Precision: The Measure of All Things – Mass and Moles – Episode 2/3

The documentary is about the importance of precision in measurement, specifically regarding mass and moles.

The documentary starts by describing an important artifact in the world of measurement, the kilogram master known as Legrand k, which has been the basis for all weights since 1889.

However, tests have shown that Legrand k is losing weight, creating a crisis in the scientific world as even a small change in weight can have significant consequences.

The documentary goes on to explore the history of measurement and how the drive for precision has changed the course of history. The ability to accurately measure weight has been central to trade and commerce since the dawn of civilization.

Early systems of weight were based on grain, which was uniform in size and shape, and enabled people to trade goods based on their weight in grains.

As commerce developed across the ancient world, a standardized system of weights began to emerge, with stones and metals being used to represent different weights of grain. These standardized systems were related back to the weight of a grain, which was trusted by everyone.

In modern times, science has become obsessed with defining fundamental units of measurement with ever greater precision. The documentary explains how the seven fundamental units of modern science are used to describe the chaos and complexity of the universe.

The documentary concludes by exploring the importance of precision in measurement in various fields, including medicine, technology, and science.

It highlights the need to replace the aging kilogram master with a new, more precise measurement system that could hold the key to a new way of understanding our world.