Have you ever wondered if Veritasium is a real element on the periodic table? Well, it’s not! Veritasium is a concept created by Derek Muller, the mind behind the popular YouTube channel. This idea stems from his personal journey and experiences, which have shaped his approach to learning and discovery.
When Derek was about 10 or 11 years old, he visited a Genghis Khan exhibit at a museum. He expected to see something extraordinary, like Genghis Khan’s mummified body or his legendary armor. Instead, he found fragments of pottery and old shoes, which left him feeling disappointed. This experience taught him that history isn’t always as glamorous as we imagine.
Derek grew up in Vancouver, Canada, although his family originally came from South Africa. He was born in Australia while his dad was working there, but they moved back to Canada later on. Derek excelled in school, graduating at the top of his class and earning a full scholarship to study engineering at Queen’s University. However, his true passion was filmmaking, which seemed less accessible than engineering at the time.
Despite his scholarship, Derek chose to study engineering physics because it felt like a safer option. He often felt restricted by the rigid structure of his engineering courses, but he also took film production classes whenever he could. His final project was a deeply personal film about a math genius who dreams of becoming an artist.
After completing his engineering degree, Derek moved to Australia to attend film school. He realized he needed more practical experience, so he got involved in a play and started tutoring physics. Eventually, he enrolled in a PhD program in physics, hoping to combine his love for physics and film. However, he struggled to find fulfillment in this path.
After earning his PhD, Derek applied to film school but faced multiple rejections. Frustrated but determined, he took a job as the head of science at a tutoring company. Although he enjoyed the role, his passion for filmmaking continued to grow. At 28, he decided to start a YouTube channel, despite his friends’ confusion.
This decision marked a major change in Derek’s life. He wanted to pursue what felt true and meaningful, rather than just following a safe path. His early YouTube videos weren’t perfect—his presentation was stiff, and he struggled with pacing. But he kept going, and over time, his channel began to gain popularity.
Eventually, Derek started earning enough from YouTube to make it his main source of income. This journey led to amazing experiences, like moving to Los Angeles, falling in love, and starting a family. He credits much of his success to the support of his viewers, whose engagement has made Veritasium possible.
While Derek’s story might seem like a classic tale of following your dreams, he is aware of survivor bias. Many people try similar paths but don’t achieve the same level of success. The key takeaway is that those who succeed are often the ones who dared to try, despite the odds.
Now, as a parent, Derek finds it challenging to balance his time between creating videos and spending time with his children. This shift has made him rethink the types of content he wants to produce. The essence of Veritasium remains focused on pursuing meaningful goals, but he knows this is an ongoing process.
As Derek continues to grow both personally and professionally, he invites his audience to share their ideas for future content. He thanks his supporters for being part of his journey with Veritasium and looks forward to what the future holds.
Research the periodic table to understand why Veritasium is not a real element. Identify five real elements and write a short paragraph about each, including their properties and uses. Share your findings with the class.
Reflect on your own life journey so far. Create a timeline highlighting key events and decisions that have shaped who you are today. Include at least five significant moments and explain how they influenced your path.
Combine your interests in science and art by creating a short video that explains a physics concept in an engaging way. Use creative storytelling techniques to make the topic accessible and interesting to your peers.
Participate in a class debate on the topic: “Is it better to choose a safe career or to follow your passion?” Prepare arguments for both sides and engage in a respectful discussion, considering the pros and cons of each path.
Imagine you are starting your own YouTube channel. Decide on a theme or topic that you are passionate about. Plan your first three video ideas, including titles and brief descriptions. Present your channel concept to the class.
Veritasium – A popular science YouTube channel that explores scientific concepts and experiments. – Veritasium often presents complex physics topics in a way that is engaging and easy to understand for students.
Physics – The branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy. – In physics class, we learned how Newton’s laws of motion explain the movement of objects.
Engineering – The application of scientific and mathematical principles to design and build structures, machines, and systems. – Engineering requires a strong understanding of physics to ensure that bridges and buildings are safe and functional.
Film – A medium used to capture and present visual stories, often used in educational contexts to illustrate scientific concepts. – The film about the life of Albert Einstein helped us understand the impact of his theories on modern physics.
Learning – The process of acquiring knowledge or skills through study, experience, or teaching. – Learning about the laws of thermodynamics helped us understand how energy is transferred in different systems.
Discovery – The act of finding or learning something for the first time. – The discovery of the Higgs boson was a significant milestone in the field of particle physics.
Choices – Decisions made between two or more possibilities, often involving critical thinking. – In physics experiments, making careful choices about variables can lead to more accurate results.
Success – The achievement of a goal or the attainment of a desired outcome. – Success in solving complex physics problems often requires persistence and a deep understanding of the concepts.
Challenges – Difficult tasks or problems that require effort and skill to overcome. – One of the challenges in physics is understanding how quantum mechanics differs from classical mechanics.
Creativity – The use of imagination or original ideas to solve problems or create something new. – Creativity in engineering can lead to innovative solutions for reducing energy consumption in buildings.
