Admit it, whether you’re a high schooler or an adult, we’ve all been there: trawling through YouTube videos when really we should have been focusing on our work. 

Most of the time, the videos we watch are for entertainment. But hey, who said learning new things can’t be just as interesting? Here are several recommended YouTube channels to follow if you want to catch up on different kinds of information and skills.

TED-Ed

An extension of TED’s mission of spreading great ideas, TED-Ed’s animated videos will open your mind to an endless stream of lessons worth sharing. Covering questions from “how did clouds get their name” to “why is ketchup so hard to pour”, expect to discover new things with every 10-minute video you watch.

Subject: Everything

Crash Course

For many high-school students, new episodes uploaded onto this YouTube page provide salvation from slaving through pages and pages of textbooks. The Green brothers, together with some partners, team up to provide complete recap videos on high-school courses. These videos are generally great for an introduction to material or for revision, but only if you can follow their fast-paced speaking style and don’t get too caught up on the adorable graphics.

Subject: Everything

(Read also: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft to remove hate speech across Europe)

Thought Café

A variety of topics are explored in this melting pot of ideas. On top of showcasing animation from partner channels, Thought Café also presents original material, exploring issues like gun laws and what in the world is entomophangy.

Subject: A mix of things

DNews

Is being lonely necessary for survival? Did you know that astronauts once fixed the International Space Station with tape and a spatula? Can we create new humans with bacteria? At DNews, they’re asking the same things you are. 

Subject: Everything mind-blowing

vlogbrothers

Hank and John aren’t only about textbook recap videos. Equally popular is their not-so-personal channel, vlogbrothers, where the Green brothers talk about random everyday life questions as well as explaining current events and news. 

Subject: Everything

CGP Grey

Although their animation is not as vivid or fancy as other channels, CGP Grey presents videos that are just as insightful. One thing to note about this channel is that it is not as active in regularly uploading new material compared to others. Nevertheless, when they do, it’s worth checking out. (sab/kes)

Subject: A mix of things