NIST News

Investments will promote job creation and economic growth in local industry clusters in AZ, CA, MI, NY, OK, OR, PA, TN and WA WASHINGTON — The Obama administration today announced that … more

We are thrilled at the news that NIST's David Wineland has been awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Professor Serge Haroche of the Collège de France and Ecole Normale … more

David J. Wineland, a physicist at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics. The honor is … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published for public comment a revised draft of its guidance for managing computer patches to improve overall system security for large … more

False-color scanning electron micrographs of cross-sectioned hematite films grown by sputter deposition and then annealed at two different temperatures.& The physical structure and the … more

Rapid, accurate genetic sequencing soon may be within reach of every doctor's office if recent research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Columbia … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced the winner of its five-year competition to select a new cryptographic hash algorithm, one of the fundamental tools of … more

Boulder, Colo., will be the site of the fourth and final public workshop to gather input on the design of the proposed National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), on Oct. 18, 2012, at the … more

When scientists and engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) want to tell their peers about experimental methods they have “road-tested” for … more

The link between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and forensic science dates back to 1913 when the agency’s predecessor, the National Bureau of Standards, served … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is offering a strong finale to National Cybersecurity Awareness month with its the third annual National Initiative for Cybersecurity … more

Three earthquake authorities from academia and the private sector have been appointed by Patrick Gallagher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the National … more

Glass-enclosed&cavity&for&prototype&pressure&device. In 1643, Evangelista Torricelli, in the course of solving a Tuscan plumbing problem, made the first barometer … more

Schematic diagram of loophole-free Bell test, with time on the vertical axis and space on the horizontal axis. Two entangled photons are generated by a source. Each proceeds on a separate … more

The larger&of&the&two&alternating&images&above shows the topography of a nanowire bundle. The smaller image is the same bundle, but without the p-doped portion. The … more

PML scientist Zeeshan Ahmed lowers a sample into the instrument chamber for analysis. In living organisms, biomolecules such as proteins are constantly in complex motion, bending and … more

Some of the kinds of radiation detectors affected by the new standards. PML researchers played a central role in the establishment of new testing and evaluation (T&E) standards … more

NIST Handbook 156 - Program Handbook for Engine Fuels, Petroleum and Lubricant Laboratories Introduction This handbook provides guidance on how to establish a management system for Fuel Quality … more

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced more than $9 million in grant awards to support the National Strategy for Trusted … more

The fees for the 2013 Baldrige Award cycle will increase in order to recover costs associated with administering the award process and to reduce the annual financial commitment needed from the … more

False-color scanning electron micrograph of a nanophotonic motion sensor. Vertical motion of the silicon nitride ring (pink) changes an evanescent light field of the silicon disk optical … more

Additional Contact: Patricia Lee Director of Marketing Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Intl. 815-227-8286 ROCKFORD, Ill., September 18, 2012 – Manufacturing companies … more

& Online registration is now open for Forensics@NIST 2012, a three-day symposium on cutting-edge forensic science research being performed at NIST. The symposium will run from Wednesday, … more

With the opening of the new guide hall addition at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), neutron scientists will have nearly twice as … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new computational method for identifying candidate refrigerant fluids with low "global warming potential" … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a final version of its risk assessment guidelines that can provide senior leaders and executives with the information they … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host a workshop at its Gaithersburg, Md., headquarters October 15 and16, 2012, to discuss ways NIST can focus its work to help federal … more

The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program is preparing to release by early 2013 three new versions of the Criteria for Performance Excellence. What changes will readers of the 2013–2014 … more

On September 13, 2012, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) physicist Jacob Taylor received a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal (Sammies) for his advanced scientific … more

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 12, 2012, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) unveiled a new laboratory designed to demonstrate that a typical-looking suburban home … more

Top: Scanning electron micrograph of an array of magnetic nanodisks with a oval-shaped “defect” structure at center.& Middle: Ferromagnetic resonance force microscopy … more

The world’s most stable laser – with frequency variation of no more than 2 parts in 10,000 trillion – has been developed and tested by an international collaboration … more

The United States already has one of the highest direct fire loss rates among developed nations, and progress in reducing this tremendous burden is slowing. Controlled experiment at … more

A refined method developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for measuring nanometer-sized objects may help computer manufacturers more effectively size up the myriad … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a new nanoscale reference material for use in a wide range of environmental, health and safety studies of industrial … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in concert with the FlexTech Alliance, will hold a workshop on “Flexible Printed Electronics Metrology — The Status … more

Sometimes the chain of measurement traceability—the unbroken series of links between a calibrated instrument and the official standard maintained by the National Institute of Standards … more

Scanning electron micrograph of the cross-section of a silicon nitride waveguide designed for the low-noise frequency conversion with a simulation of the device's optical field profile … more

Almost exactly 58 years ago, President Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke at the 1954 dedication ceremony for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campus in Boulder, Colo. Now you can … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced nearly $2 million in Phase I and Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards to 12 U.S. businesses. These … more

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced nearly $2 million in Phase I and Phase II Small Business Innovation … more

Twelve U.S. organizations have reached the next step on the road to a possible silver anniversary Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest recognition for organizational … more

PML physicist Michal Chojnacky (right) demonstrates the method used to calibrate platinum resistance thermometers. At left is sensor designer Chris Albert. Sometimes the chain of … more

Collimated output of the solar simulator illuminates a small solar cell. Electrical probes are used to measure cell efficiency. PML researchers have devised a novel source of portable … more

NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology& researchers Gregg Gallatin and Andrew Berglund (now at Quantifind in Palo Alto, CA) have determined the optimum path in which to scan a laser … more

Patrick Abbot inspects the upper (vacuum) section of the apparatus. The impending redefinition of the kilogram presents a weighty dilemma. Methods to be used to realize the redefined … more

The Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO), in partnership with state and national organizations, is inviting interested parties to the third in a series of regional workshops to … more

On August 15, 2012, the White House announced the launch of a new public-private institute for manufacturing innovation in Youngstown, Ohio. The new partnership, the National Additive Manufacturing … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is requesting comments on new draft guidelines for securing BIOS systems for server computers. BIOS—Basic Input/output … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will co-sponsor the 2012 Biometric Consortium Conference (BCC 2012), September 18-21, 2012, at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. … more

Not many 25-year-olds can boast that in their short lifetime they have helped thousands of organizations develop and maintain world-class operations, innovative management, efficient procedures, … more

Consortium of Businesses, Universities, and Community Colleges from Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania Co-Invest with Federal Government in a Manufacturing Innovation Institute WASHINGTON, DC … more

Nhan Nguyen demonstrates how he performs optical measurements on a graphene-insulator-semiconductor sample structure. That graphene is the hot new material in the world of future … more

The NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) is pleased to announce the release of the summer 2012 edition of The CNST News. This quarterly newsletter highlights recent … more

Thanks to a new reference standard developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), law enforcement agencies will have an easier time linking the nearly 200,000 cartridge … more

Take that, sports cars! Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) can accelerate their beryllium ions from zero to 100 miles per hour and stop them in just a few … more

Most devices that amplify light suffer from the same problem: making the image brighter also adds muddying distortion. Scientists working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more

Tests performed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) show that a new method for splitting photon beams could overcome a fundamental physical hurdle in transmitting … more

A long-standing mystery in cell biology may be closer to a solution thanks to measurements taken at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and France's Institut Laue-Langevin … more

Lab on a chip (LOC) devices—microchip-size systems that can prepare and analyze tiny fluid samples with volumes ranging from a few microliters (millionth of a liter) to sub-nanoliters … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published the final version of its guide for managing computer security incidents. Based on best practices from government, academic … more

The Identity Ecosystem Steering Group Kickoff Meeting to support the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) will be held Aug. 15 and 16, 2012, in Chicago, Ill. In April … more

Four National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) employees were among the 12 recipients of the annual Arthur S. Flemming Award that recognizes outstanding service to the federal … more

Organizations and individuals are being invited to help support the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program during its 25th-anniversary year by becoming sponsors of various initiatives and … more

The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program announces the opportunity to participate in the pilot of an exciting new assessment service.& The Baldrige Collaborative Assessment is designed to … more

Winners of the Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge Will Strengthen Regional Industry Clusters and Rural Economies Across 12 States The Obama Administration today announced the winners … more

Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology have used three-dimensional single-particle tracking to measure the dynamic behavior of individual nanoparticles adsorbed at … more

A PASS unit and air pack are placed in an anechoic chamber for testing. First responders rely increasingly on wireless communication devices, and in emergencies they cannot afford major … more

A close-up photo of the center of the experimental set-up. The small transparent chamber that holds the ultracold rubidium atoms is surrounded by a dotted line. Since their discovery in … more

A new versatile measurement system devised by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) accurately and quickly measures the electric power output of solar energy … more

Detecting and stopping malicious attacks on computer networks is a central focus of computer security these days. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is asking for comments on … more

A new guide from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) describes a "scoring system" that computer security managers can use to assess the severity of security risks … more

Results of "live burn" studies and laboratory tests conducted by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) fire researchers helped to prompt a safety alert warning of … more

On July 19, 2012, Richard Cavanagh, Director of the Office of Special Programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, … more

The White House has announced that three researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will receive the 2011 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers … more

Three staff members of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are among the 17 recipients of the 2012 Leadership and Service Awards presented by the American National Standards … more

& PML researcher Janet Cassard examines samples of the two new Reference Materials to be used for calibrating microscale measurements on MEMS devices. Over the past two decades, … more

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Yesterday’s New York Times editorial A Formula for Cutting Health Costs highlights 2011 Baldrige Award recipient Southcentral Foundation and how it has achieved “startling … more

The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) announces the accreditation of five laboratories in the HIT LAP. Information regarding these accredited laboratories can be located … more

A new report by a national committee of U.S. industry and university leaders details 16 recommendations "aimed at reinventing manufacturing in a way that ensures U.S. competitiveness, feeds … more

Next-generation "smart" electrical meters for residential and commercial buildings will have computerized operating systems just as laptops or mobile devices do. On July 10, 2012, the … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the second-round draft version of its updated security standard for identity credentials in the Personal Identity Verification … more

JILA, a Colorado laboratory known around the world for creating new states of matter and novel laser designs and applications, turns 50 this year and will receive a gratifying anniversary … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is launching a new consortium that will take the measure of a growing and increasingly important class of materials—so-called … more

The Baldrige Executive Fellows Program is featured in the July 2012 issue of Leadership Excellence magazine, which has a national circulation of about 200,000 who are primarily C-suite or aspiring … more

The Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) Governing Board voted on July 10, 2012 to support the new business sustainment plan for the SGIP. The plan outlines the SGIP's transition to a … more

What can you learn for your organization from the evaluation of a fictional health care organization conducted by an actual team of Baldrige examiners this year? See a sample applicant’s … more

In the name of science, but with aim of saving lives, preventing injuries and reducing property losses, members of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) spent much of the first two weeks in July … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a guide to help improve the design of electronic health records for pediatric patients so that the design focus is on the … more

One of the most influential collections of materials data at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is now not only bigger than ever but also—thanks to a 68 percent … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a proposed update to its guidelines for securing mobile devices—such as smart phones and tablets—that are … more

Researchers at the University of Maryland and the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology have for the first time experimentally demonstrated surface-only charge conduction in a … more

& & The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in collaboration with more

Additional Contact: Patricia Lee Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Intl. 815-227-8286 Factory Tours Urged to Raise Awareness of Skilled Career Options Rockford, Ill.,– … more

In yet another Olympian feat of measurement, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently calibrated a tape that will be used to measure out the distance of … more

Tightening or relaxing the tension on a drumhead will change the way the drum sounds. The same goes for drumheads made from graphene, only instead of changing the sound, stretching graphene … more

Gold is not necessarily precious—at least not as a coating on atomic force microscope (AFM) probes. Artist's conception of JILA's advance in atomic force microscope (AFM) … more

For the first time in the 25-year history of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, high-performing organizations that are candidates for the award will be eligible for recognition of their … more

In July, Shaffique Adam will join the inaugural faculty of Yale-NUS College as an Assistant Professor of Science, with a joint appointment in the Department of Physics at the National … more

The Spring/Summer 2012 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 … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting proposals to establish three new Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers in Arizona, Maryland and Rhode … more

In searching for better flame retardants for home furnishings—a large source of fuel in house fires—National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers defied the … more

In an important step towards more practical quantum information processing, researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the University of California, San Diego; and … more

Researchers at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) and four partner organizations have measured for the first time concentrations of 13 perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in five different endangered … more

Contact: James F. Groelinger, CEA Executive Director 609-516-7669 Partnership will expedite commercialization of clean energy technologies Golden, Colo. – Clean Energy Alliance, Inc. … more

NIST researchers showed that straining graphene membrane creates pseudomagnetic fields that confines the graphene's electrons and creates quantized quantum dot-like energy levels. The … more

NIST researchers showed that straining graphene membrane creates pseudomagnetic fields that confines the graphene's electrons and creates quantized quantum dot-like energy levels. The … more

Part of administration’s Better Buildings Initiative, Centers Will focus on energy efficiency workforce development for building operations professionals Today, the U.S. Department of … more

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers have observed for the first time the Hall effect in a gas of ultracold atoms. The Hall effect is an important interaction of … more

Patrick Gallagher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology, participates in a "Best Practice Tour" … more

Like many new measurement tools, the laser frequency comb seemed at first a curiosity but has found more practical uses than originally imagined. The technique for making extraordinarily precise … more

The 2013–2014 Criteria for Performance Excellence are now under development. We invite you to submit your suggestions for improving the Criteria from now until July 2. & There are two … more

A powerful color-based imaging technique is making the jump from remote sensing to the operating room—and a team of scientists* at the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more

As part of a larger effort to reduce the amount of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, in the environment, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a new website to help … more

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and partner organizations of the federal interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO) are sponsoring the second in a … more

2012, the 25th anniversary year of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, will see 39 organizations vying for the honor. Applicants for the Baldrige Award, the nation's highest … more

A trio of theorists, including one from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), have described how a future quantum computer could be used to simulate complex, high-energy … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued the final version of the Guide to Bluetooth Security (NIST Special Publication 800-121 Rev. 1). The publication is a revision of … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is hosting a workshop on the use of "big data"—a term referring to massive amounts of stored and streaming digital … more

Chris Cromer examines one of PML’s next-generation power meters, built for the Air Force, that is capable of handling inputs as high as 100 kW. In the center of the frame are the … more

PIF's Aric Sanders demonstrates imaging options on the FIB/SEM instrument.& & & NIST is taking a huge step into the ultra-small with the Precision Imaging Facility … more

2012, the 25th anniversary year of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, will see 39 organizations vying for the honor. Applicants for the Baldrige Award, the nation's highest … more

On November 28 – 30, 2012, OLES will be hosting Forensics@NIST 2012, a symposium for industry, government, and academic representatives to learn about cutting-edge forensic science … more

Quantum computers are still years away, but a trio of theorists has already figured out at least one talent they may have. According to the theorists, including one from the National Institute of … more

On Thursday, May 24, 2012, the Obama Administration announced a $26 million federal funding opportunity for the multiagency Advanced Manufacturing Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. The … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a new standard reference material (SRM) to aid in the detection of two explosive compounds that are known to be used by … more

Humans spend greater than 90 percent of their time indoors, but we're never alone there. Bacteria and viruses, scientists estimate, make up half of the world's biomass—some 10 … more

In 2003, New York became the first state requiring cigarettes sold within its borders to pass a fire safety standard based on a test developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more

For a clear view of cloud computing, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a new publication that explains cloud systems in plain language. The final version of … more

The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) will host a kickoff workshop on Tuesday, June 26, 2012. The workshop’s goal is to introduce the center, which will bring together … more

Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Patrick Gallagher has selected William M. Holt, senior vice president and … more

The Open Application Integration Group (OAGi), a U.S.-based, nonprofit consortium, has recognized the Systems Integration Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as an … more

The NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) is pleased to announce the release of the spring 2012 edition of The CNST News. This quarterly newsletter highlights recent … more

World Metrology Day celebrates the signing of the Treaty of the Meter on May 20, 1875.* By signing the treaty, representatives from 17 nations, including the United States, recognized the … more

The federal government issued on May 9, 2012, a solicitation for proposals from teams led by non-profit organizations or universities to establish an Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have published their first archival paper based on data from the institute’s new hydrogen test facility.* The … more

Researchers, health care professionals, academics, industry representatives and others interested in the advanced diagnostic and disease treatment options possible from the analysis of metabolites … more

Laurie E. Locascio has been named as the new director of the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) while Richard Cavanagh, who had … more

Today, at a White House event, leaders from industry, academia, national labs, and government announced more than a dozen new commitments to advance the Administration’s Materials Genome … more

Recently, NIST announced the availability of $2.5 million for funding criminal justice applications that use new scientific discoveries. Thirty-six proposals were received, and the judges found it … more

Using SEMPA, the magnetic structures in the top and bottom layers of a cobalt-ruthenium-cobalt sandwich contained within a superconducting device were imaged, both before (left) and after … more

Peter Huang of PML's Sensor Science Division. Peter Huang of the Sensor Science Division’s Temperature and Humidity group has devised a new humidity generator that enables … more

Scientists, industry leaders and public officials came together this week for a dialogue on innovation at The Atlantic's "From Inspiration to Innovation Summit," held at Ronald Reagan … more

Botnet activity is on the rise around the globe, and to help understand this problem the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is hosting a free, day-long workshop May 30, 2012, at … more

Roger Kilmer, director of NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program speaks to more than 800 manufacturers and other industry experts at the Manufacturing Innovation 2012 … more

The new, automated Vacuum Comparison Standard can accommodate up to 10 customer gauges of different types at once, with calibration times in the two- to three-hour range. In the vacuum … more

A SURF beam line (foil-wrapped cylinder at right) ends at a vacuum chamber in which the MAVEN EUV filter radiometer was tested. At left, plastic drapes form a clean room in which the … more

Gaithersburg, Md.—An international team of researchers including scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has found what may be the first known example of … more

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) will host “Creating Usable Electronic … more

Vincent Lee prepares a demonstration for visiting students. For the second consecutive year, PML played a major role in NIST’s contributions to the Science and Engineering … more

PML technician Sherry Sheckels uses a flashlight and magnification loupe to take exact water-level measurements on a sta more

The Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office (AMNPO) today* issued a formal "request for information" on a new public-private partnership proposed by President Obama: the National … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has extended until May 25, 2012, the comment period for the second draft of a publication intended to help federal departments and agencies … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed and published a new protocol for communicating with biometric sensors over wired and wireless … more

Forensic Firearms Analysis Conference 2012 Since the early 1900s, forensic scientists have been using firearms analysis to associate bullets and cartridge cases left at crime scenes to … more

When it comes to the food used to raise fish in aquaculture "farms," it seems that you may get what you pay for. In a new study,* researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a novel way of producing light pulses that are "superluminal"—in some sense they travel … more

A new study by a team including scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) indicates that thin polymer films can have different properties depending on the method by … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a prototype bioreactor—a device for culturing cells to create engineered tissues—that … more

Using a refined technique for trapping and manipulating nanoparticles, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have extended the trapped particles' useful life … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is hosting Cloud Computing Forum & Workshop V on June 5-7, 2012, at the Department of Commerce’s Herbert C. Hoover … more

Fire researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently were honored by the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), while the Fire Department of New … more

Congratulations to the three winners of the NIST Mass Masters challenge conducted Friday April 27-29, 2012, at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. By correctly selecting … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will host two forums next month designed to connect manufacturers with more than 34,000 … more

Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have built a quantum simulator that can engineer interactions among hundreds of quantum bits (qubits)—10 times more … more

On April 15, 2012, U.S. Commerce Department Secretary John Bryson presented 11 U.S. organizations with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest honor for organizational … more

A miniature atom-based magnetic sensor developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has passed an important research milestone by successfully measuring human brain … more

Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have used the scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA) … more

Two new advanced laboratory buildings for high-precision science and measurements have officially opened in Boulder, Colo., providing upgraded facilities to support technology innovation and … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) have provided the first evidence that engineered nanoparticles are able … more

Identifying people by acquiring pictures of their eyes is becoming easier, according to a new report* from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST researchers evaluated the … more

Physicists at JILA have demonstrated a novel "superradiant" laser that works on a subtly different principle than ordinary lasers. In principle, the new JILA laser could be 100 to 1,000 … more

Materials scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), working with an international research team, have helped prove the stability of a novel—and … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in cooperation with the Multi-Agency Tissue Engineering Science (MATES) working group, is sponsoring a two-day workshop on imaging … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is co-hosting the fifth annual Safeguarding Health Information: Building Assurance through HIPAA Security conference on June 6 and 7, 2012, … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced proposed changes to a standard that specifies how to implement digital signatures, which can be used to ensure the integrity … more

The Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has sent its 2011 annual report to Congress. The VCAT is the agency's primary … more

A team from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has received the 2012 Energy and Environmental Stewardship award from the Department of Commerce for the design and … more

The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP), managed for 25 years by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in collaboration with the private sector, has announced that it … more

JILA, a joint institute of the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology that has produced three Nobel Prize winners since 2001, has opened a new wing … more

Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and Arizona State University have used environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) to explain the role of nickel … more

David Allen takes readings using a NIST standard reflectance diffuser prior to scanning a wound area on an anesthetized pig. Illumination comes from the broadband lights on the hyperspectral … more

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Top: The gratings are fabricated with approximately 700 nm between ridges. Each has slightly different spacing and thickness, affecting reflectivity and mechanical performance. Bottom: A … more

The newly designed ionization chambers, in two sizes. & In the pursuit of precision measurements, nothing is simple, even when the apparatus employed appears to be utterly … more

BOULDER, Colo. – Physicists at JILA have demonstrated a novel “superradiant” laser design, which has the potential to be 100 to 1,000 times more stable than the best … more

Memory devices based on magnetism are one of the core technologies of the computing industry, and engineers are working to develop new forms of magnetic memory that are faster, smaller, and more … more

Securing computers against unlawful and malicious attacks is always important, but it’s especially vital when the computers in question control major physical … more

The first of a planned series of regional workshops to design a proposed $1 billion federal initiative, the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), will be held on April 25, 2012, at … more

A new online tool can help small companies and entrepreneurs evaluate their awareness of intellectual property (IP)—trade secrets, company data and more—and learn how to protect … more

Mathematician Geoffrey McFadden of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Applied and Computational Mathematics Division has been named a fellow of the Society for Industrial and … more

H. Felix Wu, a mechanical engineer and research manager at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been named a fellow of SPIE, the international professional society for … more

Consistent with its purpose, the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc., has committed funds to sustain the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) through fiscal … more

Measurements taken by a team including National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) scientists show that a newly devised material has the ability to separate closely related components of … more

In the diamagnetic lateral force calibration method, an AFM cantilever (shown here is a NIST HammerHead cantilever) presses against the surface of a piece of graphite that levitates in a … more

Washington, D.C. -- Responding to President Obama's call for an "all-of-the-above" strategy to help consumers reduce their energy costs, the Administration announced on March 22 that … more

The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program is saying farewell to Mr. Sandy McDonnell, a friend and leader who was critical to the program's start-up. Mr. McDonnell, 89, died on March 19 in the … more

It turns out you can be too thin—especially if you’re a nanoscale battery. Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the University of … more

Why does inhaling anesthetics cause unconsciousness? New insights into this century-and-a-half-old question may spring from research performed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more

Remember Slinky®, the coiled metal spring that “walks” down stairs with just a push, momentum and gravity? Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more

An important aspect of any product is how easily someone can use it for its intended purpose, also known as usability. Electronic health records (EHR) that are usable have the potential to improve … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting proposals to support long-term research in next-generation semiconductor technology, which is critical to the future of the … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is hosting a free public workshop on best practices in federal conformity assessment activities Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at … more

Gregg Gallatin, a researcher at the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, has shown that combining a nineteenth century flux theorem with an eighteenth century mathematical operation … more

With a great deal of optimism and the spirit of collaboration, as well as the acknowledgement of a great deal of work ahead, the senior leaders of the Baldrige Enterprise met on February 29 to … more

On March 9, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that it is soliciting proposals to establish a steering group in support of the National Strategy for Trusted … more

Does the United States have sufficient industrial capabilities to produce adequate supplies of forged-quality metal parts to meet the needs of the Defense Department and other federal … more

President Obama announced today his proposal for a new initiative focused on strengthening and ensuring the long-term competitiveness and job-creating power of U.S. manufacturing. After touring … more

If there is life on other planets, a laser frequency comb developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may help find it. NIST researchers and collaborators … more

Organic solar cells may be a step closer to market because of measurements taken at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), where a … more

In recent years, scientists have begun to harness DNA’s powerful molecular machinery to build artificial structures at the nanoscale using the natural ability of pairs of DNA molecules to … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have done a mash-up of two very different experimental techniques—neutron scattering and electrochemical … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a new certified reference material to support the federal government’s Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) in … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will significantly expand its work in support of an advanced wireless communications system for the nation’s first responders and … more

Register today for the 24th annual Quest for Excellence® conference and you’ll get something extra: an invitation to attend the ceremony and reception honoring the 2010 and 2011 … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released in final form a guide to enhanced security for wireless local area networks (WLAN). A WLAN is a group of wireless networking … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced today that it is soliciting proposals to establish two new Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers in South Dakota and … more

An updated roadmap for the Smart Grid is now available from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which recently finished reviewing and incorporating public comments into the … more

A major revision of a Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) publication released today by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) adds guidance for combating new … more

This colorized photo shows trap cleaning in progress. The trap (shown from the side) is atop the gold-colored pedestal in the center and measures 8 mm across. The vertical stripes on the … more

The 2012 participants, from left: David Newell of PML, Jacques Liard of NRCan, Dave Inglis of NRC, Jason Silliker of N more

The President’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget for the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) submitted to Congress proposes an … more

A new report by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has documented 149 potential sources of human … more

Weights and measures are indispensable. From the grocery store to the gas pump, all kinds of consumer products are sold by some measurable quantity, whether it’s length, count, volume or … more

The Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking volunteers to participate in a workgroup that will develop industry best practice … more

Sometimes knowing that a new technology works is not enough. You also must know why it works to get marketplace acceptance. New information from the National Institute of Standards and Technology … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published for public comment a draft update to a guide for organizations managing their responses to computer security incidents such … more

State of Maryland and Montgomery County Join Partnership The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced a new partnership to establish the National Cybersecurity Center … more

Graphical representation of a stack of individual chips connected by vertical pipelines or through-silicon vias (TSVs). Credit: IBM. Could three-dimensional stacked integrated circuits … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks manufacturers of electronic health record (EHR) systems to participate in a research effort to develop methods for assessing the … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) and the Department of Energy have announced the availability of up to $1.3 … more

Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and Sandia National Laboratories have published a detailed review of recent experimental and theoretical work highlighting the … more

Washington, D.C. – The President’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget for the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) submitted today … more

NIST OLES Enhancing Collaboration Between NIST and Law Enforcement NIST OLES has partnered with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Office of Cheltenham Operations … more

The NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) is pleased to announce the release of the winter 2012 edition of The CNST News. This quarterly newsletter highlights recent … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced that it is launching a project to collect and catalog DNA identification data for up to 1,500 human cell lines used in … more

A team from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland has found an iron-based superconductor that operates at the highest known temperature for a … more

Individual cells modified to act as sensors using fluorescence are already useful tools in biochemistry, but now they can add good timing to their resumé, thanks in part to expertise from … more

You often hear about the Framers of the Constitution, but not so much the framers of the Magna Carta. They work for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Not the authors, of … more

Filtering carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from factory smokestacks is a necessary, but expensive part of many manufacturing processes. However, a collaborative research team from the National … more

The great artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci once said that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) research … more

Wind conditions at a fire scene can make a critical difference on the behavior of the blaze and the safety of firefighters, even indoors, according to a new report by the National Institute of … more

On Feb. 1, 2012, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) launched a competition for pilot projects to accelerate progress toward improved systems for interoperable, trusted online … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released its recommendations for a new, privately led steering group to tackle the complex policy and technical issues necessary to create … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host the 25th annual conference of the Federal Information Systems Security Educator’s Association (FISSEA) March 27-29, … more

Creation of a next-generation public safety communications network requires leadership from a single non-profit organization devoted to this purpose, according to a Jan. 31, 2012, report released … more

Video recordings of the Nov. 2-4, 2011 Cloud Computing Forum & Workshop IV hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are now available for on-line viewing. The … more

Much of what is known about decadal climate change – and much of what appears on the evening weather forecast as well – comes from satellite-based remote sensing of microwave … more

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Graphical user interface of Instrument Control (iC).Click image for larger version. A free, easily customizable software program for automating test equipment via GPIB or RS232 bus may … more

Physicists at JILA have created the first “frequency comb” in the extreme ultraviolet band of the spectrum, high-energy light less than 100 nanometers (nm) in wavelength. … more

Proposers’ Conference Set for Feb. 15 WASHINGTON - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced a competition to award a total of approximately $10 million … more

Office of Science and Technology Blog Post by U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra and NIST Director Patrick Gallagher Standards—agreed upon parameters such as the size and shape … more

Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology have made a grating coupler that transmits over 45 % of the incident optical energy from a plane wave into a single surface … more

WASHINGTON—Creation of a next-generation public safety communications network requires leadership from a single non-profit organization devoted to this purpose, according to a report … more

A team of physicists from the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI), the Neils Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Harvard University has developed a theory describing how to both detect weak … more

Top: Transmission electron diffraction pattern from from a segment of an indium gallium nitride (InGaN) nanowire about 50 nanometers in diameter taken with an SEM using the new NIST … more

Last week, the White House issued a memorandum recognizing the role of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in helping agencies implement best practices for standards … more

Three new draft reports published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are designed to help both public and private organizations improve the security of their information … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized its first set of guidelines for managing security and privacy issues in cloud computing.* Guidelines on Security and Privacy … more

The International Biometric Performance Conference 2012, to be held March 5-9 at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will bring together evaluators, users and technology … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is accepting applications for the 2012 Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers and the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) … more

A brand-new article on Inc.com, "We Will Be the Best-Run Business in America," features MidwayUSA, a 2009 Baldrige Award winner in small business, and its founder Larry Potterfield. … more

The National Strategy for a Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) National Program Office will host the 2012 NIST/NSTIC IDtrust Workshop “Technologies and Standards Enabling the … more

The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking nominations for the 2012 National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The medal is presented each … more

Taking a step closer to ensuring that new electrical devices will be ready to plug into the nation's next-generation power grid, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)'s … more

SANTA CLARA, CA – Today, U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra joined utility and technology executives in Silicon Valley to announce several new online tools that will allow … more

Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology and Purdue University have designed and fabricated an on-chip microresonator that converts continuous laser light into … more

The news in 2001 was impressive, but it’s even more emphatically evident a decade later: the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP) significantly benefits the U.S. economy. … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will host two forums in February 2012 to help U.S. manufacturers prepare for upcoming … more

DOC/NIST Invites Vendors to Attend an Industry Day at NIST! The NIST Acquisition Management Division will partner with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) to host an Industry Day at … more

Optimizing the conductivity of ceria based oxides, or doped ceria, is crucial to their use as electrolytes in future solid oxide fuel cells. Researchers from the NIST Center for Nanoscale Science … more

Similar to the way pavement, softened by a hot sun, will slow down a car, graphene—a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon with wondrous properties—slows down an object sliding across … more

A new clinical Standard Reference Material (SRM) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will help health care professionals more accurately diagnose and treat … more

With a random-looking spatter of paint specks, a pair of cameras and a whole lot of computer processing, engineer Mark Iadicola of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has developed two new Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) for … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) needs American innovators and entrepreneurs to help solve technological problems and develop NIST technologies into marketable products. … more

On Jan. 6, 2012, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) issued a new report highlighting key policy priorities to sustain and promote American innovation and economic competitiveness. The report, … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting the 21st annual Text Retrieval Conference (TREC), the premier experimental effort in the field, to encourage research in … more

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest general scientific society, has elected four researchers at the National Institute of Standards and … more

The top science stories of 2011, as selected by several science magazines, include two experiments and a famous computer, that relied on technology from the National Institute of Standards and … more

If graphene is to live up to its promise as a revolutionary component of future electronics, the interactions between graphene and the surrounding materials in a device must be understood and … more