The measurement of small mass and force is as pertinent now as it
was in 1923 when E.M Eden and C.G. Eden published their article titled “Two
machines for rapidly weighing loads of a few milligrams” in the inaugural edition of
the Measurement science and technology journal (formerly known as the Journal
of scientific instruments). In the century since, measurement techniques have
evolved and become more accurate with current uncertainties of nanograms at
the milligram level measurements. This article reviews these advancements as
well as the applications for small mass and force measurement that have evolved
over the last century.