ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Water memory

Okay kiddo, have you ever seen a sponge? It's a squishy thing that soaks up water, right? Now, imagine that water has a memory. That's kind of what people mean when they talk about "water memory."

Scientists used to think that water was just a simple liquid with no special properties. But some researchers started studying how water behaves on a really small scale, at the level of tiny particles called molecules. And they discovered some really weird things.

One thing they found is that water molecules can form little clusters that stick together, almost like they're holding hands. And those clusters can stick to other things, like on the inside of a pipe or around a grain of sand.

Some people think that those clusters could be a kind of "memory" for water. They think that when a substance is dissolved in water, the water molecules form clusters around the substance. And even after the substance is gone, the water molecules may "remember" how to form those clusters.

But not everyone agrees with this idea. Some scientists think that the idea of "water memory" is just a myth. They say that any effects that people attribute to water memory can be explained by other factors, not a magical memory in the water itself.

So, there you have it. Water memory is the idea that water can remember things it has come in contact with. Some people believe it, and some don't. But don't worry too much about it, just keep drinking your water and stay hydrated!