ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Cyclic ozone

Alright kiddo, let me explain. You know how we have air all around us, right? And you know how sometimes we breathe in fresh air from outside or sometimes fresh air comes in through the windows, right?

Well, sometimes the air can have something called "ozone" in it. Ozone is a special gas that has three oxygen atoms (normally, air we breathe has only two oxygen atoms).

Now, sometimes, the ozone in the air can go through a cycle. It means that it goes through a process where it gets broken down into two parts, and then it joins back again later. This cycle can happen many times.

Why does this matter? Well, you see, ozone is important to us because it helps to protect us from the harmful rays of the sun. But if there's too much ozone in the air, it can also be harmful to us. So scientists study the cycle of ozone in the air to see how much is there and if the levels are safe for us.

So, there you have it kiddo. Cyclic ozone means that the special gas called "ozone" goes through a process where it breaks apart and joins back together again many times. Scientists study this cycle to see how much ozone is in the air and if it's safe for us to breathe.