ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gamma rays

Gamma rays are tiny parts of light that are so small you can’t see them with your eyes. Think of them like really small Lego pieces. They come from space and from some things here on Earth, like nuclear power plants or certain types of medicine.

Gamma rays are different from regular light in that they have a lot more energy. It’s kind of like when you bounce on a trampoline - the higher you go, the more energy you have. Gamma rays have the most energy of any type of light, which makes them very powerful.

Because they have so much energy, gamma rays can sometimes be harmful to people and animals. But scientists use special tools to study them from a safe distance. They can learn a lot about the universe by studying gamma rays, like how stars explode or how black holes work.

In summary, gamma rays are really small parts of light that have a lot of energy. Scientists study them to learn about the universe, but we need to be careful because they can sometimes be harmful.