Short Wave The trouble of zero
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Jan 2, 2026 
Yasemin Saplakoglu, a science writer for Quanta Magazine, dives into the fascinating world of zero, exploring its history and significance. She reveals how zero evolved from a mere placeholder to a complex number that our brains uniquely process. The discussion touches on how neurons react differently to small versus large quantities and how zero occupies a special place in our mental number line. Saplakoglu also highlights groundbreaking research that shows our brains represent the concept of absence with precision, emphasizing the abstract nature of numbers.
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Zero Began As A Placeholder
- Zero started as a placeholder symbol in ancient Mesopotamia and the Maya used a similar placeholder independently.
- Yasemin Saplakoglu recounts how India later turned that placeholder into a true number by the 7th century.
Zero Met Resistance In Medieval Europe
- Medieval Europe resisted zero, with some seeing it as dangerous or chaotic because of theological concerns.
- Yasemin notes that Florence even banned the number zero due to those fears.
Neurons Tuned To Specific Numbers
- The brain contains number-tuned neurons that fire preferentially for specific quantities like five or seven.
- Those neurons fire most for their preferred number and less for nearby values, revealing a tuning curve for numerosity.