Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

ELI5 - Why do Israelis and Palestinians hate each other so much?

Ignoring the overgeneralization, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its roots in a series of political movements and wars. The Jewish people have historical ties to the area dating back almost 3,000 years. They were, however, expelled by the Romans in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, after which the Romans referred to it as Syria-Palestina. By the 7th century, the area became predominantly Muslim. Post-WWI, following the Ottoman Empire's fall, the British assumed control. Zionism's rise, especially after the atrocities of the Holocaust, led to Israel's independence and the first Arab-Israeli war. Israel's victory then and in subsequent wars displaced many Arabic-speakers and resulted in disputed territory in Gaza and the West Bank. This ongoing conflict over Israel's existence, grievances of the displaced, conditions of living, and more, fuel distrust, animosity, and have led to numerous terrorist attacks.

By drollparadox7655 1 year ago

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

ELI5 - Why do Israelis and Palestinians hate each other so much?

In 1947, following WWII and years of Zionist sentiment, the UN proposed splitting British Palestine—a historically and religiously important territory—into Jewish and Arab states. The Arab contingency rejected, causing war and the Nakba. Later conflicts resulted in Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Two Palestinian Intifadas occurred in 1987-1993 and 2000-2005. Central issues include Israeli settlements, Jerusalem, Palestinian rights, refugees' right of return, and terrorism.

By Alex 1 year ago

ELI5Base

ELI5 - What is this silly website called "ELI5Base" and why is it necessary?

Eli5Base is kind of like a cheap ripoff of Urban Dictionary, except instead giving definitions for the coolest hip young lingo, you can find "easy-to-understand" explanations and analogies for "things" that "intelligent" people pretend to "understand."

By Alex 2 years ago

Palestine

ELI5 - What makes Palestine Palestine? What is the difference between Palestine and Israel?

Palestine generally refers to territories in the Middle East—primarily the West Bank and Gaza Strip—that Palestinians claim as their homeland and future state. These areas have been at the heart of a long-running and complex conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, rooted in historical, political, religious, and territorial disputes. Palestinians seek independence and recognition, but the region faces ongoing issues like military occupation, settlement building, disputes over Jerusalem, and political divisions. Internationally, Palestine is partially recognized as a state and has observer status at the United Nations, but it remains a highly sensitive and contentious geopolitical issue worldwide.

By Alex 9 months ago

Satoshi Nakomoto

ELI5 - Who is Satoshi Nakomoto?

Satoshi Nakomoto is the pseudonym for the creator of Bitcoin. Several theories for Nakomoto's true identity have been floated, but none has ever been confirmed. Several predominant developers and cryptocurrency experts have been suggested, as well as groups of people. Nakomoto created Bitcoin and its core technology, Blockchain, on 3 January 2009 with the publication of the Bitcoin Whitepaper.

By Alex 1 year ago

Quantum Computing

ELI5 - How does a quantum computer work and why are they superior to our current computers?

Conventional computers operate using binary switches that are either on or off, forming the basis for logic gates like AND, OR, and XOR, which are combined to perform various tasks. In contrast, quantum computers use qubits, which act like adjustable switches that can be in a state of 0%, 100%, or anywhere in between, allowing for a range of possibilities simultaneously. Quantum logic gates are complex, but they exploit the principles of quantum mechanics to narrow down solutions to specific problems more efficiently. This ability allows quantum computers to excel at tasks like database searches and particle simulations, completing them much faster than conventional computers.

By drollparadox7655 1 year ago

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

ELI5 - Why do Israelis and Palestinians hate each other so much?

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict centers on a struggle over land and identity between the inhabitants of Israel and Palestine, both claiming historical and religious ties. Originating in the late 19th century with Jewish Zionists seeking a safe homeland and Arab nationalism seeking independence, tensions began to escalate. Post-WWII, the UN's 1947 partition plan led to Israel's creation in 1948; rejected by Arab states, it sparked war, eventually won by Israel, and resulting in the displacement of many Palestinians. Core issues include borders, Jerusalem's status, Palestinian refugee rights, and security. Despite numerous peace efforts, deep-seated grievances and mutual distrust have thwarted a lasting resolution, continuing the conflict.

By PumpkinPie113 1 year ago

Timbre

ELI5 - A piano and a violin can play the same note but their sound differs; you can tell them apart. How do notes differ with each instrument, but retain the characteristics of its assigned pitch?

Sounds are mainly characterized by pitch, loudness, and quality. Pitch refers to how high or low a sound is, based on the frequency of sound waves. Loudness is simply the volume of the sound. Timbre, or the quality of sound, is what makes different instruments like a piano and a violin sound distinct, even if they play the same note at the same pitch and loudness. It includes elements like harmonic content, attack, decay, and vibrato, which affect the sound's texture without altering its pitch or loudness.

Key factors in timbre are attack—the way a sound begins and reaches full volume—and overtones, which are additional frequencies present along with the main pitch. While you mainly hear the fundamental frequency or pitch of a note, overtones add depth and richness, creating the unique character of each instrument. So, when a piano and a violin play the same note, what makes them sound different are these subtle variations in how the sound starts, its overtones, and the changes in loudness throughout the note.

By drollparadox7655 1 year ago

Quantum Computing

ELI5 - How does a quantum computer work and why are they superior to our current computers?

Quantum computers use qubits, which, unlike classical bits (only 0 or 1), can exist in superpositions of 0 and 1, allowing them to process multiple possibilities simultaneously. For example, three qubits can represent all eight possible combinations of three bits at once, vastly increasing computational power for certain tasks. This capability enables quantum computers to solve problems like factoring large numbers (Shor's algorithm) or searching databases (Grover's algorithm) much more efficiently than classical computers. However, their superiority is limited to specific problem types, not universal tasks. Building quantum computers is challenging due to issues like qubit decoherence and the difficulty of performing calculations without collapsing the quantum state, and as a result, practical applications of quantum computing are still in development.

By Alex 1 year ago