Did Pirates Really Ruin the US Dream of the Metric System?
Falha ao colocar no Carrinho.
Falha ao adicionar à Lista de Desejos.
Falha ao remover da Lista de Desejos
Falha ao adicionar à Biblioteca
Falha ao seguir podcast
Falha ao parar de seguir podcast
Did Pirates Really Ruin the US Dream of the Metric System?
-
Narrado por:
-
De:
Sobre este áudio
Why is the United States so culturally opposed to the metric system? According to a popular legend, this conundrum dates back to the late 1700s, when a French polymath named Joseph Dombey sailed to Thomas Jefferson with two crucial artifacts: a rod measuring exactly one meter, and a copper cylinder weighing one kilogram, set to bring the new nation a system of rational measurement. As the story goes, British privateers waylaid Dombey. Stole his artifacts, unsuccessfully ransomed him, and the poor nerd died in captivity without ever meeting Jefferson. As a result, the US remains metric-shy in the modern day. However: this legend, based in fact, may not be the story entire. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the Ridiculous History of our country's long-standing aversion to a genuinely good idea.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.