Monthly Archives: June 2007

UKMA slates EU climb down on metrication

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

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?

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

The introduction of metric units in the UK has been controversial and much of the opposition has been on the basis that it â??betrays our heritageâ?? or is a â??foreign impositionâ??. However as a schoolboy then engineer – who has … Continue reading

Posted in History, Technical | 4 Comments