http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/27/science/27KILO.html On the search for an abstract definition of the kilogram. (That is, one that isn’t defined by a (unique) physical object, in this case by chunk of heavily guarded metal sitting in a “château” outside Paris.)
Interesting: “One reason the kilogram has lagged behind the other units is that there has been no immediate practical benefit to increasing its precision.”
(The piece also mentions that Japan had to surrender their replica kilogram block after WWII. So only countries in good international standing get a kilogram of their own? And was it physically (and cermonially) taken from them, or did someone just bounce it down the stairs a few times?) 16:06
