Brian McManus (sometimes spelled Mac Mághnais) is an Irish YouTuber, producing the channels Real Engineering and Real Science where he discusses biomedical and aeronautical engineering.
Brian McManus | |
|---|---|
| Born | Brian McManus Galway, Ireland |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Awards | Space Pioneer Award |
| YouTube information | |
| Channels | |
| Genre | Engineering |
| Subscribers |
|
| Views |
|
| Last updated: January 20, 2026 | |
Early life and engineering career
editMcManus attended secondary school at St Joseph's Patrician College[1], and was later awarded an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from National University of Ireland Galway in 2011.[2][3] He subsequently completed a master's degree in aeronautical engineering at the University of Limerick, studying composite failure prediction.[3][4][better source needed]
YouTube
editMcManus' YouTube channel Real Engineering was created to explain and analyze various engineering topics,[5][better source needed], primarily focusing on aviation, aerospace, and energy.[2] After teaching himself animation in 2013, one of his first videos Why are Plane Windows Round? went viral[2] and garnered significant coverage in the popular press.[6] McManus has worked full-time on the channel since 2016,[3] with video content production based in the west of Ireland, supported by four full-time staff and additional freelancers.[7][8]
Recognition
editMcManus was awarded the 2024 Space Pioneer Award in the Electronic Mass Media category from the US National Space Society.[1]
Controversy
editThe Real Engineering video The Unlikely Rise of the Indian Space Program, and McManus' subsequent comments, caused controversy in India due to a map that did not cover the full extent of India's territorial claims.[9][10]
Related businesses
editMcManus co-founded the creator-owned video platform Nebula[11][1] after encountering challenges with monetization, and age restriction for non-violent content on YouTube.[12] He also runs an animation studio, Throttle Media, which provides animation production and science communication services to engineering companies.[2]
Personal life
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 "Galway 'man over the moon' to be first Irish winner of the Space Pioneer Award". Galway Advertiser. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Full throttle". An Engineer Like Me Digital Magazine. Ireland: Engineers Ireland. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 reporter, Leader (16 December 2021). "Success of UL graduate turned content creator highlighted in YouTube report". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ "The Questionable Engineering of Oceangate". YouTube. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ Freeman, Elena (15 January 2026). "Top 20 YouTubers in Ireland in 2026". Favikon. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ Chandler, Victoria (22 February 2016). "This is why plane windows are round". Good Housekeeping. United States: Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ Weckler, Adrian (9 December 2021). "70 Irish YouTubers now have over 1m subscribers but 'information reliability' problems persist". Irish Independent. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ McKenna, Ed (10 December 2021). "Can You Make A Living As YouTube Creator?". Business Plus. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ Science Desk (19 May 2025). "Wrong Map Controversy: Why Indians are furious with Youtube channel Real Engineering's Isro video". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ Jain, Sanya (20 May 2025). "'Real Engineering' YouTuber says 'won't praise India again' after incorrect map controversy". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ Hale, James (21 September 2021). "Creator-Owned Streaming Service Nebula Just Scored Its First Investment At A $50+ Million Valuation". Tube Filter. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ Patel, Nilay (17 May 2022). "The videos that don't work on YouTube and the future of the creator business with Nebula CEO Dave Wiskus". The Verge. Retrieved 20 January 2026.