ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ultrafine particle

Okay kiddo, let me try to explain what an ultrafine particle is in a way that you can understand!

You know how everything is made up of tiny little things called atoms and molecules? Well, sometimes those atoms and molecules can stick together to form even bigger things called particles. There are all kinds of particles – some are bigger and some are smaller – but today we’re going to talk about one specific type: ultrafine particles.

Ultrafine particles are like really, really tiny pieces of stuff that float around in the air we breathe. They’re so small that you would need a special microscope to even see them! In fact, they’re even smaller than regular fine particles that we can see like dust or smoke.

These little ultrafine particles can come from all kinds of places. Sometimes they’re made by things like cars or factories that release chemicals into the air. Other times, they’re just things that happen naturally like when a volcano erupts or the wind blows dirt around.

Now, you might be wondering why these ultrafine particles are even important. Well, the thing is, because they’re so small, they can easily enter our bodies when we breathe them in. And once they’re inside of us, they can do some pretty bad things.

Studies have shown that breathing in ultrafine particles can cause health problems like asthma, heart disease, and even cancer! That’s why it’s really important to try and avoid breathing in too many of these tiny particles. So, the next time you’re outside and you see little bits of stuff floating around in the air, just remember that those might be ultrafine particles and it’s best to try and stay away from them!