NileRed

NileRed is a chemistry channel made by a creator with a degree in biochemistry who went on to work as a lab technician and then as a chemistry graduate student. He left his graduate studies to make videos full time.

Each video sets a goal, such as making a material or extracting a substance, and follows every stage in the lab. Failures and repeat attempts are left in, so viewers see how much problem solving real chemistry takes. The theory is explained as it comes up, and the editing is careful and clear. His stated aim is to balance theory with a purpose, so the chemistry always has a point.

Some highlights include:

A long project follows the making of aerogel, one of the lightest solid materials known, step by step.

Ordinary wood is chemically treated until it becomes see-through, a material researchers are exploring for buildings.

Scrap jewellery is refined into pure gold bars, showing the chemistry used to separate precious metals.

The channel has around 11 million subscribers.

These videos are a strong link to chemical engineering and materials science. Making aerogel, refining metals and modifying wood are all processes that engineers scale up in industry. Watching the trial and error also gives a fair picture of research and development work in a lab. His videos also show the safety equipment and care that serious lab work needs.