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Taking Measure

Just a Standard Blog

Yuri Ralchenko

Yuri Ralchenko graduated from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in Russia with a degree in theoretical physics. His career journey took him to the Institute of Spectroscopy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, then the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, and finally, to NIST. While Yuri’s scientific interests are primarily in atomic physics for plasmas, he is also captivated by history, astronomy, and art.

Photo of purplish black sky with a streak of bright lightning

In Pursuit of Plasma Power: Hot Stuff, Snowstorms, and Starry Skies

September 15, 2016

Yuri Ralchenko

Do we really need hot stuff? I’m not talking about Donna Summer’s disco hit of 1979 or global warming. I’m not talking about anything so lukewarm as the surface of our sun—a mere 6,000 kelvins. I don

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About this blog

Taking Measure is the official blog of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

It provides a behind-the-scenes look at NIST’s research and programs, covering a broad range of science and technology areas. Through this blog, NIST’s researchers and staff will share why they do what they do and how today’s research will lead to tomorrow’s innovations.

The views presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of NIST.

If you have any questions about our blog, please contact us at takingmeasure@nist.gov.