Science is fun! Even if you don’t enjoy the idea of poring over research papers and conducting experiments yourself, it’s still great to follow the scientific progress of the world and learn new things about everyday life.
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YouTube has been a major force in making people more curious and encouraging them to learn more about the world. But with so much content available on the platform, getting started can be a bit tricky. I’ve collected a list of what I consider to be some of the best science YouTube channels available right now, with a little something for everyone in there.
What Are the Best Science YouTube Channels to Follow?
I follow some of these channels actively, and with some of the others, I occasionally drop by to see what they’ve been up to and what new content they’ve published. This list should cover popular fields quite well, so no matter if you’re interested in general science, physics, electronics, or anything else in particular, you should be able to find something that’s right up your alley.
Think that you have something unique to share with the world but don’t know how to get started with your own YouTube channel? Lucky for you, I’ve covered that in the past!
Minutephysics
Minutephysics ponders various scientific questions, explaining them in a simple manner that anyone can easily follow. The channel features a pleasant animation style and it’s clear that the author puts a lot of work into the presentation of their videos.
The topics vary a lot. The channel occasionally ponders interesting “what if?” scenarios like messing with water physics, or even hypothetical situations involving portals from the famous game “Portal”. Ever wondered how you should picture an atom in your head? Now you can find out!
You’ll also find various famous (and not so famous) paradoxes covered here. If you’re interested in theoretical science and seeing the answers to questions you’d never thought anyone would ask, this is a channel you should definitely check out.
Veritasium
Veritasium is a well-known name in the field of science YouTubers. He’s many people’s first introduction to various interesting topics, and always tries to make his videos as catchy as possible, with an interesting premise right from the thumbnail and title.
One thing that sets Veritasium apart from most other science channels is that he travels a lot. Many of his videos feature him in exciting locations around the world – he’s even visited the Chernobyl exclusion zone! He also loves to talk about futurology and topics that might not be relevant for at least a few decades, but definitely sound like they would play an active role in our future.
This is a great channel for active fans of modern science as well as those who’re still finding their way and don’t understand much about the world yet. Thanks to the beautiful approach of explaining different concepts, you’ll never feel out of place watching a Veritasium video.
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
Kurzgesagt is one of the most famous science YouTube channels. With a catchy art style and a unique presentation, it quickly rose to prominence and overtook many similar channels over the years. Despite the channel’s name, Kurzgesagt’s videos tend to be a bit longer than those of most other similar channels. Most are around 10-15 minutes long, so if you’re looking for some more in-depth explanations of various concepts, that’s the right place to go.
Some videos are based on popular topics prevalent in society today, such as global warming and the future of our civilization. There are also some more unique videos on rather obscure topics, including some scary ones like brain parasites.
And then, you can also find some more philosophical discussions, including a video about the state of loneliness in our modern society and potential fixes for the problem. This is a great place to ponder the world you live in from a new perspective.
Science Channel
A classic, established name in the field, it should be no surprise to see that the Science Channel has an active presence on YouTube. This is a channel with a higher production value and more attention to detail in their videos, including exclusive interviews and references that few people have access to.
The channel focuses heavily on space-related topics, though it also probes issues that are much closer to us – such as exploring ancient Egyptian pyramids, the operation of MRI scanners, and various historic events with implications on modern life.
There’s a little bit of everything in there, so if you’re into more general scientific topics, this can easily be one of your favorite subscriptions. The channel’s release schedule is also more regular than those of other similar YouTubers, which makes sense given the overall approach to presentation.
Smarter Every Day
A long-form channel that’s not afraid to go into a lot of detail on the topics it touches on, Smarter Every Day is a must-watch for those curious about their immediate surroundings. Some of the topics covered by the channel might seem boring to most people, like special techniques utilized by search & rescue teams, but those with an active interest in the corresponding fields will absolutely love the presentation and depth of the channel’s videos.
Ever wondered what a gong would sound like when hit a baseball going 1189 mph? Now you can find out! In fact, the people behind the channel seem to have a thing for baseball experiments, as it’s a common topic they touch upon in their videos.
Nature lovers will also appreciate the various videos that explore topics like sea turtles and farming. Smarter Every Day has also attempted some more unique experiments, like testing what works for successfully manipulating the YouTube algorithm.
Stuff Made Here
The person behind Stuff Made Here is a passionate engineer who loves to tinker with everyday objects and push them to their limits. The channel mostly focuses on interesting experiments involving ordinary items with a touch of advanced engineering. You can see devices ranging from an auto-aiming bow to a flying basketball hoop which automatically captures balls. Steel toe crocs? They have that covered.
The channel is still a bit young and new videos come out a bit irregularly, so it won’t take long to get through the existing content. At least most videos are relatively long – pretty much all of them go over 20 minutes, with some even longer than that, so you’ll be able to stay entertained for a few hours while going through previous uploads.
Hopefully the release frequency increases in the future, as this is one of the science channels with the strongest potential right now.
Applied Science
A channel that focuses on applying scientific concepts to everyday situations (and some more unusual ones), Applied Science is a fantastic place to learn how everything around us works. Some of the topics are relatively generic, like using a laser pointer as an input device for a plasma display, while others are pretty unique – for example, did you know that there’s cooking oil with zero calories?
And then there are some videos that border on science fiction, like a camera that can see behind objects due to its unique lens configuration. If you’ve ever wanted to see what’s inside an x-ray fluorescence gun, strap in for a 20-minute detailed teardown.
Unfortunately, this is another channel that suffers from a relatively infrequent schedule. As long as you can bear with that and have the patience to wait for new releases, it should still provide you with a lot of entertainment.
Simply Electronics
For those of you with a knack for electronics – as well as those with a developing interest in the field – Simply Electronics is a great place to learn about how different devices work. Some of the videos are pretty simple and down to earth, like an explanation of logic gates, or the meaning of grounding an electric circuit.
Others explore more unusual topics like the comparative safety of different power plug designs, building a USB power meter, and showing off a design for a wireless LED.
The beginner videos are what really makes this channel stand out in my opinion. If you’ve ever tried to learn electronics and felt confused and overwhelmed by all the different concepts involved, this is a place that should be of great help. Simply Electronics has a number of videos that cover basic electronic concepts in a friendly, intuitive manner.
Two Minute Papers
Artificial Intelligence has been a hot topic for several years now, and Two Minute Papers is a channel that heavily focuses on that particular field. If you want to stay up to date on recent developments in the AI sphere but don’t have the time to follow new publications directly from their sources, Two Minute Papers is a great substitute.
Each video typically focuses on new AI solutions, not just from giants like Google and OpenAI, but from smaller, less known organizations as well. Wondering why ChatGPT got hyped up so much and what’s so special about it? Want to know how modern image recognition works? Dozens of exciting videos are waiting for you at Two Minute Papers!
Some might even find the contents of the channel a bit disturbing, as many videos shine a light on the rapid evolution of modern AI solutions and their potential impact on the world around us. But I’ve always believed that it’s better to be informed in these cases instead of burying your head in the sand.
PBS Space Time
And if you’re looking to explore topics related to space specifically, PBS Space Time is a classic channel with a lot of interesting content. Some of the videos go into more philosophical discussions, such as exploring the possibility that the universe is not what it seems. In other cases, you’ll learn all about the relationship between liquids, gases, and their overlap in certain materials.
Do you think there are any undiscovered elements in the periodic table? Find out if you’re right! And of course, there are lots of videos dealing with topics of extraterrestrial life and the unknown that lies beyond us. Definitely one of the better channels for the deep thinkers out there, and it’s updated pretty regularly too!
Vsauce
Vsauce is a more unusual channel. With topics like “Do Chairs Exist?”, one would expect nothing less. This is one of the best-known science channels on YouTube, and it’s been growing steadily over the years, to the point where the community has started to branch out a bit.
Some of the videos are borderline disturbing, including some that explore topics like death, belief and behavior. If you can stomach these types of discussions though, you’ll find Vsauce to be a gold mine of content that can provide you with a lot of quality entertainment.
Many of the videos explore topics related to the mind, including issues like suggestion, the link between the brain and technology, and various other more unusual discussions.
What Else Can I Do to Learn More About the World?
Science channels are a great way to stay informed about the world and explore what it has to offer, but there’s much more than that out there if you’re willing to broaden your horizons. I’ve always been a firm believer in the importance of cooking as a skill that anyone should have, for example – which is why I covered some of my favorite cooking YouTube channels a while back. Any time you find yourself excited about a topic, I encourage you to delve deep into it and find out all you can about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a scientific background to follow these channels?
A: Not at all! While it can be useful to know certain terms so you can understand some of the videos better, it’s by no means mandatory, and some of these channels are actually intended to guide inexperienced beginners through their first steps into the world of science.
Q: Are these channels a good supplement to my studies?
A: While they can be helpful, the main idea of most of these channels is to be informative to the everyday person. This means that they’re often not on the same level as an academic book, for example. But they can still be a great tool when it comes to understanding a certain concept in more detail.
Nathaniell
What's up ladies and dudes! Great to finally meet you, and I hope you enjoyed this post. My name is Nathaniell and I'm the owner of One More Cup of Coffee. I started my first online business in 2010 promoting computer software and now I help newbies start their own businesses. Sign up for my #1 recommended training course and learn how to start your business for FREE!
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