ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Stem cell treatments

Okay, imagine that your body is a city with buildings that need to be repaired when they get damaged. Sometimes, the damage is so bad that regular construction workers can't fix it. That's where stem cells come in.

Stem cells are like super workers that have the power to turn into any kind of construction worker your body needs. So, if one of your buildings is damaged, stem cells can turn into the exact type of construction worker needed to fix that specific building.

Doctors can use stem cells to help heal people who have really bad injuries or illnesses that regular medicine can't fix. For example, if someone has a disease that destroys their bone marrow (the stuff inside your bones that makes your blood cells), doctors can give them stem cells that will turn into new bone marrow and help the person get better.

Stem cells are really important because they can do things that regular cells can't. Plus, scientists are still learning about all the amazing things stem cells can do, so who knows what other cool treatments they might come up with in the future!