Right now, some research stories are actually breaking through the usual scrolling. They don’t just show data, they show why it matters, who it touches, and how it might shake things up. From heart-on-your-sleeve personal journeys to clever, eye-catching ways of bringing numbers to life, these examples prove that smart storytelling can make research surprisingly relatable.
Here are nine videos we’re loving at the moment, and why they stood out to us.
Penn State University’s ‘What If Bees Dissapeared?
It’s visually stunning, brilliantly concise, and features Penn State’s Christina Grozinger sharing how the Center for Pollinator Research is protecting bees in Pennsylvania and beyond.
Bill Gates Foundation’s ‘Greater Things’
It takes research and makes it cinematic, funny, and fresh. With humour, diverse backdrops, and a film-like style, it shows that science and innovation can be as exciting as any story on the big screen.
Re:wild’s ‘What Is a Ranger?’
We loved how the collage elements were combined with illustration and colour to bring energy to such an important and urgent subject (also we are loving episodic content at the moment, so enjoyed this being a 5 parter!)
Museum of Modern Art’s ‘Visualising Data’
We loved how Giorgia Lupi blends filmed interviews, her own drawings, spreadsheets, and animation to tell such a human story. It turns data from numbers into something personal and meaningful.
Nature Video’s ‘How Would a Starfish Wear Trousers?’
This video has a fun hook that sparks curiosity about starfish anatomy. The animation uses a paper‑cutout style that makes the research tactile and easy for a visual learner to grasp.
BBC Ideas’ ‘Problem With Plastic’
Mayo Clinic’s ‘Beyond the Code’
I love this video because it’s beautifully shot and blends expert voices with Kataliya’s journey, making complex research feel deeply human. It turns the science of transplant medicine into something tangible and inspiring.
Big Think’s ‘How the Body Keeps the Score’
Loved the set design of the film backdrop on a stage combined with the b-roll to keep it dynamic and engaging.
Darthmouth Health’s ‘Cancer Research Studies’
We’ve done a lot of work with clients to showcase clinical trials, so we found this video explainer clinical trials using animation really interesting.
We’ve also included a second video from this channel that is a conversational ‘ask the expert’ style video which was really fun.
