The Biggest Chemical Coverup In History
The Biggest Chemical Coverup In History on HackerTube: recommended by 3 Hacker News commenters across 3 separate months, 2025–2026.
Veritasium investigates PFAS forever chemicals, from Teflon's history to pollution of the global water system and their presence in the US population. It covers the corporate cover-up and the host's own blood tests.
What HN commenters said
8 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.
chiphMay 2025Strongly recommends
Based on his video, I have given up eating microwave popcorn and have gone back to stove-top made. If his numbers are to be believed (and I do), the coating on the inside of a microwave popcorn bag that is used to keep the cooking oils from soaking into the paper emit PFAS chemicals. Which leach into the popcorn oils - later to be consumed by you. In the chart comparing them with other coated papers such as fast food burger wrappers, they are far and away the leading source of PFAS. I still have questions - do the PFAS chemicals leach into the oils while sitting on the store shelf, or are they emitted when they get heated up in the microwave and exceed some temperature (like getting a Teflon pan too hot)? Not that this makes a difference in the end result, but I am curious. Video link: ▶ this video
in “Derek Muller confronts PFAS "forever chemicals" in his own blood” · View on HN
starwatchOct 2025Recommends
If you want more context on PFAS, I recommend this Veritasium video [0]. It expanded on my usual thought of "PFAS = bad," explaining why non-stick cookware is probably fine while other forms of PFAS are problematic. The video also covers the environmental damage caused by PFAS manufacturing. [0]: ▶ this video
in “3M May Escape Toxic Chemical, PFAS Manufacturing Legacy” · View on HN
ourmandaveJun 2025Recommends
If you want a good explanation of PFAs, Veritasium did a video on it. ▶ this video The safe allowable ppm counts are insanely low for this shit.
in “Microplastics shed by food packaging are contaminating our food, study finds” · View on HN
Joel_MckayJul 2026Cites it
The toxicology of soluble heavy-metal bioavailable material is a well understood area of research, and can bioaccumulate in humans several times higher than background if a food chain allows biomagnification of a contaminant. The publication assumes the reader has first year biology, and will understand test subject mortality data implications. I would recommend studying the story of Polychlorinated biphenyls in whales, Mercury levels in salmon, and PFAS in the Veritasium hosts blood. ▶ this video "Particle Accelerator vs Egg" is a great demonstration of purely irradiated cell decomposition, and is great entertainment for all ages. =3 [link]
in “GAO: DOE Is Prematurely Excluding Less Expensive Options for Nuclear Cleanup” · View on HN
alt227Apr 2026Cites it
Fully agree with you, however eating small bits of PFAS from pans seems to be pretty non toxic. Even in the recent Veritasium video about it they said that unless the chemical was heated to above ~300 degress C if will pass through the human digestive system without causing any harm. ▶ this video
in “How to breathe in fewer microplastics in your home” · View on HN
vincnetasSep 2025Cites it
Veritasium had video explaining about PFAS and environment protections that were needed to keep people/animals from being sick. Somewhere around minute 23 in video. ▶ this video
in “EPA Seeks to Eliminate Critical PFAS Drinking Water Protections” · View on HN
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sakesunJul 2025Cites it
Just watched Veritasium's "How One Company Secretly Poisoned The Planet" ▶ this video Inventions created for convenience decades ago have now become health concerns. I wonder how AI might affect our intellectual well-being in the decades to come.
in “If writing is thinking then what happens if AI is doing the writing and reading?” · View on HN
aptjJun 2025Cites it
@all Don't forget to help your kids learn to communicate, cooperate, stand for the healthy life on this wonderful planet (our common habitat) and resist being fooled and bullied. > Veritasium: How One Company Secretly Poisoned The Planet ▶ this video Edits: minor typos.
in “Ask HN: How are parents who program teaching their kids today?” · View on HN