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posted by chromas on Monday May 20 2019, @07:42PM   Printer-friendly
from the progress-is-centimetering-along-nicely dept.

We measure stuff all the time – how long, how heavy, how hot, and so on – because we need to for things such as trade, health and knowledge. But making sure our measurements compare apples with apples has been a challenge: how to know if my kilogram weight or metre length is the same as yours.

Attempts have been made to define the units of measurement over the years. But today – International Metrology Day – sees the complete revision of those standards come into play.

You won't notice anything – you will not be heavier or lighter than yesterday – because the transition has been made to be seamless. Just the definitions of the seven base units of the SI (Système International d'Unités, or the International System of Units) are now completely different from yesterday.

[...] The challenge now though is to explain these new definitions to people – especially non-scientists – so they understand.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 21 2019, @12:38AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 21 2019, @12:38AM (#845680)

    Yes, but they had to pay extra to get them to agree that the centimeter is defined as one third of length of the typical Moslem's dick.