Monthly Archives: June 2007

UKMA slates EU climb down on metrication

Posted on 2007-06-28 by Erithacus

The UK Metric Association has accused the European Commission of “political cowardice” because it has caved in to American and European exporters – supported by the UK Government – and effectively abandoned the objective of a single, rational system of … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer affairs, Law, Media, Road signs | 17 Comments

Barrels of oil

Posted on 2007-06-19 by Erithacus

The media always report statistics of oil production, reserves etc in “barrels”. But how many people know how big a “barrel” is?* Indeed is it an appropriate unit of measurement to use in the context of world energy policy?

Posted in Technical | 5 Comments

A new definition of the kilogram?

Posted on 2007-06-17 by Erithacus

A new method of defining the kilogram is being sought by various teams of scientists around the world. However, it may be some years before a decision emerges. (NB – this will obviously not alter the actual size of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Technical | 4 Comments

How British metallurgists made the first international kilograms and metres

Posted on 2007-06-07 by Roddy Urquhart

The introduction of metric units in the UK has been controversial and much of the opposition has been on the basis that it ‘betrays our heritage’  or is a ‘foreign imposition’.  However as a schoolboy then engineer – who has … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Technical | 4 Comments