Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a method of extracting oil and natural gas from underground rock formations by injecting high-pressure fluid into the wellbore to create fractures in the rock. This allows the oil and gas to flow more freely to the surface for extraction. Fracking has been used extensively in recent years to access previously inaccessible shale gas and tight oil reserves, but has also been controversial due to environmental concerns such as groundwater contamination and seismic activity. Research in this area focuses on improving the efficiency and environmental impact of fracking operations, as well as understanding the potential risks and benefits associated with this technology.