TL;DR

Veritasium’s video “If you don’t understand this, you don’t understand evolution” kicks off with the quirky question of why poop smells bad before zooming out to life’s origins, gene mutations and how we can simulate evolution in a nutshell. From natural selection and inheritance to kin selection and Richard Dawkins’ Selfish Gene, Derek Muller breaks down each concept with clear animations and real-world examples.

Along the way, heavyweights like Jack Szostak, John Sutherland, Joanna Masel and Gerald Joyce chime in, plus a cameo from Joe Hanson, making this a fun, expert-backed ride through the major milestones that shaped every living thing—including us.

Watch on YouTube