Let's get real. If you're watching the Joe Scott YouTube channel, you're probably not into small talk. You go there for the stories that are deeper than a black hole and that get weirder by the minute. You're there for the brain-bending facts — and for the truths that are stranger than fiction. And you're probably there for just the right amount of science-splaining that only "Joe Scott Answers" can deliver.
But within this treasure trove of curiosity, which videos are winning the ultimate popularity contest?
Well, the viewers have spoken, and we're counting down the top five most-viewed Joe Scott YouTube videos, highlighting why they hit so hard, what the comment section is saying, and how they showcase everything we love about his smart, strange corner of the internet. These show Joe at his best, as he debunks, explains, and leaves just enough room for mystery — from exploding divers to time travel tales.
See if you agree with this lineup — and if you've missed watching any of these Joe Scott YouTube viral videos, fix that now.
1. The Most Convincing Time Traveler Story
Views: 11M+
Sergei Ponomarenko walked the streets of Kiev in 2006, claimed he was from 1958, and then…things got weird. Was he a time traveler from another era? Joe unpacks one of the internet's favorite time travel mysteries, complete with old photos, a missing person report, aliens (maybe?), and more.
The Secret Viral Sauce:
From The Time Traveler's Wife to Somewhere in Time and Midnight in Paris, people love a good time travel story. But the thought of it actually happening in real life? Almost too good to be true. It's no wonder this one is the Joe Scott YouTube most-watched video. It has the irresistible blend of mystery, history, sci-fi, and "wait, what?" plot twists.
Comment Section Gold:
"I've never been so excited and so disappointed in such a short period of time." - StoleKey7
"I like to think there's aliens out there watching us struggle to wrap our heads around time paradoxes the way animals react to their own reflections and finding it really cute." - Coneil72
"This story can be summed up with 'My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined.'" - Road_to_Dawn
2. This Is Why You Can't Go To Antarctica
Views: 10M+
Antarctica isn't just frigid — it serves up the ultimate cold shoulder as one of the most protected and secretive places on Earth. What could be called the last truly untamed land on the planet, the continent is a desolate, bizarre, and otherworldly place buried under miles of ice (1.3 miles to be exact), where the average wind speed is a cool 96 miles per hour. It's also a place with a lot of mysteries that have come to the surface over the years.
Joe talks about all the strange and unusual stories that swirl around the land of the South Pole — some that may even defy gravity (yes, really).
The Secret Viral Sauce:
Joe's take on Antarctica is educational, fascinating, and oddly funny. It's also all pretty eerie. The frozen continent never looked so suspicious.
Comment Section Gold:
"Antarctica... Come for the cold... stay because you're frozen solid." (Antarctica Chamber Of Commerce) - TheWeatherbuff
"Man, I want to hear the account of the first guy to see a glacier bleeding. 'Uhh... Captain? I think we should go back. NOW.'" - PeterMoxilin
"I booked a $40,000 vacation package online with a Nigerian travel agency to go to the North Pole to see Penguins. I hope I won't be disappointed." - ge2623
3. How To Squeeze A Human Being Through A 5-Inch Hole
Views: 5.9M+
The Byford Dolphin incident of 1983 is one of the most brutal workplace accidents in history — and more than 5 million views mean that people are here for the gore. Joe walks through the scene of horror where a team of saturation divers off the coast of Finland experienced an explosive decompression event that ended the lives of five people — in what could possibly be the most destructive way imaginable.
This video's title gives you a sneak peek into the gnarly disaster — and Joe dives deep into saturation diving, what makes it so dangerous, and what went oh-so-wrong on that fateful day.
One word: Yikes.
The Secret Viral Sauce:
It's gory. It's terrible. It's fascinating. It's impossible to look away. And it's classic Joe Scott — science plus storytelling with just enough discomfort to make you want to press pause and walk away...and then keep watching anyway.
Comment Section Gold:
"I'm terrified to watch this, this title and thumbnail is so well made im dreading everything, it screams, 'wanna know the most horrific thing I've ever learnt in extreme detail?'" - wenofu477
"Wow. That autopsy report was thorough. Thankfully the pictures were in black and white." - ashe1.070
"When I saw the title of the video, I thought, 'Squeeze a human through a five-inch gap? That's impossible! You would have to be folded up really tightly beforehand, and you… oh… OHH'" - soup9242
4. The Most Horrifying Human Experiments Of All Time
Views: 5.6M+
War. Science. But what about ethics? This episode dives into the darkest side of human experimentation. Throughout history, there have been horrifying human experiments enacted — especially during wartime — that were mere excuses for cruelty and torture. From Unit 731 to American Tuskegee syphilis experiments and more, Joe exposes some of the worst examples — calling out the sheer madness of it all while handling the stories with care, too.
The Secret Viral Sauce:
Equal parts educational and atrocious, this one's hard to watch yet serves as a brutal reminder of history that many are unaware of — and that others might prefer to ignore.
Comment Section Gold:
"As hard as this is to watch, thank you. This is the horrific history that needs to be remembered, and NEVER repeated." - sokattash678
"Well, he held my attention for 23 minutes and 25 seconds. Where were the teachers like this when I was a kid?" - TheJohnnyrotten
"The autopsy while people were still living without anesthesia is among one of the most horrifying things I have ever heard be done to humans. Let's hope things like these experiments, not just the one I talked about but all of them will never be done again." - buggyhuman
5. Peter Bergmann: The Man Who Never Existed
Views: 5.4M+
Who was Peter Bergmann? We still don't know. On June 15, 2009, the body of a middle-aged man was found on Rosses Point Beach in County Sligo, Ireland. The washed-up body had no ID, no traceable identity — heck, even the tags had been removed from his clothes. The plot thickens more as authorities reviewed his activity in the days following the discovery of his body. Through security camera footage, they found that he went to great lengths to dispose of his personal effects — without anybody seeing.
This was a man who wanted to disappear completely — and he was almost successful. But, as it would happen, one random thing went wrong and thus turned him into one of the biggest internet mysteries of all time.
The Secret Viral Sauce:
It's like a noir whodunit film, but it actually happened in real life — and Joe turns it into a hauntingly good episode that you can't stop thinking about.
Comment Section Gold:
"The most haunting thing for me is when he writes something down in that cafe, reads it, and then rips it up." - Bobbypinker
"I don't see much significance in the missing clothes tags. I've been ripping those out of my clothes my entire life; they're itchy." - fantasticmio
"I'd deduce that the items he left the hotel with were posted, not disposed of. After all, it is known he bought several international stamps." - kenknight5494
This Video Will Probably Go Viral, Too
The success of these top videos isn't random. They're uniquely Joe Scott: thoughtful, weird, informative, and delivered with panache. Whether you're here for the brutal or the bizarre — with a side of quantum theory and quirky unsolved mysteries — the Joe Scott YouTube channel has something to melt your mind, on purpose.
There's another video that's probably going to go viral, too. Because it's going to be that good — and it all has something to do with honoring the strange legacy of an ancient Roman riddle.
In case you missed it, the JOEdecahedron has officially landed. It's the latest Joe Scott YouTube merch must-have. Even better? There's still time to submit your entry for the JOEdecahedron Challenge.
The JOEdecahedron is a curious, quirky, hold-it-in-your-hand kind of mystery inspired by the Roman dodecahedron. And because Joe knows his fans are just like him — smart, funny, slightly weird (in the best way) — he thought it was only right to host a one-of-a-kind challenge.
So, you're invited to do something — anything — with the JOEdecahedron and share it with the Laugh Smarter crew. The stakes are about to be raised so high for an object that previously had no known purpose.
Then, Joe will be sharing his favorite submissions and — let's be real — roasting some of them, too, in a future video.
Want More Joe? Don't Miss This
From brutal to bizarre trivia, Joe Scott's content is on point — and his YouTube merch game is just as next-level. So, just remember that the August drop is right around the corner, featuring a limited-edition item — straight from the Joe Scott merchandise store. Stay tuned.
