ELI5: Why do people go to the Naval Academy, West Point, etc. instead of just enlisting in the forces? You need the academy to be an officer? What does an officer do etc.?

ELI5: If trees get their carbon from CO₂ in the air, how can that same carbon end up forming huge amounts of solid material like wood, coal, diamonds, and the carbon in steel?

ELI5: How does the ground stay stable above oil drilling sites?

ELI5: Why does dirty air behind another Formula 1 car make overtaking so difficult?

ELI5: How does short term and long term memory work?

ELI5: When weather professionals say "it's __ degrees but feels like __ degrees"... isn't that subjective?

ELI5: How can a country have a huge economy but a relatively weak currency?