HN regularly calls it mind-blowing and recommends it as an introduction to Levin's work on bioelectricity and regeneration.
Topics › Life Sciences, Mind & Health
The best biology & biotechnology videos, according to Hacker News
81 videos about biology & biotechnology that Hacker News commenters keep pointing each other to, ranked by how many separate months they were recommended. Part of Life Sciences, Mind & Health.
Commenters offer it as a fascinating, accessible introduction to the world of fungi whenever mushrooms or mycelium come up.
Recommended whenever DNA testing, CRISPR or bioweapons come up, often as the talk that made commenters decide to keep their DNA out of databases.
Recommended whenever people want to see the mechanical, jostling reality of molecular biology, which many find awe-inspiring.
HN keeps citing it as the standard example of accessible DIY gene engineering and self-experimentation, in threads on gene therapy, CRISPR and biohacking.
Frequently linked as a mind-blowing visualization of how RNA is translated into protein, especially in threads on mRNA vaccines and cell biology.
HN recommends it for mind-blowing visuals that make cell biology tangible.
HN commenters use it as the accessible 20-minute entry point to Levin's bioelectricity research whenever regeneration or cell signaling comes up.
Recommended as a clear, authoritative lecture series on plausible origin-of-life theories.
Recommended as a jaw-dropping view of the complexity and machine-like nature of cells.
HN recommends it as the full account of the lab mice issue and evolutionary tradeoffs between cancer and longevity, despite its length.
HN links it as a visually striking demonstration of evolution and antibiotic resistance happening in days.
HN commenters shared it in 2020 and 2021 as an early, in-depth presentation of the lab-leak case, though it is a contested viewpoint.
HN commenters cite her as the explanation for why soil biology, not added fertilizer, drives plant nutrition and farm results.
HN recommends it as an entertaining four-minute introduction to evo-devo that works even for people who dislike the original song.
Recommended as an engaging, down-to-earth talk on the world-changing potential of fungi.
HN commenters recommend it as a mind-expanding talk on rethinking programming, and cite it in threads on propagators, constraints and brittleness.
HN commenters share it to show how cells work as nanoscale machines, which many find mind-blowing.
Recommended as a jaw-dropping, must-see talk that gives an amazing intro to static analysis alongside Might's personal story.
HN people recommend it for its interesting, if contested, theory of cancer's root cause, noting the content matters more than the delivery.
HN commenters recommend it as an accessible introduction to scaling laws and to why cities keep growing while companies and organisms eventually die.
HN commenters link it whenever phage therapy or antibiotic resistance comes up, as an accessible overview.
HN recommends it as a fascinating, mind-expanding interview on bioelectricity and non-reductionist biology.
HN uses it as the go-to demonstration of how unintuitive mass conservation is, especially in weight loss and burning threads.
HN commenters recommend it as a catchy, accurate piece of science edutainment, and admire its footnote practice.
HN commenters push it as an example of Levin's talks, which they think deserve far more attention.
HN points to it in origin-of-life and complexity threads as a fascinating long-form introduction to assembly theory.
Pointed to as a striking example of DIY biology and self-experimentation with gene therapy.
Cited whenever biocomputing or neurons-on-chip come up, as an accessible example of how such a system can be built.
HN suggests it for coders curious how an outsider approaches coronavirus biology, though it is described as unscientific.
HN commenters point to it to show how strange and mechanical cellular machinery is, and to explain how kinesin walks along microtubules.
Cited as a clear, accessible explanation of why life uses only one version of chiral molecules.
HN cites it as an impressive garage-science example of neuron-computer interfaces and hard-science DIY biology.
HN links it as the quick introduction to zombie-ant fungi whenever the topic comes up.
HN commenters suggest it as a simple, well-made introduction to how immune responses work when discussing infection, T cells or chronic illness.
Shared as a vivid illustration of molecular machines at work inside cells.
HN recommends it as a clear, accessible introduction to cancer and the immune system.
HN suggests it as a simple, layman-friendly explanation of the immune system, especially during COVID vaccine discussions.
Commenters point to it as the best short explanation of X inactivation and why calico cats and some human traits are mosaics.
Recommended as an approachable look at Levin's work on regrowth and collective cellular intelligence, and used as an example of intelligence beyond brains.
HN users call it a mind-blowing and good explainer on how the immune system works, and cite it in vaccine and disease threads.
HN recommends it for DeRisi's fascinating stories about rare pathogens such as brain-eating amoebas.
HN points to it as an accessible explainer of AlphaFold and as an example of narrow, specialized ML delivering real scientific breakthroughs.
HN commenters recommend the series as an excellent, accessible introduction to microscopic life, using this episode as the diatom primer.
HN points to Bret Victor's segment as a recent, concrete demonstration of Dynamicland's ideas applied to a specific scientific domain.
HN commenters hand it out as a quick, accessible primer whenever CRISPR or gene editing comes up.
Recommended as one of the most accessible introductions to PCR and its history.
HN points to it as an accessible case that diets work differently for different people, partly due to gut bacteria.
Pointed to as a cheap, hands-on example of home algae cultivation.
HN commenters point to it as an accessible pop-science introduction to entropy and the physics of life, including Jeremy England's work.
HN recommends it as an engaging, brief overview of the RNA world idea.
Recommended as a gripping account of scientific fraud and the history of cloning research.
Cited as support for the claim that chemicals affect amphibian sex and as an example of corporate influence over regulation.
HN links it as a long-form entry point to Levin's ideas on cancer, bioelectric signaling and intelligence beyond the brain, though one commenter finds some claims outlandish.
HN commenters point to Nick Lane as an excellent science communicator whose talks on mitochondria and the chemistry of life are worth watching.
Recommended as a beautiful, accessible animation of cellular energy production.
HN commenters recommend it as a long, engaging introduction to Stamets and his fungi work.
HN points to it as an accessible, interesting talk on molecular dynamics and simulation-based drug discovery.
HN commenters cite it as proof that cutting-edge biotech is becoming accessible to home labs, much like computing in the 1980s.
Recommended as a solid, informative treatment of silicon-based life and the chemical limits on alien biochemistry.
HN points to it as proof that DIY genetic engineering is feasible and as an example of a rigorous hands-on biology channel.
HN commenters bring it up in threads about asteroid samples and panspermia as an accessible take on early-universe habitability.
HN shares it as striking classic footage of the immune system at work, sometimes as an analogy for attack and pursuit.
HN readers point to it as a companion to other Levin material on bioelectricity, goal-directedness in cells and cancer as a breakdown in cell communication.
HN points to it when discussing DMT research and reports of contact with entity-like beings.
Cited in screwworm threads as a short description of the sterile-insect barrier system that worked for decades.
HN links it as a clear explainer of gene drive when mosquito genetic engineering comes up.
Pointed to as an interesting look inside how consumer DNA testing companies process samples.
Cited as an easy-to-digest look at the awe-inspiring animations of cellular machinery.
Pointed to as a clear statement of irreducible complexity, the limits of reductionism, and why simple neuron-level explanations fall short.
Commenters call it the best visualization of how the most common DNA sequencers work, though it predates newer chemistry.
Linked as a vivid visualization of ATP synthase as a rotary molecular machine, often in discussions of protein machines and cellular energy.
Shared as an example of simple rules yielding complex emergent, life-like behavior, alongside Game of Life and particle simulators.
HN links it when discussing mouse-study reliability and reproducibility.
HN commenters mostly cite it critically, as the kind of source behind cannabis-cures-cancer claims that overstate early lab results.
Referenced as a vivid illustration of explore-then-exploit optimization and decentralized network design.
HN uses it mainly as a source in COVID origin debates, quoting what Daszak says about manipulating coronaviruses in the lab.
HN cites it as an example of automated cloud labs and AI already running physical experiments.
HN points to it as an accessible presentation of Lane's ideas on life's origins and the rarity of complex life.
Cited as a vivid example of parasites controlling host behavior whenever zombie-fungus comparisons come up.
Linked as the go-to overview of the long-running bacteria experiment whenever real-time evolution or resistance comes up.
Which of these have you already seen?
Connect YouTube and HackerTube AI hides what you've watched and ranks the rest for you.