How Zero Works

In this fascinating episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the surprisingly complex and revolutionary history of zero. They explore how this seemingly simple concept transformed mathematics and civilization, tracing its journey from ancient Sumerian placeholder marks to its development as a number in 5th century India, and eventually its introduction to the Western world through Fibonacci. Along the way, they uncover zero's weird mathematical properties, its cultural significance, and why it made some people so uncomfortable that it was once associated with chaos and the devil.