Who is Mark Rober?
- Profession: Engineer, inventor, YouTuber, and educator.
- Background: Worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for 9 years (including on the Curiosity rover) and later at Apple’s Special Projects Group for 4 years.
- YouTube Career: Launched his channel in 2011, now with over 72 million subscribers and 15 billion views.
- Business Ventures: Founded CrunchLabs, a STEM-focused subscription box company.
Mark Rober is an American engineer, inventor, educator, and YouTube sensation renowned for blending complex engineering concepts with entertaining, high-production videos. Born on March 11, 1980, in Orange County, California, Rober has transformed his passion for science and problem-solving into a global platform that inspires millions to think like engineers.
Early Life and Education
Raised in Brea, California, as the youngest of three siblings, Rober showed an early knack for invention. As a child, he created goggles to prevent tears while cutting onions—a simple yet clever solution that foreshadowed his future career. He graduated from Brea Olinda High School in 1998 and earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University in 2004. He later obtained a master’s degree from the University of Southern California.
Professional Career at NASA and Apple
Rober joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in 2004, where he spent nine years as a mechanical engineer. For 7 of those years, he contributed to the Curiosity rover mission, designing hardware that enabled the rover to explore Mars. His work extended to other projects, including AMT, GRAIL, SMAP, and Mars Science Laboratory.
In 2015, Rober transitioned to Apple Inc., working as a product designer in the Special Projects Group until early 2020. There, he focused on virtual reality applications, including entertainment systems for self-driving cars, and authored related patents.
Rise on YouTube
Rober began uploading videos in 2011 while at NASA. His breakout hit was a Halloween costume featuring a gaping hole in the torso using iPads, which went viral and led him to found Digital Dudz, a costume company later sold to Morphsuits.
His channel exploded with creative, educational content: elaborate pranks, DIY gadgets, and mind-blowing experiments. Iconic series include the “Glitter Bomb” traps designed to deter package thieves, featuring fart spray, glitter explosions, and GPS tracking.
Other fan favorites include epic squirrel obstacle courses in his backyard, massive elephant toothpaste explosions, and intelligent pet octopus challenges.
As of December 2025, his YouTube channel boasts over 72 million subscribers and 15 billion total views, making him one of the platform’s top science creators.
CrunchLabs and Educational Impact
In 2022, Rober founded CrunchLabs, an edtech company offering monthly STEM subscription boxes. These “Build Boxes” deliver engineering toys that subscribers assemble alongside Rober’s tutorial videos, teaching principles of physics, mechanics, and creative problem-solving. Variants include Hack Packs for teens and adults, encouraging advanced modifications.
CrunchLabs has expanded Rober’s mission to make engineering fun and accessible, with prizes like trips to his lab for standout creations.
Recent Projects and Media Expansion
In 2025, Rober has broadened his reach. His content streams on Netflix via Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs compilations and a holiday special, Elmo & Mark Rober’s Merry Giftmas. A new kids’ competition series is slated for 2026, produced with Jimmy Kimmel. He launched a FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus and featured in viral videos like hotel implosions.
Rober has collaborated on philanthropy, including #TeamTrees and #TeamSeas with MrBeast, raising millions for environmental causes.
Legacy
From Mars rovers to viral pranks, Mark Rober exemplifies how engineering can entertain and educate. To inspire a billion young minds through hands-on learning, he continues to prove that curiosity and creativity can change the world—one glitter bomb at a time.
