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SCIENCE

Why do London’s manholes keep exploding?

Tom Scott | March 7, 2026

Every month or so, somewhere in London, a manhole explodes. It’s so common that it doesn’t make the news unless it’s spectacular or someone gets injured. Here’s why, complete with gratuitous pyrotechnics. Filmed by Perspective Pictures Pyrotechnics by Paul at Darkstar Pyrotechnics News articles: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/11169183/Explosion-in-city-street.html https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/pavement-explodes-yards-from-pedestrians-and-cars-in-old-street-a3568676.html https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/819198/london-manhole-cover-explodes-old-street I’m at http://tomscott.com […]

SCIENCE

The Fishermen That Hold Their Breath For 10 Minutes

Tom Scott | January 29, 2026

Go subscribe to Medlife Crisis! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgRBRE1DUP2w7HTH9j_L4OQ or start with Rohin’s video on why you shouldn’t test for everything: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kQk9-KLPfU The Bajau people of Borneo can hold their breath longer than almost anyone else on the planet. How? Why? And how can the rest of us learn to hold our breath […]

SCIENCE

How Knot To Hang A Painting

Tom Scott | January 26, 2026

Subscribe to Up and Atom! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSIvk78tK2TiviLQn4fSHaw/ or start with Jade’s video on quantum tunnelling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPZLRtyvEqo You’ve got a painting and two nails. Can you use both nails to hang the painting so that if either nail is removed, the painting falls? That’s the puzzle: in this week’s guest video, Jade’s […]

SCIENCE

This Is Your Brain On Stale Air

Tom Scott | January 24, 2026

Subscribe to Kurtis Baute! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTRM8LE1g6UXrVZKwgw5oEA or start with his one-take video on the history of the universe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObngtuPFI8A Inside his homemade, hermetically-sealed, airtight biodome, Kurtis Baute is already out of breath and surrounded by more carbon dioxide than he should be. And that’s going to affect a lot of things […]

SCIENCE

The world’s first solar powered train

Tom Scott | November 22, 2025

The Byron Bay Railroad Company runs the world’s first 100% solar-powered train. It wouldn’t work everywhere – but in the bright sunshine of Australia, it might just be the right tool for the job. More about the railroad: https://byronbaytrain.com.au/ Edited by Michelle Martin (@mrsmmartin) I’m at http://tomscott.com on Twitter at […]

SCIENCE

These tunnels stop part of Tokyo flooding

Tom Scott | November 20, 2025

If you believe the hype, then the Metropolitan Area Underground Discharge Channel stops Tokyo flooding. It doesn’t. But it is one colossal part of a huge network of flood defences that protect a city that would otherwise be… well, very wet. MORE ABOUT THE DISCHARGE CHANNEL: The Discharge Channel’s site […]

SCIENCE

Five Things You Can’t Do On British Television

Tom Scott | August 3, 2025

Pull down this description for information on all the shows I mention, plus all my references, and some advice if you’re looking to subtitle your videos! šŸ”¤šŸ”¤ SUBTITLES šŸ”¤šŸ”¤ 15% of my viewers watch with subtitles! They’re helpful for folks without headphones, or in loud environments, or who can’t hear […]

SCIENCE

YouTubers have to declare ads. Why doesn’t anyone else?

Tom Scott | May 7, 2025

Around the world, there are regulations for “influencers”. Those regulations make sure that if someone is paid to endorse a product, they have to declare that payment to the people watching. But why does no-one on TV, or film, or anywhere else have to do that? šŸ‘„šŸ‘„ CREDITS šŸ‘„šŸ‘„ Written […]

SCIENCE

Every mistake I’ve made since 2014.

Tom Scott | February 1, 2025

Time to correct the record. ā–  AD: šŸ‘Øā€šŸ’» NordVPN’s Black Friday deal is on: https://nordvpn.com/tomscott – with a 30-day money-back guarantee. āœ… All corrections: https://www.tomscott.com/corrections/ | ā“ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: https://lateralcast.com/ https://youtube.com/lateralcast/ šŸŸ„ MORE FROM TOM: https://www.tomscott.com/ (you can find contact details and social links there too) šŸ“° WEEKLY […]

SCIENCE

A robot just swapped my electric car’s battery

Tom Scott | January 29, 2025

Nio is a Chinese auto maker that offers an alternative to charging: just swapping out the whole battery whenever you need it. I borrowed one of their cars. ā–  Nio: https://www.nio.com/ Camera: Dion Huiskes https://feedbuilders.nl/ Editor: Julian Domanski https://www.juliandomanski.com/ šŸŸ„ MORE FROM TOM: https://www.tomscott.com/ (you can find contact details and […]

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