After celebrating the arrival of decimal currency in the UK 50 years ago, Metric Views now goes back to basics on decimal measurement. No, we shall not be looking at nautical distances or Gunter’s chain! Continue reading “How metric units fit together”
Decimal changeover lessons
Following on from last week’s informative article about the UK’s introduction of decimal currency, we look at some of the features contributing to that success and draw comparisons with the changeover to metric measures.
Continue reading “Decimal changeover lessons”50 years of decimal currency
On 15 February 2021, we mark 50 years of decimal currency in the UK.
Continue reading “50 years of decimal currency”Unfamiliar US weights and measures
Defenders of the imperial system occasionally cite Americans’ continued use of non-metric measurements to justify Britain’s dual system. Ronnie Cohen is not convinced.
Continue reading “Unfamiliar US weights and measures”BBC symbol clangers
John Austin, editor of the UK Metric Association (UKMA) newsletter, looks at incorrect metric symbols used by the BBC.
Continue reading “BBC symbol clangers”COVID-19 and the search for a vaccine
As the UK’s vaccination programme hits the headlines, Ronnie Cohen takes a look at the microscopic elements that are affected by viruses and the vaccines developed to fight them.
Continue reading “COVID-19 and the search for a vaccine”Bats in the belfry
During the BBC programme “Bells on Sunday”, one of our readers noted that an unfamiliar unit was used to denote the weight of a bell.
Continue reading “Bats in the belfry”Road speed units mix-up could have been fatal
We begin the year with a cautionary tale – a recent incident that highlights a possible consequence of the UK’s ongoing measurement muddle.
Continue reading “Road speed units mix-up could have been fatal”