Watchly Safety Review

World's Tallest Elephant Toothpaste Volcano

Mark Rober

16:20 · 58.4M views · September 4, 2021

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Minor FlagsReviewed June 2026

6Minor Flags

5No Issues

This video is safe and genuinely heartwarming for most kids aged 6 and up, combining impressive science experiments with an uplifting story about a child cancer survivor who selflessly gave his Make-A-Wish to another kid. The main caution is that some of the chemical reactions involve dangerous materials the creator explicitly warns viewers not to replicate, and there are brief moments of wealth display (private jet, MrBeast cameo) that lean into spectacle.

Content Breakdown · 11 Categories

Strong & Crude LanguageA little

No profanity or crude language appears in this elephant toothpaste video; the term 'devil's toothpaste' is a colloquial name for a chemical reaction, not crude language.

Bullying, Cruelty & DiscriminationNot present

No bullying or discrimination is present; the joking reference to 'child labor' is clearly playful and immediately undercut by the children 'protesting,' framing it as lighthearted humor rather than genuine cruelty.

See evidence (1)

“I even harnessed some child labor to prep the devil's toothpaste troughs. Although, it sort of backfired when they began to protest against their harsh working conditions.”

Parasocial & Emotional ManipulationNot present

Engagement Baiting & Manipulative CTAsNot present

Realistic Violence, Threats & WeaponsNot present

No realistic violence or weapons are present; a passing mention of a drone nearly being hit by a trash can rocket is framed as a lighthearted accident during a science demonstration.

See evidence (1)

“trash can rockets nearly taking out our drone pilot Nerc in the process”

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentA little

CrunchLabs and Orbeez are promoted, but both are transparently disclosed in the video description and appear to be openly acknowledged sponsorships/creator-owned products rather than hidden advertising.

See evidence (2)

“I started a company called CrunchLabs where we build a toy together”

“Shoutout to the one and only authentic Orbeez for providing the Orbeez”

Materialism & Wealth FlexingA little

No materialism or wealth-flexing is present; references to large-scale production (5-ton flask, 26 million Orbeez) are framed around the science spectacle and world record, not personal wealth display.

Dangerous Internet ChallengesA little

While the video involves large-scale chemical reactions, the creator explicitly states the 'devil's toothpaste' formula is withheld because it is 'super dangerous,' actively discouraging replication rather than promoting a dangerous challenge.

See evidence (1)

“I don't give out the formula because it's super dangerous, even if you are, for example wearing some very nice protective gloves”

Playful & Fantasy ViolenceNot present

Misinformation, Conspiracy & PseudoscienceA little

The video actually debunks misinformation by calling out other YouTube videos for 'faking the science and lying to people for YouTube views' and provides visual evidence of video manipulation, which is an educational use rather than promotion of misinformation.

See evidence (2)

“my hypothesis was that these guys were faking the science and lying to people for YouTube views”

“you're gonna have to explain how the balloon shadow somehow stops right here at the edge of the hole... and how the hole itself completely changes shape from this frame to this one once they've removed their layer mask”

Low-Quality, Extreme & Stunt ContentA little

The video involves large-scale spectacle (world's tallest elephant toothpaste volcano, 26 million Orbeez, exploding watermelons), but these are grounded in genuine science education and a Guinness World Record attempt rather than pure shock-value stunt content.

See evidence (2)

“liquid nitrogen powered exploding watermelons and trash can rockets”

“5 ton flask”

What Parents Need to Know

This video centers on Mark Rober building a world-record elephant toothpaste volcano as part of a surprise party for Brody, a young cancer survivor who used his Make-A-Wish to buy an ATV for another sick child whose ATV was stolen. The story is genuinely moving and models extraordinary generosity and kindness. On the science side, the video does a good job explaining the chemistry behind elephant toothpaste and even debunks fake viral videos, which is a strong critical-thinking lesson. Parents should be aware that highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide are used, and while the creator withholds the 'devil's toothpaste' formula specifically because it's dangerous, curious kids may be inspired to try experiments at home — this is a good opportunity to discuss lab safety. There is mild wealth display (private jet, MrBeast appearance, ATV gift) that some parents may want to contextualize. Overall, the video is educational, emotionally positive, and well-produced.

Talk to Your Kids About

1What did Brody do with his Make-A-Wish, and why do you think he made that choice? What would you have done?
2The video shows how the creator debunked fake science videos online. How can you tell when a science video is real versus faked?
3Why do you think Mark Rober said it's important not to try the 'devil's toothpaste' formula at home? What makes some science experiments too dangerous to copy?
4The whole town of Gridley came together to help build the party. Why do you think so many people wanted to help someone they didn't even know?

World's Tallest Elephant Toothpaste Volcano

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

When life gives you lemons... build a 5 ton flask and blast them to space. Thanks to the good people of Gridley, CA and everyone else who helped out here. Science Bob has a new page about making Elephant's Toothpaste on your own- https://sciencebob.com/fantastic-foamy-fountain/ Shoutout to the one and only authentic Orbeez for providing the Orbeez. I started a company called CrunchLabs where we build a toy together and then I teach you all the juicy physics for how it works. So if you want to learn to think like an engineer and have really fun time doing it, check out the current promotion where you get 2 FREE boxes at https://crunchlabs.com You should also go subscribe to the CrunchLabs YouTube channel cause we’ve got some bangers in the pipeline- https://www.youtube.com/crunchlabs Thanks to these folks for providing some of the music in the video: Ponder - https://youtube.com/@Pondermusic Laura Shigihara - @supershigi Andrew Applepie - https://soundcloud.com/andrewapplepie Blue Wednesday - https://soundcloud.com/bluewednesday

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this video appropriate for?

This video is appropriate for kids aged 6 and up. The content is positive and educational, though younger children may need help understanding the science concepts and the emotional backstory about childhood cancer.

Is there anything dangerous that kids might try to copy from this video?

The creator uses highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide and a 'devil's toothpaste' formula that he explicitly refuses to share because it is dangerous. He also shows protective gear being used. Parents should use this as a conversation starter about why some experiments require professional supervision and should never be attempted at home.

Is this video educational?

Yes, the video explains the chemistry of elephant toothpaste (hydrogen peroxide, soap, and a potassium iodide catalyst) in an accessible way. It also includes a segment where the creator and Science Bob use the scientific method to debunk fake viral science videos, which is a great critical-thinking lesson for kids.

Does the video contain any inappropriate language or content?

No, the video is free of profanity, violence, or inappropriate content. The tone is enthusiastic and family-friendly throughout, making it suitable for a wide range of ages.

Is MrBeast in this video, and is that a concern?

MrBeast makes a brief cameo via video call to help deliver a surprise ATV to Brody. His appearance is positive and not promotional in nature, though parents who have concerns about parasocial celebrity influence may want to note it.

Does the video promote dangerous challenges or stunts kids might imitate?

The large-scale experiments are clearly presented as professional productions requiring tons of steel, concrete, and engineering expertise, which makes imitation implausible. However, the elephant toothpaste reaction using hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide is a real and popular science experiment — parents should ensure any home version uses only the low-concentration, kid-safe version found in school science kits.