h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Certain items of definite value are kept in a climate controlled, subterranean vault, inside of a bomb-proof safe, somewhere in the leafy subburbs of Middlesex?

What are they? and why the precaution.


Googling and Wikipedia and forbidden.


There are klaxons, naturally, so be bold, preferably interesting but never obvious.

Good luck.

I have a horrible feeling it's not in the UK at all and actually on the european mainland or in the USA but I'm going to go for it.

Is it the radioactive substance used to measure time accurately (is it known as the atomic clock? I'm suffering work-based dementia...)

I doubt it'll be a seed bank as Kew is the wrong bit of London, and that's in the country at Wakefield Place.

Not that this could possibly be the answer, but I find myself thinking of the collection of proverbial items that the Patrician keeps in the Discworld. Like the quintessential rock and hard place, or the piece of string - so that there can be an accurate measurement of it's length, and such like.


Geggs

Not an atomic clock.

Seed bank?

-5

Your right. That's not the answer.

the weights and measusres all other weights and measures are calibrated from, it has to be climate controled because diferent materials expand with heat/cold and that could affect length and volume

It would be a good answer if they weren't stored in Paris.

I reckon it must be something to do with MI5's records, or gold standards possibly.

B

Gold, Silver and Platinum Standards?????




GT

why would imperial standard measurements be stored in paris????

pints, feet, yards, pounds and ounces???

Why would they even have imperial standard measurements for comparison? They're all based on the acreage of land a half-drunk geriatric man can plough in two sunrises with three and a half oxen, in any case.

B

why the precaution????

do we go back to a yard being the measurements taken from the monarch, from that all the miles suddenly get longer or shorter

Taff DGI +1

Temperature is one of the elements under control but not the only one and for that reason your reasoning is sound but your way off base...

Mu Beta DGI +1 for "Paris"

Mu and GT however both trip klaxons,

Mu -5 "official secrets"

GT - 5 "gold reserve"

Why would imperial standard measurements be stored in Paris?

Is an excellent question.

is it a calibrating thermometer

and because preasure, volume and tempreture....the gas laws, are all interlinked all 3 must be kept constant so that the "standard" is not affected??

No that's not the reason.

OY!!!

Clive!!!!


I said 'Gold Standard' NOT Gold Reserve.


Two different things!!!


GT