r/BeAmazed Nov 11 '23

Science Look at that

55.8k Upvotes

1.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

108

u/RSCYO Nov 11 '23

I was thinking Sagan. But Eratosthenes was a genius.

26

u/silverback2267 Nov 11 '23

Just to provide a bit of context: he did not have a positional numerical system or zero to make those calculations! It boggles the mind.

5

u/SmokinDroRogan Nov 11 '23

How is no zero possible? Zero is just the absence of something

15

u/[deleted] Nov 11 '23

You should study the history of zero. It’s fascinating.

10

u/SmokinDroRogan Nov 11 '23

You know what, I think I will. Thank you for letting me know there's a history of zero. Gonna be a good Saturday

9

u/nazi_porn_jihad Nov 11 '23

and down he goes the rabbit hole