The science and education shows on YouTube explore and present information in fun and creative ways. Adding special effects, filming real experiments, and pumping personality into their lessons allow YouTubers to create videos that are more exciting and interesting to watch than a similar lesson from a college or university course.
The incredible people who run these channels know how to make learning fun. Take a look at the following list of top science and education channels that make you want to learn as much as possible while keeping you entertained.
Vsauce
Vsauce is a channel that never disappoints. Host Michael Stevens explains some of life’s most interesting questions like Did the past really happen? or Why don’t we all have cancer?
Thought-provoking content.
Not traditionally academic.
Breaks down complex topics.
Might not help with school.
Might be too technical.
His videos can be enjoyed by just about everyone and never lack in thought-provoking details. Michael knows how to break down the most complex topics and ideas in an intriguing way so everyone can understand.
VlogBrothers
John and Hank Green of the VlogBrothers are two of the most accomplished and recognized YouTubers of all time. On their main channel, they take turns vlogging back and forth about various topics, often taking questions from their viewers—also known as nerd fighters.
Super long-running channel.
Entertaining and informative.
Takes questions from viewers.
Not their main focus anymore.
Might not be all that academic.
Together, they’ve launched several successful projects, including the annual VidCon YouTube conference and the DFTBA Records distribution network.
MinutePhysics
MinutePhysics puts a cool spin on learning with bite-sized videos that explain science and physics topics in hand-drawn doodles that are sped up to the speed of the narration, so you get the clearest visual representation of what’s being explained.
Short, quick videos.
Direct approach.
Can definitely help with school questions.
Somewhat narrow focus.
Still might be too technical for some.
If you’re short on time and attention span, MinutePhysics’s two to three-minute videos offer the perfect mini-lessons for straight-to-the-point learning.
SmarterEveryDay
The SmarterEveryDay YouTube show features a mashup of everything from general vlogging about interesting science topics and telling stories through short animations to filming real experiments. Host Destin Sandlin is always mixing it up to keep it exciting.
Tries to make topics accessible.
More casual style.
More entertaining than academic.
Unlike other YouTube channels, SmarterEveryDay follows a casual vlogging style and doesn’t use a ton of fancy editing tricks and effects to be interesting to watch.
PBS Idea Channel
Want a break from all that science stuff but still want to learn something new and awesome? The PBS Idea Channel and host Mike Rugnetta explore fascinating connections in pop culture, technology, and art.
From a trusted source.
Regular content.
Diverse topics.
Discusses more than it explains.
Probably not the best for school.
Many of the channels on this list focus on presenting real facts and scientific explanations. This one focuses more on ideas, trends, and opinions to back up interesting arguments.
The channel is officially part of PBS.org. It releases a new video every Wednesday.
Numberphile
Dislike math? You may want to reconsider after watching a video or two from Numberphile. This YouTube channel shows that it’s all about number exploration. You’ll be surprised to learn how many everyday things in life can be explained in a numerical sense.
Math for people who don’t like math.
Tries to make numbers more interesting.
Somewhat narrow focus.
Not really structured lessons.
From figuring out how to win at a game of Dots to understanding what infinity means, Numberphile can probably turn any bad math student into someone who wants to learn more about the wonderful world of numbers.
Veritasium
If you’re looking for an all-around cool science show with great variety, maybe similar to the stuff you see on the Discovery channel, then Veritasium is a YouTube channel you need to subscribe to.
Variety of topics.
Real-time demos and experiments.
Diverse topics make it less predictable.
The show focuses on delivering “the element of truth” in all sorts of science and engineering topics, featuring everything from amazing demos and mind-blowing experiments to interviews with experts and interesting discussions with all sorts of people.
AsapScience
Similar to MinutePhysics, AsapScience uses fun and colorful doodles to dig deep into some of life’s most fascinating questions, using science. The show answers questions like, What if humans disappeared? and Should we all be eating insects? It’s hard not to be enticed by some of these titles.
Uses pictures to make topics accessible.
Tackles interesting questions.
Great for people without a science background.
Probably not the best for school.
Doesn’t necessarily explain how things work.
Each video does such a great job at teaching that the youngest and least scientifically educated people should be able to understand it.
CrashCourse
John and Hank Green from the Vlog Brothers also run the CrashCourse channel. This show offers free courses in anatomy, physiology, world history, psychology, literature, astronomy, and politics. John and Hank host the show along with three other prominent YouTube hosts.
Experienced and well-known YouTubers.
Free complete courses.
Variety of topics.
Courses aren’t always updated regularly.
With the help of these free online courses, both teachers and students can benefit from a learning style that’s incredibly informative, fun, and rewarding.
SciShow
SciShow is one of the many channels the Vlog Brothers have launched over the years. Primarily hosted by Hank Green, SciShow educates viewers about science, history, and other interesting concepts.
Another channel from the Green Brothers.
Covers a variety of topics.
Answers interesting questions.
Not really academically focused.
Of all the shows on this list, this one has some of the coolest editing effects. Colorful animations and text fly around the host as he speaks while tackling questions like Why are eggs egg-shaped? and How do oysters make pearls?
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