Cover Popular science-based YouTube channels bridge the gap between academic research and everyday applications (Image: still from @Veritasium/ Youtube)
Popular science-based YouTube channels bridge the gap between academic research and everyday applications (Image: still from @Veritasium/ Youtube)
1 / 1
Offering answers to complex questions, scientists and experts are making academic research more accessible and understandable through social media
Is there such a thing as absolute stillness? Is our universe inside a black hole? Why is the number seemingly 37 everywhere? These science-based YouTube channels provide insight into complex concepts in the realm of physics, climate change, technology, biology and more. Hosted by scientists and experts, they distil complex scientific concepts into engaging and easy-to-understand discussions, even bringing pop culture into the mix (what is the physics behind Olympic sports?) to make topics more current. Bridging the gap between academic research and its practical applications, these YouTube channels are encouraging more people to develop a strong foundation in scientific knowledge, empowering them to make informed decisions about the inner workings of the world.
Also read: Celebrating innovation: The impact of Asian scientists on global progress
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
“Keep looking up!” is the mantra of Startalk, the popular YouTube channel (with 3.57 million subscribers) that demystifies the inner workings of the universe by incorporating science with pop culture. In candid discussions, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson explains complex concepts such as the three-body problem, time dilation, Olympics physics and free will (does chaos in the universe affect free will?). Guests, including fellow scientists and experts, often appear in the show, but the most important addition to StarTalk is co-host Chuck Nice, a comedian whose banter with Tyson adds levity to every conversation.
Veritasium with Dr Derek Muller
An academic background in physics helps Dr Derek Muller explain scientific concepts at Veritasium. Apart from science and engineering, the YouTube channel, which has 16 million subscribers, tackles very specific phenomena such as why people pick the number 37 often (odd prime numbers feel random) or why microwaving grapes creates plasma (intense electromagnetic field ionises the air creating plasma). Muller also includes real-world experiments, which makes discussions more engaging and facilitates a better understanding of concepts.
Dr Becky with Dr Becky Smethurst
Dr Becky Smethurst describes herself as your “friendly neighbourhood astrophysicist” who makes science videos “with an unnatural level of enthusiasm”. Focusing on the foundation of what we know, Dr. Becky unravels astrophysics topics, including dark matter, cosmic rays and failed supernovas, on her self-named YouTube channel. She also applies her scientific knowledge to popular culture, reacting to films and series like Rick and Morty, Don’t Look Up and Contact. Her offline persona is just as interesting: when not on YouTube, Smerthurst studies supermassive black holes and the effect of their energy in the galaxy at Oxford University.
Be Smart with Dr Joe Hanson
Dr Joe Hanson gives in-depth answers to simple questions such as why we see faces in mundane things or why the letter Y is actually a vowel (according to physics). In the PBS-produced Be Smart—also known as It’s Okay To Be Smart—the biologist and science communicator covers various topics, from the human body to earth’s climate, animals to food. Apart from showing that being smart is not only okay but also exciting, the YouTube channel champions brevity, with most of its knowledge-packed videos running from 10 to 15 minutes.
Just Have a Think with Dave Borlace
For its 575,000 subscribers, Just Have a Think offers an evidence-based analysis of complex environmental issues. Focusing on climate change, sustainability and also how technology plays an important role in these issues, host Dave Borlace explores “potential solutions that will save as many lives as possible and hopefully bring about a greater level of equality in the world”. His technology series in particular introduces advanced approaches to climate mitigation, including gravity energy storage and tidal turbines. Though not a scientist or a climatologist, Borlace joined YouTube to help viewers make informed discussions about the planet’s most pressing challenges.
Topics
