Scientists vote to change the kilogram

The kilogram is making history as scientists vote to give it an update for the first time in a century.

Scientists vote to change the kilogram

The kilogram is making history as scientists vote to give it an update for the first time in a century.

Up to now, it has been defined by a golf-ball sized metal cylinder locked in a vault in France, but now the baseline measure is "going electronic".

Paul Hetherington from the National Standards Authority of Ireland said it will not change what you see on your bathroom scales, but it will make measurements more stable for the future.

He said: "Because it's a piece of metal, even though it's handled very carefully and stored very, very carefully, being metal it is subject to contamination. So from that point of view, it's changing by very small amounts, but it is subject to change

"So there has been work ongoing for the last 10 to 20 years in various science laboratories around the world to see can we move away from having a physical artefact so it won't be subject to this change that is ongoing and that is what we voted for."

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Irish homelessness Government criticised for missing social and affordable housing targets
National Risk Assessment for Ireland Tánaiste urges Israel ‘to show humanity’ and allow more aid into Gaza
Lego set based on RNLI lifeboat could soon become a reality Lego set based on RNLI lifeboat could soon become a reality
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited