Best Science Explainer YouTube Channels: Who to Watch
Science explainers are one of YouTube's most crowded genres, but the gap between channels that actually teach you something and channels that just perform curiosity is enormous. These four channels are genuinely distinct from each other — different paces, different depths, different viewers in mind. Picking the right one matters more than picking the most famous one.
The Channels
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell is a Munich-based channel known for animated videos that explain complex scientific and societal topics with clarity and optimism, created by a dedicated team of illustrators, animators, and researchers.
The visual style is immediately recognizable — clean, colorful, and deliberately calming — which makes heavy subjects like existential risk, black holes, or immune systems feel approachable rather than overwhelming.
With over 24 million subscribers and more than 3.3 billion total views, it stands out as one of the most influential educational channels on the platform.
Kurzgesagt is the best starting point for anyone new to science content, or for people who want a broad overview of big ideas without needing a background in the subject.
Veritasium was created by Dr. Derek Muller and focuses on exploring science, engineering, and philosophy through high-quality documentaries and experiments — and the channel is well-known for debunking common misconceptions and explaining complex physics concepts in an accessible manner.
Veritasium does not adhere to a rigid upload schedule due to the extensive research and high production value required for each episode, with viewers typically getting one to two deep-dive videos per month.
The pacing is slower and more investigative than most science channels — videos often open with a counterintuitive question and spend 20-plus minutes earning their answer — making it a better fit for viewers who want to think, not just be told.
Aerospace engineer Destin Sandlin runs SmarterEveryDay, a channel all about looking at the world with curiosity — using slow-motion cameras and hands-on experiments to explore things like how helicopters fly, why cats always land on their feet, or how snake fangs work.
The channel has surpassed 11 million subscribers on YouTube, making it one of the largest independent science channels on the platform, with engagement running well above the category average — reflecting an unusually active and loyal audience.
What separates Sandlin from peers is his personal, almost journal-like delivery: he's an engineer who genuinely doesn't know the answer when he starts, and that curiosity reads as completely real. It's the channel for people who want to feel like they're exploring alongside someone, not being lectured at.
PBS Space Time explores the outer reaches of space, the craziness of astrophysics, and the possibilities of sci-fi, hosted by astrophysicist Matthew O'Dowd, who completed his Ph.D. at NASA's Space Telescope Science Institute and is now a professor at the City University of New York's Lehman College and an Associate at the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium.
The channel targets viewers with at least some undergraduate-level science or math exposure, and does not shy away from equations or formal notation, which distinguishes it from most mainstream science communicators.
As of early 2026, the channel continues to publish regular long-form episodes.
PBS Space Time is the pick for people who found Veritasium a little too breezy — viewers who want the math to actually show up.
Launched in 2012 by Hank Green under Complexly, SciShow features short, fast-paced videos typically 5–10 minutes long, hosted primarily by Hank Green alongside a rotating cast, who explain concepts using humor, visuals, and real-world examples.
SciShow's main advantage is its consistency and breadth — with multiple uploads per week, it provides a steady stream of content.
By November 2025, SciShow had amassed over 8.3 million subscribers and more than 2.1 billion views.
SciShow is not the channel for deep dives; it's the channel for building a habit. If the goal is to spend ten minutes learning something real every day, this is the most reliable option on this list.
How to Choose
The simplest way to sort these channels is by how much time and prior knowledge a viewer wants to bring. Kurzgesagt and SciShow ask for almost nothing — they do all the work. Veritasium and SmarterEveryDay ask viewers to sit with a question and enjoy the process of working it out. PBS Space Time asks viewers to already have some foundation and wants to push it further.
Pacing is the other variable. SciShow is brisk and encyclopedic. Kurzgesagt is measured and visual. Veritasium and SmarterEveryDay build slowly toward a payoff. PBS Space Time is the most lecture-like of the group — in the best sense, meaning it assumes you showed up to learn something specific. None of these is better than the others; they're just built for different moods and different afternoons.
FAQ
Is PBS Space Time suitable for someone without a science degree?
The channel targets viewers with at least some undergraduate-level science or math exposure
, but plenty of engaged non-specialists follow along — especially if they're comfortable pausing and re-watching dense sections.
How often does Veritasium upload?
Veritasium does not adhere to a rigid upload schedule due to the extensive research and high production value required for each episode, with viewers typically getting one to two new deep-dive videos per month.
Is "It's Okay To Be Smart" still active?
The channel rebranded to Be Smart and
is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D., who is the creator and host of Be Smart, an award-winning science education show from PBS that celebrates curiosity and the pleasure of finding things out.
It remains active under the new name.
#ScienceYouTube #LearnOnYouTube #ScienceExplained #EducationalYouTube #BestScienceChannels
The Channels
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell is a Munich-based channel known for animated videos that explain complex scientific and societal topics with clarity and optimism, created by a dedicated team of illustrators, animators, and researchers.
The visual style is immediately recognizable — clean, colorful, and deliberately calming — which makes heavy subjects like existential risk, black holes, or immune systems feel approachable rather than overwhelming.
With over 24 million subscribers and more than 3.3 billion total views, it stands out as one of the most influential educational channels on the platform.
Kurzgesagt is the best starting point for anyone new to science content, or for people who want a broad overview of big ideas without needing a background in the subject.
Veritasium was created by Dr. Derek Muller and focuses on exploring science, engineering, and philosophy through high-quality documentaries and experiments — and the channel is well-known for debunking common misconceptions and explaining complex physics concepts in an accessible manner.
Veritasium does not adhere to a rigid upload schedule due to the extensive research and high production value required for each episode, with viewers typically getting one to two deep-dive videos per month.
The pacing is slower and more investigative than most science channels — videos often open with a counterintuitive question and spend 20-plus minutes earning their answer — making it a better fit for viewers who want to think, not just be told.
Aerospace engineer Destin Sandlin runs SmarterEveryDay, a channel all about looking at the world with curiosity — using slow-motion cameras and hands-on experiments to explore things like how helicopters fly, why cats always land on their feet, or how snake fangs work.
The channel has surpassed 11 million subscribers on YouTube, making it one of the largest independent science channels on the platform, with engagement running well above the category average — reflecting an unusually active and loyal audience.
What separates Sandlin from peers is his personal, almost journal-like delivery: he's an engineer who genuinely doesn't know the answer when he starts, and that curiosity reads as completely real. It's the channel for people who want to feel like they're exploring alongside someone, not being lectured at.
PBS Space Time explores the outer reaches of space, the craziness of astrophysics, and the possibilities of sci-fi, hosted by astrophysicist Matthew O'Dowd, who completed his Ph.D. at NASA's Space Telescope Science Institute and is now a professor at the City University of New York's Lehman College and an Associate at the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium.
The channel targets viewers with at least some undergraduate-level science or math exposure, and does not shy away from equations or formal notation, which distinguishes it from most mainstream science communicators.
As of early 2026, the channel continues to publish regular long-form episodes.
PBS Space Time is the pick for people who found Veritasium a little too breezy — viewers who want the math to actually show up.
Launched in 2012 by Hank Green under Complexly, SciShow features short, fast-paced videos typically 5–10 minutes long, hosted primarily by Hank Green alongside a rotating cast, who explain concepts using humor, visuals, and real-world examples.
SciShow's main advantage is its consistency and breadth — with multiple uploads per week, it provides a steady stream of content.
By November 2025, SciShow had amassed over 8.3 million subscribers and more than 2.1 billion views.
SciShow is not the channel for deep dives; it's the channel for building a habit. If the goal is to spend ten minutes learning something real every day, this is the most reliable option on this list.
How to Choose
The simplest way to sort these channels is by how much time and prior knowledge a viewer wants to bring. Kurzgesagt and SciShow ask for almost nothing — they do all the work. Veritasium and SmarterEveryDay ask viewers to sit with a question and enjoy the process of working it out. PBS Space Time asks viewers to already have some foundation and wants to push it further.
Pacing is the other variable. SciShow is brisk and encyclopedic. Kurzgesagt is measured and visual. Veritasium and SmarterEveryDay build slowly toward a payoff. PBS Space Time is the most lecture-like of the group — in the best sense, meaning it assumes you showed up to learn something specific. None of these is better than the others; they're just built for different moods and different afternoons.
FAQ
Is PBS Space Time suitable for someone without a science degree?
The channel targets viewers with at least some undergraduate-level science or math exposure
, but plenty of engaged non-specialists follow along — especially if they're comfortable pausing and re-watching dense sections.
How often does Veritasium upload?
Veritasium does not adhere to a rigid upload schedule due to the extensive research and high production value required for each episode, with viewers typically getting one to two new deep-dive videos per month.
Is "It's Okay To Be Smart" still active?
The channel rebranded to Be Smart and
is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D., who is the creator and host of Be Smart, an award-winning science education show from PBS that celebrates curiosity and the pleasure of finding things out.
It remains active under the new name.
#ScienceYouTube #LearnOnYouTube #ScienceExplained #EducationalYouTube #BestScienceChannels
🎥 Their most-watched video
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
Veritasium
SmarterEveryDay
PBS Space Time
SciShow
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