NIST News

Research Institutions in California, Maine, Michigan, Nevada and New York to Receive Funding WASHINGTON, D.C.–The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and … more

After 20 years with its research components organized largely by scientific disciplines, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is realigning its laboratories according to a … more

Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, have become popular with backpackers and cyclists who mount them on headbands for a reliable, hands-free source of illumination. Now, a new lab at the National … more

Cigarettes are the most frequent cause of fatalities from residential fires in the United States. So, it might seem surprising to learn that a cigarette that burns stronger than others has been … more

Ileana Martinez, International Affairs Advisor with the Standards Services Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is the recipient of the American National Standards … more

While refining their novel method for making nanoscale wires, chemists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) discovered an unexpected bonus—a new way to create … more

Scientists have long known that time passes faster at higher elevations—a curious aspect of Einstein’s theories of relativity that previously has been measured by comparing … more

Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the International Association of Fire Fighters have prepared an educational resource for fire chiefs, firefighters, … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) will award a five-year cooperative agreement totaling $15 million to the University of … more

Every day is a metric day at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). But that won’t stop the agency from celebrating Metric Week, held annually the week of Oct. … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has named 15 leaders from a cross section of U.S. industry, academia and trade and professional organizations to serve on its newly formed … more

Patrick Gallagher, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has named Uma Chowdhry of DuPont to serve on the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT), the … more

Committee will advise NIST director on Smart Grid programs and activities The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has named 15 leaders from a cross-section of U.S. industry, … more

BOULDER, Colo. – Scientists have known for decades that time passes faster at higher elevations—a curious aspect of Einstein's theories of relativity that previously has … more

G.W. (Pete) Stewart, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at the University of Maryland and long-time faculty appointee in ITL's Applied and Computational Mathematics … more

Using a one-of-a-kind instrument designed and built at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an international team of researchers have unveiled a quartet of … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are stepping up the pace for designing safer building evacuations by releasing large, numerical data sets that track the … more

On Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host the Third Annual Maryland Stem Cell Research Symposium at NIST’s main campus in … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued its first Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber Security, which includes high-level security requirements, a framework for assessing … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have found theoretical evidence* of a new way to generate the high-frequency waves used in modern communication devices such … more

Recent puzzling observations of tiny variations in nuclear decay rates have led some to question the science of using decay rates to determine the relative ages of rocks and organic materials. … more

Those looking for the latest product standards-related news, regulatory developments, events and workshops around the world now can turn to the new Global Standards Information (GSI) Web site … more

The Panel of Judges for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest recognition for organizational performance excellence, has selected 16 organizations for the … more

GAITHERSBURG, Md. – Using a one-of-a-kind instrument designed and built at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an international team of researchers have … more

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued today its first Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber Security, which includes high-level security requirements, a … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created "quantum cats" made of photons (particles of light), boosting prospects for manipulating light in new ways to … more

Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have used a small crystal of ions (electrically charged atoms) to detect forces at the scale of yoctonewtons. Measurements of … more

A new experiment proposed* by physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may allow researchers to test the effects of gravity with unprecedented precision at very short … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated a microminiaturized device that can make complex viscosity measurements—critical data for a wide … more

With growing interest in using nanoparticles for everything from antibacterial socks to medical imaging to electronic devices, the need to understand the environmental, health and safety risks of … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has awarded a grant of $1.5 million over 3 years to the Delaware Valley Industrial … more

The Sixth Annual IT Security Automation Conference, co-hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), focuses on applying and integrating emerging cyber security automation … more

Measurements taken* at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may help physicists develop a clearer understanding of high-temperature superconductors, whose behavior remains in … more

With a brilliant, finely tuned spark of ultraviolet (UV) light, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) helped NASA scientists successfully position a crucial UV … more

On Sept. 13, 2010, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Federal Laboratory Consortium, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and the Montgomery County … more

Harnessing darkness for practical use, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a laser power detector coated with the world's darkest … more

Fabrication specialists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are joining forces with conservators at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to protect and … more

For the past four years, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), along with the U.S. Commercial Service, and local MEP and export … more

A modified version of the RoboCrane®, a unique floating platform developed by manufacturing research engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will be helping … more

State regulators, meter manufacturers and hydrogen gas producers concerned with developing markets for hydrogen fuel; farmers seeking to more precisely plan their plantings; and consumers and … more

In efforts to help the nation's health care industry make the transition to the digital age in an effective and meaningful fashion, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has … more

Purity of ingredients is a constant concern for the semiconductor industry, because a mere trace of contaminants can damage or ruin tiny devices. In a step toward solving a long-standing problem in … more

Green laser pointers have become a popular consumer item, delivering light that’s brighter to the eye than red lasers, but stories have circulated on the Web about the potential hazards … more

A wrench or a screwdriver of a single size is useful for some jobs, but for a more complicated project, you need a set of tools of different sizes. Following this guiding principle, researchers at … more

Nothing beats the feeling of starting up a new computer – be it a laptop, desktop or a major, custom-designed computing system. A new system is a blank slate with no worry of botnets, … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is requesting nominations of qualified individuals for its nine existing Federal Advisory Committees. Nominations for all committees will … more

The Commerce Department has published a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on "Cybersecurity, Innovation, and Internet Policy." The department seeks comments from all stakeholders, including the … more

A comprehensive review of the nexus between cybersecurity challenges in the commercial sector and innovation in the Internet economy that is being conducted by The Department of Commerce's … more

Using electromagnetic simulations, researchers from the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology have shown that fiber taper waveguides can be a very efficient tool for optical spectroscopy on … more

At dusk, a car stops at a checkpoint in Afghanistan. It is a tense moment for all. Because an interpreter is not available, U.S. Marines use hand gestures to ask the driver to step out of the car … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have cultivated many thousands of nanocrystals in what looks like a pinscreen or "pin art" on silicon, a step … more

Nothing against bloodhounds, but finding bodies buried by someone who wanted them to stay undiscovered can be difficult. However a new technique developed by scientists at the National Institute of … more

Researchers at JILA have demonstrated the use of infrared laser light to quickly and precisely heat the water in "nano bathtubs"—tiny sample containers—for microscopy studies … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued draft recommendations for securely configuring and using full virtualization technologies, which, by means of software, … more

The Economy, Energy, and Environment (E3) Initiative, a collaborative effort involving five federal agencies, state and local governments, utilities, and manufacturers to support sustainability, … more

The Baldrige Fellows, an executive development program centered on forming relationships with and learning from Baldrige National Quality Award recipient organizations and their senior executives, … more

On July 15, 2010, two Department of Commerce Agencies—the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration … more

A radical, new method developed at NIST that transforms the humble, ubiquitous and inexpensive optical microscope into a powerful three-dimensional nanoscale and microscale measurement device has … more

The program is set for the 2010 Baldrige Regional Conferences. The conferences will feature more than 12 current and former Baldrige Award Recipients presenting on their best practices in areas … more

A team of NIST researchers from the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL) and the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) have measured the current spin polarization of … more

Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated an ion trap with a built-in optical fiber that collects light emitted by single ions (electrically charged … more

A computer security invention patented* a decade ago at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is now poised to help safeguard patient privacy in hospitals. Photo … more

Scientists at JILA, working with Italian theorists, have discovered another notable similarity between ultracold atomic gases and high-temperature superconductors, suggesting there may be a … more

Inspired by last year’s successful first try at a “virtual improvement day,” the Baldrige National Quality Program (BNQP) is planning two online events this July and … more

After a public comment period, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published an updated set of guidelines for developing security assessment plans and associated security … more