Grace Hopper was a science and technology pioneer from the USA. She earned the nickname 'Amazing Grace' for her work with computing and programming.

25 April 1985, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, Massachusetts, USA

I didn't know what a billion was. I don't think most of those men downtown know what a billion is, either. And if you don't know what a billion is, how on earth do you know what a billionth is?

I fussed and fumed.

Finally one morning, in total desperation, I called over to the engineering building, and said “please cut off a nanosecond and send it over to me”, and I brought you some today.

Now what I wanted when I asked for a nanosecond was, I wanted a piece of wire which would represent the maximum distance that electricity could travel in a billionth of a second.

Of course, it wouldn’t really be through wire. It’d be out in space, velocity of light, so if you start with the velocity of light and use your friendly computer, you’ll discover that a nanosecond is 11.8 inches long. The maximum limiting distance that electricity can travel in a billionth of a second.

Finally, again in about a week I called back and said “I need something to compare this to. Could I please have a microsecond?”

I’ve only got one microsecond, so I can’t give you each one. Here’s a microsecond. Nine hundred and eighty-four feet. I sometimes think we ought to hang one over every programmer’s desk, or around their neck, so they know what they’re throwing away when they throw away microseconds.

Now I hope you all get your nanoseconds. They’re absolutely marvellous for explaining to wives and husbands and children, and admirals, and generals, people like that. An admiral wanted to know why it took so damn long to send a message via satellite, and I had to point out that between here and the satellite were a very large number of nanoseconds.

You see, you can explain these things, it’s really very helpful, so be sure to get your nanoseconds.