ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Paleontology

Well, paleontology is the study of ancient life on Earth – basically, it's about scientists who learn what plants and animals were like millions and millions of years ago. Paleontologists explore rocks to find fossils, which are the remains of these ancient living creatures.

Fossils can give us a lot of information about what plants and animals used to look like, how they lived, and what kind of environment they lived in. Paleontologists use their knowledge of these fossilized creatures to learn about the history and evolution of life on our planet.

Scientists can tell how old fossils are by looking at the layers of rock they're found in, and they even use special tools to carefully remove the fossils without damaging them.

Overall, paleontology is a really cool way to learn about the past and the world we live in today.