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How does caffeine keep us awake? - Hanan Qasim

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TEDEd Animation

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Over 100,000 metric tons of caffeine are consumed around the world every year. That’s equivalent to the weight of 14 Eiffel Towers! Caffeine helps us feel alert, focused, and energetic, even if we haven’t had enough sleep — but it can also raise our blood pressure and make us feel anxious. So how does it keep us awake? Hanan Qasim shares the science behind the world’s most widely used drug.

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When the brain adapts to regular consumption of caffeine, more caffeine must be consumed to get the same alertness. The main reason for that is:

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Hanan Qasim
  • Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
  • Director Draško Ivezić
  • Producer Draško Ivezić
  • Animator Draško Ivezić, Ira Bulić
  • Storyboard Artist Draško Ivezić
  • Character Designer Draško Ivezić
  • Sound Designer Jure Buljević
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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