Measurement

Measurement

Three hands, each in different colors and styles, stack on top of each other over a red, chart-patterned cutout against a gray grid background, reflecting the spirit of collaboration seen in current leadership development trends.
What 158 L&D leaders told us about the future of leadership development.
A wavy line, one meter long, transitions from dark red to bright yellow above a ruler, set against a magenta oval with a blue background featuring drawn human figures.
Until the late 20th century, there wasn't a truly universal standard. Under our current definition, everyone agrees on what "one meter" is.
Aerial view of people walking on a paved surface, casting long shadows behind them in bright sunlight.
Our minds crave simple, linear narratives. But society rarely follows a straight line.
4 things you should consider before launching your next global learning program.
A panoramic image of the Milky Way galaxy, with an inset showing a zoomed view of distant galaxies, tells a cosmic story. This region, highlighted in textured detail, echoes the exploration themes of the Euclid mission.
What are dark matter and dark energy? The large-scale structure of the cosmos encodes them both, with ESA's Euclid mission leading the way.
A person stands in front of a large, circular particle detector in a brightly lit, high-tech facility.
CERN scientists achieved record-breaking accuracy in mapping the mass of a key particle in the Standard Model.
Even if you aren't in the path of totality, you can still use the solar eclipse to measure how long it takes the Moon to orbit Earth.
attosecond spectroscopy research center laser
Our greatest tool for exploring the world inside atoms and molecules, and specifically electron transitions, just won 2023's Nobel Prize.
double slit experiments with electrons send one at a time
The double-slit experiment, hundreds of years after it was first performed, still holds the key mystery at the heart of quantum physics.
proton structure
A Fermilab study confirms decades-old measurements regarding the size and structure of protons.
elearning roi
If measuring eLearning ROI is so important, why aren’t more organizations doing it?
heavy neutral atom
Every timekeeping device works via a version of a pendulum — even the atomic clocks that are accurate to nanoseconds.
Something isn’t adding up, but it isn’t a calibration error. It’s been nearly 100 years since we discovered that the Universe was expanding. Ever since, the scientists who study the […]
The act of observing doesn’t just determine a previously indeterminate state, but can destroy information, too. Imagine that you’re a scientist attempting to understand reality at a fundamental level. How […]
If we want our conclusions to be meaningful, our data had better be robust. When it comes to the Universe, there’s a whole lot that doesn’t add up. All the matter […]
And if you have a friend at the same longitude, you can even measure its circumference. This year’s equinox, on March 19/20 of 2020 (longitude-dependent), is Earth’s earliest in 124 […]
It’s been over 100 years since Einstein, and over 300 since Newton. We’ve still got a long way to go. From measuring how objects fall on Earth to observing the motion […]
Every physical theory has constants in it. The gravitational constant is remarkably uncertain. When we first began formulating physical laws, we did so empirically: through experiments. Drop a ball off […]
Different measurements of the Universe’s rate of expansion give inconsistent results. But this simple solution could fix everything. In 1915, Einstein’s theory of General Relativity gave us a brand new […]
There are only two perfect numbers that fit on the calendar: 6 and 28, making June 28th Perfect Number Day. Find out what makes a number perfect, and why they matter. […]
And how if you try this with someone shorter than you are, you’ll find it extra convincing! “I drive from Florida to California all the time, and it’s flat to […]