Simulating The Strange Way Life (Likely) Started

Veritasium dives into the wild journey from goo to genome, kicking off with a cheeky look at why poop smells bad before unpacking how the first self-replicating molecules might’ve come together. You’ll get a whirlwind tour of gene mutation, building evolution simulations, natural selection in action, and the quirky concepts of kin selection and the “selfish gene.”

By the end, you’ll see that evolution itself is basically the ultimate simulation—no console required. Along the way, Derek Muller teams up with experts like Jack Szostak and John Sutherland (plus a cast of animators and researchers) to bring this mind-bending story of life’s origins to your screen.

Watch on YouTube