NIST News | |
Displaying news from January 01, 2011 To December 31, 2011
NIST Research/Collaboration Efforts Key to Innovation and Economic Growth
Release Date: December 30, 2011 Innovation drives economic growth and creates skilled, high-wage jobs. To maintain a high standard of living for its citizens, the United States must continue to produce new, high quality products … more
NVLAP News Fall/Winter 2011 Edition
Release Date: December 29, 2011 The Fall/Winter 2011 issue of NVLAP News is now available on NVLAP's website. Click here to read the latest news. This newsletter is e-mailed to laboratories enrolled in the NVLAP program and … more
CNST Collaboration Resolves Century-Long Debate Over How to Describe Electromagnetic Momentum Density in Matter
Release Date: December 28, 2011 Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the University of British Columbia have shown that the interaction between a light pulse and a light-absorbing object, … more
NIST Sensor Improvement Brings Analysis Method into Mainstream
Release Date: December 20, 2011 An advance in sensor design* by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Waterloo's Institute of Quantum Computing (IQC) could unshackle a … more
Prototype NIST Device Measures Absolute Optical Power in Fiber at Nanowatt Levels
Release Date: December 20, 2011 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated a prototype device capable of absolute measurements of optical power delivered through an optical … more
NIST Releases First Certified Reference Material for Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes
Release Date: December 20, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued the world’s first reference material for single-wall carbon nanotube soot. Distantly related to the soot in your … more
Protecting Computers at Start-Up: New NIST Guidelines
Release Date: December 20, 2011 A new draft computer security publication from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides guidance for vendors and security professionals as they work to protect personal … more
Partners Offer Performance Excellence Help for Small Businesses
Release Date: December 20, 2011 A new collaboration between the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP), the Alliance for Performance Excellence and The Alternative Board (TAB) will provide resources and training for small … more
Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities at NIST
Release Date: December 20, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is now accepting applications for the 2012 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) programs at its Gaithersburg, Md., and Boulder, … more
National Program Office for the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Established at NIST
Release Date: December 19, 2011 Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Patrick Gallagher today announced establishment of a National Program … more
Responses to NIST Federal Register Request for Information on How to Structure Proposed New Program: Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech)
Release Date: December 16, 2011 On July 22, 2011, NIST published a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register inviting opinions from the public on how to structure a proposed new program: Advanced Manufacturing … more
Commerce Secretary John Bryson Lays Out Vision for Department of Commerce
Release Date: December 15, 2011 At U.S. Chamber of Commerce, former chairman and CEO outlines priorities to create jobs: Build it here, sell it everywhere U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson today laid out his vision for how the … more
CNST Collaboration Demonstrates Nanoscale Focused Ion Beam Employing Laser-Cooled Lithium Atoms
Release Date: December 14, 2011 A team of researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and FEI Company have adapted a commercial focused ion beam (FIB) column to use photoionized laser-cooled lithium … more
NIST Announces Broad Call for Research Grant Proposals in Science and Engineering
Release Date: December 13, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced that it is accepting proposals for funding for a broad range of potential research projects and related activities that … more
NIST Special Publication Expands Government Authentication Options
Release Date: December 13, 2011 A newly revised publication from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) expands the options for government agencies that need to verify the identity of users of their Web-based … more
White House Office of Manufacturing Policy
Release Date: December 12, 2011 WASHINGTON - President Obama today announced that Secretary John Bryson would join National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling as co-chair of the White House Office of Manufacturing … more
UV Lithography: Going to Extremes
Release Date: December 9, 2011 Contamination forms on a clean multi-layer surface (top) when EUV photons react (middle) with gases, resulting in carbonaceous deposits (bottom). Photos: SEMATECH Sometime soon, … more
PML Researchers Create Tool for 'Circuit-Aware' Reliability Testing
Release Date: December 9, 2011 High-speed, amplified probe tip used to collect reliability data in the NIST Advanced Device Characterization and Reliability laboratory. Many transistor reliability problems require … more
Atoms Dressed with Light Show New Interactions, Could Reveal Way to Observe Enigmatic Particle
Release Date: December 8, 2011 Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have found a way to manipulate atoms’ internal states with lasers that dramatically influences their interactions … more
National Institute of Standards and Technology Recognizes Staff
Release Date: December 7, 2011 GAITHERSBURG, Md.—Employees of the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were recognized in an awards ceremony Dec. 7 at NIST's … more
International Collaboration Reveals Magnetization Textures in NiPd Nanostructures
Release Date: December 7, 2011 An international collaboration, including researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology,& has used scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA) to … more
NIST FY 2012 Budget Signed Into Law
Release Date: December 6, 2011 On Nov. 18, 2011, President Obama signed into law the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-55), which provides FY 2012 funding for a number of government … more
Study Finds Failure Points in Firefighter Protective Equipment
Release Date: December 6, 2011 In fire experiments conducted in uniformly furnished, but vacant Chicago-area townhouses, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers uncovered temperature and heat-flow … more
New NIST Web Site Features Fire Safety for the Holidays
Release Date: December 6, 2011 Fire researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) remind us that proper care of a cut Christmas tree is important to retaining high moisture content in the … more
Elusive Ultrafine Indoor Air Contaminants Yield to NIST Analysis
Release Date: December 6, 2011 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) spent 75 days on the job carrying out some very important homework—measurements in a "typical dwelling" … more
New NIST Biometric Data Standard Adds DNA, Footmarks and Enhanced Fingerprint Descriptions
Release Date: December 6, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published a revised biometric standard in November, 2011, that vastly expands the type and amount of information that forensic scientists … more
NIST Requests Funding Proposals for Projects in Precision Measurement
Release Date: December 6, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting proposals for the next round of funding in its long-running Precision Measurement Grant Program (PMGP). The program provides … more
Two at NIST Are Named IEEE Fellows for 2011
Release Date: December 6, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)'s George Arnold and John Suehle have been named fellows of the IEEE, one of the world's major professional organizations dedicated … more
Powerful NIST Detectors on Hawaiian Telescope to Probe Origins of Stars, Planets and Galaxies
Release Date: December 6, 2011 The world’s largest submillimeter camera—based on superconducting technology designed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)—is now ready to scan … more
NCNR Offers Financial Assistance for Neutron Science Research
Release Date: November 30, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting proposals for multiyear financial assistance awards to support research and development at the NIST Center for Neutron … more
CNST Collaboration Tunes Viscous Drag on Superhydrophobic Surfaces
Release Date: November 30, 2011 By measuring the motion of a vibrating, porous membrane separating water and air, researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, the NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory, … more
Healthcare IT LAP Announcement
Release Date: November 29, 2011 The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) announces the release of NIST Handbook 150-31, Healthcare Information Technology Testing. This handbook supports the program-specific … more
Bright Future for GaN Nanowires
Release Date: November 25, 2011 Optically pumped GaN nanowire laser shown glowing orange. The actual laser output is UV (≈370 nm) and invisible to the unaided eye. The length of the lasing nanowire is roughly 10 … more
Four Organizations Win 2011 Baldrige National Quality Award
Release Date: November 22, 2011 U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson today named four organizations—three health care operations and one nonprofit business—as recipients of the 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National … more
NIST Improves Tool for Hardening Software Against Cyber Attack
Release Date: November 22, 2011 Computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have dramatically enlarged a database designed to improve applications that help programmers find weaknesses in … more
New HIPAA Tool Helps Organizations Meet Security Requirements
Release Date: November 22, 2011 A new tool, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and offered for free, can help public and private organizations, large and small, to understand and implement the … more
Tiny Levers, Big Moves in Piezoelectric Sensors
Release Date: November 22, 2011 A team of university researchers, aided by scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), have succeeded in integrating a new, highly efficient piezoelectric material into … more
NIST and Partners Seek Input on Safer Ambulance Designs
Release Date: November 22, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking input from paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and other interested parties on the development of new design … more
Tags? We're It. NIST Opens New 'Biolabeling' Research Facility
Release Date: November 22, 2011 With the recent opening of its new Biomolecular Labeling Laboratory, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has become one of a small handful of facilities in the world that … more
New Magnetic-Field-Sensitive Alloy Could Find Use in Novel Micromechanical Devices
Release Date: November 22, 2011 Led by a group at the University of Maryland (UMd), a multi-institution team of researchers has combined modern materials research and an age-old metallurgy technique to produce an alloy that could … more
NIST Posts Comments on Public Safety Communications Network
Release Date: November 22, 2011 Commercial standards, created in an open forum and publically available, should be a key feature of a broadband communications network for the nation's emergency services, according to public … more
Romine Named Director of NIST's Information Technology Laboratory
Release Date: November 22, 2011 Charles H. Romine, new director of the NIST Information Technology Laboratory. Credit: NIST View hi-resolution image Charles (Chuck) H. Romine became director of the Information … more
Original NIST Campus in D.C. Designated 'Physics Historic Site'
Release Date: November 22, 2011 Page 90 of Ernest Ambler's laboratory notebook recording the historic parity conservation experiment on December 27, 1956. Credit: NIST View hi-resolution image The American … more
Four U.S. Organizations Honored with the 2011 Baldrige National Quality Award
Release Date: November 22, 2011 Additional Contact: Michael E. Newman 301-975-3025 First Year with Three Health Care Recipients WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson today named four … more
CNST Collaboration Controls Thermal Fluctuations with Spin Current
Release Date: November 16, 2011 A team of researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, the University of Muenster, and West Virginia University have demonstrated control of magnetic thermal fluctuations … more
Adding Up Photons with a TES
Release Date: November 14, 2011 At the center of this micrograph, the TES is the orange-and-green square between two bright gold electrodes. Its dimensions are 25 X 25 μm. Credit: NIST/PML Read More About PML … more
NBS Physics Site Honored
Release Date: November 14, 2011 At the event. (l-r): Katharine Gebbie (PML), Allen Sessoms (UDC), and Kate Kirby (APS). Photo credit: Michael Lucibella/APS News. &The American Physical Society (APS) has named the … more
NIST’s John Cahn Receives Kyoto Prize
Release Date: November 10, 2011 John Cahn receives Kyoto Prize medal. Credit: Inamori Foundation View hi-resolution image YOTO, JAPAN — November 10, 2011 — The non-profit Inamori Foundation … more
Fish Flu: Genetics Approach May Lead to Treatment
Release Date: November 8, 2011 A research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has provided the first look* at a genetic structure that may play a critical role in the reproduction of the infectious … more
Government Issues Building Energy and Water Submetering Report
Release Date: November 8, 2011 WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new interagency report recommends systematic consideration of new metering technologies that can yield up-to-date, finely grained snapshots of energy and water usage in … more
Are Electron Tweezers Possible? Apparently So.
Release Date: November 8, 2011 Not to pick up electrons, but tweezers made of electrons. A recent paper* by researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Virginia (UVA) … more
NIST Physicists Chip Away at Mystery of Antimatter Imbalance
Release Date: November 8, 2011 Why there is stuff in the universe—more properly, why there is an imbalance between matter and antimatter—is one of the long-standing mysteries of cosmology. A team of … more
New Report Urges More Detailed Utility Metering to Improve Building Efficiency
Release Date: November 8, 2011 A new interagency report recommends systematic consideration of new metering technologies, called submetering, that can yield up-to-date, finely grained snapshots of energy and water usage in … more
NICE Issues Cybersecurity Workforce Framework for Public Comment
Release Date: November 8, 2011 The National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NICE) has published for public comment a draft document that classifies the typical duties and skill requirements of cybersecurity workers. The … more
Draft Roadmap for Cloud Computing Technology
Release Date: November 8, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released for public comment a draft "roadmap" that is designed to foster federal agencies' adoption of cloud computing, … more
NIST Signs Agreement to Enhance Cybersecurity Education Programs
Release Date: November 8, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has agreed to work with the Department of Education and a new organization, the National Cybersecurity Education Council (NCEC), to develop … more
NIST to Help Speed Technology Transfer from Federal Labs
Release Date: November 8, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will play a significant role in helping speed the transfer of federal research and development from the laboratory to the marketplace, as … more
Safe Fluids for Jet Engine Texts
Release Date: November 2, 2011 A sailor assigned to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department tests an aircraft jet engine for defects aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Credit:&Brandon C. Wilson/U.S. Navy. On … more
Redefining the SI Units
Release Date: November 2, 2011 The latest official brochure for the international system of units. Metrology is poised to undergo a profound change that will benefit scientists, engineers, industry and commerce … more
CNST Researchers Efficiently Extract Photons from Single Semiconductor Quantum Dots Directly into an Optical Fiber
Release Date: November 2, 2011 Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology have led the development of a new technique for efficiently out-coupling photons from epitaxially-grown quantum dots directly … more
NIST Releases Draft Cloud Computing Technology Roadmap for Comments
Release Date: November 1, 2011 The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released for public comment a draft "roadmap" that is designed to foster federal agencies' … more
We Can't Wait: Obama Administration Announces Two Steps to Help Businesses Create Jobs, Strengthen Competitiveness
Release Date: October 28, 2011 WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the Obama Administration announced it is taking two important steps to help U.S businesses create jobs and strengthen their competitiveness in a global economy. Through two … more
NIST Releases Update to Smart Grid Framework
Release Date: October 26, 2011 An expanded list of standards, new cybersecurity guidance and product testing proposals are among the new elements in an updated roadmap for Smart Grid interoperability released today* for public … more
NIST Handbook 44 - 2012 Edition
Release Date: October 26, 2011 NIST Handbook 44 - 2012 Edition Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices as adopted by the 96th National Conference on Weights and Measures … more
CNST and University of Maryland Researchers Bridge Nanophotonics and Conventional Optics with Surface Plasmonic Lenses Fabricated on Optical Fibers
Release Date: October 26, 2011 Researchers from the University of Maryland and the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology have experimentally demonstrated superfocusing of light using an optical fiber-based surface … more
Future 'Comb on a Chip': NIST's Compact Frequency Comb Could Go Places
Release Date: October 25, 2011 Laser frequency combs—extraordinarily precise tools for measuring frequencies (or colors) of light—have helped propel advances in timekeeping, trace gas detection and related … more
Improved Characterization of Nanoparticle Clusters for EHS and Biosensors Research
Release Date: October 25, 2011 The tendency of nanoparticles to clump together in solution—"agglomeration"—is of great interest because the size of the clusters plays an important role in the … more
Quantum Computer Components 'Coalesce' to 'Converse'
Release Date: October 25, 2011 If quantum computers are ever to be realized, they likely will be made of different types of parts that will need to share information with one another, just like the memory and logic circuits in … more
NIST Releases Two Wireless Security Guides, Requests Comment
Release Date: October 25, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued for public review and comment two draft guides to securing wireless communication networks. NIST is requesting comments on the … more
Final Version of NIST Cloud Computing Definition Published
Release Date: October 25, 2011 After years in the works and 15 drafts, the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) working definition of cloud computing, the 16th and final definition has been published as … more
New Study Finds that Baldrige Award Recipient Hospitals Significantly Outperform Their Peers
Release Date: October 25, 2011 A new report has found that health care organizations that have won Baldrige National Quality Awards for performance excellence or been considered for a Baldrige Award site visit outperform other … more
NIST Names 10 to National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee
Release Date: October 25, 2011 Ten prominent building and fire experts have been appointed by Patrick Gallagher, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to serve on the National Construction Safety … more
NIST Digital Library of Mathematical Functions Receives IT Award
Release Date: October 25, 2011 Government Computer News magazine has honored the Digital Library of Mathematical Functions (DLMF), which the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released last year, with one of … more
NIST Releases Update to Smart Grid Framework
Release Date: October 25, 2011 An expanded list of standards, new cybersecurity guidance and product testing proposals are among the new elements in an updated roadmap for Smart Grid interoperability released today* for public … more
NIST Handbook 130 - 2012 Edition
Release Date: October 25, 2011 NIST Handbook 130 - 2012 Edition Uniform Laws and Regulations in the Areas of Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel Quality as adopted by the 96th National Conference on Weights and Measures … more
NIST Measures Key Property of Potential 'Spintronic' Material
Release Date: October 19, 2011 An advanced material that could help bring about next-generation "spintronic" computers has revealed one of its fundamental secrets to a team of scientists from Argonne National … more
Commerce and Transportation Departments Forge Partnership to Boost Domestic Manufacturing Across America
Release Date: October 18, 2011 Partnership will help revitalize the domestic railway manufacturing sector, support Obama Administration’s historic investments in transportation and create jobs U.S. Transportation … more
Happy World Standards Week!
Release Date: October 14, 2011 Imagine a world where shoe sizes were not standardized, or where golf balls came in a variety of sizes and weights. What if your favorite CDs didn’t fit in your friend’s CD … more
NIST Colleagues Congratulate Shechtman on Nobel Chemistry Prize
Release Date: October 13, 2011 Additional Contact: Gail Porter 301-975-3392 Gaithersburg, Md.— National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) colleagues of Dan Shechtman joined others in the scientific … more
NIST Seeks Help in Understanding Public Response to Joplin Tornado
Release Date: October 13, 2011 As part of its technical study on the impacts of the devastating May 22, 2011, tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will be conducting … more
Magnetic Attraction: NIST/CU Microchip Demonstrates Concept of 'MRAM for Biomolecules'
Release Date: October 13, 2011 Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and University of Colorado Boulder (CU) have developed a low-power microchip that uses a combination of microfluidics and … more
NIST Data Set Details Federal Tech Transfer Efforts Since 1987
Release Date: October 13, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has compiled and released a comprehensive set of data detailing federal technology transfer activities between 1987 and 2009. This report … more
NIST Publishes Guide for Monitoring Security in Information Systems
Release Date: October 13, 2011 A new computer security publication* from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will help organizations understand their security posture against threats and vulnerabilities and … more
Federal Cloud Technology Roadmap to be Introduced at Forum & Workshop, Nov. 2-4
Release Date: October 13, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will unveil the public draft of its U.S. Government Cloud Computing Technology Roadmap at the Cloud Computing Forum & Workshop IV … more
NIST Cooperative Agreement with University of Maryland Supports Research on 21st Century Smart Systems
Release Date: October 13, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded today a $1 million cooperative agreement to the University of Maryland at College Park (UMD). Researchers at UMD’s … more
CNST and ASU Researchers Show that Gold Doping Increases Nickel Catalyst Activity for Carbon Nanostructure Formation
Release Date: October 12, 2011 Researchers from the CNST and Arizona State University have demonstrated that the overall catalytic activity of nickel particles for the formation of carbon nanostructures is improved by the … more
NIST MEP and EDA Working with National Governors Association to Encourage Growth Opportunities in Manufacturing in Seven States
Release Date: October 7, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the Economic Development Administration (EDA), both agencies of the U.S. Department of … more
CNST and ITL Researchers Change the Color and Shape of a Single Photon
Release Date: October 5, 2011 A team of researchers from the CNST and ITL has simultaneously changed the color and shape of a single photon, the smallest unit of light.& The work, reported in the August 19 issue of Physical … more
Public/Private Leaders Collaborate on Ways to Fight Botnets
Release Date: October 4, 2011 Washington, D.C.—The U.S. departments of Commerce and Homeland Security (DHS) today discussed with other federal agencies and private-sector leaders in the information technology industry … more
Traveling SIRCUS Tests Satellite Sensors
Release Date: October 3, 2011 Artist's conception of the NPP satellite. The VIIRS instrument suite is at the top left of the image. Credit: NASA For NASA's Earth Observing System satellite fleet, sensor … more
Quantum Mechanics at Work
Release Date: October 3, 2011 Colorized image of a NIST micropillar containing a semiconductor quantum dot that emits individual photons, or particles of light. A NIST micropillar like this was used in research led by … more
NIST gets HIP: a new method for testing optical imaging sensors
Release Date: October 3, 2011 Figure 1. Schematic of the Hyperspectral Image Projector (HIP). A spectral engine optically in series with a spatial engine projects a time-integrated 2D image to the sensor under test … more
All Time, All the Time: Improving NIST Radio
Release Date: October 3, 2011 & Computer-generated estimates of WWVB signal strength under typical conditions show coverage at two-hour intervals over the course of a day with WWVB operating at 50 kW radiated power. … more
Atomic Theory of Lithium
Release Date: October 3, 2011 The investigators took high-precision measurements of the D1 and D2 transition lines in the two stabl more
New Etch Process Developed at the CNST uses Argon Pulsing to Improve Silicon Etch Rate and Selectivity
Release Date: September 28, 2011 Engineers in the CNST NanoFab have developed a new plasma etching technique for silicon which improves the etch rate, the mask selectivity, and the sidewall profile by optimizing the addition of … more
In Unique Fire Tests, Outdoor Decks Will Be Under Firebrand Attack
Release Date: September 27, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will unleash its Dragon—a NIST invention that bellows showers of glowing embers, or firebrands—at a unique wind tunnel … more
NIST Polishes Method for Creating Tiny Diamond Machines
Release Date: September 27, 2011 Diamonds may be best known as a symbol of long-lasting love. But semiconductor makers are also hoping they'll pan out as key components of long-lasting micromachines if a new method developed … more
Metric Week Begins October 9!
Release Date: September 27, 2011 Counting the seconds until Metric Week (Oct. 9-15, 2011) begins? That’s the spirit! Seconds are the metric unit of time. You also could figure your distance in meters (the metric unit of … more
New Baldrige Book Helps Organizations Gain 20/20 Foresight
Release Date: September 27, 2011 While most of us would say that hindsight is 20/20, the folks at the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program believe just the opposite for organizations that want to survive and thrive now, and for … more
Three NIST Scientists Receive PECASE Honors
Release Date: September 27, 2011 Three researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will receive the 2010 Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the White House … more
NIST Extends Response Period for Comments on Proposed New Advanced Manufacturing Program
Release Date: September 23, 2011 To accommodate additional interested parties, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced a 30-day extension on a request seeking public comment on the proposed new … more
The Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) Wins Invention Awards
Release Date: September 22, 2011 ARDEC, a 2007 Baldrige Award Recipient is being recognized for its achievement as an inventor in the Army Greatest Inventions Award for 2010. The achievement is particularly meaningful for ARDEC … more
CNST Research Explains How Phase Segregation Affects Efficiency in Organic Photovoltaics
Release Date: September 21, 2011 Recent theoretical work conducted at the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology explains the surprisingly small effect of macroscale phase segregation on the overall efficiency of blended … more
The Path to Business Excellence
Release Date: September 21, 2011 Paige Lillard, Vice President of Business Excellence at Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., tells her unique story of becoming a change agent using the Baldrige Framework on the radio show "The … more
Maryland Governor O'Malley Urges Investment in Cybersecurity Education
Release Date: September 21, 2011 Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley addressed several hundred educators, IT experts, and others at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) yesterday as part of a workshop hosted … more
Comprehensive Risk Assessment Guidance for Federal Information Systems Published
Release Date: September 20, 2011 Risk assessment is the topic of the newest special publication from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments (NIST Special Publication … more
CNST Researchers Use Nanophotonics to More Efficiently Extract Photons from Single Semiconductor Quantum Dots
Release Date: September 14, 2011 Scanning electron micrograph of a suspended circular dielectric grating. The grating design leads to emission of quantum dot photons out of the surface, as simulated above. An … more
Shaping Up: Controlling a Stem Cell's Form Can Determine Its Fate
Release Date: September 13, 2011 "Form follows function!" was the credo of early 20th century architects making design choices based on the intended use of the structure. Cell biologists may be turning that on its head. … more
Double Jeopardy: Building Codes May Underestimate Risks Due to Multiple Hazards
Release Date: September 13, 2011 As large parts of the nation recover from nature's one-two punch—an earthquake followed by Hurricane Irene—building researchers from the National Institute of Standards and … more
U.S., Europe Collaborating on Smart Grid Standards Development
Release Date: September 13, 2011 Today, the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the European Union's (EU) Smart Grid Coordination Group (SG-CG) jointly announced their … more
Two New Publications Provide a Cloud Computing Standards Roadmap and Reference Architecture
Release Date: September 13, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published two new documents on cloud computing: the first edition of a cloud computing standards roadmap and a cloud computing … more
NIST Seeks Comments to Help Build Public Safety Communications Network
Release Date: September 13, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking advice on possible key features of a new broadband communications network for the nation's emergency services agencies. The … more
Four New Reports Update Security Content Automation Protocol
Release Date: September 13, 2011 Bringing order and security to the patchwork quilt of computing environments in a large organization can be a daunting task. Software tools and technical specifications that allow security … more
Seventh Annual IT Security Automation Conference Runs Oct. 31- Nov. 2
Release Date: September 13, 2011 The Seventh Annual IT Security Automation Conference, co-hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will focus on the breadth and depth of principles and technologies … more
Eleven for '11: Number of Organizations Announced for 2011 Baldrige Award Site Visits
Release Date: September 13, 2011 The Panel of Judges for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest recognition for organizational performance excellence, has selected 11 organizations for the final … more
NIST to Host Workshop on Cryptography for New Technologies
Release Date: September 13, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host a workshop on cryptography for new technologies from Nov. 7-8, 2011, at the agency’s Gaithersburg, Md., campus. As the … more
CNST and MML Researchers Demonstrate an Electrochromic Nanoplasmonic Optical Switch
Release Date: August 31, 2011 In a recent article in Nano Letters,* CNST researchers describe a new high-contrast, low operating-voltage, electrochemical optical switch that uses a volume of active dye orders-of-magnitude … more
NIST Achieves Record-Low Error Rate for Quantum Information Processing with One Qubit
Release Date: August 30, 2011 Thanks to advances in experimental design, physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have achieved a record-low probability of error in quantum information processing … more
Researchers Expand Capabilities of Miniature Analyzer for Complex Samples
Release Date: August 30, 2011 It’s not often that someone can claim that going from a positive to a negative is a step forward, but that’s the case for a team of scientists from the National Institute of … more
Iron ‘Veins’ Are Secret of Promising New Hydrogen Storage Material
Release Date: August 30, 2011 With a nod to biology, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have a new approach to the problem of safely storing hydrogen in future fuel-cell-powered cars. Their … more
Ion Armageddon: Measuring the Impact Energy of Highly Charged Ions
Release Date: August 30, 2011 Much like a meteor impacting a planet, highly charged ions hit really hard and can do a lot of damage, albeit on a much smaller scale. And much like geologists determine the size and speed of the … more
Survey of Baldrige Examiners Reveals Current Perceptions of Performance
Release Date: August 30, 2011 Management and non-management personnel across a broad cross-section of U.S. organizations see eye-to-eye on mission, customer focus and commitment to success but differ significantly in their … more
Baldrige and Manufacturing: Article from Summer 2011 Issue of Encore
Release Date: August 30, 2011 Peter Frasso, President and CEO of Segue Manufacturing Services, states that "Baldrige consists of three core principles—find out what the customers' wants and needs are; … more
NIST/JQI Researcher Ian Spielman to Receive 2011 Junior BEC Award
Release Date: August 30, 2011 Ian Spielman, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and fellow of the Joint Quantum Institute, a collaborative enterprise of NIST and the University of Maryland, … more
High Tech in Rural America
Release Date: August 26, 2011 Guest blog post by Patrick D. Gallagher, Commerce's Under Secretary of Standards and Technology and Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Under Secretary of … more
NIST Gaithersburg Campus to Reopen Wednesday August 24th
Release Date: August 23, 2011 Update: NIST Gaithersburg will be open for business as usual on Wednesday August 24th. The campus was closed on Tuesday afternoon due to the earthquake that hit the local area.&Engineers have … more
Better 'Photon Loops' May Be Key to Computer and Physics Advances
Release Date: August 22, 2011 Surprisingly, transmitting information-rich photons thousands of miles through fiber-optic cable is far easier than reliably sending them just a few nanometers through a computer circuit. However, … more
NIST Tests Help Ensure Reliable Wireless Alarm Beacons for First Responders
Release Date: August 16, 2011 Wireless emergency safety equipment could save lives—if signals are transmitted reliably. But few performance standards exist. Now, tests at the National Institute of Standards and … more
Kinder, Gentler Cell Capture Method Could Aid Medical Research
Release Date: August 16, 2011 A research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has come up with a potential solution to a two-pronged problem in medical research: How to capture cells on a particular … more
NIST Uncovers Reliability Issues for Carbon Nanotubes in Future Electronics
Release Date: August 16, 2011 Carbon nanotubes offer big promise in a small package. For instance, these tiny cylinders of carbon molecules theoretically can carry 1,000 times more electric current than a metal conductor of the … more
NIST Demonstrates First Quantum 'Entanglement' of Ions Using Microwaves
Release Date: August 16, 2011 Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have, for the first time, linked the quantum properties of two separated ions (electrically charged atoms) by manipulating … more
New Website Offers Easy Access to NIST Disaster and Failure Study Data
Release Date: August 16, 2011 For more than 40 years, scientists and engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have studied structural failures caused by natural disasters, fires and man-made … more
Greenhouse Gases: The Measurement Challenge
Release Date: August 16, 2011 The continuing increase in the level of carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse gases" in the Earth's atmosphere has been identified as a cause for serious concern because it may … more
NIST Awards $2.7 Million to 18 U.S. Small Business Research Projects
Release Date: August 16, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced nearly $2.7 million in Phase 1 and Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards to 18 U.S. small businesses. The … more
May Named as NIST's Associate Director for Laboratory Programs
Release Date: August 16, 2011 Willie E. May, a 40-year veteran of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been named to serve as the agency’s Associate Director for Laboratory Programs. In his … more
May, Locascio Honored as ACS Fellows
Release Date: August 16, 2011 Two distinguished scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Willie E. May and Laurie E. Locascio, have been named fellows of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the … more
NIST Seeks Comments on National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Draft Strategic Plan
Release Date: August 11, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today* issued for public comment a draft strategic plan for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) program. The plan, … more
CNST Researchers Observe Nanoscale Charge Transport in Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells
Release Date: August 10, 2011 Researchers in the CNST have used photoconductive atomic force microscopy (PCAFM) to characterize the nanoscale structure of organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials, and have performed a careful … more
NIST Physicists 'Entangle' Two Atoms Using Microwaves for the First Time
Release Date: August 10, 2011 New Approach Harnesses Mature Electronics to Simplify Ion-trap Quantum Computers BOULDER, Colo. – Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have for the … more
NIST Awards $2.7 Million to 18 U.S. Small Business Research Projects
Release Date: August 10, 2011 Gaithersburg, Md. - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced nearly $2.7 million in Phase 1 and Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards to 18 U.S. … more
NIST Finds That Ethanol-Loving Bacteria Accelerate Cracking of Pipeline Steels
Release Date: August 2, 2011 U.S. production of ethanol for fuel has been rising quickly, topping 13 billion gallons in 2010. With the usual rail, truck and barge transport methods under potential strain, existing gas … more
Novel Coatings Show Great Promise as Flame Retardants in Polyurethane Foam
Release Date: August 2, 2011 Gram for gram, novel carbon nanofiber-filled coatings devised by researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Texas A&M University outperformed … more
Armchair Science: DNA Strands That Select Nanotubes Are First Step to a Practical ‘Quantum Wire’
Release Date: August 2, 2011 DNA, a molecule famous for storing the genetic blueprints for all living things, can do other things as well. In a new paper,* researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more
North Texas Wildfires Spark Historic Federal-State Collaborative Study
Release Date: August 2, 2011 Two wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires* earlier this year outside of Amarillo, Texas, destroyed 70 homes, burned more than 25,000 acres of land, and caused nearly $6 million in property damage. … more
It’s Your Standard Pilot Project: NIST to Offer Documentary Standards to First Responders
Release Date: August 2, 2011 Seeking to measure the U.S. first responder community’s need for documentary standards at the federal, state and local levels, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) … more
Operation Vigilant Sample: First Responder Training for Suspicious Powders
Release Date: August 2, 2011 A team from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working with the U.S. National Guard on a coordinated effort to train emergency first responders in the delicate and … more
Smart Grid Panel Approves Six Standards for Catalog
Release Date: August 2, 2011 The Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) has made the first six entries into its new Catalog of Standards,* a technical document now available as a guide for all involved with Smart … more
NIST Co-sponsors Biometrics Consortium Conference, Sept. 27-29 in Tampa, Florida
Release Date: August 2, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will co-sponsor the 2011 Biometric Consortium Conference, Sept. 27-29, 2011, at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. The annual … more
September NICE Workshop to Focus on Engaging Americans in Cyberspace Safety
Release Date: August 2, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host the second annual National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workshop, September 20-22, 2011, at its Gaithersburg, … more
CNST Researchers Elucidate Micro-Optical Techniques for Solid-State Materials Characterization
Release Date: July 27, 2011 In a chapter of the recently published book Optical Techniques for Solid-State Materials Characterization,* CNST researchers provide a detailed overview and explanations of& micro-optical … more
Smart Grid Panel Approves Six Standards for Catalog
Release Date: July 26, 2011 Gaithersburg, Md. – The Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) has made the first six entries into its new Catalog of Standards, a technical document now available as a guide for all … more
NIST to Conduct Technical Study on Impacts of Joplin, Mo., Tornado
Release Date: July 25, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today* said that it will conduct a full technical study on the impacts of the May 22, 2011, tornado that struck Joplin, Mo. The … more
NIST Seeks Comments on Structure for Proposed Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) Program
Release Date: July 22, 2011 A notice published today by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the Federal Register requests opinions from the public about the best ways to structure a proposed new … more
Piece of Cake: Arrays of Long Nanotubes May Help Measure Terahertz Laser Power
Release Date: July 19, 2011 Terahertz radiation can penetrate numerous materials—plastic, clothing, paper and some biological tissues—making it an attractive candidate for applications such as concealed … more
Nanomechanics: New Test Measures Key Properties of Polymer Thin Films and Membranes
Release Date: July 19, 2011 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated* a measurement technique that reliably determines three fundamental mechanical properties of … more
The Constants They Are A Changin': NIST Posts Latest Adjustments to Fundamental Figures
Release Date: July 19, 2011 The electromagnetic force has gotten a little stronger, gravity a little weaker, and the size of the smallest "quantum" of energy is now known a little better. The National Institute of … more
NIST Proposes New Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations
Release Date: July 19, 2011 With increasing dependency on information systems and advances in cloud computing, the smart grid and mobile computing, maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of citizens' personally … more
New Version of Security Automation Protocol Includes Digital Trust Model
Release Date: July 19, 2011 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have released for public comment updated specifications for the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP), which helps … more
New Video Showcases NIST-Hosted Robotics Competitions in China
Release Date: July 19, 2011 Virtual robots move pallets while maneuvering around each other in a simulation of a busy warehouse. Credit: Laboratory for Robotics and Intelligent Control Systems (LARICS), University … more
Spotlight on Commerce: Phillip Singerman, Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services at the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Release Date: July 15, 2011 Ed. Note: This post is part of the Spotlight on Commerce series, which highlights members of the Department of Commerce who are contributing to the president's vision of winning the future … more
University of Maryland and CNST Collaborators Publish a Comprehensive Overview of Electronic Transport in Graphene
Release Date: July 13, 2011 Researchers from the University of Maryland and the CNST’s Shaffique Adam have recently published a detailed review of the electronic transport properties of two-dimensional … more
NIST Selects First Chief Manufacturing Officer
Release Date: July 8, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today* announced that manufacturing industry executive Michael F. Molnar has been appointed to be the agency’s first-ever Chief … more
NIST Prototype 'Optics Table on a Chip' Places Microwave Photon in Two Colors at Once
Release Date: July 6, 2011 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created a tunable superconducting circuit on a chip that can place a single microwave photon (particle of light) in two … more
Graphene: What Can Go Wrong? New Studies Point to Wrinkles, Process Contaminants
Release Date: July 6, 2011 Using a combination of sophisticated computer modeling and advanced materials analysis techniques at synchrotron laboratories, a research team led by the University at Buffalo (UB) and including … more
Promising Fire Retardant Results When Clay Nanofiller Has Space
Release Date: July 6, 2011 If materials scientists accompanied their research with theme songs, a team from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland (UMD) might be tempted to … more
John Cahn to Receive 2011 Kyoto Prize for Fundamental Contributions to Materials Science
Release Date: July 6, 2011 John Cahn, an emeritus senior fellow and materials scientist at the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has been named to receive the … more
New Study Examines Methods for Technology Transfer from Government Labs to Industry
Release Date: July 6, 2011 A new report* sponsored by the U.S. Commerce Department (DOC)—the results of the first independent study of its kind in almost 10 years—describes both barriers and effective … more
Help Wanted: NIST Conducting Nationwide Search for New Director of Technology Innovation Program
Release Date: July 6, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking qualified candidates to lead the Technology Innovation Program (TIP). Established in 2007 as part of the America COMPETES Act … more
NIST and Researcher Butler Recognized for Forensic Science Citations
Release Date: July 6, 2011 When ScienceWatch.com, a Thomson Reuters web resource for measuring and analyzing science trends, recently listed the most influential institutions and researchers in forensic science based on … more
New Video Showcases NIST-Hosted Robotics Competitions in China
Release Date: July 6, 2011 Virtual robots move pallets while maneuvering around each other in a simulation of a busy warehouse. Credit: Laboratory for Robotics and Intelligent Control Systems (LARICS), University of … more
A Cool Beat: NIST Micro-Drum Chilled to Quantum Ground State
Release Date: July 6, 2011 Showcasing new tools for developing quantum circuits made of mechanical parts, scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated a flexible, broadly … more
Cooler Than Ever: NIST Mechanical Micro-Drum Chilled to Quantum Ground State
Release Date: July 6, 2011 BOULDER, Colo. – Showcasing new tools for widespread development of quantum circuits made of mechanical parts, scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) … more
Video: On Weast's Last Day, A Crowning Achievement
Release Date: July 6, 2011 On June 30, 2011 school administrators, PTA officials, and board President Christopher S. Barclay gathered in Rockville at a ceremony (see the video on RockvillePatch.com) to recognize Jerry D. … more
CNST's Kartik Srinivasan Receives Sigma Xi Young Scientist Award
Release Date: July 6, 2011 CNST researcher Kartik Srinivasan was honored with the Sigma Xi Young Scientist Award for 2011.&& He shared this prestigious prize with Sheng Lin-Gibson, Acting Group Leader of the … more
Study Highlights Diversity in Agency Technology Transfer Approaches
Release Date: June 30, 2011 A new report* sponsored by the U.S. Commerce Department (DOC)—the results of the first independent study of its kind in almost 10 years—describes both barriers and effective … more
Key Ingredient: Change in Material Boosts Prospects of Ultrafast Single-photon Detector
Release Date: June 30, 2011 By swapping one superconducting material for another, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have found a practical way to boost the efficiency of the world's … more
CNST Researchers Demonstrate Electro-Optic Modulation of Single Photons from a Quantum Dot
Release Date: June 29, 2011 In a recent article in Applied Physics Letters,* CNST researchers demonstrated how commercially available electro-optic modulators can be used to tailor the single photon output of quantum dots … more
A Quiet Phase: NIST Optical Tools Produce Ultra-low-noise Microwave Signals
Release Date: June 27, 2011 By combining advanced laser technologies in a new way, physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have generated microwave signals that are more pure and stable than … more
President Obama Launches Advanced Manufacturing Partnership
Release Date: June 24, 2011 Today President Obama announced a new initiative, the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), a national effort bringing together industry, universities, and the federal government to invest in … more
John Cahn to Receive 2011 Kyoto Prize For Fundamental Contributions to Materials Science
Release Date: June 24, 2011 John Cahn, an emeritus senior fellow and materials scientist at the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), was named today to receive the … more
Compact High-Temperature Superconducting Cable Wins 'R&D 100' Award
Release Date: June 22, 2011 A method developed by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado at Boulder for making thin, flexible, high-temperature superconducting … more
CNST Team Calculates the Electronic Transport Properties of Graphene Stacks
Release Date: June 22, 2011 Anticipating forthcoming experiments, a CNST team has shown that few layer graphene stacks have favorable transport properties that could enable engineering of novel electronic devices.*& There … more
Nanowire-based Sensors Offer Improved Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds
Release Date: June 21, 2011 A team of researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), George Mason University and the University of Maryland has made nano-sized sensors that detect volatile organic … more
Branch Offices: New Family of Gold-Based Nanoparticles Could Serve as Biomedical 'Testbed'
Release Date: June 21, 2011 Gold nanoparticles are becoming the … well … gold standard for medical-use nanoparticles. A new paper* by researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more
Final Version of Industrial Control Systems Security Guide Published
Release Date: June 21, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued the final version of its Guide to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security (SP 800-82),* intended to help pipeline operators, … more
Baldrige Program Takes Performance Excellence on the Road
Release Date: June 21, 2011 Interested in improving your organization's excellence? Then sign up for one of the two 2011 Baldrige Regional Conferences. This year, they're being held in Missouri and Alabama. Senior … more
Researchers Share Useful Lessons Learned in Evaluating Emerging Technologies
Release Date: June 21, 2011 Most industry executives, military planners, research managers or venture capitalists charged with assessing the potential of an R&D project probably are familiar with the wry twist on … more
Calling for Comments on Cybersecurity, Innovations and the Internet Economy
Release Date: June 21, 2011 The Department of Commerce's Internet Policy Task Force is requesting comments on a report that proposes voluntary codes of conduct to strengthen the cybersecurity of companies that … more
CNST Offers Insights into Metallic Ferromagnetism Using Spin Polarized Electron Probes
Release Date: June 15, 2011 The CNST’s Daniel Pierce has provided an overview of three decades of applications of spin-polarized measurement techniques to understanding metallic ferromagnetism.& His insights … more
NIST Contributions to Smart Grid Highlighted in White House Report, Event
Release Date: June 13, 2011 A new White House policy document released today* highlights strategic roles that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) plays in accelerating the modernization of the … more
Commerce Department Proposes New Policy Framework to Strengthen Cybersecurity Protections for Businesses Online
Release Date: June 8, 2011 Additional Contact: Gail Porter, 301-975-2762 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce today released a report that proposes voluntary codes of conduct to strengthen the … more
CNST-led Team Calculates the Role of Buried Layers in Few-Layer Epitaxial Graphene
Release Date: June 8, 2011 A CNST-led collaboration with the University of Maryland and the University of Texas has computed how electrostatic interactions between electrons in different layers of few-layer graphene affect … more
NIST Tunes 'Metasurface' with Fluid in New Concept for Sensing and Chemistry
Release Date: June 7, 2011 Like an opera singer hitting a note that shatters a glass, a signal at a particular resonant frequency can concentrate energy in a material and change its properties. And as with 18th century … more
NIST 'Catch and Release' Program Could Improve Nanoparticle Safety Assessment
Release Date: June 7, 2011 Depending on whom you ask, nanoparticles are, potentially, either one of the most promising or the most perilous creations of science. These tiny objects can deliver drugs efficiently and enhance … more
NIST Contests in China Put Next-Gen Robot Technologies to the Test
Release Date: June 7, 2011 Robotic automation, microrobotics and robotic perception and recognition all advanced a few steps closer to their future applications in manufacturing, health care and other areas during the week … more
NIST/Industry Developed Temperature Tracking Device for Packages May Have Climate Metrology Applications
Release Date: June 7, 2011 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers are working to reduce the uncertainty associated with climate-change measurements using a mobile temperature-sensing technology … more
National Conference on Weights and Measures Annual Meeting Set for July 17-21, 2011
Release Date: June 7, 2011 Preventing fraud at oil-change services and enabling consumers to make value comparisons when shopping for printer ink will be among the many issues discussed at this year's annual meeting of … more
Sixty-Nine Organizations Vie for the 2011 Baldrige Award
Release Date: June 7, 2011 Sixty-nine organizations have tossed their hats—and their strategies for success—into the ring for the 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest … more
New Baldrige DVD Gives You Performance Excellence on the Go!
Release Date: June 7, 2011 If you missed the 23rd Annual Quest for Excellence conference in April, 2011, or just want to continue learning about the best practices, proven strategies and real-world insights presented there, … more
Intellectual-Property Investor Joins NIST Advisory Group
Release Date: June 7, 2011 Patrick Gallagher, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has named Karen Kerr of Intellectual Ventures to serve on the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology … more
Eye on Dallas--5 Questions with Freese and Nichols CEO Robert Pence: "Lots to Do" Post-Baldrige
Release Date: June 7, 2011 Read the article: Eye on Dallas -- 5 Questions with Freese and Nichols CEO Robert Pence: ‘Lots to Do’ Post-Baldrige. Freese and Nichols is a Texas-based multidiscipline … more
NIST researchers collected data following Joplin, Missouri, tornado
Release Date: June 6, 2011 A massive tornado, rated category EF5 (the most powerful on the Enhanced Fujita scale), hit Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency … more
Amendments to NIST HB 150, 3.4.1
Release Date: June 2, 2011 NVLAP has released&a new Policy Guide to publish revisions to NVLAP proficiency testing procedures as found in NIST Handbook 150, NVLAP Procedures and General Requirements, section 3.4.1. The … more
DIBBS Overview Webinar
Release Date: June 1, 2011 Dare Improve to a Better Business Strategy? PRESENTED BY: Kevin Scoles, Small Business Opportunity Specialist, DLA Land and Maritime Small Business Program Office DIBBS is the electronic … more
CNST Director Robert Celotta Elected Member-at-Large of the APS Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics
Release Date: June 1, 2011 CNST Director Robert Celotta has been elected as a Member-at-Large of the American Physical Society (APS) Forum on Industrial and Applied Physics (FIAP).& FIAP was formed in 1995 with the … more
CNST Researchers Develop Integrated Nanomechanical Sensor for Atomic Force Microscopy
Release Date: June 1, 2011 The atomic force microscope (AFM) is an important tool for nanoscale surface metrology. Typical AFMs map local tip-surface interactions by scanning a flexible cantilever probe over a surface. They … more
Mark Stiles Elected Vice-Chair of the American Physical Society Magnetism Group
Release Date: May 25, 2011 Mark Stiles, a NIST Fellow in the CNST Electron Physics Group, has been elected Vice-Chair of the American Physical Society (APS) Topical Group on Magnetism and its Applications (GMAG).& As … more
Defect in Graphene May Present Bouquet of Possibilities
Release Date: May 24, 2011 Flower-like defects in graphene can occur during the fabrication process. The NIST team captured images of one of the defects (figures a and c) using a scanning tunneling microscope. A … more
Defect in Graphene May Present Bouquet of Possibilities
Release Date: May 24, 2011 Flower-like defects in graphene can occur during the fabrication process. The NIST team captured images of one of the defects (figures a and c) using a scanning tunneling microscope. A … more
New Software Tool Helps Evaluate Natural Cooling Options for Buildings
Release Date: May 24, 2011 A new, free software tool from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) could prove to be a breath of fresh air for architects and designers of ventilation systems for … more
Care for a Spot of (Green) Tea? New NIST Reference Materials for Popular Diet Supplement
Release Date: May 24, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a suite of green tea reference materials to help manufacturers evaluate the composition of their products and assure … more
NIST, AIP to Make Semiconductor Research Freely Available Online
Release Date: May 24, 2011 A wealth of information on recent advances in semiconductor research is now available for free, thanks to an agreement between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the … more
Broadening Uses Put MEMS Technology on the Map(s)
Release Date: May 24, 2011 Behind the smart phone's continuing transformation into the quintessential multipurpose tool is the rise and diversification of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), tiny machines that work … more
Three at NIST Win Flemming Award
Release Date: May 24, 2011 Three scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have been chosen to receive the Arthur S. Flemming award, recognizing distinguished service in the federal … more
What Change to the Civil Service System is Really Needed?
Release Date: May 19, 2011 by Timothy J. Clark A good first step is to start with a review of the performance management framework that is incorporated within the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Components of this … more
Pal's Sudden Service is a "Model of Efficiency"
Release Date: May 19, 2011 Read the article Model of Efficiency (go to page 24) in Operations Magazine about Pal's Sudden Service, a 2001 Baldrige Award recipient in the small business category. Pal’s is a … more
NIST 'Nanowire' Measurements Could Improve Computer Memory
Release Date: May 18, 2011 In this schematic image (top) and transmission electron micrograph, a silicon nanowire is shown surrounded by a stack of thin layers of material called dielectrics, which store … more
NIST Workshop Highlights Planned Consortium for Soft Material Manufacturing Research
Release Date: May 18, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is holding a special industry workshop on June 2 and 3, 2011, at the NIST laboratories in Gaithersburg, Md., to assess interest in forming … more
SOS RFI Comments Summary
Release Date: May 17, 2011 NIST’s SCO recently released a report summarizing responses to the RFI on Federal Agency Participation in Standardization Activities in Select Technology Areas issued on December 8, … more
NIST Workshop to Advance Usability in Electronic Health Records
Release Date: May 17, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is hosting a workshop on usability of electronic health records (EHR) on June 7, 2011, at NIST's campus in Gaithersburg, Md. "A … more
NIST Seeks Comments on Draft Guide to Cloud Computing
Release Date: May 12, 2011 The cloud computing research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is requesting public comments on a draft of its most complete guide to cloud computing to date. NIST … more
Silver Cycle: New Evidence for Natural Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles
Release Date: May 10, 2011 Nanoparticles of silver are being found increasingly in the environment—and in environmental science laboratories. Because they have a variety of useful properties, especially as … more
Marine Lab Research Tracks Pollutants in Dolphins and Beluga Whales
Release Date: May 10, 2011 Bottlenose dolphins* and beluga whales**, two marine species at or near the top of their respective food webs, accumulate more chemical pollutants in their bodies when they live and feed in waters … more
Drive Test: NIST Super-stable Laser Shines in Minivan Experiment
Release Date: May 10, 2011 In a step toward taking the most advanced atomic clocks on the road, physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have designed and demonstrated a super-stable laser … more
The Secret Behind NIST's New Gas Detector? Chirp Before Sniffing
Release Date: May 10, 2011 Trace gas detection, the ability to detect a scant quantity of a particular molecule—a whiff of formaldehyde or a hint of acetone—in a vast sea of others, underlies many … more
NIST's Charles Clark Named Co-Director of the Joint Quantum Institute
Release Date: May 10, 2011 Physicist Charles Clark of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been named a co-director of the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), a research collaboration that includes NIST … more
NIST/JILA Physicist Jun Ye Elected to National Academy of Sciences
Release Date: May 10, 2011 Physicist Jun Ye, a Fellow of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and a Fellow of JILA, a joint institute of NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder, has been elected to … more
Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology Releases 2010 Biennial Report
Release Date: May 9, 2011 The NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) is pleased to announce the publication of its 2010 Report. This Report updates the state of the CNST and highlights the 2009-2010 … more
New Calculations on Blackbody Energy Set the Stage for Clocks with Unprecedented Accuracy
Release Date: May 6, 2011 A team of physicists from the United States and Russia announced today* that it has developed a means for computing, with unprecedented accuracy, a tiny, temperature-dependent source of error in … more
Report of Dialogue on Measurements for Complex Fluid Formulation
Release Date: May 5, 2011 On May 3, 2011, the Complex Fluids Group and the Microrheometry Project hosted a meeting with manufacturers (in the United States and United Kingdom) to discuss measurement advances and needs in … more
Build Safety into the Very Beginning of the Computer System
Release Date: April 28, 2011 A new publication from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides guidelines to secure the earliest stages of the computer boot process. Commonly known as the Basic … more
Energy & Fuels highlights NIST paper
Release Date: April 27, 2011 Energy & Fuels highlights NIST paper Energy & Fuels is the premier journal for research in all areas of the chemistry of nonnuclear energy sources, including the properties and … more
Federal Laboratory Technology Transfer FY09 Summary Report
Release Date: April 27, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a summary report on technology transfer activities of the federal laboratories for fiscal year 2009. The report summarizes the … more
Good Eggs: NIST Nanomagnets Offer Food for Thought About Computer Memories
Release Date: April 26, 2011 Magnetics researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) colored lots of eggs recently. Bunnies and children might find the eggs a bit small—in fact, too small … more
Travel Hazards: Two Studies Start to Map Pollutant Threats to Turtles
Release Date: April 26, 2011 In a pair of studies—one recently published online* and the other soon-to-be published**— researchers at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML), a government-university collaboration in … more
NIST Prototypes Framework for Evaluating Sustainability Standards
Release Date: April 26, 2011 As manufacturers and other businesses step up efforts to cut waste, reduce energy use and improve the overall sustainability of their products and processes, the number of planet-friendly standards … more
Two Graphene Layers May Be Better Than One
Release Date: April 26, 2011 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have shown that the electronic properties of two layers of graphene vary on the nanometer scale. The surprising new results … more
Understanding How Glasses 'Relax' Provides Some Relief for Manufacturers
Release Date: April 26, 2011 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Wesleyan University have used computer simulations to gain basic insights into a fundamental problem in material science … more
NIST Seeks Improved Recovery of Samples from Biohazard Events
Release Date: April 26, 2011 It may not be as catchy a combination as "Miss Scarlet in the parlor with a revolver," but "polyester-rayon wipes in the field followed by saline-surfactant extraction and … more
White House Launches Plan to Create a Trusted 'Identity Ecosystem' for On-Line Commerce
Release Date: April 26, 2011 On April 15, the Obama Administration formally launched its National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC), a plan to work with the private sector to develop a private market for … more
NIST Offering Free Access to Standards for First Responders
Release Date: April 26, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES), in collaboration with the NIST National Center for Standards and Certification Information, has … more
Smart Grid Panel Agrees on Standards for Wireless Communication, Meter Upgrades
Release Date: April 26, 2011 The governing board of the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) has voted in favor of a new standard and a set of guidelines important for making the long-planned “smart” … more
New Manufacturing Innovations Blog Lifts Off
Release Date: April 26, 2011 The manufacturing experts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership are now spreading the word on manufacturing innovation by blog. … more
Solar Cell Technology Opportunities: Looking To a Bright, Sunny Future
Release Date: April 26, 2011 What are the major technology challenges to future growth in the solar-cell industry? Where are the big-bang-for-the-buck R&D investment opportunities? These and other questions were put to … more
Qualcomm Executive Joins NIST Advisory Group
Release Date: April 26, 2011 Roberto Padovani View hi-resolution image Patrick Gallagher, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has named Roberto Padovani of Qualcomm Incorporated … more
2011 Examiner Training Kicks Off
Release Date: April 26, 2011 Tuesday April 26th will start the annual month long training period for the 2011 Board of Examiners. Week 1 will see a total of 120 Examiners pass through the classrooms at the National Institute … more
Solid State Lighting Proficiency Testing Fees
Release Date: April 25, 2011 Effective June 1, 2011, all new applicant labs applying for NVLAP accreditation to IES LM-79, or existing&NVLAP-accredited&laboratories requesting addition of IES LM-79&to&their … more
Smart Grid Panel Agrees on Standards and Guidelines for Wireless Communication, Meter Upgrades
Release Date: April 19, 2011 Gaithersburg, Md. – The governing board of the public-private Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) has voted in favor of a new standard and a set of guidelines important for making … more
Administration Releases Strategy to Protect Online Consumers and Support Innovation and Fact Sheet on National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace
Release Date: April 15, 2011 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Obama Administration released the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC), which seeks to better protect consumers from fraud and … more
New NIST SRM Helps Improve Diagnosis of Huntington's Disease
Release Date: April 12, 2011 A new Standard Reference Material (SRM) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will help clinical genetics labs accurately diagnose Huntington’s disease, an … more
Free Online Tool Aids Decisions on Fire Sprinkler Systems for Homes
Release Date: April 12, 2011 For the many states, communities, new-home builders and prospective buyers now mulling over the pluses and minuses of installing residential fire suppression sprinklers, the National Institute of … more
Sharpened Focus: Improving the Numbers, Utility of Medical Imaging
Release Date: April 12, 2011 The idea of probing the body's interior with radiation stretches back to experiments with X rays in the 1800s, but more than a century later, images taken with radiological scans still are not … more
The Heat Is On: NIST Zeroes In On Energy Consumption of Ice Makers
Release Date: April 12, 2011 In tests of four different types of new refrigerators, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers found that ice makers increased rated energy consumption by 12 to 20 … more
Crowdsourcing Science History: NIST Digital Archives Seeks Help in Identifying Mystery Artifacts
Release Date: April 12, 2011 Do you hold the key to solving some gadget mysteries from the last century of U.S. science and technology? In its 110 years, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has made many … more
NIST/JILA Physicist Wins Optical Society's Meggers Award
Release Date: April 12, 2011 Steven Cundiff, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has received the 2011 William F. Meggers Award from the Optical Society of America (OSA). The Meggers … more
The First Non-Trivial Atom Circuit: Progress towards an Atom SQUID
Release Date: March 30, 2011 Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland (UM) have created the first nontrivial “atom circuit,” a donut-shaped … more
Closer Look at Cell Membrane Shows Cholesterol 'Keeping Order'
Release Date: March 30, 2011 Cell membranes form the “skin” of most every cell in your body, but the ability to view them up close and in motion cannot be rendered by many experimental techniques. A team of … more
A Measurement First: NIST 'Noise Thermometry' System Measures Boltzmann Constant
Release Date: March 30, 2011 Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have for the first time used an apparatus that relies on the “noise” of jiggling electrons to make … more
Microreactors: Small Scale Chemistry Could Lead to Big Improvements for Biodegradable Polymers
Release Date: March 30, 2011 Using a small block of aluminum with a tiny groove carved in it, a team of researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Polytechnic Institute of New York … more
NIST, ASTM Land a One-Two Punch to Fight Explosives Terrorism
Release Date: March 30, 2011 Trace-explosives detectors (TEDs) are an increasingly common sight at airports and on loading docks, and emergency response personnel carry them to evaluate suspicious packages. A new test material … more
Getting the Point: Real-Time Monitoring of Atomic-Microscope Probes Adjusts for Wear
Release Date: March 30, 2011 Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a way to measure the wear and degradation of the microscopic probes used to study nanoscale structures in situ … more
Ground Broken for New Green Technology and Fire Safety Facilities
Release Date: March 30, 2011 On March 25, 2011, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) held a groundbreaking ceremony at its Gaithersburg, Md., campus for three new facilities funded by the American Recovery … more
Charge It: Neutral Atoms Made to Act Like Electrically Charged Particles
Release Date: March 30, 2011 Completing the story they started by creating synthetic magnetic fields,* scientists from the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), a collaboration of the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more
New Study Maps Out Steps to Strengthen U.S. Resilience to Earthquakes
Release Date: March 30, 2011 A new National Research Council (NRC) report presents a 20-year road map that outlines steps for increasing U.S. resilience to earthquakes, including a major earthquake that could … more
Celebrating Superconductivity: NIST Debuts Online Museum of Quantum Voltage Standards
Release Date: March 30, 2011 Collage of images from NIST museum of voltage standards. Credit: NIST photos arranged by Kelly Talbott View hi-resolution image On April 8, 2011, the scientific community will … more
NIST's Ron Ross is Named to InformationWeek Government Top 50 List
Release Date: March 30, 2011 Ron Ross, a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Fellow, has been named to InformationWeek Government’s CIO 50, which identifies 2010’s top information … more
Correction to NIST HB 130 Uniform Engine Fuels and Automotive Lubricants Regulation
Release Date: March 18, 2011 To: Users of the 2011 Edition of NIST Handbook 130 “Uniform Laws and Regulations in the areas of Legal Metrology and Engine Fuel Quality” Subject: Notice of Printing Error in … more
Upcoming Tech Transfer Events Spring 2011
Release Date: March 17, 2011 WBT Innovation Marketplace March 22 – 23 Arlington, TX Over 70 technologies will be presented at WBT2011, spanning Life Science, Energy, IT and Advanced Materials.& Representatives … more
NIST’s Microscopic Drum Could Link Electromagnetic, Mechanical Motion at Quantum Level
Release Date: March 15, 2011 Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated an electromechanical circuit in which microwaves communicate with a vibrating mechanical component 1,000 … more
High-Tech Concrete Technology Has a Famous Past
Release Date: March 15, 2011 In the business of concrete making, what’s old—even ancient—is new again. X-ray microtomograph (left) shows pores (blue) that remain within lightweight … more
First Demonstration of 'Spin-Orbit Coupling' in Ultracold Atomic Gases
Release Date: March 15, 2011 Physicists at the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) have for the first time caused a gas of atoms to exhibit an important quantum phenomenon known as spin-orbit coupling. Their technique opens new … more
New NIST Testing Device May Help to 'Seal the Deal' for Building Owners
Release Date: March 15, 2011 Just as a chain is as strong as its weakest link, a building is as secure against the environment as its most degraded joint sealants, about 50 percent of which fail in less than 10 years after … more
New Tool Debuts for Measuring Indoor Air Pollutants
Release Date: March 15, 2011 A promising new approach for checking the accuracy of measurements of hazardous indoor air pollutants may soon be ready for prime time, report researchers from the National Institute of Standards … more
NIST Releases Final Report on Charleston Sofa Store Fire
Release Date: March 15, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released its final report on its study of the June 18, 2007, fire at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C., that trapped and killed … more
Two New SCAP Documents Help Improve Automating Computer Security Management
Release Date: March 15, 2011 It’s increasingly difficult to keep up with all the vulnerabilities present in today’s highly complex operating systems and applications. Attackers constantly search for and … more
Standards Education Vital for Global Business Needs, Says Asia-Pacific Economic Group
Release Date: March 15, 2011 In just a few months, millions of young adults will graduate from college and step into productive careers in the global economy. Meanwhile, those already involved in standardization, particularly … more
NIST Advisory Committee Issues 2010 Annual Report
Release Date: March 15, 2011 The Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the agency’s primary private-sector advisory group, has sent its 2010 … more
Conference on Safeguarding Health Information Security, May 10-11
Release Date: March 15, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is co-hosting a conference to explore the current health information technology security landscape and the Health Insurance Portability and … more
NIST Holds Third Cloud Computing Forum and Workshop, April 7-8
Release Date: March 15, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host the Cloud Computing Forum and Workshop III on April 7-8, 2011, at its Gaithersburg, Md., campus. Featured speakers include U.S. … more
NIST to Cosponsor Conference in France on Nanoelectronics Metrology
Release Date: March 15, 2011 Registration is now open for the eighth international Frontiers of Characterization and Metrology for Nanoelectronics conference, cosponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more
Dodson Receives ‘Federal 100’ Award for Cybersecurity Work
Release Date: March 15, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Donna Dodson has received the 2011 Federal 100 Award. Presented by Federal Computer Week, the award honors the top … more
Tribute to Former Xerox CEO, David T. Kearns, Past Baldrige Supporter
Release Date: March 11, 2011 Chuck Chada, former Xerox executive and incoming Chair of the Baldrige Panel of Judges reflects that it often helps to distill thoughts down to a personal level - David Kearns; former CEO and … more
Introducing NIST Handbook 155, Weights and Measures Program Requirements: A Handbook for the Weights and Measures Administrator
Release Date: March 11, 2011 The Weights and Measures Division introduces NIST Handbook 155, Weights and Measures Program Requirements: A Handbook for the Weights and Measures Administrator. This is a guide for those wanting … more
NIST Electromechanical Circuit Sets Record Beating Microscopic 'Drum'
Release Date: March 9, 2011 Device May Help Process Information and Measure Motion at Quantum Scale BOULDER, Colo.—Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated an … more
CNST Researchers Use Spin Waves to Measure Magnetic Polarization of Electrical Current
Release Date: March 7, 2011 In the hard drive industry, the rapid growth of storage density has been propelled in part by developments in the sensors used to read the magnetic “bits” on the disk.& … more
Key Asia-Pacific Officials, Experts Discuss Critical Importance of Standards Education
Release Date: March 4, 2011 Washington, D.C., March 3, 2011: In just a few months, millions of young adults will graduate from college and step into productive careers in the global economy. Meanwhile, those already involved … more
JQI Physicists Demonstrate Coveted 'Spin-Orbit Coupling' for the First Time in Ultracold Atomic Gases
Release Date: March 2, 2011 Technique Suggests an Avenue for Creating New Kinds of Superconductivity GAITHERSBURG, Md.—Physicists at the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), a collaboration of the National Institute of … more
'A Little Off the Top' Helps NIST Map Cells with Submicrometer Resolution
Release Date: March 1, 2011 To determine if a tissue biopsy reveals the presence of cancer, a histologist often screens for cells with an abnormal appearance or a specific visible trait such as a larger-than-usual nucleus. … more
Using Artificial, Cell-Like ‘Honey Pots’ To Entrap Deadly Viruses
Release Date: March 1, 2011 Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Weill Cornell Medical College have designed artificial "protocells" that can lure, entrap and inactivate … more
NIST Expert Software 'Lowers the Stress' on Materials Problems
Release Date: March 1, 2011 Before you can build that improved turbojet engine, before you can create that longer-lasting battery, you have to ensure all the newfangled materials in it will behave the way you … more
The Buzz on BEES: New Web App Simplifies Use of NIST's Economically Green Building Products Tool
Release Date: March 1, 2011 A powerful scientific tool for selecting cost-effective and environmentally preferable building products is now available as a free, web-based application. Developed and maintained by the National … more
Energy Usage Data Standard for U.S. Smart Grid Passes Key Advisory Panel Vote
Release Date: March 1, 2011 The governing board of the public-private Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) has voted in favor of a new standard important for two-way data communications between utilities and their … more
NIST Seeks Comments on Security Control Catalog for Federal Information Systems and Organizations
Release Date: March 1, 2011 Computer scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are requesting comments from interested parties on their biennial update of the catalog of security controls for the … more
NIST, Food Marketing Institute Co-Host Webinar on Ensuring Accurate Net Weights in Retail
Release Date: March 1, 2011 A reliable and trustworthy system of weights and measures is vital for economic activity. Maintaining that system requires constant vigilance, and that's where the National Institute of … more
New Publication Fundamentally Changes Federal Information Security Risk Management
Release Date: March 1, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published the final version of a special publication that can help organizations to more effectively integrate information security … more
Manufacturing Innovations 2011: Seizing Tomorrow's Opportunities Today
Release Date: March 1, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) will host Manufacturing Innovations 2011 from May 14—18, 2011, at the World … more
NIST 'Quantum Tuning Forks' Demonstrate Directly Coupling of Vibrating Ions
Release Date: March 1, 2011 Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have for the first time coaxed two atoms in separate locations to take turns jiggling back and forth while swapping the … more
CNST Research Elucidates the Effect of Disorder on Magnetic Vortex Gyration
Release Date: February 28, 2011 Much of the world’s information is stored in memories consisting of magnetic domains, and researchers continue to develop new domain arrangements to enable smaller and faster such … more
NIST and Willow Garage Launch First Robot 'Perception Challenge'
Release Date: February 25, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is teaming up with Willow Garage, a Silicon Valley robotics research and design firm, to launch an international “perception … more
NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers Accepting Applications
Release Date: February 23, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting nominations of middle school science teachers from eligible U.S. public school districts or accredited private educational … more
Quantum Hot Potato: NIST Researchers Entice Two Atoms to Swap Smallest Energy Units
Release Date: February 23, 2011 New technique has potential to simplify future information processing BOULDER, Colo.—Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have for the first time … more
Etched Quantum Dots Shape Up as Single Photon Emitters, NIST Tests Show
Release Date: February 22, 2011 Like snowflakes or fingerprints, no two quantum dots are identical. But a new etching method for shaping and positioning these semiconductor nanocrystals might change that. What's more, tests … more
What's Behind a School Division's Baldrige Success?
Release Date: February 17, 2011 Read the recent American Association of School Administrator’s (AASA) feature on “What's Behind a School Division's Baldrige Success?” &The Q&A … more
Smart Grid Panel Agrees on Data-Exchange Standards for Electricity Usage
Release Date: February 17, 2011 Washington, DC – The governing board of the public-private Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) has voted in favor of a new standard important for two-way data communications between … more
Announcing BEES Online
Release Date: February 16, 2011 BEES is now available online at http://www.nist.gov/el/economics/BEESSoftware.cfm ! BEES Online is a next-generation application of the popular BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic … more
President Proposes Record $1 Billion Budget for NIST in FY2012
Release Date: February 15, 2011 President Barack Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget proposal announced on Feb. 14, 2011, proposes a funding level of $1.001 billion for the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more
Here Comes the Sun: NIST Radio Station WWVH in Hawaii Adds Solar Power
Release Date: February 15, 2011 The sun is now a significant power source for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) radio station WWVH, which broadcasts time of day, marine storm warnings, and other … more
The NIST Role in Role-Based Control: A 20th Anniversary Appraisal
Release Date: February 15, 2011 What NIST-led innovation is estimated to have saved U.S. industry $6.1 billion over the past 20 years? Well, probably several, but, perhaps surprisingly, a new economics study* points to the … more
Information Retrieval Research Conference Adds Tracks on Medical Records, Crowd-sourcing and Micro-blogging
Release Date: February 15, 2011 If you found this article through a search engine, you can thank an automated text retrieval system. For 20 years, the Text REtrieval Conference (TREC) sponsored by the National Institute of … more
April Workshop To Focus on Preserving Digital Health Records
Release Date: February 15, 2011 Information technology experts, insurers, policy makers and representatives of healthcare organizations will convene on April 5-6, 2011, in Bethesda, Md., to survey current approaches to preserving … more
Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity is Topic of March IT Security Trainers' Conference
Release Date: February 15, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Information Systems Security Educators' Association (FISSEA) are co-hosting FISSEA’s 24th annual conference … more
Crowding Out Collisions: Close Quarters Boost Atomic Clock's Accuracy
Release Date: February 15, 2011 In a paradox typical of the quantum world, JILA scientists have eliminated collisions between atoms in an atomic clock by packing the atoms closer together. The surprising discovery, described in … more
Obama Administration’s Budget Request for NIST Includes Critical Science and Technology Investments to Advance U.S. Innovation and Boost Economic Recovery
Release Date: February 14, 2011 Washington, D.C.– Announced today, President Barack Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget submitted to Congress for the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards … more
Compact High-Temperature Superconducting Cables Demonstrated at NIST
Release Date: February 10, 2011 A researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has invented a method of making high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cables that are thinner and more flexible than … more
Meet Our Newest Staff Member!
Release Date: February 9, 2011 The Weights and Measures Division is excited to welcome a new staff member, Marc Buttler, to our team! Marc joined our staff on January 19 and comes to us with extensive experience in the area of … more
FRN Application Accreditor Health IT Certification Bodies
Release Date: February 9, 2011 Application Due Date Is March 10, 2011 Applications are now being accepted for accreditation bodies seeking to become the sole authorized accreditor of health IT certification bodies. The 30-day … more
Quantum Quirk: JILA Scientists Pack Atoms Together to Prevent Collisions in Atomic Clock
Release Date: February 3, 2011 BOULDER, Colo.—In a paradox typical of the quantum world, JILA scientists have eliminated collisions between atoms in an atomic clock by packing the atoms closer together. The surprising … more
NIST Technique Controls Sizes of Nanoparticle Clusters for EHS Studies
Release Date: February 2, 2011 The same properties that make engineered nanoparticles attractive for numerous applications—small as a virus, biologically and environmentally stabile, and water-soluble—also … more
New TIP Three-Year Plan Outlines Future R&D Grant Directions for NIST
Release Date: February 2, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has posted a "Three-Year Plan" outlining the topics of possible future competitions for R&D funding under the … more
End of an Era: NIST to Cease Calibrating Mercury Thermometers
Release Date: February 2, 2011 Beginning March 1, 2011, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will no longer provide calibration services for mercury thermometers. The cessation of the mercury thermometer … more
Cloud Computing at NIST: Two New Draft Documents and a Wiki
Release Date: February 2, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued two new draft documents on cloud computing for public comment, including the first set of guidelines for managing security and … more
NIST Issues Final Version of Full Virtualization Security Guidelines
Release Date: February 2, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued the final version of its recommendations for securely configuring and using full computing virtualization technologies. The … more
NIST Seeks Experts to Provide Guidance on Disaster and Failure Studies
Release Date: February 2, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking nominations of individuals for appointment to the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Advisory Committee. The committee … more
Baldrige Program Director Named Honorary Fellow of ACHE
Release Date: February 2, 2011 Harry Hertz, director of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has been named an Honorary Fellow of the American College of … more
Jeremy Grant Selected to Manage Establishment of National Program Office for NSTIC
Release Date: January 31, 2011 The Information Technology Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is pleased to announce that Jeremy Grant is joining the NIST team as a senior executive advisor. … more
CNST High School Intern Parakh Jain Selected as Semifinalist in Intel Science Talent Search
Release Date: January 31, 2011 Parakh Jain, a senior in the Math, Science, and Computer Science Magnet Program at Poolesville High School and student intern in the Electron Physics Group in the CNST, has been selected as a … more
NIST Gaithersburg Closed
Release Date: January 27, 2011 NIST Gaithersburg will be closed today. Non emergency employees should stay home. The Grounds Crew worked steadily through the night, but between the volume of snow, the freezing conditions, and … more
NIST Opens $20 Million Grant Competition to Support New Scientific Research Facilities
Release Date: January 25, 2011 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)&has launched a new competition for grants to support the construction of new or expanded scientific research facilities at institutions … more
CNST and LBL Researchers Develop a Full Numerical Model of EUV Imaging and Exposure Statistics
Release Date: January 24, 2011 The tolerances on feature size, shape, and placement for next generation computer chips fabricated with extreme ultra-violet (EUV) lithography will range from a maximum of a few nanometers down to … more
Eggs Show Arctic Mercury Cycling May Be Linked to Ice Cover
Release Date: January 19, 2011 An international research team working with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) scientists at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) in Charleston, S.C., has suggested for the first … more
NIST Puts a New Twist on the Electron Beam
Release Date: January 19, 2011 Electron microscopes are among the most widely used scientific and medical tools for studying and understanding a wide range of materials, from biological tissue to miniature magnetic devices, at … more
New Wave: JILA Develops Efficient Source of Terahertz Radiation
Release Date: January 19, 2011 JILA researchers have developed a laser-based source of terahertz radiation that is unusually efficient and less prone to damage than similar systems. The technology might be useful in applications … more
NIST Advances Single Photon Management for Quantum Computers
Release Date: January 19, 2011 The quantum computers of tomorrow might use photons, or particles of light, to move around the data they need to make calculations, but photons are tricky to work with. Two new papers* by … more
Real-World Graphene Devices May Have a Bumpy Ride
Release Date: January 19, 2011 Electronics researchers love graphene. A two-dimensional sheet of carbon one atom thick, graphene is like a superhighway for electrons, which rocket through the material with 100 times the mobility … more
Stretching, the Truth: JILA Biophysicists Help Unravel DNA Stretching Mystery
Release Date: January 19, 2011 Using a new experimental test structure, biophysicists at JILA have unraveled part of a 15-year mystery in the mechanics of DNA—just how the molecule manages to suddenly extend to almost … more
National Program Office Planned for Online Trusted Identity Strategy
Release Date: January 19, 2011 At a January 7, 2011 forum with Silicon Valley business and academic leaders at Stanford University, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt … more
NIST Physicist Joseph Stroscio Named Among 2010 AAAS Fellows
Release Date: January 19, 2011 Joseph Stroscio, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as a … more
Diamonds in the Rough - Effects of Atomic-Scale Roughness on Adhesion Between Diamond Surfaces
Release Date: January 17, 2011 CNST Project Leader Rachel Cannara and collaborators from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and the University of Pennsylvania have shown that atomic-scale surface roughness has a strong … more
DOC Seeks Comment on Trademark Bullying
Release Date: January 14, 2011 A trademark "bully" may be described as a trademark owner that uses its trademark rights to harass and intimidate another business beyond what the law might be reasonably interpreted to … more
NIST Puts a New Twist on the Electron Beam
Release Date: January 13, 2011 'Electron Vortices' Have the Potential to Increase Conventional Microscopes' Capabilities Electron microscopes are among the most widely used scientific and medical tools for studying and … more
Learn from the Best: 2010 Baldrige Recipients Showcased at Quest Conference
Release Date: January 13, 2011 Cherry blossoms won't be the only things flowering in Washington, D.C., during the first week in April. Quality, innovation and performance excellence will be in full bloom at the 23rd annual … more
John Unguris Recognized as an American Physical Society Outstanding Referee
Release Date: January 10, 2011 John Unguris, a Project Leader in the CNST Electron Physics Group, has been designated a 2011 Outstanding Referee by the American Physical Society (APS). This lifetime APS award was initiated in … more
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard A. Schmidt Announce Next Steps to Enhance Online Security, Planned National Office for Identity Trust Strategy
Release Date: January 7, 2011 At a forum with Silicon Valley business and academic leaders at Stanford University, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard A. Schmidt today announced … more
Setting Standards: We Want to Hear From You
Release Date: January 7, 2011 On Jan. 4, President Obama signed the America COMPETES Act, which supports an array of strategies for maintaining America's leadership in science and technology. Among the Act's important … more
Watch Webcast Today: U.S. Commerce Secretary, White House Cybersecurity Coordinator to Visit Silicon Valley to Discuss Next Steps in Cybersecurity
Release Date: January 7, 2011 Palo Alto, Calif. – As part of a meeting today with local industry and academic leaders in Silicon Valley, at Stanford University, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and White House … more
Reauthorization of COMPETES Act Brings Changes to NIST
Release Date: January 5, 2011 On Jan. 4, President Obama signed the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which provides several important updates to the funding, programs and leadership of the National Institute of … more
NIST Appoints Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services
Release Date: January 5, 2011 The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced today that Phillip Singerman has been appointed to the newly created position of Associate … more
Extracting Cellular 'Engines' May Aid in Understanding Mitochondrial Diseases
Release Date: January 5, 2011 Medical researchers who crave a means of exploring the genetic culprits behind a host of neuromuscular disorders may have just had their wish granted by a team working at the National Institute of … more
And Then There Were Five: Finalists Advance in NIST's SHA-3 Cryptography Competition
Release Date: January 5, 2011 On Dec. 9, 2010, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the selection of five finalists in its ongoing competition to select a new cryptographic hash algorithm … more
NIST Telescope Calibration May Help Explain Mystery of Universe's Expansion
Release Date: January 5, 2011 Is the expansion of the universe accelerating for some unknown reason? This is one of the mysteries plaguing astrophysics, and somewhere in distant galaxies are yet-unseen supernovae that may hold … more
IPv6 Guide Provides Path to Secure Deployment of Next-Generation Internet Protocol
Release Date: January 5, 2011 As the day draws nearer for the world to run out of the unique addresses that allow us to use the Internet—now predicted to happen by the end of 2012—researchers at the National … more
Two Publications Recommend Organization-Wide IT Security Risk Management
Release Date: January 5, 2011 Two new draft publications from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provide the groundwork for a three-tiered risk-management approach that encompasses computer security risk … more
New Time Widget Puts Accurate Clocks on Web Pages
Release Date: January 5, 2011 For Web site owners and bloggers, there is a new widget from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that will keep your Web pages right on time. Web … more
NIST Work Highlighted as Top Science News of 2010
Release Date: January 5, 2011 The top science news of 2010, as compiled by several science magazines, includes several stories from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Physics World selected NIST … more
Three From NIST Elected Fellows of American Physical Society
Release Date: January 5, 2011 Three scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were recently elected as 2010 fellows of the American Physical Society (APS), an honor bestowed upon association … more |
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