If you haven’t stumbled across it yet, The Brain Scoop is a long-running YouTube channel that started when Emily Graslie was a volunteer at the University of Montana's Zoological Museum and later moved to the Field Museum in Chicago.

It’s not your typical "hey guys, welcome back to my channel" vlog. It’s a sophisticated, funny, and deeply intellectual look at what museums actually do with all those bones, jars of preserved fish, and taxidermy mounts. Emily takes viewers into the "back of house"—the places the public never sees—to explain why we collect dead things and what they tell us about the history of our planet.

In a world of Skibidi Toilet and mindless "unboxing" videos, The Brain Scoop feels like a breath of fresh, albeit slightly formaldehyde-scented, air.

Kids love it because it doesn’t talk down to them. It treats them like junior scientists. Emily is relatable, she messes up, she gets excited about "gross" stuff, and she has a genuine passion that is contagious. For parents, it’s the holy grail of "educational content" because it actually teaches complex concepts—like evolution, biodiversity, and conservation—without being boring or preachy.

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Let’s talk about the elephant in the room (which Emily would probably show you how to preserve). This channel features biological specimens. That means you are going to see:

For a kid who wants to be a vet or a biologist, this is pure gold. For a kid who gets lightheaded at a papercut, it might be a nightmare. Emily is great about giving "gross-out" warnings before the really graphic parts, but the reality is that the channel's mission is to show the real science, and science is messy.

If your kid is already into science, they might be oscillating between a few different vibes. Here is where The Brain Scoop fits in the hierarchy:

This is the "newsroom" of science. It’s fast-paced, covers everything from space to chemistry, and is very polished. The Brain Scoop is more niche and "hands-on." If SciShow is the textbook, Brain Scoop is the lab.

This is great for the K-5 crowd. It’s bright, neon, and full of "at-home" experiments. The Brain Scoop is the natural progression for when those kids hit middle school and want to see how the world actually works beyond baking soda volcanoes.

Mark is the king of engineering and "cool" science. While he focuses on gadgets and physics, Emily focuses on the natural world and history. They pair perfectly for a well-rounded digital diet.

While there isn't "inappropriate" content in terms of language or adult themes, the graphic nature of the science is the main gatekeeper here.

Check out our guide on finding the best STEM apps for middle schoolers

Because this is YouTube, the usual rules apply. Even though the channel itself is stellar, the "Up Next" sidebar is a lawless wasteland.

One of the coolest things about The Brain Scoop is how it tackles the "women in science" angle without being performative. Emily is just a person who is incredibly good at her job and happens to be a woman. She’s a fantastic role model for girls who like to get their hands dirty and aren't interested in the "pink-washed" version of STEM.

Also, be prepared: after watching a few episodes, your kid might start asking for a microscope or, heaven help you, wanting to keep a "cool bone" they found in the woods.

The Brain Scoop is a rare gem in the digital landscape. It’s smart, it’s real, and it respects its audience’s intelligence. If your kid is aging out of "kids' science" but isn't quite ready for dry university lectures, this is the bridge.

Yes, they might see a dead squirrel being turned into a "study skin," but they’ll also learn more about the importance of biodiversity in 10 minutes than they might in a week of school. In my book, that’s a win.

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