Ancient Babylonians Figured Out Forerunner of Calculus (sciencemag.org)

sciencehabit writes: Tracking and recording the motion of the sun, the moon, and the planets as they paraded across the desert sky, ancient Babylonian astronomers used simple arithmetic to predict the positions of celestial bodies. Now, new evidence reveals that these astronomers, working several centuries B.C.E., also employed sophisticated geometric methods that foreshadow the development of calculus. Historians had thought such techniques did not emerge until more than 1400 years later, in 14th century Europe.

Comments

We might as well break the new management in.

[PopeRatzo]

Since today is Friday, the most important issue regarding this story will be whether or not the ancient Babylonians were white men.

For the record, Stormfront says, "Bet your ass they were". When asked for comment, Donald Trump said that if elected president, he'll make sure the US has "the classiest calculus of any country."

Re:We might as well break the new management in.

[Hylandr]

They brought us Goezer and the StayPuft Marshmellow man.

ancient babylonians

[zlives]

ancient Babylonians were just poor students of calculus, which their ancient astronaut alien overlords kept trying to teach them unsuccessfully.