Awesome Kurzgesagt

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.

Kurzgesagt explores string theory, and how it attempts to explain the nature of the universe. It’s supposed to solve the incompatibilities between quantum and gravitational physics by describing particles as “strings” rather than points. Yeah, we’re still confused.

“Faith can move mountains, but sugar water can’t cure cancer.” Kurzgesagt explains the basics and origins of homeopathy. It’s often touted as an alternative to expensive treatments, even though it often does nothing except make you think it’s doing something.

Kurzgesagt sums up the Great Filter – a possible answer to why we’ve never detected the presence of aliens. It could be something that prevents life from developing. Or something that ends civilizations before they have a chance to expand beyond their planet.

There is growing evidence that giving citizens (or at least the poor) a stipend will make people healthier and happier without tanking the economy or productivity. But it can also be abused – not just by lazy or entitled individuals, but by governments and businesses as well.

Kurzgesagt teamed up with CGPGrey to explore the moral, ethical, and practical concerns about our longevity as humans, and whether being able to control our mortality is a good or a bad thing. Be sure to watch the second part here.