Awesome Kurzgesagt

Kurzgesagt already taught us how ants thrive on war. But it turns out that one particular ant species has used their fighting and strategic skills (with a little help from humans) to build a truly global empire. We wouldn’t doubt if their numbers were actually in the trillions.

For as much as we think of our planet as good old terra firma, there is so much more to be seen and explored at the beneath the surface of our oceans. Kurzgesagt takes us on a deep sea journey to learn about some of the many species that dwell in the darkest waters.

The typically informative Kurzgesagt takes a break from fact to present a work of animated fiction. Based on an original short story by Andy Weir, The Egg is a hopeful tale of what might happen after we leave our bodies behind, and how we are all interconnected in a way.

Kurzgesagt asks some of the most difficult questions that will become exponentially more relevant in the years to come. Do robots deserve rights? Would they even need or want the same rights that humans have?

Think that humans fight and kill a lot? Kurzgesagt aims its magnifying glass at the tiny world of ant colonies, where billions of the bugs violently battle against other kinds of ants and insects every single day of their lives. From decapitations to cannibalism, life as an ant can be brutal.

Kurzgesagt once again dives deep within our bodies, this time to explore the complement system, a part of our immune system which can activate to help defend us from disease, but that also needs to be kept in check to keep from destroying us from the inside.

There’s been a long-held concern that the electromagnetic radiation that emanate from cell phones, power lines, and other devices could cause harm to our bodies. But is there any truth to this concern? Kurzgesagt attempts to separate the fact from fiction in this controvertial topic.

You might think that mammals always ate meat, but it turns out it was an evolutionary necessity due to changes in Earth’s climate. Kurzgesagt explores whether or not this change in our diets was actually good for us, or if eating meat truly has a negative impact on our health.

Kurzgesagt takes on one of the most bizarre and terrifying objects in the universe: neutron stars. Formed when certain giant stars collapse, neutron stars are made of strange matter, which are theoretically “perfectly stable.” And that’s where Physics and English disagree.

Another day, another happy thought about the end of the world from the guys at Kurzgesagt, as they asked scientists to put on their thinking caps about what might happen if we gathered up the approximately 15,000 known nuclear bombs and blew them all up at once.

We often feature videos from Kurzgesagt. Like many of you, we take what they say at face value. But it’s always smart to question things. Now, the channel offers insight into their research and writing process, admitting to mistakes and biases along the way.

Kurzgesagt takes a break from its lesssons on theoretical science to focus on something a little closer to home – the sense of feeling alone or disconnected from people, a sociological problem that’s been disturbingly on the rise as the world has modernized.

Despite our fascination with Mars, the red planet isn’t exactly the most hospitable place. Kurzgesagt looks at some of the many challenges we’d face if we ever wanted to colonize Mars. Humans can’t breathe there, it’s freezing cold, and Martian dust is poisonous.

Organic food has long been touted as a healthier and more sustainable alternative to conventionally-raised food. But are these more naturally-raised (and more expensive) fruits, veggies, and animals truly better for us and the planet? Kurzgesagt digs into the controversy.

For all of our efforts to explore space – and maybe someday colonize other planets – humans have been creating lots of space junk, which will make it harder to leave the Earth over time. Kurzgesagt explores the dangers of filling up the low Earth orbit with stuff.

Kurzgesagt celebrates the continued progress of the human era with the 12,019 calendar. It counts from the time that humans began building massive structures. Each month comes with an artwork depicting early human cultures and craftsmanship.

From a sunny seaside vista, to a sexy sports car, to a gorgeous woman, beautiful things bring a smile to our faces. But what is it about this totally subjective and intangible concept that makes our brains react so positively? Kurzgesagt provides their take on why this happens.

Meat is delicious and packed with proteins and fats, but it’s being produced in quantities that are far greater than what nature intended. With a nod to Bob’s Burgers, Kurzgesagt explores the impact of mass-producing livestock to fill our bellies. We’re having salad for lunch.

The thought of setting up shop and living on the surface of the moon seems like a far away sci-fi dream, but we actually have the technology and smarts to do it in the next decade – assuming we had the funding. Kurzgesagt explains, in part one of their series about space colonization.

Portholes that can instantly transport us between different areas of space and time are a staple of science fiction and fantasy. But are wormholes really a thing, and if they are, how might they work, and where could we find one? Kurzgesagt explores.

In theory, energy consumed by a black hole is trapped forever. But it turns out it might be possible to harness the rotational energy of a spinning black hole to do everything from powering civilization to creating the biggest explosive device ever. Kurzgesagt explains.

Kurzgesagt dusts off their 2013 video The History & Future of Everything and gives it a shiny coat of paint, with updated animations, and references to events of the last 5 years. Every time we hear about the Middle Ages, we feel much better about today’s problems.

Kurzgesagt explains an economic idea called egoistic altriusm. It argues that it’s in an individual’s best interest for those around him to be well off. You’ll have more people capable of solving your problems, and more people able to afford the solutions you offer.