Best Materials science videos, as recommended on Hacker News

34 videos about materials science that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2010 and 2026. Mostly demo, explainer, tutorial. Channels that come up most: Applied Science, Veritasium, SmarterEveryDay, NileRed. Sorted by how consistently HN recommended them over the years.

The most recommended is Finding the Missing Memristor - R. Stanley Williams: Recommended for years as the best technical introduction to memristors from the person who found the physical device.

talkFinding the Missing Memristor - R. Stanley WilliamsThe Qualcomm Institute · 12 HN recommenders · 2010–2024
documentaryWhy It Was Almost Impossible to Make the Blue LEDVeritasium · 10 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
tutorialRevolutionary Paint: How to Make Surfaces Stay Cool in the SunTech Ingredients · 5 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
explainerThe Infinite Pattern That Never RepeatsVeritasium · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
tutorialMaking Infrared Cooling Paint From Grocery Store Items (w/Novel CaCO₃ Microsphere Synthesis)NightHawkInLight · 5 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
tutorialHow To Make Infrared Cooling Paint (Electricity Free Air Conditioning)NightHawkInLight · 4 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
documentarySmelting Iron in Africa (A DEMONSTRATION)Christopher Roy · 4 HN recommenders · 2015–2024
demoMystery of Prince Rupert's Drop at 130,000 fps - Smarter Every Day 86SmarterEveryDay · 4 HN recommenders · 2013–2024
demoNokia Morph Concept (long)Alexander Budde · 3 HN recommenders · 2011–2025
talkThe Liquid Metal Battery: Innovation in stationary electricity storageSchool of Convergence Science · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
demoEtching small patterns in GlassHuygens Optics · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
explainerWas Roman Concrete Better?Practical Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
explainerThe Ridiculous Engineering Of Jet EnginesVeritasium · 2 HN recommenders · 2025–2026
explainerWhat is Concrete?Practical Engineering · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
tutorialGlass engineering - designing and making photochromic glassApplied Science · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2022
otherA Day Made of Glass... Made possible by Corning. (2011)Corning Incorporated · 2 HN recommenders · 2012–2019
explainerMOLTEN GLASS VS Prince Rupert's Drop - Smarter Every Day 285SmarterEveryDay · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2023
demoFor the undying 9/11 MORONIC JET FUEL ARGUMENTpurgatoryironworks · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2023
demoDemo and teardown of an X-ray fluorescence gun (measures chemical composition)Applied Science · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
explainerThe Material Science of Metal 3D PrintingReal Engineering · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
demoMaking uranium glassNileRed · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2024
demoDIY Scanning Electron Microscope - OverviewApplied Science · 1 HN recommender · 2015–2025
explainerThe Snowflake MythVeritasium · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2023
demoI Grew Real Spider Silk Using YeastThe Thought Emporium · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2022
lectureRichard Feynman "Tiny Machines" Nanotechnology Lecture - aka "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom"Muon Ray · 1 HN recommender · 2015–2026
demo.38 Special vs Prince Ruperts Drop at 170,000 FPS - Smarter Every Day 169SmarterEveryDay · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2023
demoSpace Shuttle Thermal Tile DemonstrationRoscket Tasartir · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2023
demoYour toothbrush is worn-out!Applied Science · 1 HN recommender · 2023–2025
demoMaking purple goldNileRed · 1 HN recommender · 2023–2024
demo[593] Gallium vs. Titalium - Abus Padlock Meets a Gruesome EndLockPickingLawyer · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2024
demoA Boy And His Atom: The World's Smallest MovieIBM · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2025
tutorialMaking YBCO superconductorApplied Science · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2023
demoAttempting to make transparent woodNileRed · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2021
demoHow the pyramids were built in EgyptGeopolymer Institute · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2024