Welcome! We’re thrilled to share a pivotal moment in the journey of Kurzgesagt, a transformation that has forever altered our path. What began as a small-scale passion project has grown into something much larger, thanks to a groundbreaking idea that emerged in 2016.
Initially, Kurzgesagt was a labor of love, dedicated to producing animated science videos accessible to everyone. However, the harsh reality of financial constraints meant that we had to juggle “real jobs” during the day while working on Kurzgesagt videos at night. Despite the challenges, our dream of inspiring people worldwide kept us motivated.
In 2016, Philipp Dettmer, the founder of Kurzgesagt, envisioned something that would transcend the digital realm of YouTube. He wanted to create a tangible representation of Kurzgesagt’s worldview and belief in humanity’s potential for greatness. This vision materialized as the Kurzgesagt Human Era Calendar.
The calendar introduced a new year zero, approximately 12,000 years ago, marking a period when humans began collaborating on a larger scale, laying the groundwork for modern society and our future. The first edition was a resounding success, selling out within hours and captivating thousands of fans worldwide.
Since then, each new edition of the Human Era Calendar has surpassed the previous one in both spectacle and success. This ongoing achievement has allowed us to expand our team, enhance our video quality, and uphold rigorous research standards, all while continuing to offer our videos for free.
This year’s calendar is particularly special. We invite you to join us on a series of space experiments exploring the potential development of life. What might a creature living near an orange dwarf star look like? Could life persist after a supernova explosion? These are just some of the questions we aim to answer in the year 12,024.
Beyond its scientific intrigue, the calendar serves as a tool to plan humanity’s next steps towards greatness. To commemorate what might be our most remarkable calendar yet, we’ve prepared exclusive limited deals for our supporters.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of our journey. Your support and enthusiasm have made all of this possible, and we look forward to continuing this adventure together.
Imagine you are living in the year 12,024. Design a calendar that represents your vision of the future. Include important events, scientific discoveries, or societal changes you think might happen. Share your calendar with the class and explain your choices.
Work in groups to create a short animated video on a scientific topic of your choice, inspired by Kurzgesagt’s style. Use simple animation tools or drawing techniques. Present your video to the class and discuss the science behind it.
Research the concept of the Human Era and its significance. Prepare a presentation explaining why the year zero was set 12,000 years ago and how human collaboration has evolved since then. Discuss how this concept influences our understanding of history and the future.
Design a hypothetical space experiment to explore life near an orange dwarf star or after a supernova explosion. Consider the conditions needed for life and how organisms might adapt. Present your experiment design and findings to the class.
Participate in a debate about humanity’s potential for greatness. Discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Use examples from Kurzgesagt’s journey and the Human Era Calendar to support your arguments. Reflect on how we can plan for a better future.
Science – The study of the natural world through observation and experiments. – Science helps us understand how the planets in our solar system orbit the Sun.
Videos – Recordings of moving visual images, often used for educational purposes. – We watched videos of astronauts working on the International Space Station to learn more about life in space.
Calendar – A system for organizing days and months, often used to track astronomical events. – Our teacher showed us how to use a calendar to find the dates of upcoming meteor showers.
Humanity – The human race; human beings collectively. – Humanity has always been fascinated by the stars and the mysteries of the universe.
Life – The existence of living organisms, which can grow, reproduce, and respond to their environment. – Scientists are searching for signs of life on Mars by studying the planet’s surface and atmosphere.
Experiments – Scientific tests conducted to discover or demonstrate something. – In our science class, we conducted experiments to see how different materials react to heat.
Potential – The possibility of something happening or being developed in the future. – There is potential for discovering new planets in distant galaxies with advanced telescopes.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse beyond Earth’s atmosphere where stars and planets exist. – Space exploration has led to many exciting discoveries about our solar system and beyond.
Success – The achievement of a goal or the attainment of a desired outcome. – The successful landing of the rover on Mars was a major milestone in space exploration.
Future – The time yet to come, often considered in terms of potential developments or events. – In the future, humans may live on other planets as we continue to explore space.
