Watchly Safety Review

How to save 51 billion lives for 68 cents with simple Engineering

8:11 · 17.3M views · February 15, 2017

Minor FlagsReviewed June 2026

1Minor Flag

This video is safe and genuinely enriching for curious kids, offering a fascinating look at how low-cost engineering can save millions of lives from malaria. It stands out for its real scientific demonstrations — including live microscopy of a water flea and a blood centrifuge spin — paired with an inspiring message about using creativity to help the world's poorest communities. There are no content concerns whatsoever; this is exactly the kind of educational content parents hope their children will discover.

Content Breakdown · 1 Category

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentA little

The video description openly discloses a collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and provides transparent links to purchase the Foldscope; this is clearly disclosed rather than hidden promotion.

See evidence (2)

“Description states: 'Great times collab-ing with Bill and Melinda Gates!'”

“Description includes a direct link to pre-order the paper microscope at foldscope.com”

What Parents Need to Know

This Mark Rober-style science video profiles Stanford physicist Manu Prakash and his lab's 'frugal science' inventions: a 50-cent origami paper microscope and an 18-cent paper centrifuge inspired by a whirligig toy. Kids will learn real biology (red blood cells, malaria, centrifugal force) and real engineering problem-solving in an accessible, exciting way. The video briefly shows a finger-prick blood draw and discusses malaria deaths — including the striking statistic that over half of all humans who ever lived may have died from it — which could prompt questions from younger children. There is nothing inappropriate here; the content is thoughtful, globally minded, and models the kind of scientific curiosity and humanitarian motivation parents love to encourage.

Talk to Your Kids About

1Why do you think it matters that these inventions cost less than a dollar? Who gets to use them that couldn't before?
2Manu and Saad found inspiration for their centrifuge in a simple toy. Can you think of any toys or everyday objects that work in a clever or surprising way?
3The video says more than half of all people who ever lived may have died from malaria. How does that make you feel, and why do you think it's still a problem today?
4What would you want to invent if you could use engineering to help people who don't have a lot of money or resources?

How to save 51 billion lives for 68 cents with simple Engineering

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

Using the power of engineering and brilliant inventions to save lives!!! Great times collab-ing with Bill and Melinda Gates! Pre-order a paper microscope here- https://www.foldscope.com/order Read the published paper on the paper centrifuge, its cool- http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/08/30/072207 MUSIC- 0:15- The Ocean- Andrew Applepie- http://andrewapplepie.com/ 2:18- Sweet Tomorrow- Andrew Applepie- http://andrewapplepie.com/ 4:21- Berlin- Andrew Applepie- http://andrewapplepie.com/ 7:54- Special song written just for me- Lincoln Hoppe, http://lincolnhoppe.com/ Summary: I met with Manu Prakash from Stanford to talk about 2 of his labs' inventions the Foldscope and the Paperfuge. Combined these cost only 68 cents and they can be used to diagnose Malaria. Both of these are examples not only of simple, brilliant design, but of how engineering is used to make a positive dent in the world. PLEASE CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-Sub **************************************** I make videos like this once a month all year long while supplies last: CHECK OUT MY CHANNEL: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-YouTube FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTube TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/MarkRober INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/markrober/

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

We recommend this video for children aged 8 and up. Younger children may find the malaria statistics and blood-draw moment confusing or mildly unsettling, but from around age 8 most kids can engage meaningfully with the science and the humanitarian message.

Is there anything scary or disturbing in this video?

There is a brief moment where the host has his finger pricked to draw blood for the centrifuge demonstration, and the video mentions that over half of all humans who ever lived may have died from malaria. Neither is graphic or frightening, but sensitive younger children might have questions about illness and death.

Is this video educational?

Yes, it is highly educational. It covers real biology concepts like red blood cells, density, and centrifugal force, as well as engineering design thinking and global health challenges — all presented in an engaging, hands-on way.

Does this video contain any advertising or sponsored content?

The video scored very low (0.10) on hidden advertising, and no sponsored segments were identified in the transcript. It is produced in a documentary style focused entirely on the science and the inventors.

Is this video appropriate for a classroom setting?

Absolutely — this video is an excellent classroom resource for science, engineering, or global studies lessons. It models scientific curiosity, creative problem-solving, and empathy for underserved communities in a way that is accessible and inspiring for school-age children.

What positive values does this video model for kids?

The video strongly models intellectual curiosity, humanitarian empathy, and the idea that simple, creative thinking can solve enormous global problems. The scientists featured are warm, humble, and genuinely excited about discovery, making them excellent role models for young viewers.