Recent comments in /f/explainlikeimfive

Equivalent_Comfort_2 t1_j6fmd1x wrote

Reply to Eli5: Why is the screen ratio 16:9 so common instead of something like 2:1 or even just 1:1? by sansgamer554

Just to add to the others, the 2:1 aspect ratio is actually becoming more popular with cinematographers, presumably because the image is a bit wider and more "cinematic" than the standard 16:9 format.

For example Stranger Things and House of the Dragon are shot in 2:1, and reportedly it's the fastest-growing format in cinema.

Edit: Removed Star Trek since only Discovery S1 was shot in 2:1, after that they used 2.39:1

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rapidtester t1_j6fm0l3 wrote

Reply to ELI5: How do jammers (cellphone etc.) work? Could one block a direct connection to a router? by kenda1l

Haven't watched the movie, but it came out in 2011, so it's probably relevant: with wifi specifically, it was possible to stop a connection of a device by pretending to be that device and asking the router to stop the connection. Even on an encrypted wifi network, the 'goodbye' signal was not secured. So a jammer device could just spam 'goodbye' to the router, pretending to be everybody else who is trying to broadcast. The router would then stop the connection, and it would take a while for the true device to figure out that it was no longer being listened to.
I assume this no longer works on modern devices, but perhaps it does.

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newytag t1_j6flggi wrote

Reply to comment by kenda1l in ELI5: How do jammers (cellphone etc.) work? Could one block a direct connection to a router? by kenda1l

But how does the internet cable get into your basement?

If your area uses underground cables then they might have to dig to cut your internet; it would take time but they wouldn't have to breach your property to do it. But many places use the existing overhead cable infrastructure to deliver internet, which are far easier to cut in an attack scenario. Or they could just attack the local exchange point, it's not as direct but it's nowhere near your house.

And in any case it may be easier to just cut the power. Your laptop or mobile phone have battery power but your modem or router probably don't.

Sleep tight.

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Sablemint t1_j6fji4e wrote

Reply to comment by ResplendentDaylight in ELI5: Why is exercise good to lower high blood pressure? Your blood pressure rises while exercising, so how does that not have the same effect as high blood pressure while resting? by jeezwill

Dirt roads don't really get potholes. Instead, this happens: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washboarding Its incredibly annoying. You have to get like a bulldozer to level it out every now and then. Your analogy still works though :D

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Ulahn t1_j6fhgbq wrote

Reply to Eli5 why we can’t see the 4d world around us by Supastash

When it comes to a fourth spatial dimension, we have yet to experimentally demonstrate it actually exists. Some theoretical models of physics (such as String Theory) mathematically represent more than three spatial dimensions. That doesn’t necessarily mean though that those dimensions exist in a way that a human, or any complex object or organism would be able to interact with.

When talking about higher dimensions it could be that only sub atomic particles are able to move through or interact with them, that they may be folded in on themselves having collapsed after the beginning of the universe or only exist in universes different to our own.

There is no hard and fast answer to your question beyond saying that if a fourth spatial dimension does exist, it may be physically impossible for you to interact with it in any way that would be meaningful to you.

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waterwitch80 t1_j6fh9qz wrote

Reply to Eli5....can you dig a well anywhere and hit water...and how did the early ranchers in the West know where to dig for water. Especially in the really dry areas? by pinkshrinkrn

May not be very scientific but dowsing works. I've seen it done but can't explain how it works. If you're someone with the ability you can take a forked branch, or some people use L shaped metal rods. A douser or waterwitch walks along and when they cross water the rods cross or the branch rotates to point down. I've personally witnessed someone find a triple well by dousing. When the people came to drill and hit the first stream they continued and hit second stream, kept drilling and hit the third stream.

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