National Institute of Standards and Technology | NIST

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

concept illustrating the virtuous cycle of how better devices lead to better measurements which lead to better devices

The Virtuous Cycle of Making and Measuring Nanostructures

blue background. pinkish light ring in the middle.

What Laser Color Do You Like?

white background. Blue and black dots in a gridlike pattern.

A Billion Tiny Pendulums Could Detect the Universe’s Missing Mass

MEASURE. INNOVATE. LEAD.

Working with industry and science to advance innovation and improve quality of life.

Man in collared shirt with piece of scientific equipment

Services & Resources

Woman holding vial of red liquid with other vials of colored liquid on the table in front of her

Labs & Major Programs

3 multicolor blobs surrounded by what looks like wire mesh structure. black background.

Publications

Featured Topics

Advanced Communications

Advanced Communications

Advanced Manufacturing

Advanced Manufacturing

Cybersecurity

Forensic Science

Forensic Science

Health & Bioscience

Health & Bioscience

Quantum Science

Quantum Science

Resilience

Technology Transfer

Technology Transfer

Standard Reference Materials

Standard Reference Materials are certified reference materials (CRMs) that can be used to help develop accurate methods of analysis, to calibrate measurement systems used to measure a property at the state-of-the-art limit.

View all materials

Standard Reference Data

Standard Reference Data cover a broad range of scientific disciplines including atomic and molecular physics, chemical and crystal structures, fluids, material properties, biotechnology, optical character recognition and more. Data products include web applications, personal computer products, site licenses, subscriptions and distributor agreements. The SRD data program includes the Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data.

Read more

News

nanophotonic resonators

What Laser Color Do You Like?

October 13, 2020

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland have developed a microchip technology that can convert

A Billion Tiny Pendulums Could Detect the Universe’s Missing Mass

October 13, 2020

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and their colleagues have proposed a novel method for finding dark matter, the cosmos’s

Thermal MagIC: New NIST Project to Build Nano-Thermometers Could Revolutionize Temperature Imaging

October 9, 2020

Cheaper refrigerators? Stronger hip implants? A better understanding of human disease? All of these could be possible and more, someday, thanks to an ambitious

NIST Cybersecurity Expert Donna Dodson Receives Service to America Medal

October 8, 2020

Donna Dodson, a cybersecurity expert who worked for her entire 33-year career at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has been honored

Events

Quantum Matters in Material Science (QMMS)

Thu, Oct 15 - Fri, Oct 16 2020

NIST will host a virtual workshop on October 15 and 16, 2020 exploring ways to leverage the phenomenon of quantum

Workshop on Cybersecurity Risks in Consumer Home IoT Products

Thu, Oct 22 2020, 12:00 - 4:30pm EDT

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host a virtual workshop on October 22, 2020 focusing on

International Face Performance Conference (IFPC) 2020

Tue, Oct 27 - Thu, Oct 29 2020

NIST is closely monitoring guidance from Federal, State, and local health authorities on the outbreak of COVID-19. To

NIST Vehicle Teleoperation Forum to be held November 13, 2020

NIST Vehicle Teleoperation Forum

Fri, Nov 13 2020, 9:00am - 5:00pm EST

Join NIST on Friday, November 13, 2020 for a full day virtual forum designed to bring leaders industry, academia, and