[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/9422\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe small things make a big difference in the science of measurement\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAs industry works more and more on the nanometre scale (a nanometre is a billionth of a metre), there is a need to measure more reliably and accurately things we can barely see. This requires metrology, the science of measurement.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ENano-scale metrology is useful in everyday life, for example to measure doses of medication or in the development of computer chips for our digital devices.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Metrology is needed everywhere that you make measurements or if you want to compare measurements,\u2019 said Virpi Korpelainen, senior scientist at the Technical Research Centre of Finland and National Metrology Institute in Espoo, Finland.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ESince the earliest civilisations, standardised and consistent measurements have always been crucial to the smooth functioning of society. In ancient times, physical quantities such as a body measurement were used.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EOne of the earliest known units was the cubit, which was approximately the length of a forearm. The Romans used fingers and feet in their measurement systems while the story goes that Henry I of England (c 1068 - 1135) tried to standardise a yard as the distance from his nose to his thumb.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStandard units\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EStandardisation demands precise definitions and consistent measurements. In the interest of greater accuracy, in the 1790s, the French government commission standardised the metre as the basic unit of distance. This set Europe on a path to the standardised international system of base units (SI) which has been evolving since.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ESince 2018, some key definitions of measurement units have been redefined. The kilo, the ampere, the kelvin and the mole are now based on fundamental constants in nature instead of physical models. This is because over time, the physical models change as happened with the model of the kilo, which lost a tiny amount of mass over 100 years after it was created. With this new approach, which was adopted after years of careful science, the definitions will not change. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EWhen people buy a measuring instrument, they typically don\u2019t think of where the scale comes from.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EVirpi Korpelainen, National Metrology Institute, Finland\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThis evolution is often driven by incredibly sophisticated science, familiar only to metrologists, such as the speed of light in a vacuum (metre), the rate of radioactive decay (time) or the Planck constant (kilogram), all of which are used to calibrate key units of measurement under the SI.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018When you buy a measuring instrument, people typically don\u2019t think of where the scale comes from,\u2019 said Korpelainen. This goes for scientists and engineers too. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EOnce the realm of research scientists, nanoscales are increasingly important in industry. Nanotechnology, computer chips and medications typically rely on very accurate measurements at very small scales.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EEven the most advanced microscopes need to be calibrated, meaning that steps must be taken to standardise its measurements of the very small. Korpelainen and colleagues around Europe are developing improved atomic force microscopes (AFMs) in an ongoing project called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euramet.org\/research-innovation\/search-research-projects\/details\/project\/traceability-of-localised-functional-properties-of-nanostructures-with-high-speed-scanning-probe-mic\/?L=0\u0026amp;tx_eurametctcp_project%5Baction%5D=show\u0026amp;tx_eurametctcp_project%5Bcontroller%5D=Project\u0026amp;cHash=77370b9b7c833b32c5a98d1da469727c\u0022\u003EMetExSPM\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAFM is a type of microscope that gets so close to a sample, it can almost reveal its individual atoms. \u2018In industry, people need traceable measurements for quality control and for buying components from subcontractors,\u2019 said Korpelainen. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe project will allow the AFM microscopes to take reliable measurements at nanoscale resolution by using high-speed scanning, even on relatively large samples.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Industry needs AFM resolution if they want to measure distances between really small structures,\u2019 Korpelainen said. Research on AFMs has revealed that measurement errors are easily introduced at this scale and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/analyticalscience.wiley.com\/do\/10.1002\/was.00170030\/full\/#.X8T1_iHWCok.linkedin\u0022\u003Ecan be as high as 30%\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe demand for small, sophisticated, high-performing devices means the nanoscale is growing in importance. She used an AFM microscope and lasers to calibrate precision scales for other microscopes.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EShe also coordinated another project, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euramet.org\/research-innovation\/search-research-projects\/details\/?tx_eurametctcp_project%5bproject%5d=1437\u0022\u003E3DNano\u003C\/a\u003E, in order to measure nanoscale 3D objects that are not always perfectly symmetrical. Precise measurements of such objects support the development of new technology in medicine, energy storage and space exploration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERadon flux\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EDr Annette R\u00f6ttger, a nuclear physicist at PTB, the national metrology institute in Germany is interested in measuring radon, a radioactive gas with no colour, smell or taste.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ERadon is naturally occurring. It originates from decaying uranium below ground. Generally, the gas leaks into the atmosphere and is harmless, but it can reach dangerous levels \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euro.who.int\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0005\/97448\/4.6_WEB.pdf\u0022\u003Ewhen it builds up in dwellings\u003C\/a\u003E, potentially causing illness to residents.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EBut there is another reason R\u00f6ttger is interested in measuring radon. She believes it can improve the measurement of important greenhouse gases (GHG).\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EYou can measure the amounts (of methane and carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere very precisely, but you cannot measure the flux of these gases coming out of the ground.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EDr Annette R\u00f6ttger, German National Metrology Institute\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018For methane and carbon dioxide, you can measure the amounts in the atmosphere very precisely, but you cannot measure the flux of these gases coming out of the ground, representatively,\u2019 said R\u00f6ttger.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Flux\u2019 is the rate of seepage of a gas. It is a helpful measurement to trace the quantities of other GHG such as methane that also seep out of the ground. Measurements of methane coming out of the ground are variable, so that one spot will differ from another a few steps away. The flow of radon gas out of the ground closely tracks the flow of methane, a damaging GHG with both natural and human origins.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen radon gas emissions from the ground increase, so do carbon dioxide and methane levels. \u2018Radon is more homogenous,\u2019 said R\u00f6ttger, \u2018and there is a close correlation between radon and these greenhouse gases.\u2019 The research project to study it is called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euramet.org\/research-innovation\/search-research-projects\/details\/?tx_eurametctcp_project%5bproject%5d=1686\u0022\u003EtraceRadon.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ERadon is measured via its radioactivity but because of its low concentrations it is very challenging to measure. \u2018Several devices will not work at all, so you will get a zero-reading value because you are below the detection limit,\u2019 said R\u00f6ttger.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWetland rewetting\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EMeasuring the escape of radon enables scientists to model the rate of emissions over a landscape. This can be useful to measure the effects of climate mitigation measures. For example, research indicates that the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-020-15499-z\u0022\u003Erapid rewetting of drained peatland\u003C\/a\u003E stores greenhouse gas and mitigates climate change.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EBut if you go to the trouble of rewetting a large marshland, \u2018You will want to know if this worked,\u2019 said R\u00f6ttger. \u2018If it works for these GHG, then we should see less radon coming out too. If we don\u2019t, then it didn\u2019t work.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWith more precise calibration, the project will improve radon measurements over large geographical areas. This may also be used to improve radiological early warning systems in a European monitoring network called the European Radiological Data Exchange Platform (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/remon.jrc.ec.europa.eu\/About\/Rad-Data-Exchange\u0022\u003EEURDEP)\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We have lots of false alarms (due to radon) and we might even miss an alarm because of this,\u2019 said R\u00f6ttger. \u2018We can make this network better which is increasingly important for radiological emergency management support by metrology.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EGiven the intensity of the climate crisis, it is crucial to present reliable data for policy makers, added R\u00f6ttger. This will assist greatly in addressing climate change, arguably the biggest threat mankind has faced since the cubit was first employed as a measure in ancient Egypt over 3,000 years ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Ch5\u003EThe research in this article was funded by the EU. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.\u003C\/h5\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-bg-bluelightest tw-p-12 tw-my-12 tw--mx-16\u0022\u003E\n \u003Ch3 class=\u0022tw-font-sans tw-font-bold tw-text-blue tw-uppercase tw-text-lg tw-mb-8\u0022\u003EWorld Metrology Day 2022\u003C\/h3\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-inline-block tw-w-1\/6 tw-h-1 tw-bg-blue tw-mb-8\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EMay 20th is the annual World Metrology Day. This year marks the 147th anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875, as noted on the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euramet.org\/metrology-for-societys-challenges\/world-metrology-day-2022\/\u0022\u003EEURAMET.org web page about World Metrology Day 2022\u003C\/a\u003E. The science of measurement has continued to evolve and this year the focus is on the role of Metrology in the Digital Era.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFollow the link to learn more about how \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euramet.org\/publications-media-centre\/news\/news\/metrology-research-underpinning-digital-transformation-at-all-levels\/\u0022\u003Emetrology research underpins digital transformation.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMetrology is ever-evolving and precision in measurements supports medicine, environmental science and the standardisation of economic activity. The European Partnership on Metrology officially launched in March 2022. With a budget of \u20ac650m, the agreement between the European Union and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.euramet.org\/research-innovation\/research-empir\/\u0022\u003EEURAMET\u003C\/a\u003E, the European metrology community, supports Europe\u2019s global leadership in metrology and the science of measurement.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFollow the link to learn more about\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/info\/research-and-innovation\/funding\/funding-opportunities\/funding-programmes-and-open-calls\/horizon-europe\/european-partnerships-horizon-europe\/digital-industry-and-space_en#metrology\u0022\u003E the EC\u2019s partnership with EURAMET\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/textarea\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n \u003Cdiv id=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 class=\u0022ecl-help-block description\u0022\u003E\n Please copy the above code and embed it onto your website to republish.\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cinput autocomplete=\u0022off\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022form-wbjmjrmcvl1tzllqdfd0kwdeqldlshwiuo9j-9vdpag\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_build_id\u0022 value=\u0022form-wBjmJrMcvl1TZlLqDFD0KWdeqldlShWIUO9j-9vdPAg\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Cinput data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 type=\u0022hidden\u0022 name=\u0022form_id\u0022 value=\u0022modal_form_example_modal_form\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C\/form\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E","dialogOptions":{"width":"800","modal":true,"title":"Republish this content"}}]