If you don’t understand this, you don’t understand evolution

Veritasium’s latest video takes you on a whirlwind tour of evolution’s core mechanics—starting from why our poop smells bad to the very chemistry that sparked life. You’ll get a crash course in gene mutations, digital evolution simulations, and a clear breakdown of natural selection.

Along the way, Derek Muller brings in big ideas like inheritance, kin selection and Richard Dawkins’ “selfish gene” concept, all backed by insights from top researchers. It’s a fun, fast-paced demo of how evolution really works—right from molecular beginnings to the simulations that let us watch natural selection in action.

Watch on YouTube