Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
All computers throughout history have always functioned because of one simple device: a switch.
Watch this video ad-free on Nebula:
nebula.tv/videos/scienceasylum-computers-are-just-rocks-doing-math
NEW CHANNEL:
youtube.com/@EquilibriumFX
Nick Lucid - Host, Writer, Editor, Animator
Em Lucid - Producer
Alexis Dahl - Content Consultant
________________________________
SUPPORT THE SCIENCE ASYLUM
Patreon:
patreon.com/ScienceAsylum
YouTube Membership:
youtube.com/channel/UCXgNowiGxwwnLeQ7DXTwXPg/join
Sign-Up for Nebula:
go.nebula.tv/scienceasylum
Advanced Theoretical Physics (Paperback):
lulu.com/shop/nick-lucid/advanced-theoretical-physics-a-historical-perspective/paperback/product-24250687.html
Advanced Theoretical Physics (eBook):
gumroad.com/l/ubSc
Merchandise:
scienceasylum.com
________________________________
HUGE THANK YOU TO THESE SUPPORTERS
Asylum Orderlies:
Chloë Joan López, Dhruv Singhal, James Smith, Joel Wolhendler, Peter Engrav
Einsteinium Crazies:
A.C. S., Benjamin Sharef, Dan Sullivan, Eoin O'Sullivan, Jonathan Lima, Joseph Salomone, Kevin Flanagan, Matias Cveczilberg, William Hutchison
Plutonium Crazies:
Al Davis, Compuart, Kevin MacLean, Rick Myers
Platinum Crazies:
Christopher Bennett, Clayton Bruckert, David Johnston, E. W. Darbyshire, Ishay Oz, Jonathan Reel, Li-Ce Hu, Marino Hernandez, Mr. Orn Jonasar, Ulrich
________________________________
SOURCES
computerhistory.org/timeline/1940
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor_count
techtarget.com/whatis/definition/logic-gate-AND-OR-XOR-NOT-NAND-NOR-and-XNOR
101computing.net/binary-additions-using-logic-gates
101computing.net/binary-subtraction-using-logic-gates
________________________________
LINKS TO COMMENTS
youtube.com/watch?v=7DtrY54F3AY&lc=Ugxv4pXLmrLXSrJ0iBh4AaABAg
________________________________
IMAGE/VIDEO CREDITS
ENIAC:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glen_Beck_and_Betty_Snyder_program_the_ENIAC_in_building_328_at_the_Ballistic_Research_Laboratory.jpg
Vacuum Tubes:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Early_triode_vacuum_tube_collection.jpg
Transistors:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BC546B_transistor_(01).jpg
________________________________
TIME CODES
00:00 Intro
00:41 Switches
01:21 Binary Numbers
02:17 Binary Addition
02:53 Vacuum Tubes
03:59 Truth Table: Addition
05:13 Carry-Over Check
05:49 Sum Check
06:33 Logic Gates
07:27 Binary Subtraction
08:30 Binary Multiplication
09:01 Transistors
09:13 Closing Thoughts
09:58 Featured Comment
All computers throughout history have always functioned because of one simple device: a switch.
Watch this video ad-free on Nebula:
nebula.tv/videos/scienceasylum-computers-are-just-rocks-doing-math
NEW CHANNEL:
youtube.com/@EquilibriumFX
Nick Lucid - Host, Writer, Editor, Animator
Em Lucid - Producer
Alexis Dahl - Content Consultant
________________________________
SUPPORT THE SCIENCE ASYLUM
Patreon:
patreon.com/ScienceAsylum
YouTube Membership:
youtube.com/channel/UCXgNowiGxwwnLeQ7DXTwXPg/join
Sign-Up for Nebula:
go.nebula.tv/scienceasylum
Advanced Theoretical Physics (Paperback):
lulu.com/shop/nick-lucid/advanced-theoretical-physics-a-historical-perspective/paperback/product-24250687.html
Advanced Theoretical Physics (eBook):
gumroad.com/l/ubSc
Merchandise:
scienceasylum.com
________________________________
HUGE THANK YOU TO THESE SUPPORTERS
Asylum Orderlies:
Chloë Joan López, Dhruv Singhal, James Smith, Joel Wolhendler, Peter Engrav
Einsteinium Crazies:
A.C. S., Benjamin Sharef, Dan Sullivan, Eoin O'Sullivan, Jonathan Lima, Joseph Salomone, Kevin Flanagan, Matias Cveczilberg, William Hutchison
Plutonium Crazies:
Al Davis, Compuart, Kevin MacLean, Rick Myers
Platinum Crazies:
Christopher Bennett, Clayton Bruckert, David Johnston, E. W. Darbyshire, Ishay Oz, Jonathan Reel, Li-Ce Hu, Marino Hernandez, Mr. Orn Jonasar, Ulrich
________________________________
SOURCES
computerhistory.org/timeline/1940
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor_count
techtarget.com/whatis/definition/logic-gate-AND-OR-XOR-NOT-NAND-NOR-and-XNOR
101computing.net/binary-additions-using-logic-gates
101computing.net/binary-subtraction-using-logic-gates
________________________________
LINKS TO COMMENTS
youtube.com/watch?v=7DtrY54F3AY&lc=Ugxv4pXLmrLXSrJ0iBh4AaABAg
________________________________
IMAGE/VIDEO CREDITS
ENIAC:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glen_Beck_and_Betty_Snyder_program_the_ENIAC_in_building_328_at_the_Ballistic_Research_Laboratory.jpg
Vacuum Tubes:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Early_triode_vacuum_tube_collection.jpg
Transistors:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BC546B_transistor_(01).jpg
________________________________
TIME CODES
00:00 Intro
00:41 Switches
01:21 Binary Numbers
02:17 Binary Addition
02:53 Vacuum Tubes
03:59 Truth Table: Addition
05:13 Carry-Over Check
05:49 Sum Check
06:33 Logic Gates
07:27 Binary Subtraction
08:30 Binary Multiplication
09:01 Transistors
09:13 Closing Thoughts
09:58 Featured Comment










