ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Infrared

Infrared is like a superpower that some things have. It's like an invisible magic that you can't see with your eyes, but some special things can feel it and use it to their advantage.

Imagine you are playing hide and seek with a friend in a big room, and you want to find them even if they are hiding behind something. You could use your eyes to scan the room, and if you are lucky, you might spot them. But what if you could use a magic power that can see through walls and objects? That's exactly what infrared does, except it works on a much smaller scale.

Infrared is a type of light that is too shy to show its colors, so it hides in the form of heat. Everything around us, including our bodies, gives off some heat, and that heat is what infrared sensors can detect. Think of it like seeing someone's body heat instead of their actual body.

Scientists have invented special devices called infrared sensors that can detect this hidden light. They work like special glasses that let you see when it's dark. But instead of amplifying the light, these sensors pick up on the heat that is being emitted by objects. That's why firefighters use infrared cameras to find people who are trapped in smoke-filled rooms.

So, in summary, infrared is an invisible type of light that can detect heat, and it's like a magic power that lets you see through objects.