The international system of measurements has been overhauled with new definitions for the kilogram and other key units.
At a meeting in Versailles, France, countries have voted to approve the wide-ranging changes that underpin vital human activities like global trade and scientific innovation.
The most closely watched change was the revision to the kilo, the measurement of mass.
Until now, it has been defined as the mass of a platinum-iridium lump, the so-called Grand K, that is kept in a secured vault on the outskirts of Paris. It has been the world’s one true kilo, against which all others were measured, since 1889.
![Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.](https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/themes/shaw-globalnews/images/skyline/national.jpg)
Get daily National news
WATCH: What defines a kilogram is about to change
![Click to play video: 'What defines a kilogram is about to change'](https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/453/394/GNWEB111218kilogram__864689.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
It is now being retired and replaced by a new definition based on a scientific formula. In their vote, countries also unanimously approved updates to three other key units: the kelvin for temperature, the ampere for electrical current and the mole for the amount of a substance.
The vote was greeted by sustained applause and cheers, after the 50-plus countries in attendance said yes or oui when asked one by one for their decision.
WATCH: Latest science videos on Global News
*more to come
- What is CrowdStrike? How a cybersecurity update caused a global tech outage
- CrowdStrike outage: Canadian flights, health care disrupted after faulty update
- Wildfire near Spences Bridge sparks ‘tactical evacuations,’ new fires flare in Kootenays
- Vancouver team caring for 2nd orphan sea otter pup found near Tofino
Comments