Watchly Safety Review

NASA Pumpkin Carving Contest w/ LASERS!!!

3:30 · 5.1M views · October 31, 2014

Safe for Most KidsReviewed June 2026

2No Issues

This video is safe for all ages and is a genuine delight — NASA engineers at JPL show off their creativity and technical brilliance through a Halloween pumpkin carving contest using lasers and servo motors. It's a rare, fun glimpse behind the scenes at one of the world's most respected scientific institutions, with zero content concerns and a strong implicit message that science and creativity go hand in hand.

Content Breakdown · 2 Categories

Realistic Violence, Threats & WeaponsNot present

The only potentially flaggable element is the use of lasers and heat for pumpkin carving, which is presented in a controlled, professional engineering context with no threat or harm framing.

See evidence (1)

“Use of heat/lasers to carve pumpkins: 'Heat. Heat.'”

Playful & Fantasy ViolenceNot present

The competitive framing ('on your mark, get set, carve') and use of lasers/heat on pumpkins is entirely playful and consequence-free, not rising to the level of even stylized fantasy violence.

See evidence (1)

“'On your mark, get set, carve'”

What Parents Need to Know

This short video takes viewers inside NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for their annual Halloween pumpkin carving contest, where engineers use lasers, webcams, servo motors, and other tech to build impressively inventive pumpkin creations in just one hour. There is nothing objectionable here — no language, violence, or inappropriate content of any kind. The real value for kids is seeing real scientists and engineers having fun and applying their skills in a playful context, which can be genuinely inspiring. The host briefly mentions a private space company incident involving a supply mission to the ISS, framed respectfully and without sensationalism, which could actually spark great curiosity about space exploration.

Talk to Your Kids About

1What was your favorite pumpkin creation, and how do you think the engineers built it?
2The engineers used servo motors and webcams in their pumpkin — can you think of other everyday objects that use motors or cameras in clever ways?
3These scientists work on really hard problems in space exploration. Why do you think it's important for even very serious workers to take time to have fun and be creative?
4If you could build a pumpkin using any technology you wanted, what would you make it do?

NASA Pumpkin Carving Contest w/ LASERS!!!

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

The fine folks at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory demonstrate why they are the best ever by showcasing their mad pumpkin carving skills. 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 ME: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYou... FOLLOW ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/MarkRober Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All copyrighted materials contained herein belong to their respective copyright holders, I do not claim ownership over any of these materials. I realize no profit, monetary or otherwise, from the exhibition of these videos. CREDITS Carl Sagan Pale Blue Dot - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blu... NASA - http://www.youtube.com/user/NASAtelev... ***MUSIC*** Outro Music is "Bottles" by A Shell In The Pit. Download them here: http://ashellinthepit.bandcamp.com/track/minke-bottles Main song is "Too Happy to be cool" by Notebreak- https://soundcloud.com/notebreak/dubstep-too-happy-to-be-cool Intro song created by Qwiet. You should go sub his channel: http://youtube.com/qwietmusic Twitter: http://twitter.com/qwiet Facebook: http://facebook.com/qwiet

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

This video is appropriate for all ages, including children as young as 3. There is no inappropriate content whatsoever, and younger kids will enjoy the visual spectacle while older kids and teens can appreciate the engineering concepts on display.

Is there anything scary or violent in this Halloween video?

No — despite the Halloween theme, there is nothing scary, gory, or violent in this video. The pumpkins are creative and impressive rather than frightening, making it perfectly suitable even for young or sensitive children.

Are lasers shown in a dangerous way?

Lasers are referenced in the title and used as a carving tool, but the video does not dwell on or demonstrate unsafe laser use. It is presented in a professional, controlled engineering context with no risk of inspiring dangerous imitation.

Is this video educational?

Yes, it has strong educational value. Kids are exposed to real engineering concepts like servo motors, webcams, image processing, and creative problem-solving, all demonstrated by actual NASA JPL engineers in an accessible and entertaining way.

Does this video contain any advertising or sponsored content?

No, there is no advertising, sponsorship, or product promotion in this video. The host even proactively addresses the fact that the engineers paid for their own supplies, which models transparency and integrity.

Is this video appropriate to watch around Halloween with young kids?

Absolutely — it's one of the most family-friendly Halloween-themed videos available. It celebrates creativity and science rather than horror or fright, making it a great choice for kids of all ages during the Halloween season.