Scientists are about to redefine how much weighs one kilogram

Weight is important. My post-holiday blooming lapse gives me enough evidence of that, but that's not enough for science.

On November 16, the General Conference on Weights and Measures – which, it seems, does not seem to be the most fascinating event – begins in France. At the conference, scientists should vote to change the definition of the kilogram, by affixing it to one of the immutable phenomena of the universe: the Planck constant.

All this seems a bit confusing, so let's take a few steps back.

The most widely used form of measurement in the world is based on the metric system and is officially known as the International System of Units (SI). Seven "basic units" compose them, including the ampere, the second and the mole. Some of these measurements were formerly defined by physical phenomena, such as the second, based on the rotation of the Earth. The second is defined by periods of radiation in a cesium 133 atom.

The kilogram is the last basic unit linked to a physical object.

This physical object is a piece of metal housed perpetually underground at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, in Sèvres, France. The platinum-iridium alloy, also known officially as the International Prototype Kilogram and, informally, under the name of Grand K, is a bit like the Lord of the Rings ring – this is the name of the game. is the only weight that governs them all. Each weight is calibrated against The Big K, normalizing the measurement of one kilogram across the globe.

But The Big K, forged in 1889, has lost 50 micrograms in the past 129 years. The kilogram became the "999.99995-gram". Except that, even if he lost that tiny fraction of his mass, the kilogram is still defined by The Big K, and that it changes over time – and scientists do not like that. They want it to be constant, forever.

Thus, a kilogram may come to be defined by an immutable universal phenomenon known as the Planck constant, rather than a piece of metal in an underground vault. But how does it work?

The new definition of the kilogram, if the vote is adopted, is certainly horrible to read, because it gives me the impression to understand almost nothing of the universe. It's here:

It is defined by taking the fixed numeric value of the Planck constant h must be 6,626 070 15 x 10-34 when it is expressed in the unit J⋅s, which is equal to kgm2s-1, where the counter and the second are defined in terms of c and νCs .

?

Planck's constant is a phenomenon of quantum mechanics that connects mass to electromagnetic energy. It's one of the smallest measures of the physical world and finding it – measuring it – was a big challenge. The journey lasted for decades and involved a machine known as Kibble's Balance, which tries to assimilate not mass but energies.

"We are at a pivotal moment in our journey," said Dr. Barry Inglis, unparalleled CEO of the National Measurement Instutiteiteutei Australia.

"After years of research, it is now possible to justify a major revision of the IS.This decision, if taken, will represent a considerable scientific feat."

More importantly for the kilogram, Planck's constant is just that: constant. Unlike Grand K, it will not be different from 50 micrograms in 129 years. This means that the kilogram can always be linked to it – and regardless of the distance traveled in the cosmos, Planck's constant should remain the same. So, the kilogram will be too.

And if all of this is confusing you again, the overly long, unread of all this is actually quite simple: after decades of hard work and assumptions, scientists – these men and women of genius – have found defining the kilogram based on a universal truth.

Starting Friday, the kilogram will always weigh one kilogram.

Simple.

The conference will also see the votes cast to change the definition of amp, mole and kelvin. If this interests you, you can watch live on YouTube the event that changes the world.

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