NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.
Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
This article touches upon three main topics: (1) the motivation for the romance of the next decimal place, or why the fundamental physical constants are important and why their determination with ever smaller uncertainties can have a profound effect on physics; (2) how a self-consistent set of best values of the fundamental constants is obtained, with emphasis on the 2002 least-squared adjustment of the values of the constants (the most recent comprehensive study carried out); and (3) future trends where the field is heading over the next 5 to 10 years.
Citation
Encyclopedia of Physics
Pub Type
Encyclopedias
Keywords
2002 CODATA recommended values of the fu, CODATA, data analysis, fundamental constants, least-squares adjustments
Citation
Taylor, B.
and Mohr, P.
(2008),
Constants, Fundamental, Encyclopedia of Physics
(Accessed October 1, 2025)