[Source: @getagripcomic]
150 years ago, the Metre Convention determined how we measure the world — a radical initiative for the time

Jonathan Simone, Brock University
On May 20, 1875, delegates from a group of 17 countries gathered in Paris to sign what may be the most overlooked yet globally influential treaty in history: the Metre Convention.
At a time when different countries (and even different cities defined weights and lengths based on local artifacts, royal body parts or grains of wheat, this rare agreement among nations offered something simple yet undeniably impactful: consistency.
A radical initiative for its time, the Metre Convention ultimately birthed a system of measurement that would transcend language, politics and tradition, and lay the foundation for a new global era of scientific and technological advancement.

A world divided by measurement
By the mid-19th century, the push for standardization had become increasingly urgent. Scientific discovery was accelerating, global trade was booming and industrial projects were growing in scale and complexity. But the world’s measurements were, frankly, a mess.
France had introduced the metric system during its revolutionary years, but other nations were slow — or outright unwilling — to adopt it.
Rivalries simmered not just among empires, but within the scientific community itself. Astronomers couldn’t compare celestial observations across borders because their units didn’t match. Engineers designing railway systems across Europe had to navigate conflicting standards for track gauges, load weights and even timekeeping.
This wasn’t just inefficient. It was a barrier to progress, a strain on economies and a growing source of frustration or a scientific world that aimed to speak in universal truths.
Faced with growing societal demands, the industrial world agreed it was time to act. The Metre Convention was the result.
Scientists and diplomats representing the 17 participating countries collectively established the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), headquartered just outside Paris, as the official keeper of measurement standards. Today, the BIPM is backed by 64 member states and governs the Système International d’Unités (SI), the measurement framework that underpins everything from bridges to smartphones.
When standards fail

And while by today’s standards, the SI may seem like a relic of old-school science bureaucracy, it’s anything but. Standardized measurement is the invisible infrastructure of the modern world. And when it fails, or more specifically when we ignore it, the consequences can be severe.
Take the Gimli Glider incident. In 1983, an Air Canada flight from Montréal to Edmonton ran out of fuel midway through its journey. The cause was a miscalculation caused by confusion between metric and imperial units: the ground crew had used pounds instead of kilograms to measure fuel, and the pilots didn’t catch the error.
The plane lost power at 41,000 feet (around 12,500 metres for those who prefer their near-death experiences in metric), and glided safely to an abandoned airstrip in Gimli, Man., and to the annals of history as a symbol of what happens when we take standards for granted.
Or consider the Mars Climate Orbiter, a US$327 million NASA spacecraft that disintegrated upon entering Mars’ atmosphere in 1999. Engineers at Lockheed Martin had used imperial units, while NASA had assumed metric. The mismatch led to a critical navigation error and the failure of the mission, highlighting the importance of consistency in measurement, even far beyond the confines of Earth’s atmosphere.
The Gimli Glider and Mars Orbiter failures show what happens when consistency breaks down, but they’re more than just cautionary tales. They reveal how much of modern life depends on the shared language of measurement, and how easily that foundation can be cracked.
And therein lies the genius of the Metre Convention. It created a system that allows the world to communicate in the same terms. When someone says “kilogram,” “second” or “volt,” there is no ambiguity. That shared understanding is what makes global collaboration possible.

From man-made objects to universal constants
But as scientists are wont to do, good ideas are refined, and standards evolve. For much of its post-Metre Convention history, the kilogram was defined by a physical artifact — a hunk of platinum-iridium alloy stored in a vault in France. But in 2019, that changed. Now, the kilogram is defined by Planck’s constant, a fundamental feature of the universe. The shift marked the final step in a long journey: every base unit in the SI is now rooted in nature rather than arbitrary human artifacts.
That change wasn’t just symbolic, it was necessary. Our ability to measure time, mass and distance with extreme precision affects nearly every aspect of modern life.
GPS signals rely on time measurements accurate to the billionth of a second. Quantum computers and particle accelerators require calibration on mind-bendingly small scales. Even weather forecasting depends on standardized measurements of pressure, temperature and humidity.
Shared standards in a divided world
But perhaps the most underrated legacy of the Metre Convention is its role in building trust across borders.
At a time when misinformation spreads quickly and even basic facts are contested, international standards offer a shared foundation that scientists, governments and industries can rely on. It’s a form of global co-operation that has quietly endured for 150 years.
That co-operation becomes particularly apparent in moments of political strain. Although the United States appears uncompromising in its commitment to feet and inches, American scientists, engineers and manufacturers rely heavily on the metric system, especially when collaborating across borders.
As tensions rise between close allies like the U.S. and Canada, metric standards remain a consistent point of harmony. The two countries may spar diplomatically, but when it comes to assembling a car in Windsor with parts made in Detroit, the bolts still fit.
Looking ahead
Still, like all institutions, BIPM and the SI reflect the times in which they were created. The original signatories were almost exclusively colonial powers. It took almost a century for other nations to gain an equal seat at the table, and even now, access to the tools and infrastructure that facilitate precision metrology — the act of taking extremely accurate measurements — remains unequal.
If the next 150 years of the Metre Convention are to be as successful as the first, greater inclusivity and accessibility will need to be central to its mission.
We live in a world held together by decimals, tolerances and agreed-upon constants that keep planes in the air, bridges from collapsing and scientific progress on track.
The Metre Convention reminds us that science isn’t only about big breakthroughs and bold ideas. Sometimes it’s about consensus and agreeing, together, on what a metre actually is. And even after 150 years, the simple idea of agreeing how to measure the world remains one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
So, what should we do with this anniversary? Maybe throw a party with metric-themed cocktails (may I suggest a 100mL Old Fashioned?). At the very least, we should take a moment to reflect on just how essential, and how easy to overlook, measurement really is.
Jonathan Simone, Adjunct Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
An Affordable Cutting-Edge Bionic Hand That Feels Like the Future
Imagine a bionic hand that not only moves like a real one but also lets you feel what you’re touching. That’s exactly what PSYONIC has created—a state-of-the-art carbon fiber prosthetic that uses electrical impulses from the user’s muscles to fully articulate, just like a natural human hand.
This futuristic device responds to signals beneath the skin, allowing for remarkably fluid motion. But what really sets it apart is its haptic feedback system—yes, it actually provides a sense of touch. Whether picking up a cup or shaking hands, users can feel pressure and texture in real time.
It’s also built to last. With a durable carbon fiber frame, it’s waterproof, Bluetooth-connected, and can be controlled and fine-tuned through a smartphone app. Despite all this innovation, the bionic hand is surprisingly affordable, coming in at a price point low enough to be fully covered by Medicare.
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Cute [Comic]
[Source: @bonusctx]
What if Your Time Machine Broke… At The Worst Time In History
Imagine firing up your time machine for a quick trip through history—only to have it short-circuit and dump you in Earth’s most terrifying past. No dinosaurs, no people, just the planet at its deadliest. In Kurzgesagt’s latest animated deep-dive, you’re stranded in an ancient hellscape where the air itself wants to kill you, the heat melts your gear, and the local wildlife? Let’s just say you’re not at the top of the food chain.
From suffocating deserts and monstrous bugs to fungal forests under alien skies, each era is more hostile than the last—and somehow, you keep landing in the middle of a storm. Survival isn’t about brawn here. It’s about brains, grit, and the desperate hope your broken machine kicks back in before the planet finishes you off.
This is prehistoric survival horror at its smartest.
Weird Birds [Comic]
[Source: @mygumsarebleeding]
Wednesday Season 2 Teaser Trailer Unleashes Gothic New Mysteries
Netflix is reopening the gates of Nevermore Academy, and you’re invited back into the eerie embrace of the macabre. The first trailer for Wednesday Season 2 has dropped, and Jenna Ortega returns to stalk the Gothic halls with her signature deadpan stare, wicked wit, and a whole new supernatural mystery to untangle.
Here is the official synopsis:
Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega), returns to prowl the Gothic halls of Nevermore Academy, where fresh foes and woes await. This season, Wednesday must navigate family, friends and old adversaries, propelling her into another year of delightfully dark and kooky mayhem. Armed with her signature razor-sharp wit and deadpan charm, Wednesday is also plunged into a new bone-chilling supernatural mystery.
Part 1 premieres August 6th, with Part 2 following on September 3rd. Grab your blackest outfit and get ready to embrace the gloom—Wednesday is back in session.
Watch the trailer below:
Predator: Badlands Teaser Flips the Script: The Hunter Becomes the Hero
For nearly four decades, the Predator franchise has reigned supreme with one of cinema’s most fearsome alien creatures — an apex hunter with a strict code and unmatched lethality. But the hunt is about to change.
The first teaser for Predator: Badlands has arrived, and it flips the entire mythos on its head. Directed by Prey’s Dan Trachtenberg, this new chapter takes us off-world and into the future, where a young Predator — an exile from his clan — must survive not by hunting humans, but by standing with them.
Set on a remote, unforgiving planet, Badlands follows the unlikely bond between Thia (Elle Fanning) and the outcast Predator (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) as they face a greater, more terrifying threat together.
Predator: Badlands hits theaters and IMAX on November 7, 2025. Watch the teaser below!
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