Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants

A vibrant account of how measurement has invisibly shaped our world, from ancient civilizations to the modern day.



From the cubit to the kilogram, the humble inch to the speed of light, measurement is a powerful tool that humans invented to make sense of the world. In this revelatory work of science and social history, James Vincent dives into its hidden world, taking listeners from ancient Egypt, where measuring the annual depth of the Nile was an essential task, to the intellectual origins...