The New York Times is reporting that the standard cylinder that is used as the basis for the Kilogram is losing weight at a noticeable rate.

Unlike some of the other forms of measure, the Kilo' hasn't yet gotten a better definition, yet, but that may be changing as scientists look for a more repeatable way to describe a kilogram.

The shrinking standards mass (also the basis for measures such as the Volt) is housed in France.

For those interested, NIST provides a timeline of the changes in the standard definition of a meter since it's definition in 1791.

You'd think we'd be able to get with the program after 212 years...