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Medicine & infectious disease: videos Hacker News recommends
Medicine: diseases, vaccines, pandemics, COVID-19, epidemiology, public health, WHO, cancer, surgery, medical technology, drug development, aging research, healthcare quality. Below: every video in this topic that at least three HN users linked with real commentary, in at least three different months (29 explainers, 22 talks, 16 lectures), best-scored first, with the comments on each video page.
- 13 HN recommenders 12 months 2010–2024The most-linked YouTube video on HN, recommended as an in-depth explanation of fructose metabolism.
- 12 HN recommenders 11 months 2018–2025HN commenters repeatedly recommend it in longevity and aging threads as a concise, fun case for fighting aging.
- 8 HN recommenders 9 months 2016–2022Frequently recommended in threads on nutrition, cancer and veganism as a science-focused case for plant-based diets, with at least one commenter saying it made them go vegan.
- 11 HN recommenders 9 months 2015–2024HN commenters point to it as a clear, short explanation of one-directional disease spread and the core argument of Guns, Germs, and Steel.
- 6 HN recommenders 8 months 2022–2024HN cites it as an accessible physician-led review supporting claims about infrared light, mitochondria and morning sun.
- 7 HN recommenders 8 months 2017–2022HN commenters repeatedly recommend it as a free, evidence-citing overview of fasting that counters worries about muscle loss and safety.
- 7 HN recommenders 7 months 2011–2022HN commenters point to it as a moving personal story that motivated dietary changes, though it is also cited as anecdotal evidence.
- 6 HN recommenders 6 months 2011–2022Recommended in diet and weight-loss threads as the accessible case for the carbohydrate-insulin view of obesity.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2021–2025T The Galen Foundation · lectureSeveral HN commenters call it one of the best explanations of fasting and insulin and recommend it in diet and weight loss threads.
- 7 HN recommenders 7 months 2020–2026Pointed to in threads about cancer screening, PSA tests, full-body MRIs and consumer diagnostics as an explanation of why more testing can hurt.
- 5 HN recommenders 6 months 2019–2025B Beckman Institute at Illinois · lectureHN commenters recommend it as an entertaining and informative explanation of how stress affects health.
- 4 HN recommenders 6 months 2015–2022Commenters recommend it as a clear explanation of carbs, insulin and hunger, and several say it led them to try low-carb eating.
- 8 HN recommenders 5 months 2020–2023HN pointed to it during 2020 as a digestible, well-made illustration of epidemic dynamics and interventions.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2016–2026H Harvard Medical School · demoHN links it as a visually striking demonstration of evolution and antibiotic resistance happening in days.
- 7 HN recommenders 5 months 2020–2021B Bret Weinstein · podcast episodeHN commenters shared it in 2020 and 2021 as an early, in-depth presentation of the lab-leak case, though it is a contested viewpoint.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2016–2024HN points to it as an informative, fact-heavy overview of the opioid crisis and Purdue Pharma.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2013–2018U UltraMiraculous · commentaryHN commenters share it in vaccine threads as a quick, entertaining explanation of vaccination in layman's terms.
- 3 HN recommenders 5 months 2016–2026HN cites it whenever people question whether more exercise is always better, especially extreme endurance running.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2014–2024Recommended as a follow-up to Lustig's original sugar talk for the metabolic details of fructose.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2009–2018D David Kuckhermann · tutorialFrequently recommended in RSI and wrist pain threads by people who say the stretches relieved their own symptoms.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2016–2023R ringinginearsv · tutorialTinnitus sufferers share it as a free trick that briefly stops the ringing, though not as a cure.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2017–2022HN commenters share it as the talk that introduced them to the Sinclair Method as an alternative approach to alcohol dependence.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2017–2023HN commenters recommend it as a research-heavy introduction to how food type and hormones affect fat storage.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2014–2025H Healthcare Triage · explainerCommenters link it as a concise evidence-based rebuttal to common beliefs about milk's health benefits.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2012–2022M Michigan Medicine · tutorialHN people link it during wildfire smoke and air quality threads as a practical, cheap fix, though a few doubt how rigorously its effectiveness was shown.
- 5 HN recommenders 3 months 2013–2016A Andrew Johnson · demoHN recommends it as a dramatic, moving demonstration of what deep brain stimulation can do for tremors.
- 1 HN recommenders 4 months 2020–2023HN people recommend it for its interesting, if contested, theory of cancer's root cause, noting the content matters more than the delivery.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2025Recommended to people with chronic pain, fatigue or RSI as a rigorous but balanced case that pain does not always mean injury.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2025G GREENPOWERSCIENCE · demoHN commenters point people to it as a cheap, simple, effective way to kill mosquitoes, and some report trying it successfully.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2019–2022HN points people to it as a nuanced, medically informed take whenever Wim Hof breathing or cold plunges come up.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2023HN recommends it as an accessible introduction to longevity research that changed some commenters' views.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2026HN commenters link it whenever phage therapy or antibiotic resistance comes up, as an accessible overview.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2020–2021HN commenters recommend it as a methodical debunking of early lab-leak claims.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2025–2026C Curt Jaimungal · interviewHN recommends it as a fascinating, mind-expanding interview on bioelectricity and non-reductionist biology.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2017–2019HN commenters recommend it as a deeper, more legitimate interview on fasting mechanics than typical diet content.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2025A AncestryFoundation · talkHN commenters credit it as a life-changing talk, with some reporting reduced prescriptions after following the method.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2024Commenters cite it, with Oliver's other two opioid segments, as a well-researched case against pharma marketing and the Purdue settlements.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2021N Ninja Nerd · lectureHN recommended it in late 2020 as a detailed, science-based explanation of how the different vaccines work and how they were tested.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2023HN commenters point to it in nutrition threads as the strongest case against seed oils, though it is a contested claim.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2025HN commenters call it the definitive, thorough answer to whether vaccines cause autism and recommend it as an entertaining deep dive.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2013–2026S stormmovie · comedy videoQuoted often for its line on alternative medicine that works being called medicine, and recommended as a full-length listen.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2024HN recommends Barkley as the best resource on ADHD, with clear explanations of what prescription ADHD drugs do.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2024–2026P Peter Attia MD · podcast episodeHN commenters point to it as a detailed primer on why US healthcare is expensive and where the money goes.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2025–2026Recommended as a good, accessible explanation of PFAS, its low safe limits and why regulation matters.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2014–2025J Jason Fung · lectureHN commenters recommend it as a compelling alternative explanation of obesity from a prominent proponent.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2026Pointed to as a striking example of DIY biology and self-experimentation with gene therapy.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2020I Ivor Cummins · explainerHN commenters point to it in vitamin D threads as a thorough walkthrough of why deficiency may matter.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2022HN recommends it as a science-backed overview of sulforaphane's health effects, particularly for cancer.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2020C CrossFit · talkHN people point to Fung as the best resource for understanding fasting and weight loss.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2024HN commenters suggest it as a simple, well-made introduction to how immune responses work when discussing infection, T cells or chronic illness.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2023–2024HN recommends it as a clear, accessible introduction to cancer and the immune system.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2015–2021HN suggests it as a simple, layman-friendly explanation of the immune system, especially during COVID vaccine discussions.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2012–2016HN commenters point to it in threads about medical device security and software transparency as an excellent, personal case for open source in implants.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2021HN recommends it as an accessible, funny explanation of why vaccines matter.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2014–2016J Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory · news clipHN cites it as an astonishing glimpse of advanced thought-controlled prosthetics.
- Matter to Mind:Bioelectricity, Body Intelligence, Future of Regenerative Medicine- Dr. Michael Levin2 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2024H Harvard Extension Student Psychological Club · talkRecommended as an approachable look at Levin's work on regrowth and collective cellular intelligence, and used as an example of intelligence beyond brains.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2015–2019M Mizzou Visual Productions · lectureHN points to it in discussions of antidepressant efficacy, the serotonin model and the power of placebos.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2024HN users call it a mind-blowing and good explainer on how the immune system works, and cite it in vaccine and disease threads.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2024HN recommends it for DeRisi's fascinating stories about rare pathogens such as brain-eating amoebas.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2023Offered as a clear, well-made look at a real, working drone-delivery system, often in answer to skepticism about delivery drones.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2024–2026HN mentions it mostly as a source for the argument that sugar is toxic, though some commenters push back on claims like fructose being addictive.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2024C Chris Notap · demoHN commenters send it to people who think vaping is as harmful as smoking, for its graphic comparison.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2021During COVID-19 HN commenters cited it as a prescient pandemic warning.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2024HN people link it as a short, funny and accurate explanation of why over-testing and over-screening can do harm.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2021Shared as the author's own hour-long overview of his aging research, though some commenters doubt that the book's claims hold up.
- 1 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2022N NutritionFacts.org · lectureHN commenters share it as a helpful lecture on plant-based weight loss and which foods to experiment with.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2022HN recommends it as an even-handed physicist's take for 5G skeptics, noting it is probably safe but under-studied.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2021Cited in COVID-era threads as a physician's evidence-based argument that vitamin D is cheap, low-risk and worth considering.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2023HN recommends it as a good, short explanation of athlete's heart and the risks of extreme fitness.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2022–2023HN commenters point to it in threads on fasting, cancer and Alzheimer's as a clinician's overview of metabolic therapy.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2020In early 2020 HN commenters linked it as a clear explanation of how the virus kills through lung failure and why ventilator choices matter, notably in ventilator design threads.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2013–2014Pointed to as a quick, readable summary of the data behind US healthcare costs.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2022HN commenters recommend it for Friedman's argument that regulation and lobbying produce a less efficient, centrally planned healthcare system.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2022–2026HN commenters point to Nick Lane as an excellent science communicator whose talks on mitochondria and the chemistry of life are worth watching.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2022HN cites it in threads on sugar, nutrition science and industry influence over health research.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2024HN cites it as a fascinating look at ultrasound-based brain treatments.
- 10 HN recommenders 1 months 2020During the early COVID-19 period, HN commenters linked it as the clearest quick explanation of what exponential growth means for an epidemic.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2026C Chubbyemu · explainerCited as the best accessible account of dimethylmercury poisoning, and as an example of the channel's grim medical case studies.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2015–2017HN uses it as a reference in threads about pharma payments, medical corruption, and declining trust in healthcare.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2024HN links it as an entertaining, in-depth rebuttal to 5G health fears from an electrical engineer.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2022N Naomi Wu · videoHN cites it as a concrete example of a maker helping save someone's life, and as evidence of Wu's work when she was omitted from press coverage.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2011–2023P practiCal fMRI · demoLinked in threads on magnets and implants as a vivid demonstration of how violent MRI magnet forces are.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2014–2022Linked in discussions of diet, aging and cancer as a quick summary of how IGF-1 and mTOR growth signaling cut against longevity.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2017–2025Pointed to in healthcare cost threads as an entertaining primer on how the US system inflates prices.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2024–2026Mentioned occasionally as an episode on environmental toxins in food and water, though one commenter lumps it in with unregulated quackery.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2013–2021A Adam Ryman · demoHN shares it as striking classic footage of the immune system at work, sometimes as an analogy for attack and pursuit.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2021Mentioned as an interesting talk when threads touch on cancer, diet and fasting research.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2023H Healthcare Triage · explainerHN shares it as an evidence-based summary of exercise benefits supported by good research.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2017–2022HN cites it as the go-to example of how impossible it is to get prices in advance for US medical care.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2024HN cites it in threads about donated bodies and organ transplant failures as a critical look at opaque systems.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2016–2025HN links it as a clear explainer of gene drive when mosquito genetic engineering comes up.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2024HN mentions it as a reference for Openwater's approach of light-based deep tissue imaging.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2025E Essential Craftsman · commentaryHN people mention it as where they first heard of mouth taping and DIY CPAP-style fixes for sleep apnea.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2022HN commenters recommend it as a Lustig lecture on sugar and metabolic disease, and as a source for claims about metabolic causes of weight gain.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2021C ColdFusion · documentaryUsed as background viewing in threads on Purdue's bankruptcy and opioid settlements.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2017–2024R Ride with Larry · documentaryShared as a vivid visual example of cannabis visibly reducing Parkinson's tremor.
- cited 3× 0 months 2018–2019L Lincoln Horsley · interviewHN commenters mostly cite it critically, as the kind of source behind cannabis-cures-cancer claims that overstate early lab results.
- cited 7× 0 months 2017–2026C Creative Destruction Lab · commentaryHN uses it as a famous example of an overconfident AI prediction that turned out wrong, since radiologists remain in demand.
- cited 4× 0 months 2022D Dental Wings · demoPosted by an employee as a showcase of a polished desktop application, with a JavaFX UI, built by a small team.
- cited 3× 0 months 2021–2022HN commenters bring it up as proof that laser mosquito defense is technically feasible, in threads about DIY pest-zapping projects.
Showing the 100 best-scored of 109. Use search to find the rest.
Questions
What is the most recommended medicine & infectious disease video on Hacker News?
Sugar: THE BITTER TRUTH by University of California Television (UCTV): The most-linked YouTube video on HN, recommended as an in-depth explanation of fructose metabolism.
How is this medicine & infectious disease list ranked?
By HackerTube's score: the number of distinct months in which an HN comment recommended the video, plus half a point for every month with a strong recommendation. One viral thread counts less than steady recommendations over years.
Where do the videos come from?
From every Hacker News comment between 2007 and 2026 that linked a YouTube video, labeled by an AI model as a recommendation, a citation, a joke or a criticism. The list is published by HackerTube under ODC-By 1.0; this edition adds indexable pages and the comment context.
Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.