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Under the orange lights of a clean room, Katarina Cicak, wearing a coverall and safety glasses, displays tiny chips in a plastic box.

From Escaping a War to Becoming a Mom of 3 at Once, Science Has Always Been There for Me

June 14, 2023

Katarina Cicak

I learned as a young adult not to get attached to material things; they can be gone in an instant. But there were some things I knew no one could take — an education and my love of science.

Peter Trask sits at a lab table working on wiring for a scientific device.

My Lab Helps People Breathe Easier All Over the World

June 12, 2023

Peter Trask

My lab here in Gaithersburg, Maryland, helps agencies all over the world track their pollution levels by measuring them accurately.

NIST researchers Yoshi Ohno and Jane Li demonstrate different types of lighting in their lab on NIST’s campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The Eye of the Beholder: How Lighting Affects Our Color Perception

June 6, 2023

Megan King

Remember the social media controversy over the color of a dress? That’s a lighthearted example of how illumination can affect the things we see, but this is serious science.

Christine McGinn wears safety glasses as she handles plastic bottles and other materials in the lab.

My Science Project Collapsed, but My Science Career Was Just Getting Started

May 24, 2023

Christine McGinn

Representation and mentors are key to promoting diversity in America’s science and technology workforce into the future.

Header graphic depicting images related to Blaise Pascal: a barometer, a drawing of Blaise Pascal, and a bike tire

Under Pressure: Blaise Pascal, the Barometer and Bike Tires

May 23, 2023

Sandy Ressler

On his 400th birthday, we celebrate the scientist whose name is the unit of measurement for air, bike and car tire pressure. You should read it. No pressure.

Justin Zook in a lab surrounded by genetic sequencing machines

Our Human Genes Are Diverse. Our Team Is Helping Create a DNA Reference Library to Reflect That.

May 11, 2023

Justin Zook

To unlock the full potential of genetic testing and related medical research, we need a diverse, global human genome, known as the pangenome.

Melissa Phillips, wearing safety glasses, poses leaning over an open chest freezer, holding a plastic bag of spinach.

Organic, Vegetarian or Carnivore: Whatever You Eat, My Lab Is Working to Keep It Safe

April 24, 2023

Melissa Phillips

The levels of contaminants in our food supply are, generally, decreasing, but we still need to make sure our food is safe. And measuring tiny things (and big things) is what we do best here at NIST.

Jeanne Quimby crouches next to a rack of computer equipment with many different colored cord connections.

Being a Mom Helps Me Protect Our Communication Infrastructure

April 20, 2023

Jeanne Quimby

Jeanne Quimby's kids are the reason she came up with her team’s idea for how to detect cybersecurity events on our U.S. critical communication infrastructure.

Aly Artusio-Glimpse smiles and holds up a tiny glass square.

Benchy the Boat, Irradiated Mangoes, Quantum Window: A Sample of Stories on NIST Social Media

April 20, 2023

Riley Wilson

NIST’s research can range from the complex to the downright whimsical, but all the papers published here can trace back to a benefit for everyone in the U.S.

A ground-mounted solar panel has a spiderweb crack in the lower left-hand corner.

We Need a Second Earth to Support Our Current Consumption. We Can Do Better if We Think ‘Circular.’

April 13, 2023

Nehika Mathur

If we’re going to secure a sustainable future on the only planet we have to live on, we must transition to a circular economy, where we keep material in use indefinitely.

NIST researcher Jessie Zhang, wearing a protective suit, mask, and safety glasses holds up a piece of foil in the lab.

Foiled! NIST Unwraps What’s Baking Under Aluminum in Its Labs

March 29, 2023

Megan King

Here at NIST, we do a different kind of baking, but we often use the same foil you use in your own kitchen.

NIST's Andrew Wilson holds an ion trap in his lab in Boulder, Colorado. Behind him are screens depicting dots.

From GPS to Laser Pointers, Quantum Science Is All Around Us

March 24, 2023

Andrew Wilson

Ahead of World Quantum Day this week, we asked Andrew Wilson, who leads NIST’s Quantum Physics Division, to explain just what exactly quantum science is and why it matters.

A neon sign that reads Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas is lit up in neon in front of a sunset scene.

When Neon Was New: How NIST Researchers Helped America Discover the Iconic Neon Sign

March 23, 2023

While it’s now largely faded into history, NIST researchers helped America discover the wonders of the neon sign.

NIST researcher Justyna Zwolak reads a book about Ada Lovelace to her young daughter

Ada Lovelace: The World’s First Computer Programmer Who Predicted Artificial Intelligence

March 14, 2023

Justyna Zwolak

During Women’s History Month, I am remembering Ada Lovelace’s contributions and thinking about the impact she had on me as a scientist and mathematician.

A street map with highlighted routes is labeled with numbers for Car 1, 2 and 3 and pointers for Point A and Point B.

Brain-Inspired Computing Can Help Us Create Faster, More Energy-Efficient Devices — If We Win the Race

March 10, 2023

Advait Madhavan

The most energy-efficient device in the world is your brain, and NIST researchers are using the brain as an inspiration to create the next generation of computer circuits.

A person in a baseball cap and face mask stands at a computer surrounded by scientific equipment, including a curving black plastic tube.

NIST Partnership Helps Communities Manage Unknown Dangers in Common Street Drugs

February 28, 2023

Edward Sisco

When you buy a medication at a pharmacy, you know what’s in it. When someone buys street drugs, they have no idea what they’re really getting.

Graphic with text that reads "Weights and Measures" and shows fish at a seafood counter, a bag of mulch, a grocery checkout, and a gas pump. Color scheme is orange and purple.

4 Places Weights and Measures Help You Get What You Pay For

February 23, 2023

Katrice Lippa

Here at NIST, we are committed to making sure you get what you pay for when buying something based on weight or measure, such as food or fuel.

Apostol Vassilev poses for a photo with a computer monitor in the background.

Powerful AI Is Already Here: To Use It Responsibly, We Need to Mitigate Bias

February 9, 2023

Apostol Vassilev

As the power of AI grows, businesses, governments and the public will have to manage AI’s impact on society.

Collage includes four historical photos of Black men in military and office attire on background of gold, green, black and red.

From the Space Shuttle to Structural Engineering, NIST’s Tuskegee Airmen Left a Lasting Legacy in Service and Science

February 3, 2023

Megan King

Four of these men are now known to have continued their careers at NBS, though colleagues at the time didn’t know about their co-workers’ historic past.

Jazalyn Dukes poses in front of a display that reads "Engineering a Safer World."

How My Childhood Fascination With Bridges Helped Me Build a Career Protecting People and Buildings From Natural Disasters

January 31, 2023

Jazalyn Dukes

NIST research engineer Jazalyn Dukes talks about what inspired her career and gives some advice to girls considering a career in structural and civil engineering.

On a rooftop overlooking a waterfront town, an equipment box is attached to a pole anchored with concrete blocks.

Data in Demand: How the U.S. Navy’s Bandwidth Can Boost Your Data Speed

January 20, 2023

Melissa Midzor

What would we do if the world ran out of room in the radio-frequency spectrum? It’s something NIST and our partners are working to prevent through spectrum sharing.

Illustration shows view out a car windshield with rain, sun, wind and snow images. Dashboard screen says: Congestion, Obstacle, Speed Limit, Temperature, Weather.

Cruising Toward Self-Driving Cars: Standards and Testing Will Help Keep Autonomous Vehicles Moving Safely on the Road

January 17, 2023

Edward Griffor

NIST and its partners in government and industry are working toward replicating the vital aspects of human driving and building a supporting infrastructure.

Researcher Brandon Lane making adjustments inside the large 3D printer

Technology That Will Change Our World in 2023 and Beyond: Manufacturing Innovation

January 3, 2023

Pravina Raghavan

The director of NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership looks ahead to the most transformative technology taking hold in the manufacturing world.

John Kitching leans over a table in the lab, using tweezers to point to part of a chip-scale device in a clear plastic box.

NIST’s Researchers Look Ahead to High-Tech Trends in 2023 and Beyond

December 22, 2022

They study topics that impact all of us, from indoor air quality to cybersecurity.

Colorful letters on black background say "12 Days of Metric."

As we approach the end of 2022, we wanted to share with our readers a NISTified version of a classic seasonal song about a topic that is near and dear to our scientists year-round: the wonders of the metric system.

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From Escaping a War to Becoming a Mom of 3 at Once, Science Has Always Been There for Me

My Lab Helps People Breathe Easier All Over the World

The Eye of the Beholder: How Lighting Affects Our Color Perception

My Science Project Collapsed, but My Science Career Was Just Getting Started

Under Pressure: Blaise Pascal, the Barometer and Bike Tires

Our Human Genes Are Diverse. Our Team Is Helping Create a DNA Reference Library to Reflect That.

Organic, Vegetarian or Carnivore: Whatever You Eat, My Lab Is Working to Keep It Safe

Being a Mom Helps Me Protect Our Communication Infrastructure

Benchy the Boat, Irradiated Mangoes, Quantum Window: A Sample of Stories on NIST Social Media

We Need a Second Earth to Support Our Current Consumption. We Can Do Better if We Think ‘Circular.’

Foiled! NIST Unwraps What’s Baking Under Aluminum in Its Labs

From GPS to Laser Pointers, Quantum Science Is All Around Us

When Neon Was New: How NIST Researchers Helped America Discover the Iconic Neon Sign

Ada Lovelace: The World’s First Computer Programmer Who Predicted Artificial Intelligence

Brain-Inspired Computing Can Help Us Create Faster, More Energy-Efficient Devices — If We Win the Race

NIST Partnership Helps Communities Manage Unknown Dangers in Common Street Drugs

4 Places Weights and Measures Help You Get What You Pay For

Powerful AI Is Already Here: To Use It Responsibly, We Need to Mitigate Bias

From the Space Shuttle to Structural Engineering, NIST’s Tuskegee Airmen Left a Lasting Legacy in Service and Science

How My Childhood Fascination With Bridges Helped Me Build a Career Protecting People and Buildings From Natural Disasters

Data in Demand: How the U.S. Navy’s Bandwidth Can Boost Your Data Speed

Cruising Toward Self-Driving Cars: Standards and Testing Will Help Keep Autonomous Vehicles Moving Safely on the Road

Technology That Will Change Our World in 2023 and Beyond: Manufacturing Innovation

NIST’s Researchers Look Ahead to High-Tech Trends in 2023 and Beyond

The Twelve Days of Metric