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A history of nothing: how zero went from nil to something

From ancient trade to modern theoretical physics and computer programming, the history of mathematics closely mirrors the history of zero – first as a concept, and then ultimately as a number. Narrated by the UK mathematician Hannah Fry, this short animation explores how the evolution of the understanding of zero has helped shape our minds and our world.

Producer: Ed Prosser

Video by The Royal Institution

Animation: Andrew Khosravani

Narrator: Hannah Fry

6 May 2016
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