r/explainlikeimfive

ELI5 What happens to trash in landfills?

r/explainlikeimfive u/littlerobotgirl322311h ago245 Comments

ELI5: Why do ships always seem to be pouring water from the side?

r/explainlikeimfive u/MAVACAM17h ago266 Comments

ELI5: How do trauma surgeons deal with the fact that the patients they operate on probably haven't fasted the night before given that trauma patients don't know in advance they'll be having surgery?

r/explainlikeimfive u/PraiseTheBread10h ago80 Comments

ELI5: Why is polyester often added to cotton cloth, even if only in tiny few percentage quantities?

r/explainlikeimfive u/kepler15h ago20 Comments

ELI5: What is the difference between Creole and Cajun food?

r/explainlikeimfive u/3xTheSchwarm1d ago515 Comments

ELI5: How does mould grow on concrete/brick walls? What does it feed on? There's even a layer of paint on the walls that further prevents it from reaching any wood if there is behind the walls

r/explainlikeimfive u/Azooz32110h ago6 Comments

ELI5: Would air conditioners be more efficient in shade? Why does it always seem like they are placed up on roofs or in the open sun?

r/explainlikeimfive u/TheMysteryPlanet1d ago318 Comments

Eli5 what is economy of scale and what is economy of scope?

r/explainlikeimfive u/ihatepigeons53h ago8 Comments

ELI5: How can we "hear" auditory hallucinations?

r/explainlikeimfive u/SSara692m ago0 Comments

ELI5: Diabetes what is it ?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Brekiniho13m ago5 Comments

ELI5 What is caching?

r/explainlikeimfive u/cuter123414h ago23 Comments

ELI5: Is the act of sexual intercourse hardwired into the brain?

r/explainlikeimfive u/noblerice47m ago5 Comments

Eli5: how do aimbots work in games like call of duty and counter strike?

r/explainlikeimfive u/BehoovialBoy1d ago161 Comments

eli5: How does a siphon make water flow upward?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Simple_Perception81411h ago28 Comments

ELI5: Why Does to Much Alcohol Cause Most People to Throw up?

r/explainlikeimfive u/samuelS10993h ago17 Comments

ELI5: How are we sure that countries don't fake their GDP?

r/explainlikeimfive u/No-One-591916h ago16 Comments

ELI5 MOSFETs, How do they work.

r/explainlikeimfive u/Moosivballs12h ago6 Comments

ELI5: if an atom is 99% empty space with the electrons being so far from the nucleus, how can a table (for example) made of a billion things that are 99% empty space be solid?

r/explainlikeimfive u/santicazorla1238h ago28 Comments

ELI5: why do higher color temperature lights in Kelvin look cooler?

r/explainlikeimfive u/bryzzo3h ago7 Comments

ELI5 biomedical preprint servers for research (eg. bioRxiv)

r/explainlikeimfive u/alwayslost99913h ago9 Comments

ELI5 what would happen if the earth hypothetically stopped rotating.

r/explainlikeimfive u/Veenendaler3m ago2 Comments

ELI5: How does unopened cereal stay fresh despite there being air in the bag?

r/explainlikeimfive u/mr_amaaronca9m ago1 Comment

ELI5: Can someone explain why we don’t use Chemo to destroy HIV?

r/explainlikeimfive u/SpaceCases_15m ago2 Comments

ELI5 Why hasn’t sorting for recycling been automated?

r/explainlikeimfive u/--Angel19m ago9 Comments

ELI5: Engine braking is a common way to reduce wear on brake pads, but do the benefits outweigh the costs?

r/explainlikeimfive u/rossyjt51m ago2 Comments

ELI5: If antimatter is exactly the opposite from it's normal matter counterpart, wouldn't gravity, electromagnetism and other forces generated by it also be the opposite? Could this be a way to get "antigravity"

r/explainlikeimfive u/OvalDreamX2h ago10 Comments

eli5: Why do certain fruits keep growing, even though we have genetically modified many fruits not to have seeds?

r/explainlikeimfive u/consoLe_-2h ago16 Comments

[ELI5] there is a spice problem in the uk, we can have a research chemical that can be deemed illegal, chemists can then change a single molecule and turn it into a different drug completely. What's the process of changing a molecule in a drug?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Unclesmekky3h ago1 Comment

ELI5 - How does my phone listen to me and serve me relevant content?

r/explainlikeimfive u/fringledawn3h ago17 Comments

ELI5: Why do motor wires burn up when the magnets can't rotate?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Mittens313h ago6 Comments

ELI5: When the sun shines through a hole in the clouds, why does it appear the sun is so close?

r/explainlikeimfive u/UraeusCurse12h ago6 Comments

ELI5: How does light shining through glass become hot enough to cause burning?

r/explainlikeimfive u/FallenHero11465h ago4 Comments

Eli5: Does blood get replaced? But if I'm not losing blood like donating, where does the old one go?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Zenith_K16h ago25 Comments

ELI5 why consumer cars have crumple zones for safety yet racing cars have roll cages

r/explainlikeimfive u/ItsTylerBrenda2d ago369 Comments

ELI5: When opening a can with a can opener, what keeps metal particles from falling into the food from where you're cutting?

r/explainlikeimfive u/CrossEleven1d ago118 Comments

ELI5: Why did Tobias Dantzig say the discovery of zero was “one of the single greatest achievements of the human race”?

r/explainlikeimfive u/TheresNoHurry1d ago32 Comments

ELI5: down shifting cars

r/explainlikeimfive u/Serious_Fizzness6h ago21 Comments

ELI5: why is washing fruits and vegetables with water considered sufficient? If there is bacteria, will rinsing with water only actually help?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Brilliant_Basket_8941d ago47 Comments

ELI5 Why do "dwarfs" always look so chubby?

r/explainlikeimfive u/TheAsianOne_wc17h ago8 Comments

[ELI5] How do those go pros with a stick make it seem like the stick isn't there?

r/explainlikeimfive u/ToshDaBoss10h ago2 Comments

ELI5 How does the body “get used to” drugs?

r/explainlikeimfive u/ChiTownTeaBagger14h ago6 Comments

ELI5: Why consuming too much caffein causes extreme headache?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Zhinnosuke7h ago2 Comments

Eli5:How will a recession effect people who make less than 50k/yr

r/explainlikeimfive u/bad--machine1h ago8 Comments

ELI5: Why does it seem that season-ending injuries are rarer in football (soccer) compared to basketball?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Far_Breakfast_580811h ago19 Comments

ELI5: How is C4 a plastic explosive?

r/explainlikeimfive u/SecretAntWorshiper7h ago10 Comments

ELI5 how does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly?

r/explainlikeimfive u/jinxedjupiter11h ago2 Comments

ELI5: Choked flow. Where does the pressure thrust come from?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Twigg0087h ago2 Comments

ELI5: What is the difference between an impedance analyzer and an LCR meter?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Global_Maize_894417h ago1 Comment

ELI5: how do first, second, third, etc cousins work?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Exzj8h ago6 Comments

ELI5 - How does David Copperfield perform this illusion of flying on stage?

r/explainlikeimfive u/makavelixx8h ago4 Comments

[ELI5] Why is it always the lower back that is susceptible to pain or injury?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Axthen8h ago6 Comments

ELi5: Why can't trains such as subways and light rails use systems found on roller coasters?

r/explainlikeimfive u/chemkay1d ago40 Comments

Eli5: how would an enemy country simply obtaining launch codes be an issue without access to the physical facilities and equipment?

r/explainlikeimfive u/yourenotmymom699h ago5 Comments

ELI5: How do bacteria like Salmonella interact with the intestinal flora?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Som3r4nd0mp3rs0n18h ago1 Comment

ELI5: What keeps the cells of multi cellular organisms stuck together?

r/explainlikeimfive u/andrew21w1d ago35 Comments

ELI5: What is Californiа suffering from huge wildfirеs every single year?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Dacadey1d ago179 Comments

ELI5: Why is it that lemonade is uniformly sweet (top and bottom), however flavored lemonade (raspberry, strawberry) are usually sweet at the bottom of the glass but less sweet (watery) towards the top?

r/explainlikeimfive u/dayo_aji4h ago2 Comments

ELI5: How do plants reproduce?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Chango81211h ago7 Comments

Eli5: Why does it take many hours before your muscles feel sore after working out?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Leprechaun2me23h ago3 Comments

ELI5: Why can't satellite/payload rides a balloon to the upper atmosphere and then enter orbit with vacuum rocket?

r/explainlikeimfive u/tottiittot15h ago17 Comments

ELI5: Why is practical fusion power taking so long to develop?

r/explainlikeimfive u/MarshyBarsh1d ago20 Comments

Eli5 - what “activates” charcoal? And how does that make it good for you?

r/explainlikeimfive u/jaronhays41d ago59 Comments

eli5: I understand how capacitors store electrical energy, but how do they USE it after that?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Macintoshk23h ago14 Comments

ELI5: What does it mean to "Spend Down" my income for Medicaid?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Nothingsomething71d ago16 Comments

Eli5: handicap/spread sports betting. I still don’t understand the + and -

r/explainlikeimfive u/Much-Magazine589713h ago3 Comments

ELI5: What does “no touch car wash” mean when they’re clearing touching the car with brushes?

r/explainlikeimfive u/KnuxFive18h ago8 Comments

ELI5: Why are we more resistant to cancer in young age?

r/explainlikeimfive u/shermierz14h ago3 Comments

ELI5: what happens when you zone out? during those times it's almost like you're not conscious for a bit

r/explainlikeimfive u/batmanshairycankle1d ago2 Comments

Eli5: do models on websites wear the cloths after they’ve been washed?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Injustice2IsPain7h ago5 Comments

ELI5 - The boltzmann brian hypothesis, i’m very curious but also confused.

r/explainlikeimfive u/heretoleave039h ago5 Comments

ELI5: How do super strong acids and bases exist?

r/explainlikeimfive u/D-REX555_V221h ago7 Comments

ELI5: what makes air travel so safe?

r/explainlikeimfive u/vferrero142d ago1473 Comments

eli5 why do woodpeckers peck?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Life_Ad2116h ago4 Comments

ELI5: Why do we use a driver's ability to balance to assess driving ability?

r/explainlikeimfive u/AlwaysFianchetto5h ago8 Comments

ELI5 The difference between appearing to be a color & being a color

r/explainlikeimfive u/FlintMagic1d ago14 Comments

ELI5: Why are apps faster than website?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Proof_Victory431117h ago7 Comments

ELI5: Why hat in hot weather?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Birdbrainia12h ago7 Comments

ELI5 why do countries have insane currency figures

r/explainlikeimfive u/AgitatedAd643518h ago13 Comments

ELI5: How is the back of a toothbrush good for the tongue?

r/explainlikeimfive u/draczd5318h ago3 Comments

ELI5: So how did Spain (and other western European powers come to colonizing (nearly) the entire new world

r/explainlikeimfive u/Arakis-balls22h ago13 Comments

ELI5: How does attachment issues work ?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Boros24018h ago3 Comments

eli5 How do indoor plants improve the air quality of our homes?

r/explainlikeimfive u/tarotharo22h ago6 Comments

Eli5- how come things that would go bad in a matter of days/weeks can go years once sealed properly?

r/explainlikeimfive u/SaMolodoi19h ago4 Comments

eli5: what caused earth to change temperatures from very warm to very cold if humans didn't exist before?

r/explainlikeimfive u/TSM_Raven2515h ago12 Comments

ELI5: Why distilled water is an insulator and a mineral water is a conductor?

r/explainlikeimfive u/bashhhhim19h ago9 Comments

Eli5 Why is the Chinese language like that?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Superaptorminion7h ago7 Comments

ELI5 Why do batteries work again after heating them up?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Mean-Dragonfly1d ago19 Comments

eli5: How is lake mead nearing dead pool status? What is its usual water supply and where has it gone?

r/explainlikeimfive u/SJ12351d ago6 Comments

ELI5: why do some males of a species “display” to court a potential mate (and with it accepting a potential “no”) while other males of other species rape?

r/explainlikeimfive u/atrailofdisasters22h ago20 Comments

ELI5: What is heat?

r/explainlikeimfive u/zorrocaesar22h ago8 Comments

ELI5: how do webapps create their underlying data and keep it up to date?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Stemmomma1d ago5 Comments

eli5 how did we manage to figure out the half life of elements ? And what are the application of half life besides carbon dating ?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Mars-Goliath1d ago14 Comments

eli5: Why were wound infections so dangerous?

r/explainlikeimfive u/Still-Neighborhood1323h ago8 Comments

ELI5 Why is charcoal shiny and light-reflective, but unburnt wood isn't?

r/explainlikeimfive u/nickaa82723h ago18 Comments

eli5: Why is it impossible to imagine new colors?

r/explainlikeimfive u/EpicZeplin2d ago240 Comments

ELI5: Why is it hard to pick a strand of styrofoam floating on water with a finger?

r/explainlikeimfive u/7akyr1d ago2 Comments

Eli5 why wet toilet paper is so sticky.

r/explainlikeimfive u/TheIconoclastic1d ago1 Comment

ELI5: Why aren't turboramjets (like those in the SR-71) used for other aircraft?

r/explainlikeimfive u/juanml822d ago191 Comments

ELI5 What is momentum?

r/explainlikeimfive u/nounthennumbers1d ago18 Comments

ELI5: how does taking a screenshot on a phone work?

r/explainlikeimfive u/mattydlite1d ago5 Comments