What happens when the
laws of science meet the magic of Indian street food? You get an electrifying,
curiosity-packed episode featuring YouTube legend and former NASA engineer Mark Rober, hosted by India’s favorite
food explorer Curly Tales. The
episode, part of Rober’s high-profile India visit for the Jugaad Contest 2025, became an instant hit by mixing two unexpected
but deeply connected elements—food and
physics.
Mark Rober, known
globally for his viral experiments, glitter bombs, squirrel mazes, and STEM
evangelism, has been on a mission in India: to explore innovation, connect with
Indian creators, and promote the idea of jugaad—India’s
celebrated tradition of using resourceful thinking to solve real-life problems.
And what better way to connect with India than through its vibrant and
ingenious food scene?
The “When Food Meets
Physics” episode takes viewers through a sensory and scientific journey as Mark
and Curly Tales’ founder Kamiya Jani
dive deep into Mumbai’s bustling food streets. From dissecting the aerodynamics
of a freshly tossed dosa to breaking down the chemical reactions that make pani
puri explode with flavor, this episode does what few collaborations manage—it
makes science taste good.
“Every bite here is a
beautiful experiment,” Rober exclaimed during the shoot. “Take the samosa, for
example—the perfect triangle for even heat distribution and crunch, plus an
interior full of spicy potential energy. It’s edible engineering.”
Kamiya, known for her
fun yet informative food storytelling, added, “We always explore food with
curiosity, but Mark took it to a whole new level. Watching him break down every
flavor, every structure, from a scientific lens was fascinating. This wasn’t
just street food tasting—it was street food schooling!”
The episode also doubles
as an introduction to the Mark Rober
Jugaad Contest 2025, which invites Indian innovators aged 8 and above to
submit videos of their most inventive household creations. Ten winners will
each receive ₹5 lakh. However, there’s a catch: the entry must be posted on
social media with the hashtag #MarkRoberJugaad,
the profile must be public, and—most importantly—the post link must be
submitted at www.markroberjugaad.com. Without the submitted link, the entry will not be
considered.
Mark’s collaboration
with Curly Tales comes at a time when he is also partnering with other major
Indian content creators like CarryMinati,
Slaypoint, and Techburner. Not to mention a highly-anticipated special feature
with cricket superstar Hardik Pandya.
These engagements are part of his broader plan to build a stronger presence in
India—a country he sees as bursting with untapped STEM potential.
The timing couldn't be
better. Mark Rober’s educational startup CrunchLabs,
which produces monthly STEM-based engineering kits for children and teens, has
already gained popularity in several countries. With India’s deep-rooted
culture of hands-on learning, jugaad, and DIY solutions, the synergy was
inevitable.
In this latest feature
with Curly Tales, the two worlds—culinary and scientific—merge in a way that’s
both delightful and educational. Viewers are treated not just to spicy street
snacks but also to explanations about pressure, molecular structures, and
energy transfer—presented in the most accessible and entertaining way possible.
The response to the
episode has been overwhelmingly positive. Social media lit up with fans
praising the unique blend of curiosity and cuisine. One user commented, “This
is the most fun I’ve ever had learning science. Mark Rober needs to do an
Indian series!”
As part of this journey,
Rober continues to use his massive social following—68M YouTube subscribers, 5.3M
Facebook followers, 3.7M on TikTok,
and more—to spotlight Indian creators, culture, and creativity. His mission is
simple yet profound: get as many young brains as possible excited about
science, innovation, and the joy of building things.
If you’re an aspiring
innovator, now is the time to showcase your jugaad
spirit. Submit your invention video for the Jugaad Contest 2025 before the deadline of September 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM IST, and you could be one of the
ten lucky winners to win ₹5 lakh and gain national recognition.
In the meantime, don’t
miss this epic food-and-physics crossover on the Curly Tales YouTube channel, where Mark Rober proves once again
that curiosity, like flavor, knows no borders.
