Taking Measure

Just a Standard Blog

Fran Webber

Now at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Fran Webber was, among other things, a writer at NIST. A (more) youthful Fran dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. She’s not really sure what went wrong, but at least now she works with marine biologists, which is close, right? 

A wood-framed round dial face with numbers running from 0 to 35, with the 25 gradation marked in red.

Unidentified Museum Objects, Vol. III

April 17, 2018
Much like your attic, garage or basement, the NIST archives are home to quite a number of arcane objects of unclear origin and purpose. We periodically collect these victims of misplaced paperwork...
a black and bare metal motor looking device that presumably turns the gear to which it is attached

Unidentified Museum Objects, Vol. II

September 29, 2017
In Unidentified Museum Objects I , we asked for help identifying some mysterious whatchamacallits in the collection of our very own NIST museum ... and you enthusiastically responded. The...
mystery objects at NIST museum

Unidentified Museum Objects, Vol. I

June 14, 2017
Right now, the NIST museum in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is displaying a glass globe the size of a large beach ball. When visitors first come upon it, they’re not sure what to make of it. Is it a giant...
Photo of U.S. kilogram masses

7 Ways Measurements Help You Get Around

May 19, 2017
With International Firefighters’ Day behind us and World Turtle Day looming, you might not think you’ve got time for another international day in May. But don’t skip World Metrology Day , which is...

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