NileRed
The chemist behind one of YouTube's best-known science channels shows real experiments: glass versus hydrofluoric acid, gold titanium, aerogel up close.
What it is
NileRed is the TikTok of the chemist behind one of YouTube's best-known science channels (NileRed, plus its sister channel NileBlue). His profile sums up the mission as capturing the natural beauty of chemistry, and the short videos deliver exactly that: real substances doing things you would never be allowed to try in a school lab. He dissolves glass in hydrofluoric acid, turns ordinary sand into a flammable gas and uses electricity to colour titanium gold. Everything is narrated in English, but a lot of it works even with the sound off.
Why we picked it
There are no cheap stunts here. Each clip is a complete mini experiment: what he used, what he did, what happened and why. Many of them are condensed from his longer YouTube projects, so a one-minute video often turns into a gateway to a properly detailed one. The topics are also wonderfully unpredictable. Next to the scary acid you will find fizzy ice cream made with dry ice, the purest salt he has ever seen and a close-up look at the surface of aerogel.
One honest caveat: he doesn't post often. New videos arrive weeks, sometimes months, apart; after a clip in July, the next one landed at the end of September. The back catalogue is deep, though, and it is a pleasure to binge.
Where to start
- The aerogel video, his latest and one of the most mesmerising.
- Dissolving glass in hydrofluoric acid, a channel classic that shows why this chemical has such a fearsome reputation.
- Turning titanium gold with electricity, beautiful and easy to follow.
- Fizzy ice cream with dry ice, the closest thing to a kitchen experiment (with an adult around).
- If one grabs you, look up the full-length version on his YouTube channel.
Who it's for
Anyone who enjoys watching how matter behaves, students who find textbook chemistry dry, and parents looking for short videos with real science in them instead of an endless scroll of noise. It suits curious adults just as well; the explanations never talk down to you.
Quick answers
Is this real chemistry or editing tricks? Real lab experiments, with the author explaining what is happening on screen.
How often does he post? Irregularly, with gaps of several weeks or longer. The most recent video went up on 30 September 2026.
Do I need to know chemistry? No. The videos are built for a general audience, and the visuals carry most of the story.
