NIST News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Cahn receives Kyoto Prize medal. Credit: Inamori Foundation View hi-resolution image YOTO, JAPAN — November 10, 2011 — The non-profit Inamori Foundation … more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices as adopted by the 96th National Conference on Weights and Measures … more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

Partnership will help revitalize the domestic railway manufacturing sector, support Obama Administration’s historic investments in transportation and create jobs U.S. Transportation … more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

& 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

The investigators took high-precision measurements of the D1 and D2 transition lines in the two stabl more