Why America still uses Fahrenheit

Since I’ve moved to the US in 2010, there’s one thing that I still don’t fully understand: the imperial system. Virtually every country on earth uses Celsius but America has yet to follow. Although it might not seem like a big deal, not using the metric system puts America at a great disadvantage. For example, American kids have to learn 2 sets of measurements making science education even more difficult. On top of that, American companies have to produce extra products to export to metric countries. So why does the United States still have such an antiquated system of measurement?

Vox’s Dion Lee explores the challenges of using Fahrenheit and other imperial measurements. She also recounts some of the history behind why the United States is one of only three countries in the world that has not adopted the metric system. Related reading: Why Americans still use Fahrenheit long after everyone else switched to Celsius.