{"id":2359,"date":"2025-07-23T09:15:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T09:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/?p=2359"},"modified":"2025-07-24T10:54:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T10:54:10","slug":"mark-rober-the-brilliant-engineer-who-made-science-irresistibly-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/mark-rober-the-brilliant-engineer-who-made-science-irresistibly-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Rober: The Brilliant Engineer Who Made Science Irresistibly Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark Rober is a former NASA engineer turned YouTube sensation, beloved for his wildly inventive, educational, and entertaining videos that make science feel like magic. With a unique blend of technical expertise, charisma, and storytelling, he has transformed the perception of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Science,_technology,_engineering,_and_mathematics\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Science,_technology,_engineering,_and_mathematics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)<\/a> for millions of people\u2014especially kids and teens. Whether he\u2019s building a glitter bomb to catch package thieves or creating the world\u2019s largest elephant toothpaste explosion, Mark Rober proves that learning can be both smart and spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Early Life and Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark Rober was born on March 11, 1980, in Orange County, California. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in how things worked. He often took apart gadgets and was deeply curious about science and engineering. After high school, he pursued a degree in mechanical engineering from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.byu.edu\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.byu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brigham Young University<\/a>, followed by a master\u2019s in the same field from the University of Southern California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NASA Career: From Curiosity Rover to YouTube Star<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before becoming an internet personality, Rober spent nine years working as an engineer at NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jet Propulsion Laboratory<\/a> (JPL). There, he contributed to multiple projects, most notably the Mars Curiosity Rover. He played a key role in developing the rover\u2019s entry, descent, and landing systems\u2014some of the most complex engineering challenges ever attempted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The First Viral Video &#8211; A Clever Halloween Costume Using 2 Ipads<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While at NASA, he also developed a love for teaching and simplifying complex topics. His first viral video came in 2011 when he built a clever Halloween costume using two iPads to create the illusion of a hole through his torso. The video went viral, and the seed for a YouTube career was planted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"iPad2 Halloween Costume- Gaping hole in torso\" width=\"1130\" height=\"636\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/V6p5mbp_M98?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">YouTube Success: Engineering Meets Entertainment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2013, Mark left NASA to focus on full-time content creation. His YouTube channel quickly took off thanks to its winning combination of engineering, problem-solving, and big-budget spectacle. Mark has a knack for making deeply technical concepts feel understandable and fun. His projects are often jaw-dropping in scope and visual impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of his most viral creations include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Glitter Bomb Series:<\/strong> Rober designed a trap to prank and expose package thieves:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Complete with GPS tracking, fart spray, glitter explosions, and hidden cameras. The video was viewed over 50 million times and spawned multiple sequels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Glitter Bomb 1.0 vs Porch Pirates\" width=\"1130\" height=\"636\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xoxhDk-hwuo?list=PLgeXOVaJo_gnexNopBzUKdl3QKoADJlS8\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Squirrel Obstacle Course &#8211; one of his most beloved videos:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a hilarious and heartwarming experiment, he built a complex Ninja Warrior-style course to test the intelligence and agility of backyard squirrels. It combined engineering with behavioral science and became one of his most beloved videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Backyard Squirrel Maze 1.0- Ninja Warrior Course\" width=\"1130\" height=\"636\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hFZFjoX2cGg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pXDx6DjNLDU\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pXDx6DjNLDU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shark Repellent and Ocean Trash Solutions<\/a>:<\/strong> Rober has also tackled serious topics like ocean pollution, shark conservation, and climate change, often using his videos to raise awareness and funds for important causes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Kou7ur5xt_4\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Kou7ur5xt_4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">World\u2019s Largest Elephant Toothpaste Explosion<\/a>:<\/strong> In a video featuring fellow YouTuber MrBeast, Rober created a chemical reaction that produced an astonishingly huge foam eruption, all while explaining the science behind it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His channel has grown to over <strong>30 million subscribers<\/strong> (as of 2025), and many of his videos garner tens of millions of views within days of release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advocacy and Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond YouTube, Mark Rober is a passionate advocate for science education. In 2021, he co-founded <strong>#TeamSeas<\/strong> with fellow creator MrBeast, a viral campaign aimed at removing 30 million pounds of trash from the world\u2019s oceans. The campaign raised over $33 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He\u2019s also worked with companies like Apple and Disney and delivered popular TED Talks, including \u201cThe Super Mario Effect,\u201d which explores how the fear of failure holds people back from learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2022, Rober launched <strong>CrunchLabs<\/strong>, a monthly STEM subscription box for kids that delivers fun, hands-on engineering projects. Each box is paired with a video lesson from Mark, helping inspire the next generation of inventors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Personal Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark Rober is married and has one son, who has autism. He has been open about his parenting journey and uses his platform to raise awareness and fight stigma around autism. In 2021, he hosted a livestream event with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jimmy_Kimmel\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jimmy_Kimmel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jimmy Kimmel<\/a> to raise funds for NEXT for AUTISM, featuring celebrities like <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Oliver\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Oliver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">John Oliver<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/jack-black\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/jack-black\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jack Black<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jon_Stewart\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jon_Stewart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jon Stewart<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Legacy of Inspiration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark Rober\u2019s genius lies not just in his ability to build incredible things, but in his gift for storytelling. He\u2019s made millions of people excited about science\u2014not just as spectators but as participants. In a world where attention is fragmented and distraction is constant, Rober has carved out a unique space where learning is thrilling and curiosity is cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether it\u2019s turning his garage into a mad science lab or launching a global cleanup effort, Mark Rober has redefined what it means to be a modern-day educator. He isn&#8217;t just building machines\u2014he\u2019s building minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Fast Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Full Name:<\/strong> Mark Braxton Rober<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Date of Birth:<\/strong> March 11, 1980<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Education:<\/strong> B.S. Mechanical Engineering (BYU), M.S. Mechanical Engineering (USC)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Notable Projects:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=xoxhDk-hwuo&amp;t=1s\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=xoxhDk-hwuo&amp;t=1s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Glitter Bomb<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hFZFjoX2cGg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Squirrel Ninja Course<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pXDx6DjNLDU\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pXDx6DjNLDU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TeamSeas<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Subscribers:<\/strong> 30M+ (as of 2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Company:<\/strong> Founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crunchlabs.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.crunchlabs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CrunchLabs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Quote:<\/strong> <em>\u201cThe key to learning is failing forward. You have to embrace the process.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mark Rober is a former NASA engineer turned YouTube sensation, beloved for his wildly inventive, educational, and entertaining videos that make science feel like magic. With a unique blend of technical expertise, charisma, and storytelling, he has transformed the perception of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) for millions of people\u2014especially kids and teens. Whether [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-media-influencers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2359"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2425,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359\/revisions\/2425"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/votters.com\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}