Instructify

Your fancy metric system ain’t so hot now, huh, Europe? According to the Associated Press, the original prototype for the kilogram – a 118 year-old platinum and iridium alloy cylinder – is inexplicably 50 micrograms lighter, about the weight of a fingerprint. Is there any wonder now why America chose against such an inconsistent, arbitrary system of measurement in favor of ounces, gallons, and feet?

This makes for a great discussion with your science students about what the heck is going on here. In addition, what are the consequences of the official standard of metric mass going on a diet? How will it affect engineering, or the price of gold? There are lots of fun questions you can ask while you rejoice over not having to suffer the evils of the metric system. –BILL FERRIS

Official prototype of kilogram mysteriously losing weight via CNN.com