http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/ ... 010213.php

"The kilogram is one of the seven SI base units from which all other units can be derived and is the only one which is measured against a physical object – the IPK – all others are standardised against known constants."

I knew we had standard measures around the world, but it didn't occur to me that there wasn't a definition. Wikipedia says they're working on it though:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram



Old news (January) but I don't remember reading it on here before.

Surely if the kilo weighed less, we would all weigh more as a result?

Yes, but it weighs more. The research was about how to correct it.

My point was only about a specific comment. If an object with a defined mass of 1kg (uncorrected), then surely (depending on density) it would measure more when corrected?

A bit like if you have a 100cm person measured against the ruler, and you realise the ruler has grown and is actually 110cm, then the person's height should have been measured at 110cm?

IIRC the standard unit of distance (the metre) is now a measurement of how far light travels over a particular time. Could they not do that with the kg? For example, you could invoke Avagadro's number and state that 1kg is the mass of x number of carbon atoms. Or something.