Elisa Granato

Big news, friends! I've joined "Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell" @Kurz_Gesagt as a Researcher & Fact-Checker 🐦💻🔍 Basically I get to nerd out over science with wildly creative people every day. Dream job! 💚 Go watch their stuff if you haven’t already! @kurzgesagt" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@kurzgesagt

In the 18th century, the British Empire faced a growing demand for Chinese tea, but nothing they offered could convince their trading partner to offer them better terms. Finally, the British discovered a successful counter measure, a product China actually seemed ready to buy: opium. British traders built a massive opium trade that refilled the Empire's coffers and destabilized China’s economy and society. When Chinese officials tried to stop the flow, it set off a chain of events that escalated into war, opening the country by force and reshaping global power dynamics for generations. Our new Nighshift video looks deeper into the Opium War, and how a simple craving for tea led to a full scale war. Watch it here: kgs.link/OpiumWar 🌚

At the height of the Cold War, nuclear weapons were seen not only as devices of destruction, but also as tools for progress. Project Plowshare was a bold attempt to use nuclear explosions for more practical purposes: from digging canals and creating harbors to reshaping entire landscapes. This project was designed to push the limits of what seemed possible, but instead turned into an environmental disaster. How did Project Plowshare come up? What happened to it, and why did it fail in the end? Watch our full video to find out: kgs.link/ProjectPlowsha…

No resource on this asteroid can hide under the ice once you unlock the Ice Extractors! Have you already started your space adventure? Star Birds, which we developed together with our friends at @_Toukana, is available on Steam: kgs.link/starbirds

We are sure there is an asteroid hiding somewhere in there behind all of the buildings… 🤔 Explore this and many more asteroids in Star Birds, which we developed together with our friends at @_Toukana! Get it now in Early Access on Steam: kgs.link/starbirds

More than two thousand years ago, one of the deadliest battles in Indian history changed the course of the entire empire. Instead of creating a legacy of conquest, it sparked an exchange of ideas, trade and knowledge, spreading new philosophies and inspiring mathematical ideas that still shape how we understand the world today. Our new Nighshift video looks deeper into the story of Emperor Ashoka, and how his change of heart changed the course of history. Watch it here: kgs.link/IndiaExport 🌚

Most of the universe is not made of stars, galaxies, or beautiful glowing nebulae. Instead, the majority of it is what seems to be vast, silent emptiness. But these dark regions are not just empty space. They are dynamic structures that grow, merge, and shape the entire architecture of the universe. What exactly are cosmic void, how did they form, and what role might they play in the future of the universe? Watch our full video to find out: kgs.link/Supervoids

We’ve read a lot of your comments about the Ozempic video, and it’s clear that many of you felt uncomfortable with it. Some of you said it sounded like an ad, or that it framed the drug as a simple “fix-it” solution. That wasn’t our intention and we were honestly caught by surprise. Our goal with this video was to focus on the current science of how the drug works, what researchers know so far and the societal health benefits they seem to bring to us. Our videos are only around 10 minutes long, so we didn't cover parts of the surrounding discussions or only mentioned them briefly: body image pressures, people using it purely to be thin, the role of the food industry, pharmaceutical company incentives, healthcare inequality, and the broader social and economic context. All of them are important aspects but we wanted to focus on what we thought is the most important right now: The enormous health benefits and quality of life improvement these drugs have for many people with obesity, which is why we see such enormous potential in them. It really is a potential revolution, a really big deal. We think they are great overall, because the science seems to solidly point to that conclusion! We’re not interested in advertising specific drugs or pushing simple solutions to complex problems but in this case we obviously failed communicating that. We try to break down complicated science in a way that’s accessible, and sometimes simplification can unintentionally shift emphasis. This sucks and we are annoyed at ourselves, this video was a lot of work and it was not planned to be controversial. We're working on an updated version of the video, where we'll add more context and information. We will post it as soon as possible. Thank you so much for all the feedback, we'll keep you posted.

When gold was discovered in California in 1848, hundreds of thousands rushed west in one of the largest migrations in history. But one man understood that the real gold wasn’t in the ground. Our latest nightshift episode looks at the rise and fall behind the Gold Rush, its most opportunistic architect, and how greed helped build (and scar) America forever. Watch now: kgs.link/goldrush 🌚

We need a lot of sulfur, and a lot of aluminium! Now, can someone ask Ruth what exactly we need them for? Our birbs are ready for you to join them on this space journey! Star Birds, which we created together with our friends at @_Toukana, is available in Early Access on Steam: kgs.link/starbirds

Who said asteroid mining can't be relaxing? We find this quite relaxing… In fact… maybe even.. too rela- 🦆💤 Are you ready for your space adventure? Star Birds, a game we developed together with our friends at @_Toukana, is available on Steam: kgs.link/starbirds

For 72 years, Louis XIV ruled Europe. But he couldn’t rule his own body. Behind the gold and spectacle, Louis XIV endured the brutal limits of 17th century medicine. Learn about Louis XIV's tragic life in our newest Nightshift episode: kgs.link/LouisXIV🌚

For centuries, humanity hunted the largest animals on Earth. Whale oil powered cities, fueled industrialization, and pushed species to the brink of extinction. Our latest Nightshift episode explores the history of commercial whaling: kgs.link/ngt_whalefuel

Launch Pad, check! Chemical Lab, check! Extractor, check! We're ready for the extraction! Don't miss out, and join us on this space adventure! Get Star Birds, which we developed together with our friends at @_Toukana, on Steam: kgs.link/starbirds

Get Star Birds' First Major Content Update with 25% off! ✨ Explore a brand-new star system, grow alien plants, unlock new buildings, and try our new level generator in Free Play mode! Get the Flora & Fauna update of Star Birds with 25% off for a limited time! 🚀 kgs.link/starbirds

Friday, 16th – 4pm CET 🌚 See you at the Nightshift... kgs.link/nightshift

Our birbs have quickly learned that all asteroids can be important to the mission. Even the smallest ones can hold valuable resources! Have you already started your space adventure? Star Birds, which we developed together with our friends at @_Toukana, is available on Steam: kgs.link/starbirds

From breaking solid rocks with hydraulic roots, to using fungal networks to build underground empires that can stretch for kilometers, trees keep proving why they might be the most fascinating lifeform on Earth. How does something so massive survive with roots growing so shallow, and how are they able to grow so big? Watch our full video to find out: kgs.link/TreesAreAir

From intense lasers, to shockwaves and exploding cells, laser removal is one of the most intense things your body can go through. How do powerful lasers destroy the ink, and how does your immune system clean up the aftermath? Watch our full video to find out: kgs.link/LaserTattooFun

Nothing lights up an asteroid like a properly working Chemical Lab! A few more of these, and we're ready for the holidays! 🎄 Are you ready for your space adventure? Star Birds, a game we developed together with our friends at @_Toukana, is available on Steam: kgs.link/starbirds

Do you love storytelling and science? Join us as a Freelance Scriptwriter & Storyteller (all genders) to make science accessible and inspiring for millions of people around the world! Find out more and apply here: kgs.link/4iK2vU0