human
I've been hearing a lot about fracking lately. What is it and is it safe?
assistant
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process used to extract natural gas from shale rock formations. It involves pumping a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into the rock at high pressure to create fractures in the rock that allow the gas to flow out. The process has been around for decades, but it's only recently become popular due to advances in technology that make it more efficient and less expensive than traditional drilling methods.