http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/ Engadget Comments for Scientists create roundest objects in the world http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 11:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 10:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 11:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
I thought you were talking about Richard Simmons! Thanks for clearing it up...]]>Jul 2nd 2008 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
Everyone knows that a ruler (or as the pros/old timers call it, a scale) is not known for being straight.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 1:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
Someone should roll that ball on the perfect bowling lane which is perfectly level and pins that are made out of unicorn horns.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 2:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 3:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
If you want to learn about the straightest thing in the world, ask your girlfriend, she played with mine last night.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 7:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
We see you Yur-Up!!! We SEE Y O U!!!

;)]]>Jul 2nd 2008 9:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
Think about it, what is a kilogram? It's an arbitrary mass that we define to talk about other relative masses. So if we don't have an exact physical manifestation to calibrate high precision weights for checking scales, then some pretty bad things might happen.

Person 'A' might trade 500 ounces of gold to person 'B', but person 'B' might argue that he only has 496 ounces. Minor variations can lead to big problems. Hence the need for something that physically weighs exactly 1 kg.

It needs to be perfectly round to minimize oxidation. The problem with the platinum cylinder that was used as the old standard for the kilogram is that it has been slowly gaining mass. This was due to small levels of oxidation over time changing the mass of the cylinder. For the global standard you need something more exact. Hence the sphere. Minimize the surface area to volume ratio then you minimize the percentage error over time due to oxidation.

Epic fail for all of you.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 11:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 11:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
a milestone for atom arrangement...]]>Jul 2nd 2008 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
The bottom line is, this doesn't change anything, it is, how you say it, mathematical masturbation.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 1:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 2:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 4:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
So if oxidation adds mass wouldn't that be ok to adjust for inflation?]]>Jul 2nd 2008 5:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/

Now that's the kind of explaining we need at Engadget!]]>Jul 2nd 2008 8:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 10:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/| Think about it, what is a kilogram? It's an arbitrary mass
| that we define to talk about other relative masses.
| So if we don't have an exact physical manifestation to
| calibrate high precision weights for checking scales, then
| some pretty bad things might happen.

News Flash:
1 kilogram = the mass of 1 Liter of pure water]]>Jul 3rd 2008 9:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
I don't think I made any sense.. In any case, producing a 1 kilogram mass is better than messing around with other imperfect scales.]]>Jul 3rd 2008 12:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
The rounder the spheres are, the easier it is to measure their uniform width. By analysing the density of the crystalline silicon structure, an exact calculation can be made as to the quantity of single silicon atoms in the sphere, by using a simple formula which takes into account the width, volume and crystalline density. It is this number of silicon atoms which will be used to define the Kilogram as a physical object.

There seems to be confusion here as to what a Kilogram is. There is no such confusion in physics, the Kilogram is a perfectly well defined unit. The issue is with the physical comparison of weights which are used to define the Kilogram in the 'real world', since the objects currently used for this purpose have been changing in mass relative to each other for reasons unknown. Once the Kilogram is defined by the number of atoms in a silicon structure of known volume and crystalline density, this problem will no longer exist and an internationally comparable standard unit will be achieved.

Please remember, Engadget readers, that just because someone sounds like they know what they're talking about, it doesn't mean that they do. In fact, these people tend to spout more nonsense than anyone else. ]]>Jul 3rd 2008 4:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
Wonder if its hard to hold onto or anything.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 11:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
it amazes me the number of ppl on here who dont understand basic science sometimes. isnt this primarily a scientific community on here?]]>Jul 2nd 2008 12:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
"it amazes me the number of ppl on here who dont understand basic science sometimes."

It amazes me the number of people on here who don't understand basic life. Hrm, I have to hold something that is round and smooth, maybe I won't try to hold it by using my two fingers in a pincer-like grasp. *shock* I can actually form an almost "cup like" shape with my hand to hold it!]]>Jul 2nd 2008 1:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.

except my cliche monty python quote as a peace offering :-P. no more pissed off at stupid ppl comments for me... unless is clak or the kid who keeps talking in 1337 sp34k :-P]]>Jul 2nd 2008 3:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
Peace offering accepted ;)

Hooray, we're all getting along!]]>Jul 2nd 2008 7:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 10:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 11:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 11:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 11:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 12:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 12:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
People say "Interesting!" all the time.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 12:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 12:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
On an average day, how many people on here do you want to punch in the face? Just a general number? For me its around 4 or 5 :-P]]>Jul 2nd 2008 12:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 12:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/
]]>Jul 2nd 2008 12:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/scientists-create-roundest-objects-in-the-world/Jul 2nd 2008 12:58PM