Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy is like using a special flashlight to look at things and figure out what they're made of. When you shine this flashlight on something, it gets really hot and the material starts to break down. The light from this breakdown gives you a special kind of fingerprint that tells you what the material is made of.

Imagine you have a plate of food and you want to know all the different ingredients in it. You shine this special flashlight on it and it starts to sizzle and pop. This creates a special kind of light that tells you what's in your food. You can find out if you're eating carrots, potatoes, chicken, or anything else that's in your meal.

Scientists use laser induced breakdown spectroscopy to look at all sorts of things like rocks, metals, and even the air. By shining this special flashlight on these materials, they can figure out what they're made of and learn new things about our world.