The article discusses the history of numeral systems in Europe, focusing on the transition from Roman numerals to Arabic numerals and the unique numeral system created by John of Basingstoke for the Cistercian monastic order. This system allowed numbers from 1 to 9999 to be represented by a single symbol, which was more efficient than Roman numerals. The Cistercian Order, originating from the Benedictine tradition, adopted this system for record-keeping. Only a few documents from the 13th and 14th centuries using this system survive, found in northwestern European monasteries. The system's design and principles are explained, and it is noted that despite its advantages, it was eventually replaced by Arabic numerals.

The article discusses the crucial role of mathematician Leonhard Euler in the development of Covid-19 vaccines, particularly the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Euler's solution to a problem known as the Eulerian path and circuit, which led to the creation of graph theory, is linked to the rapid gene sequencing that enabled the swift creation of the vaccine. The article explains the traditional vaccine development process and highlights the innovative approach taken by Pfizer and BioNTech, which uses the body's own cells to produce a protein that mimics the virus, thereby stimulating an immune response without using the actual virus. The article is the first in a series, with subsequent parts to discuss Euler's work and its connection to vaccine development in more detail.