Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Zero

When did we first think of zero? On this explainer, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice explore the background behind zero. Was zero always a number? When did we invent zero, glitch, nil, nada? We explore ancient society, the conception of zero, and what other aspects of math we carry with us from that time. Did ancient Egypt or the Maya have zero? When did negative numbers start? Plus, why did it take people so long to come up with nothing? ----- Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: https://masterworks.art/startalk Purchase shares in great masterpieces from artists like Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and more. Get the NEW Cosmic Queries book (5/5 ⭐s on Amazon!): https://amzn.to/3dYIEQF Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalk About StarTalk: Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson See important Masterworks disclosures: https://www.masterworks.io/about/disclaimer 0:00 - Sponsored By Masterworks 1:32 - Introduction 2:53 - The History Of Zero 9:16 - What We Base Our Calendar On 10:15 - Negative Numbers 11:45 - How Zero Created Different Branches Of Math 13:04 - Closing Notes