Standard Kilogram Gains Weight

mrbluze writes "The standard kilogram weights used by countries around the world for calibration have variably increased in mass by tens of micrograms. This poses a threat to the precision and comparability of measurements in science, engineering and trade. The problem is due to surface contamination, but a safe method of cleaning the weights has only recently been devised by the use of ozone and ultraviolet light (abstract). 'The ultraviolet light-ozone treatment removes hydrocarbon contamination that has built up on the metal surface, gunk that comes from the emissions of an industrial society. Cumpson suspects that because the kilos living in national labs have been retrieved and handled more frequently than the international kilo, more carbon-containing contaminants have built up on them over time. Incubating the kilograms with a set amount of ozone and ultraviolet light "gently breaks up the carbonaceous contamination at the surface."'"

Excellent

[mister2au]

I think the kilogram should be adjusted upwards every holiday season ...

Nothing like a bit of seasonal normalisation on the scales to justify festive binges.

Ha!

[phantomfive]

If you'd all use imperial, this wouldn't happen. Just need to know how long that guy's foot is.

How does a geek lose weight?

[deek]

He (or she) redefines the standard.

Now all we need are electronic scales that can receive updated firmware via the internet.

Glad to be an American.

[zippo01]

That why I'm glad to live in America, where we still use the good old pound. Now all I have to do it sit back and watch your metric world unravel.

It's happening *everywhere*

[mark-t]

I guess obesity really *IS* an epidemic problem.

Hey.... somebody had to say it.

Re:Excellent

[Acapulco]

I came here to ask precisely this.
So I've actually lost weight? Woohoo! go science!

Re:Glad to be an American.

[boundary]

I'm glad you're there too.

Re:Glad to be an American.

[sidevans]

The "Pound" is used to weight American Beef, the "Kilogram" is used to measure things like Uranium. Surely you can join the dots from there...

Re:vive les USA :P

[Joce640k]

Nope. Feet are continually being renewed as part of a natural process and hundreds of new measuring cups are made every day, they don't have time to accumulate any gunk.

Re:Mititant metric user

[jrumney]

Lard et fromage then, you informative pedant.