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Destin has a knack for taking relatively mundane topics and making them interesting. I’ve had low expectations going into his videos on coast guard search patte

Destin has a knack for taking relatively mundane topics and making them interesting. I’ve had low expectations going into his videos on coast guard search patterns, center-pivot irrigators, and a film factory tour, but ended up enjoying them because of his emphasis on the little optimizations that are inherent in all human endeavors, and the people who carry them out. It’s like Dirty Jobs (which I also liked) but for engineers. In this case I groaned a bit when I saw the title (“another Rupert’s Drop video?”), but it was fascinating to watch that team working together, and learn a bit about the process of glass blowing. I found the result a little underwhelming to be honest - at least in its attempt to capture the violence of a Rupert’s Drop exploding - though it was still a cool piece of glass. But the journey to get there kept me captivated the whole way through.

karlshea 4y ago
The Kodak factory series is especially fantastic.
- raverbashing 4y ago
  True, very underrated But in general I think Destin's latest videos have been a bit "trying too hard" and everything is "genius" etc It's all "Prince Rupert's drop" or "Non-newtonian fluid" (and Oobleck is the only one they know about) or "Air cannon" or "shooting slow motion". It's the same topics going in a circle. (But do watch the coast guard videos if you want to know how to whistle)
  - pdpi 4y ago
    They always use shear-thickening fluids because they're so counterintuitive, but shear-thinning fluids are a fun example of a mixed blessing — the same property that keeps paint from dripping off a brush/roller until you apply it is also what makes it so hard to pour the right amount of ketchup.
    - raverbashing 4y ago
      Yeah, true. The ketchup one I don't think it's "on purpose" (hence why it's annoying)
      - shagie 4y ago
        There was a chemistry professor trying to get an idea of some testing of this property and set up an experiment for dropping a weight through ketchup and timing it followed by another one shortly after. The second one will fall through the ketchup faster. How do you measure this? How much ketchup do you need? The initial approach was a large cylinder holding the ketchup with the bottom clear - and then a mirror set up under that. It also was initially done with a human with a stop watch and they needed enough ketchup so that the difference would be noticeable and within the error of human reactions. It takes a lot of ketchup to fill up a 2 meter by 20 cm cylinder. Can't make it too narrow because the edges change it. The grad students bought all the ketchup at the local big grocery store and raised a few eyebrows at the checkout. After proving that it worked they were able to make a clear polymer fluid that had the same properties (though was more expensive than ketchup) so that they were able to see it from the side and provide better timings... and not have to worry about spoilage... still, the grad students with 16 gallons of ketchup was something to remember. They did a bratwurst cookout with the unused leftovers.
shagie 4y ago
In the "yet another PRD video" ... though one of the earlier ones... The Mythbusters did a pair of videos for Corning eight years ago (and yes, they have the feel of infomercials - it isn't subtle at all... they're still neat): The Glass Age, Part 1: Flexible, Bendable Glass - https://youtu.be/12OSBJwogFc https://youtu.be/12OSBJwogFc The Glass Age, Part 2: Strong, Durable Glass - https://youtu.be/13B5K_lAabw https://youtu.be/13B5K_lAabw
yarg 4y ago
His hypoxia video was terrifying. https://youtu.be/kUfF2MTnqAw?t=180 https://youtu.be/kUfF2MTnqAw?t=180
Abishek_Muthian 4y ago
I think his biggest skill is 'asking the right questions', I don't think any other YT science channel does it like he does. His recent Kodak & Submarine videos showcased it very well. He kindles the enthusiasm of people he's interacting with and lets them bring their best. Veritasium videos are good, Likely very high budget, But he prefers to build a narrative around himself - explaining things and his questions to subject matter experts are not as interesting as Destin.

karlshea 4y ago

The Kodak factory series is especially fantastic.

raverbashing 4y ago
True, very underrated But in general I think Destin's latest videos have been a bit "trying too hard" and everything is "genius" etc It's all "Prince Rupert's drop" or "Non-newtonian fluid" (and Oobleck is the only one they know about) or "Air cannon" or "shooting slow motion". It's the same topics going in a circle. (But do watch the coast guard videos if you want to know how to whistle)
- pdpi 4y ago
  They always use shear-thickening fluids because they're so counterintuitive, but shear-thinning fluids are a fun example of a mixed blessing — the same property that keeps paint from dripping off a brush/roller until you apply it is also what makes it so hard to pour the right amount of ketchup.
  - raverbashing 4y ago
    Yeah, true. The ketchup one I don't think it's "on purpose" (hence why it's annoying)
    - shagie 4y ago
      There was a chemistry professor trying to get an idea of some testing of this property and set up an experiment for dropping a weight through ketchup and timing it followed by another one shortly after. The second one will fall through the ketchup faster. How do you measure this? How much ketchup do you need? The initial approach was a large cylinder holding the ketchup with the bottom clear - and then a mirror set up under that. It also was initially done with a human with a stop watch and they needed enough ketchup so that the difference would be noticeable and within the error of human reactions. It takes a lot of ketchup to fill up a 2 meter by 20 cm cylinder. Can't make it too narrow because the edges change it. The grad students bought all the ketchup at the local big grocery store and raised a few eyebrows at the checkout. After proving that it worked they were able to make a clear polymer fluid that had the same properties (though was more expensive than ketchup) so that they were able to see it from the side and provide better timings... and not have to worry about spoilage... still, the grad students with 16 gallons of ketchup was something to remember. They did a bratwurst cookout with the unused leftovers.

shagie 4y ago

In the "yet another PRD video" ... though one of the earlier ones... The Mythbusters did a pair of videos for Corning eight years ago (and yes, they have the feel of infomercials - it isn't subtle at all... they're still neat): The Glass Age, Part 1: Flexible, Bendable Glass - https://youtu.be/12OSBJwogFc https://youtu.be/12OSBJwogFc The Glass Age, Part 2: Strong, Durable Glass - https://youtu.be/13B5K_lAabw https://youtu.be/13B5K_lAabw

yarg 4y ago

His hypoxia video was terrifying. https://youtu.be/kUfF2MTnqAw?t=180 https://youtu.be/kUfF2MTnqAw?t=180

Abishek_Muthian 4y ago

I think his biggest skill is 'asking the right questions', I don't think any other YT science channel does it like he does. His recent Kodak & Submarine videos showcased it very well. He kindles the enthusiasm of people he's interacting with and lets them bring their best. Veritasium videos are good, Likely very high budget, But he prefers to build a narrative around himself - explaining things and his questions to subject matter experts are not as interesting as Destin.