Back to Show
It's Okay to Be Smart
How the Meter Became The Meter
Season 5
Episode 6
The meter is the world’s ultimate measure, but how did it become “the” meter? What is this measurement based on? The story of this revolution in measurement traces its roots to the French Revolution. Scientists decided that an equal and united people should have equal and united measures. So they sent a pair of young astronomers out to measure the world, and invent the meter.
Support Provided By

19:10
There's an absolutely weird, but surprisingly common phenomenon called sensory adaptation.

11:50
Scientists in Florida can recreate a Category 5 hurricane in a box the size of a bedroom.

10:41
Are humans still evolving? And how have our technological advances affected the process?

19:07
Illusions teach us how our brain constructs a three-dimensional reality using 2-D images.

22:18
Joe talks biology with science communicator extraordinaire Prof. Brian Cox.

9:42
We explore why animals like whales, elephants, and other large animals not get cancer.

10:16
The real magic of mirrors is far stranger and more interesting, as you’re about to learn.

16:14
We take a look at how amazing the ability to read is.

17:56
Neuroscientist David Eagleman talks about illusions that make the moving picture possible.

16:20
Here's what I've learned about the possible end of this pandemic.

15:15
We explore what we can actually do about pollution.

14:29
We explore why we dream.