A Turning Point for Humanity
In 1875, history was made. 17 countries signed the International Treaty of the Meter, subsequently creating the first universal system of measurements in human history. This opened up trade between nations and facilitated the spread of ideas in an era of increasing globalist sentiment. However, this treaty, later renamed the SI (The International System of Units), had some flaws. While the system was based off of properties of nature, it was actually calibrated using physical artifacts kept in the International Bureau of Weights in France. These artifacts were subject to deterioration, and thus a change in mass and size. This was for the most parth unknown until the shocking discovery in 1989, that the “Grand K”, the basis for all other kilograms, weighed less than a copy of itself! Earlier in the century, successful efforts had already been made to revise the definitions of other SI basic units. The second was redefined as an “unchanging frequency of microwave radiation released and absorbed by a cesium atom” in 1960, and in 1983, the meter was redefined by the distance light travels in a specific period of time. This brings us to 2018, when 60 countries decided to redefine four of the seven SI basic units. This will have many lasting effects on the world, specifically the scientific, technological, and medical communities. Primarily, the new SI definitions will, across the globe, create more accurate and precise measurement of units that we use in our everyday lives. It will eliminate the need for calibration, preventing future issues like the “Grand K” discovery in 1989. The redefinitions will also have a significant impact on pharmaceutical companies and scientific labs, who often complete testing with substances in measurements drastically smaller than a kilogram. This is relevant as the unit derived from the “Grand K” could prove very inaccurate when measured in large or small quantities. Now that the kilogram is defined based on a constant property of nature, these measurements will be much more accurate in smaller measurements (think nanograms or picograms!), and could help provide more potent medicine to those who truly need it, as well as potential medical breakthroughs in today’s major health crises. This increase in accuracy also applies to larger measurements, which can be found in projects like infrastructure and machinery. A more accurate measuring system will create much safer and efficient bridges, airports, apartments, airplanes, really anything. The redefinition of measurements will also set the stage for innovation and advancement across all fields. In science, these advancements could be astronomical (literally, who knows what we could discover in our galaxy?) It is shocking how little we know about our earth, and more accurate and precise measurements could pave the way to making these discoveries. When it comes to me personally, this change will not have an immediately obvious effect on my life. However, this change will, in some way, affect every citizen of this earth. Be it safer bridges, more efficient aircraft, or better medicine to treat the sick, the world will soon see the great benefits that will accompany the simple redefinition of the world’s measurement system. Though it may seem trivial to many, we must remember the significance of measurements, and the way we interact and rely on them every day. We must also acknowledge what the International Treaty of the Meter set out to do in the first place: create a system of measurement “for all times, for all people”. By redefining the International System of Measurements to reflect the fundamental and constant properties of nature, we have finally completed the dream those 17 countries set out to achieve in 1875.
Works Cited
Materese, R. (2018, December 06). A Turning Point for Humanity: Redefining the World's Measurement System. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/turning-point-humanity-redefining-worlds-measurement-system
In 1875, history was made. 17 countries signed the International Treaty of the Meter, subsequently creating the first universal system of measurements in human history. This opened up trade between nations and facilitated the spread of ideas in an era of increasing globalist sentiment. However, this treaty, later renamed the SI (The International System of Units), had some flaws. While the system was based off of properties of nature, it was actually calibrated using physical artifacts kept in the International Bureau of Weights in France. These artifacts were subject to deterioration, and thus a change in mass and size. This was for the most parth unknown until the shocking discovery in 1989, that the “Grand K”, the basis for all other kilograms, weighed less than a copy of itself! Earlier in the century, successful efforts had already been made to revise the definitions of other SI basic units. The second was redefined as an “unchanging frequency of microwave radiation released and absorbed by a cesium atom” in 1960, and in 1983, the meter was redefined by the distance light travels in a specific period of time. This brings us to 2018, when 60 countries decided to redefine four of the seven SI basic units. This will have many lasting effects on the world, specifically the scientific, technological, and medical communities. Primarily, the new SI definitions will, across the globe, create more accurate and precise measurement of units that we use in our everyday lives. It will eliminate the need for calibration, preventing future issues like the “Grand K” discovery in 1989. The redefinitions will also have a significant impact on pharmaceutical companies and scientific labs, who often complete testing with substances in measurements drastically smaller than a kilogram. This is relevant as the unit derived from the “Grand K” could prove very inaccurate when measured in large or small quantities. Now that the kilogram is defined based on a constant property of nature, these measurements will be much more accurate in smaller measurements (think nanograms or picograms!), and could help provide more potent medicine to those who truly need it, as well as potential medical breakthroughs in today’s major health crises. This increase in accuracy also applies to larger measurements, which can be found in projects like infrastructure and machinery. A more accurate measuring system will create much safer and efficient bridges, airports, apartments, airplanes, really anything. The redefinition of measurements will also set the stage for innovation and advancement across all fields. In science, these advancements could be astronomical (literally, who knows what we could discover in our galaxy?) It is shocking how little we know about our earth, and more accurate and precise measurements could pave the way to making these discoveries. When it comes to me personally, this change will not have an immediately obvious effect on my life. However, this change will, in some way, affect every citizen of this earth. Be it safer bridges, more efficient aircraft, or better medicine to treat the sick, the world will soon see the great benefits that will accompany the simple redefinition of the world’s measurement system. Though it may seem trivial to many, we must remember the significance of measurements, and the way we interact and rely on them every day. We must also acknowledge what the International Treaty of the Meter set out to do in the first place: create a system of measurement “for all times, for all people”. By redefining the International System of Measurements to reflect the fundamental and constant properties of nature, we have finally completed the dream those 17 countries set out to achieve in 1875.
Works Cited
Materese, R. (2018, December 06). A Turning Point for Humanity: Redefining the World's Measurement System. Retrieved January 13, 2019, from https://www.nist.gov/si-redefinition/turning-point-humanity-redefining-worlds-measurement-system
