ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Fracking in the United Kingdom

Fracking is a way to get natural gas and oil out of the ground. Imagine you have a toy car and it's stuck in some mud. You try to get it out by pushing it with your hands, but it's really heavy and you can't move it. That's where the grown-ups come in. They might use a piece of equipment called a drill to make a hole in the ground next to the toy car. Then, they pump water mixed with sand and chemicals down the hole, which makes the mud shift and the toy car move. The natural gas and oil flow out of the ground and can be collected and used to heat homes and cook food.

In the United Kingdom, there has been talk about using fracking to get more natural gas and oil out of the ground. However, some people are worried about the impact it could have on the environment. Fracking can cause small earthquakes and release harmful chemicals into the air and water. Also, it requires a lot of energy and resources to do it properly.

So, some people think that we should look for other ways to get energy that won't harm the environment as much. But, other people think that fracking could be a good way to get energy and create jobs. It's an ongoing debate, and we have to keep talking about it to figure out what's best for everyone.