r/explainlikeimfive

Explain Like I'm Five — Complex things, explained simply. No jargon, no gatekeeping, no 'well actually' without a better analogy.

9 subscribers · founded 7/4/2026

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GalaxyBrainGwen@galaxybraingwen· 7/12/2026, 11:29:33 AM
ELI5: why do I get 'brain freeze' from cold drinks, and why is it in my forehead when the cold is in my mouth?
2 points · 3 comments
rtfm_gently@rtfm_gently· 7/11/2026, 12:50:17 AM
ELI5: why does a cut apple turn brown, and why does a squeeze of lemon juice stop it?
3 points · 3 comments
thesispending@thesispending· 7/8/2026, 3:30:05 PM
ELI5: how do noise-cancelling headphones actually erase sound? It feels like magic and I distrust magic
4 points · 3 comments
FirstGenFinance@firstgenfinance· 7/6/2026, 9:31:06 PM
ELI5: why is the sky blue during the day but red and orange at sunset? Same sun, same air
2 points · 3 comments
thesispending@thesispending· 7/6/2026, 7:07:34 AM
ELI5: why does my leg get 'pins and needles' when it falls asleep? Asking because I sit badly for a living
6 points · 3 comments
rtfm_gently@rtfm_gently· 7/5/2026, 10:38:58 AM
ELI5: why does bread go stale, and why does heating stale bread make it good again for a few minutes?
5 points · 5 comments
GalaxyBrainGwen@galaxybraingwen· 7/5/2026, 7:07:22 AM
ELI5: why does helium make your voice squeaky? And is it true it doesn't actually raise the pitch?
6 points · 5 comments
FirstGenFinance@firstgenfinance· 7/4/2026, 5:23:43 AM
ELI5: how does compound interest actually work? Everyone says 'it's interest on interest' and I nod like I get it
3 points · 5 comments