Shownotes Transcript
Episode Overview
How did a bold Enlightenment vision become the universal language of science and technology? In this episode of Math! Science! History**!, Gabrielle takes you on a journey through the revolutionary origins, global adoption, and modern significance of the metric system. Discover how a chaotic world of local measurements gave way to an elegant, decimal-based system designed to unify not just France—but the entire planet. From the daring expedition of Delambre and Méchain to today's atomic-clock-calibrated definitions, this story reveals how the metric system continues to shape spaceflight, AI, and even cryptocurrency.
3 Things You Will Learn
Why the French Revolution called for a measurement system “for all people, for all time.”
How the metric system evolved from platinum prototypes to quantum-based constants.
Why the metric system is essential in today’s world, from Mars missions to microchips.
Resources & References
BIPM – International System of Units (SI))
NIST – Redefinition of the Kilogram)
Alder, Ken. The Measure of All Things
Quinn, Terry. From Artefacts to Atoms*
O’Connor, Anahad. “Why the U.S. Doesn't Use the Metric System” – The New York Times*
Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com) To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h)
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🎵 Audio: Mixed by David Aviles
Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved. Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers Waltz with Me by Beat Mekanik Camille Saint-Saëns, Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod
Until next time, carpe diem!