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The evolution of the metre: How a product of the French Revolution became a mainstay of worldwide scientific collaboration
- World Metrology Day on May 20 marked the 150th anniversary of the treaty establishing the metric system as the global standard.
- The Metre Convention was signed in 1875 by representatives of 17 nations in Paris, aiming for enduring international unity in measurements.
- A symposium in Paris celebrated the achievements of BIPM and scientific collaborations enabled by the Metre Convention.
- The history of metrology dates back to ancient times, with the French Revolution introducing the first metric system in 1799.
- The new system tied length and mass to natural standards, with prototypes like the platinum metre and kilogram adopted in 1889.
- The BIPM was established to reconcile France and Germany post-Franco-Prussian War, later expanding its measurement activities.
- The International System of Units (SI) was born with six basic units and derived units, replacing the expanded metric system.
- In 1983, the BIPM redefined the metre in terms of the speed of light, leading to defining other base units with fundamental constants.
- Efforts are underway to define the remaining base unit, the second, in terms of a fundamental constant for a complete SI system.
- The Metre Convention's longevity demonstrates the success of international scientific collaboration and the importance of unified measurements.
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