Supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical carbon dioxide is like a superhero version of regular carbon dioxide. Normally, carbon dioxide is a gas, like the air we breathe out. But when we make it really, really cold and put it under a lot of pressure, it becomes like a superpowerful fluid that can do amazing things.

Think of it like this: when you squeeze a sponge really hard, water comes out. That's because the sponge is holding onto water under pressure. Super critical carbon dioxide is like when you squeeze a sponge so hard that water turns into a special kind of fluid that can help you clean things.

Scientists can use supercritical carbon dioxide to help them make medicines or clean up the environment. It's really good at dissolving things so it can get rid of dangerous chemicals in soil or water. And it's way better for the environment than using harsh chemicals that can hurt plants and animals.

So, even though it sounds like a big, scary thing, supercritical carbon dioxide is actually kind of like a superhero that helps us protect the planet.