understand anything - with sources you can verify

ChatGPT gives answers. this shows you why they're true. powered by Google + Claude AI. no signup needed.

eli5.cc is for learning - search educational topics like science, tech, health, finance.
unsafe or abusive content may be removed.

// search a topic
enter
free to use - no signup needed

// example output

this is what every explanation looks like — real diagram, real sources.

// black holes
high confidenceELI5 level
$ eli5: black holes ☀️HUGE STARvery very big runs outof fuel 💥KABOOM!explodes & collapses squishestogether BLACK HOLE!tiny & super heavy [ WHY IS IT SO STRONG? ] flatspaceblackholeplanetSpace is like a stretchy trampolineA heavy black hole bends it, pulling everything toward it= space What is a black hole?A dead star squished sosmall it's invisible — butSUPER heavy & strong!⚫ tiny Nothing escapes!Like a drain in a bathtub —even light gets sucked in.That's why it's BLACK! 🕳️ tinyEarth≪Tiny but crazy heavy!A marble-sized black holewould weigh as much asthe whole Earth! 🌍 eli5.cc
// eli5

What is a black hole?

A black hole is a place in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can get away. It can form when a very massive star collapses into an extremely small, dense point. [1][2]

Why is it called black?

We call it black because light cannot escape once it gets too close, so our eyes and telescopes cannot see light coming back from inside it. [2][3]

// sources
[1]Black hole - Wikipediawikipedia.org
[2]Black Hole Basics - NASA Sciencenasa.gov
[3]Black holes - European Space Agencyesa.int
every explanation looks like thissee the full page →

// how it works

01

enter a topic

type any question - "what is blockchain?" or "how does WiFi work?" - in plain english.

02

we search and synthesize

eli5 searches Google and YouTube, scores sources by reliability, and feeds the best results to AI.

03

get a sourced explanation

AI generates a simple explanation at your chosen level, with citations you can verify. every explanation gets a permanent link.

// features

🔍

sourced explanations

every answer cites real sources from Google and YouTube - not hallucinated claims.

🧠

adjustable complexity

same topic. from beginner to expert in one click. you control the depth.

📊

groundedness score

see how well each answer is backed by sources. green = strong consensus, yellow = mixed.

🔗

shareable links

every explanation gets a permanent link at eli5.cc/eli5/topic-name. share with anyone.

🔗

visual diagrams

every explanation comes with an AI-generated visual diagram to make concepts easier to grasp.

🔒

private by default

no account needed. generated topic pages may be cached publicly so others can learn from them too.

// use cases

explain any topic simply

type "what is inflation?" or "how does WiFi work?" and get a sourced, jargon-free explanation at any complexity level.

understand science & tech

quantum computing, DNS, blockchain, machine learning - explained simply with sources from trusted sites.

decode health topics

diabetes, cholesterol, adhd, sleep apnea - get sourced, jargon-free explanations you can actually understand.

learn finance concepts

compound interest, stock market, mutual funds, inflation - broken down at your level with cited sources.

explore history & culture

from ancient civilisations to modern events - sourced explanations with the depth you choose.

decode legal and policy language

contracts, rights, court systems, privacy policies - simplified into plain english with cited sources.

// most viewed topics

see what people are learning right now - every topic is a sourced, permanent page.

quantum computingdata scienceinflationblockchaindiabeteshow wifi worksai agentsvibe codingstock marketmachine learningprompt engineeringdunning kruger effectgame theoryadhdmcpsmart contracts
see all explanations →

// frequently asked questions

what does eli5 mean?

ELI5 means "Explain Like I'm 5" - taking a complex topic and making it easy to understand. eli5.cc lets you enter any topic and get a plain-English explanation with citations, diagrams, and adjustable depth.

how is eli5.cc different from ChatGPT?

eli5.cc is built for sourced explanations. it searches the web, shows citations, scores source quality, creates a visual diagram, and gives every topic a permanent shareable page.

is eli5.cc free to use?

yes. eli5.cc is free to use with no account required. free usage may be rate-limited to keep the service reliable.

is my data private?

no account is needed. search queries are sent to Google and YouTube to find sources, and generated topic explanations may be cached as public pages for future visitors.

can companies sponsor explanation pages?

yes. companies can sponsor relevant topic pages and appear in a contextual placement near the explanation. each topic page has one sponsor slot.

what kinds of companies are a good fit?

eli5.cc works best for brands that want to reach people actively learning: SaaS, fintech, edtech, health, developer tools, newsletters, books, and courses.

// what you can learn

eli5.cc is a free AI-powered answer engine that explains any topic simply - with sources. unlike a chatbot, eli5 searches the web for real information, scores sources by reliability, and generates an explanation grounded in what it finds. every claim is cited so you can verify it yourself.

enter any topic - what is quantum computing, how does the stock market work, what is DNS, explain blockchain - and get a sourced explanation at your chosen complexity level. eli5 mode gives you an explanation a child could follow. eli10 adds more context. eli15 assumes basic familiarity. expert mode gives a concise, technical summary.

every explanation includes a visual diagram generated by AI, a groundedness score showing how well-backed the answer is, and a permanent link you can share with anyone. no account needed — just search and learn.