The document discusses the new SI system of measurement units. It provides background on the development of measurement standards over time. Key points: - The current SI system is being revised to define several base units like the kilogram in terms of fundamental physical constants rather than physical artifacts. - Several units like the second, meter and ampere are now defined in terms of fundamental properties of nature like the speed of light, atomic transitions, and charge of an electron. - The kilogram will be defined in terms of the Planck constant, linking it to quantum phenomena. This will eliminate reliance on a physical kilogram artifact held in France. - Precise measurement techniques involving things like silicon spheres or the w