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Exploring Unique Units of Measurement

In our recent exploration of the world’s most unusual units of measurement, Feedback presented an interesting case involving polar bears as units of snowpack. Reader Steve Tees inquired about the meaning of “shed load” in the context of traffic delays.

Since then, we’ve received an influx of emails suggesting alternative phrases to express large quantities.

Two readers, Bryn Glover and John Newton, both linked the term to highway incidents, commenting, “The truck was certainly dropping a load.”

F. Ian Lamb proposed viewing “shed loads” as examples of “endogenous relative scaling (ERS) units,” indicating that individual perceptions of size can vary widely based on personal experiences. For instance, £1,000 could seem insignificant to a millionaire but immense to someone living in poverty. Ian invites readers to share more examples of ERS units.

William Croydon provides another perspective, noting that “shed” is a term utilized in nuclear physics. In particle physics, measuring small particles colliding requires a unit with a tiny cross-sectional area.

According to William, the “barn” unit is 100 square femtometers (10^-28 square meters), which is approximately the cross-section of a uranium atom’s nucleus. Essentially, this small measurement corresponds to the ease with which a nuclear reaction may be initiated.

William also mentioned that smaller units, or “huts,” have been discussed, albeit with uncertainty regarding their dimensions. Online research led to two variants: the “outhouse,” which is one millionth of a barn, and the “yoctoban,” defined as 10^-24 barn, humorously dubbed as a shed in a barn.

In any case, as William points out, even numerous sheds would be “too small to cause problems on the highway.”

Tony Lewis humorously suggests that while Steve Tees wants to know the size of the “xxxx warehouse” blocking traffic, it must indeed measure the equivalent of “xxxx warehouses.”

Pencils and Shakespeare

Feedback regarding the book Puzzle Advisor by Rob Eastaway highlights how William Shakespeare may have been influenced by the mathematics of his era.

Feeling a kinship with Shakespeare, Feedback notes the recent surge of interest in various adaptations of Hamlet, including Riz Ahmed’s modern take and the gender-swapped Scarlet, all of which delve into themes of moral corruption.

Interestingly, Rob’s book mentions that graphite was in use during Shakespeare’s lifetime for writing instruments, suggesting the Bard may have opted for a pencil over a quill for some of his witty compositions.

This was reported in Stationery News, headlined “2B or not 2B?” The article suggests any pencil Shakespeare used would likely have been of pure graphite, implying it would have been 9B rather than 2B.

The Enigma of Hexagonal Water

Reader Joseph Orechino shared an email promoting the supposed health benefits of “hexagonal water,” claiming it is “10 times healthier than lemon water.”

This type of water allegedly undergoes a treatment that arranges its molecules in a hexagonal formation, though many experts agree that such structures are unstable and short-lived.

Despite the scientific skepticism, the allure of hexagonal water persists, with our archives revealing past attempts to create wine from it and other quirky concepts like “vibrating interactive water.”

The feedback poses an intriguing question: Why hexagons? To maximize water’s potential, a pentagram might be a more magical arrangement, although it might lead to accidental symbolism when a bottle is turned upside down.

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