The Action Lab

The Action Lab

YouTube

2016, "The, Action

WISE
82%

WISE Score

5.1M

Subscribers

A PhD chemical engineer answers 'what would happen if...' questions with actual experiments—liquid nitrogen, vacuums, and physics made visible.

Screenwise Verdict

This is what you hope for when your kid says they want to watch YouTube: actual educational content from someone who knows what they're talking about. The Action Lab delivers real science in an engaging format, and the host's PhD credentials mean you're getting accurate information, not just flashy demonstrations.

The experiments are genuinely interesting—things that make you go 'huh, I never thought about that'—and the explanations are clear without being condescending. It's the kind of channel that could genuinely spark a love of science or at least make physics class more interesting.

That said, it's still YouTube. You're dealing with the platform's standard issues: comments, autoplay, and the algorithm trying to serve up whatever keeps eyeballs glued. And some of the experiments involve legitimately dangerous materials, so you'll want to make clear these are watch-only activities. But as YouTube channels go, this is solidly in the 'yes, this is fine' category—maybe even the 'this is actually good' category.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-16 who are curious about how things work. Younger kids (7-9) will enjoy the visual spectacle; older kids and teens (10-16) will grasp more of the underlying science. The content is accessible enough for elementary schoolers but substantive enough to hold middle schoolers' attention.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
88

Clean, enthusiastic science content with a genuinely curious host who has a PhD in Chemical Engineering. No toxicity, no inappropriate language, and the pacing is engaging without being chaotic. The channel models intellectual curiosity and wonder about the physical world. Comments are enabled but the content itself maintains a positive, educational tone throughout.

Imaginative
82

Tackles 'what would happen if...' questions with creative experimental setups—things like vacuum chambers, liquid nitrogen experiments, and physics demonstrations that make abstract concepts tangible. While the channel demonstrates rather than invites direct participation, it absolutely sparks curiosity and could inspire kids to think about their own experiments. The format is more 'watch and learn' than 'build and create,' but the questions posed are genuinely thought-provoking.

Safe
85

No inappropriate content, violence, or mature themes. The experiments shown are conducted by someone with expertise, though some involve potentially dangerous materials (liquid nitrogen, vacuums, etc.) that kids shouldn't replicate unsupervised. Comments are enabled, which introduces typical YouTube comment section risks, but the content itself is squeaky clean. Reddit discussions mention it as appropriate for 7-10 year olds. No surprise content that would be jarring for kids.

Enriching
90

This is genuine STEM education delivered in an accessible, entertaining way by someone with a PhD. Kids learn real physics, chemistry, and engineering concepts through visual demonstrations. The 'what would happen if' format teaches scientific thinking and hypothesis testing. With 982 videos and 1.2 billion views, it's clearly resonating and keeping viewers engaged while teaching substantive concepts. The entertainment value is high while the educational payoff is real.

Parent Info

Why It Might Be Great

  • Real science education from someone with a PhD, not just entertainment disguised as learning
  • Makes abstract physics and chemistry concepts tangible through visual experiments
  • Nearly 1,000 videos means endless content for curious kids who want to understand how the world works
  • The host's genuine enthusiasm for science is infectious without being over-the-top
  • Sparks the kind of curiosity that leads to science fair projects and deeper learning

What to Watch For

  • Some experiments involve materials (liquid nitrogen, vacuum chambers) that kids absolutely should not try to replicate at home
  • Comments are enabled, so standard YouTube comment section risks apply
  • It's still YouTube—algorithm will try to pull viewers toward other content after each video
  • The experiments are demonstrations, not tutorials, so set expectations that these aren't DIY projects

Conversation Starters

  • "Which experiment did you find most surprising? Why do you think it worked that way?"
  • "If you could ask him to test any 'what would happen if' question, what would it be?"
  • "What's something from the video that you'd want to learn more about?"
  • "Do you think you'd want to be a scientist or engineer when you grow up? What kind?"

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YouTube Channel
The Action Lab

The Action Lab

@theactionlab
5.1M
Subscribers
1208.2M
Views
982
Videos