ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

3D microfabrication

Hey there champ! Do you remember playing with play dough? You could squish it, roll it, and make different shapes out of it. Well, 3D microfabrication is kind of like that, but with very, very tiny things.

You know how everything we see is made up of tiny pieces called atoms and molecules? Well, in 3D microfabrication, scientists and engineers use special machines to build things out of these tiny pieces on a much smaller scale than we can see with our eyes.

It's kind of like using a really advanced, high-tech 3D printer, but instead of making things out of plastic or metal, they use special materials like polymers, ceramics, or even cells to build tiny structures that can be used for all sorts of things.

These structures can be made in almost any shape and size, and with incredible precision. Some of the things that have been made using 3D microfabrication include tiny medical devices, sensors, and even replacement tissues and organs!

So it's kind of like playing with play dough, but instead of making a fun shape, scientists and engineers are making really important things to help people stay healthy and solve big problems. Cool, huh?