Measurement and metrication

Inspired by this significant milestone, #100 tackles the topics of how and why we measure the natural world. Sally Riordan’s feature article, ‘Perfect ten’, discusses the creation of the kilogramme (1-2). Hasok Chang questions whether water actually boils at 100 degrees (4). James Poskett is in Edinburgh, researching phrenology at the National Library of Scotland (5). Plus Viewpoint’s first-ever inclusion of sheet music, as Ben Marsden introduces W.J. Macquorn Rankine’s anti-metrical ode, “The Three-Foot Rule” (8-9). Susannah Gibson also reviews Patricia Fara’s latest book on Erasmus Darwin (14).

Viewpoint 100 [3.4Mb, pdf]