burned, while water of the same temperature would scald badly? What is the Finnish connection? How do wood structures in saunas not rot or get moldy?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: billsauntieshouse, boobooaboo, maxweehus, saedius, groundbreakingcar379, sinistercheese, misomiso82 and onwardupwardforward

To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter:

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or send us an e-mail:

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ELI5 Ice Baths & Warm Showers - what are the benefits? Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

How effective are ice baths and what are the benefits? How did they become so popular? Is it wrong to take a hot shower after a big meal? Is there danger from taking a shower in a thunderstorm?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jimmyb3121, qjkxkcd, copnonymous, sixpennydruid, nova_saibrock, xylarthetimeless and greenstrong

To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter:

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