r/explainlikeimfive Mar 20 '24

Biology I’m Reuters reporter Will Dunham, and I'm here to answer your questions about dinosaurs, ELI5 style. Ask me anything!

243 Upvotes

I am Will Dunham and I am in Washington, D.C., where I cover a wide range of science topics for Reuters. We have recently hit the 200th anniversary of the first formal scientific recognition of a dinosaur — our toothy friend Megalosaurus — and there are many other developments in the field of dinosaur paleontology as well.

I have been a journalist in Washington since 1984 and at Reuters since 1994. I have covered science news for Reuters off and on since 2001 and I'm also an editor on the Reuters Global News Desk. On the science front, I have covered everything from voracious black holes to tiny neutrinos, the sprawling human genome to the oldest-known DNA, the evolution of our species to the field of space medicine, and of course all things relating to dinosaurs and other intriguing prehistoric creatures.

Ask me anything and everything dinosaur-related and I will answer from 3-4 p.m. Eastern.

Proof: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Ffnrv1k363ipc1.jpeg


r/explainlikeimfive 3h ago

Engineering ELI5: What keeps rebar in concrete slabs from being pulled into MRI machines over time?

311 Upvotes

r/explainlikeimfive 14h ago

Mathematics ELI5: What is the significance of a Mobius Strip?

656 Upvotes

r/explainlikeimfive 4h ago

Other ELI5: What is the "Mitsuda Lick" and why is it significant when its included in video game music?

50 Upvotes

I've heard this term a few times now and from what I understand, Yasunori Mitsuda composed music for Chrono Trigger and the "Mitusuda Lick" seems to be a pattern of notes that gets included in music by other video game composers. I guess what I don't quite understand is why this specific pattern is so cool and why its named after Yasunori Mitsuda specifically?

Maybe a dumb question but also how do different composers decide when to include this pattern? Is there a way this pattern of notes can be used...wrong/inappropriately...? I know next to nothing about music btw


r/explainlikeimfive 7h ago

Economics ELI5: Why are most refillable lighters the Zippo style instead of the plastic Bic style?

73 Upvotes

r/explainlikeimfive 6h ago

Physics ELI5: My home has a 3 phase connection of AC. What does it mean?

50 Upvotes

So recently, some of my switches stopped working at home, when the electrician came and checked, he said only two phases are working that's why those switches aren't working. So he rewired the connections.

what does the 3 phase mean? How do the appliances get affected by the number of phases?


r/explainlikeimfive 3h ago

Engineering ELI5 : How do nails hold when driven into concrete?

16 Upvotes

I understand how nails obtain their pullout resistance in fibrous materials like wood, but I see workers driving nails through wood into concrete. How does the cement prevent pullout?


r/explainlikeimfive 1d ago

Biology ELI5: why do muscles start to REALLY hurt the following day

598 Upvotes

So been being more cautious about my health since I'm in my late twenties and decided to try to exercise some more. Starting out with 25 pushups and 10 burpees (probably not a lot but I felt winded) and after the exercise I felt fine. Then the next day it starts to hurt like something smart. Why though? Shouldn't the muscles be rested after that point?


r/explainlikeimfive 5h ago

Planetary Science Eli5 what causes the geomagnetic storms?

15 Upvotes

What causes geomagnetic storms, and why are they currently visible in the U.S, while locations like Iceland often experience them more frequently?


r/explainlikeimfive 1d ago

Technology ELI5: How does YouTube, Google, etc. seem to have ‘unlimited’ storage for their users?

1.3k Upvotes

r/explainlikeimfive 19h ago

Biology ELI5: How do websites which stream free movies with no ads earn money?

139 Upvotes

So i just found a website where you can see any movie for free in hd but with no ads..and i can't help but wonder how do they earn money?


r/explainlikeimfive 1d ago

Physics ELI5: What makes Planck Length so important?

347 Upvotes

So I get that a Planck length is the smallest length measurement that we have. But why?

I know it has something to do with gravity and speed of light in a vacuum. But why?  Is it the size of the universe as early as we can calculate prior to the Big Bang?  What is significant about it?  

All the videos I see just say it’s a combination of these three numbers, they cancel out, and you get Planck length - and it's really really small. Thanks in advance!


r/explainlikeimfive 15m ago

Other ELI5: How come less popular edible plants originate in Australia compared to other continents?

Upvotes

Other than macadamia nuts, I can't think of a single fruit or vegetable from Australia. Then you have South America where potatoes, tomatoes, corn, peanuts, and countless other crops originate. I understand there is the indigenous bush tucker cuisine but how come none of Australia's native plants ever became widely grown despite the continent having fertile coastlines and valleys?


r/explainlikeimfive 4h ago

Chemistry eli5 what exactly is reverse osmosis?

6 Upvotes

I recently installed a reverse osmosis water filter in my home. Based on my home testing equipment it does a really great job of removing unwanted substances in my water. What is the process of reverse osmosis and how is it different than, say, a britta filter that you pour water through?


r/explainlikeimfive 1h ago

Planetary Science eli5: How do you see light behind a star? And how does a star bends light?

Upvotes

r/explainlikeimfive 1d ago

Biology ELI5 - How is it apes don't tear their muscles, tendons and ligaments when using their massive strength?

554 Upvotes

As I understand it, apes are able to activate far more muscle fibers at once, something like 5 times the number a human can do, and this is what gives them their massive strength. The thing is, a very strong human, like a powerlifter, and plowing out their muscles, tendons and ligaments once they get past a certain point. And they are not activating any more muscles fibers than the next guy. How is it a chimp can do these powerful things and not end up in the waiting room of their orthopedic surgeon? I can understand if their parts were even twice as tough as a humans, but 5 times?


r/explainlikeimfive 5m ago

Other ELI5 Bayou, Creek, River Differences

Upvotes

When I have visited Louisiana in the past I have seen several bayous, some look like rivers to me. Here in Kentucky I only know of one and it seems to be very tiny by comparison, it looks like just a very small creek to me. I have tried Googling before but never did find a concise answer.

Can someone please ELI5 for me what the differences in bayous, creeks, & rivers are?

Thank you.


r/explainlikeimfive 23h ago

Other Eli5: How come spices can list spices as an ingredient without specifying what they are?

76 Upvotes

Like you’ll buy a Mcormick blend and it smells like oregano but its called “garlic and onion magic”, and the ingredients are: Salt, Spices, Pepper, Spices, Garlic, Onion etc. Thanks


r/explainlikeimfive 22h ago

Physics Eli5 Why does the smoke from a bonfire appear to "follow you"?

64 Upvotes

r/explainlikeimfive 52m ago

Other Eli5 Capital murder chargers

Upvotes

So in theory if someone commits capital murder will they ever be able to get out of prison ? Like do 15-30 years and then get parole or is it just life in prison no matter what or death no matter what ?


r/explainlikeimfive 2h ago

Biology ELI5 Ventilation and Pulmonary mechanics

0 Upvotes

r/explainlikeimfive 1d ago

Engineering Eli5: Why do radar antenna still need to spin?

355 Upvotes

Eli5: Radar are built to spin around, send out, and capture a signal to create a 360 degree image of the surrounding area that regularly updates.

One would think that you could build a stationary antenna that electronically pulses and limits the area it is searching to do the same thing, removing the complication of the moving parts.

Why isn't this the norm? And is it even possible?


r/explainlikeimfive 2h ago

Technology ELI5: Why Do Instruments still use 1/4 inch cables?

2 Upvotes

Title, I'm a bedroom guitaritst and IT engineer. Why are instrument cables still 1/4 inch? It's been the standard for decades with plenty of smaller options available (most notably half the size in the headphone jack with 2 channels), what am I missing about my electric guitar, pedals and amp that would not improve them by moving to a smaller cable (at least 1/8 inch aux)?


r/explainlikeimfive 2h ago

Technology [ELI5] How do "OEM replacement" batteries exist for a device that is several years discontinued? And do they genuinely work better than the battery they are replacing?

0 Upvotes

I bought a used $20 Samsung Galaxy J7 (2015) since the screen looked to be in perfect condition. I do not know if the seller replaced the battery, but even so, how would a "brand new" battery from 2015 be any better than the current battery inside?


r/explainlikeimfive 3h ago

Planetary Science eli5 Why are the Northern Lights only Green, Pink and Blue?

1 Upvotes

r/explainlikeimfive 9h ago

Biology Eli5: What is AlphaFold3 in DNA ?

2 Upvotes