Explain Like I'm Five (Reddit)

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/

• ELI5: If temperature is the average speed of molecules, why does wind feel cold? (2026/03/22 03:07)

  Crossposted from r/explainlikeimfive
• eli5: why do hangovers get worse as i get older (2026/03/21 18:44)

  Crossposted from r/explainlikeimfive
• ELI5: Why are airplane bathroom trash receptacles designed to involve so much skin contact? (2026/03/21 15:57)

  There has to be a logical explanation for this, but I’m seeing nothing online… Question is simple. The vast, vast majority of airplane bathrooms, regardless of age of plane, use a spring-loaded trash can lid that will snap closed, usually clamping whatever it is that you’re trying to throw into it. I’ll usually walk into a plane bathroom and see that thing munching on whatever the last person attempted to throw into it. A tiny number of planes have a pedal system, but still to operate a spring-loaded lid. Now, on the ground, I feel like we’ve designed a bunch of functional trash cans. Whether that is a sensor-operated lid, a slower release system on the spring so that it takes longer to snap closed, a pedal, or even just no lid at all, I feel like we have a million ways we are able to dispose of trash more conveniently. Are there regulations or engineering constraints that make airplane trash cans work the way that they do?
• ELI5: Why doesnt the gulf states send their oil through the red sea instead of shipping throught the straight of hormuz? (2026/03/21 14:21)

  Crossposted from r/explainlikeimfive
• ELI5: When recycling glass, why is it crushed and melted? Wouldn't it be easier to just sanitize and reuse the glass? (2026/03/21 10:50)

  Would that not be more efficient?! How does this process work?
• Eli5 how were log cabins/wooden buildings protected from rot, historically? (2026/03/21 03:21)

  Why didn't logs decay, or did they, and how were they replaced? Give me the play by play through history, when people lived in wooden buildings what kept them from rot and decay? Idk what flair was most appropriate.
• ELI5: Does hitting a baseball thrown by a pitcher give it more or less energy than if it was hit off a tee with the same force? (2026/03/20 17:49)

  I would think a pitched ball would have less energy when hit, because the force of the bat has to overcome the kinetic energy of the ball moving in the opposite direction. But having played kickball, it always felt like I could kick the ball farther if it was rolled fast at me vs. kicking it from stationary. Could it have something to do with how bouncy the ball is?
• ELI5: At what point does the body start eating muscle during a calorie deficit? (2026/03/20 15:11)

  I’ve been reading quite a lot about weight loss and I’m getting mixed statements about retaining muscle mass during a calorie deficit. If somebody is very obese, let’s say 35% body fat, and they reduce their calorie deficit to lose weight, will their body start eating muscle as well, or do you have to be already below a certain body fat percentage before your body starts cannibalizing its own muscle during weight loss? I know heavy lifting helps preserve muscle mass during weight loss, but at what point does it become necessary is my question? Edit: first off I’d like to thank everybody for the replies to this question, it’s all very helpful advice and I appreciate it. But a little about me because I know my question was vague. I’m an ex power lifter who has a lot of muscle, I’m currently 6“5, and weigh about 340 pounds, 222lbs of it lean body mass. My goal weight is 260 pounds as that’s me at about 12-15% body fat. I was asking this question because for the last 10 years I’ve had clinical depression and borderline alcoholism due to certain life circumstances. I drink a lot of beer as you can imagine, and that didn’t help with the depression. Now I’m snapping out of it and want to regain my life back and was just wondering how I should approach this as, it’s been quite a while since I’ve been in the gym but I have a lot of muscle still but also some shrub to get rid of on top of it, roughly 80 pounds. Once again I appreciate all of your help