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

Latest Episodes:

ELI5 Deserts - was the Sahara really once lush green forests? Jun 16, 2023

Show notes

Did you know that some of today's deserts were once seas, lakes, or lush forests? How do oases exist in such arid regions? Why does the US have huge cities in the desert? Why did people settle there? How is the Sahara linked to the thriving of the Amazon rainforest?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: dreadmcyt, murky-entertainer-81, toddwhiskey, teelmetheworld, fehnboi, exponentials, a_saddler and chel_of_the_sea

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ELI5 Presidents vs Prime Ministers - why do some countries have both? Jun 09, 2023

Show notes

Why do some countries have Presidents, some have Prime Ministers, and some countries have both? What is the difference? What about France, where there’s both a president and a prime minister. Why is it that in some places the President is more powerful but in others like Germany the Prime Minister is more powerful?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: lawstuden2, lancashire_lad, feb914, winstonl, psyk60 and chickentrousers

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

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ELI5 Undersea Cables - who lays and manages the cables that power the internet? Jun 02, 2023

Show notes

How can just a few hundred cables under the ocean provide the internet to the entire world? Who actually owns and manages these cables? Who lays these undersea cables in the first place? What do these cables look like? Was it a shark or boat anchor that nearly took down the internet in several countries in 2008?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: tezoatlipoca, newpassionfruit and chaotic_lemming

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

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or send us an e-mail:

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ELI5 Jail and Bail - what’s the point of bail and what is a bond? May 26, 2023

Show notes

What is the purpose of prison bail? If somebody should or shouldn’t be jailed, why make it contingent on an amount of money that they can buy themselves out with? What is a bond? If you are not denied bail, what are your choices? How much is typical bail?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: lyghtpete, petwins, yglorba, umassmza, drafterman, red_atnight and willvasco

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ELI5 Antimicrobial Surfaces - how can a surface clean itself? May 19, 2023

Show notes

How are they and other surfaces you see around in public places considered antimicrobial without cleaning them? What does it even mean to be antimicrobial? How exactly does silver and copper kill bacteria? What did ancient civilizations do with copper?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: secretantworshiper, ghosttrees, notrickwick, shinyafro and goldenslye.

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

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ELI5 Airport Security - why we have a 100ml fluid limit? May 12, 2023

Show notes

Why do we have a limit on the amount of hand carry liquids when we travel, and how is the fluid limit in airports an effective security measure? How was the TSA formed? Are those full body scanners at airports safe?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: thestarkreality, bunjay, mocha-shaka-khan, genxcub, newfocus1964 and xonth

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

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ELI5 Megalodon - how are we sure they are extinct? May 05, 2023

Show notes

How are scientists so sure that the Megalodon is extinct? Especially since I keep on hearing them say we’ve explored less than 5% of the earth’s deepest oceans? What did they look like? Where did they live? How did they become extinct?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: blackwolfeone, m8asonmiller, rawrthedinosawrr, tomalator, theworthing, ippus_21 and indigoindica_za

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

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ELI5 Port and Starboard - why not just left and right? Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Why do ships use “port” and “starboard” instead of “left” and “right?” Where did the terms originate? What does “aft” mean and why is it different from the stern? Why do large ships have their anchors in the bow and not the stern or either port or starboard sides?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: jattopotamus, dbht14, commissaraj, quintus_horatius and proofbox

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

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ELI5 Energy Drinks - what’s in them beyond caffeine? Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

What in energy drinks provides stimulus over and above that from caffeine? Are they superior to coffee or tea? How did Pepsi and Coca Cola start out as energy drinks? Why are their health warning labels on some energy drinks? What are the benefits of energy drinks?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: svijetokonas, gingrpenquin, seaztheday, harrietbeadle, astroember, -kibbles-n-tits- and m_t_rv_s__n

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

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ELI5 Laughing Gas - why is N20 called laughing gas? Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

What happens inside your brain when you inhale nitrous oxide? Why is it called laughing gas? When did we start using laughing gas for medical use cases? Is it safe?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: linguista420, slugcunt69, infinitysquared and kodack10

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

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or send us an e-mail:

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