Wikipediology is a documentary YouTube series that uncovers the hidden stories behind Wikipedia’s most contested science pages -revealing the messy, human process by which we collectively decide what counts as truth.
SYNOPSIS
Wikipediology is a new YouTube channel chronicling the stories and disagreements behind notable Wikipedia entries. Our first season will focus on scientific mysteries and discoveries through the lens of their Wikipedia articles. The “Definition of life” page hosts spirited arguments about whether viruses or hypothetical extraterrestrial organisms should “count” as alive. The page for Pluto dramatizes the challenges of categorization, as editors struggled with whether to honor the cultural understanding of Pluto as a planet or defer to the International Astronomical Union’s reclassification. The Prion article shows the gradual shift from doubt to acceptance that proteins alone could cause disease, mirroring the evolution of scientific consensus itself.
These disputes are never just about wording. They are about how we define reality, how we explain discovery, and how collective debate produces knowledge for billions of people. Each episode turns what looks like an online squabble into a window into the process of science itself: messy, human, and endlessly fascinating.
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Fredrick Munk
Fredrick Munk is a filmmaker who directed the Netflix Original documentary Why Did You Kill Me? about a mother who used the social networking site Myspace to investigate and seduce the gang that murdered her daughter. That project was rooted in Fred’s longstanding interest in social behavior and experience in digital spaces. It was through that interest that he first became aware of Wikipedia talk pages and the vibrant stories they contain. As a devoted believer in the filmic power of archival materials and with an undergraduate degree in Comparative Literature, he believed that there was untapped dramatic potential in the conversations unfolding inside Wikipedia’s meta-texts. Fred has also worked as a writer and researcher on documentary projects investigating scientific topics like geo-engineering and the medical potential of psychedelic therapies.
Natasha Mynhier is a filmmaker whose work explores the intersections of science, technology, and human rights. Through projects like In a Beat, created in partnership with UCLA’s Center for Autism Research and Treatment, and Beyond the Summit, produced with The North Face and climate research organizations, she has turned real scientific collaboration into emotionally resonant stories. Natasha also prioritizes strategic partnerships with impact organizations – such as Project Impact and the Alaska Wilderness League, who helped ensure Beyond the Summit contributed to legislative advocacy for Arctic conservation – to extend each project’s real-world reach and measurable impact. Her additional projects, including a documentary series featuring Edward Snowden on encryption and digital privacy and collaborations with MD Anderson Cancer Center on the future of AI in oncology, reflect her passion for translating research into accessible, human-centered stories. Her films have earned honors such as Gold at the Cannes Young Director Awards and fellowships like the AFI Directing Workshop for Women+, through which she created Aptitude, a sci-fi film exploring the future of standardized testing and human value in an algorithmic world.
RELATED LINKS
PROMOTE THIS PROJECT
Put a donation widget on your site. Click here for code.
ABOUT YOUR DONATION
Women Make Movies (WMM), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media arts organization registered with the New York Charities Bureau of New York State and accepts charitable donations on behalf of this project. Your donation will be spent by the filmmaker(s) toward the production and completion of this media project. No services or goods are provided by Women Make Movies, the filmmaker(s) or anyone else associated with this project in exchange for your charitable donation.
Your contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and a confirmation of your donation will be sent via email. WMM will send you an acknowledgement letter in the mail to the address listed for tax purposes.
