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Taking Measure

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an apple tree standing in a courtyard with the sun streaming through its leaves

The Tangled Tale of NIST’s Newton Apple Tree

June 20, 2018
Mark Esser
… tree, is among those to whom the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has bestowed a scion of a different sort: a clone of … Commerce Ed Vetter, who donated his to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; former NIST Director Pat Gallagher, who donated his to the … internet (and former chair of the NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology) Vinton Cerf, who donated his to Stanford University. As the …
Tom Bruno with an instrument inside a small suitcase. He holds a tube coming from the suitcase inside a paint can.

Judging the Quality of Forensic Evidence

January 23, 2018
Tom Bruno
… called PLOT-cryoadsorption, a NIST-developed vapor characterization technology that can be used in many different areas of interest to the … they are nonetheless responsible for regulating the flow of scientific information at trial. Under the Daubert standard (one of the more common guidelines for the control of scientific information in court), the judge is indeed the gatekeeper. They must …
Graphic showing login screen with shadow of person in hoodie behind it

Protecting Businesses and Consumers from Email Scams

October 21, 2016
William "Curt" Barker
… Founded in 2012 as part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the NCCoE is dedicated to improving cybersecurity … After entering your customer ID and password to update your profile information, you close the page thinking you’ve just protected yourself … protect yourself. Together, we can take a bite out of cyber crime. … Information technology … Cybersecurity … Identity and access management …
Blonde woman in black top sitting at desk with laptop across from man in blue shirt

Sizing Up the NIST Cybersecurity Framework

October 31, 2016
Carrie Johnson
… responders and the public rely upon the safe and reliable transfer of information traversing SDN’s network. SDN had a cybersecurity program … team members beyond the usual cast of characters involved in information assurance (IT, network operations, etc.). Participation … a strength they can leverage to boost their resilience. … Information technology … Cybersecurity … Cybersecurity education and workforce …
Magnifying glass magnifying a part of a DNA molecule

From Fiction to Forensics: An Inspired Story for National DNA Day

April 25, 2016
Becky Steffen
… DNA analysis faster (PDF), identifying markers that can bring more information to the table, and tackling challenging DNA samples such as … highly characterized samples in the world. We published much of this information about these samples in the form of what is called “allele … all of the mysteries that Nancy Drew could solve using today’s DNA technology. And real medical examiner versions of Kay Scarpetta are out …
Photos of everyday objects like an iron, a gas can and a laptop along with high-tech items like an atomic clock and a mass balance. Label reads: 10 Ways NIST Impacts Your Daily Life.

From Safer Skies to Fewer Fires: 10 Ways NIST Impacts Your Daily Life

December 10, 2024
Robin Materese
… against skimming attacks due to NIST measurements of RFID-enabling technology. And every day, the more than 2 million Americans flying on commercial flights rely on advanced screening technology for their safety. NIST measurement standards for radiation … used in this list. Check out Jim’s recent blog post for even more information about why measurements at NIST are important for the nation …
Colorful graphic showing the seven SI units with abbreviations and icons.

Top 10 Tips for Teaching the Metric System

October 7, 2022
Elizabeth Benham
… skills and abilities are critical for measurement science and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career success. … consistent format helps prevent miscommunication. Composing technical information in terms of the SI avoids the variations of language — …
John Cahn standing by blackboard smiling

My Memories of John Cahn

April 28, 2016
Dan Shechtman
… the National Medal of Science in 1998 and the Kyoto Prize in Advanced Technology in 2011 . I first met John Cahn in the late 1960s when he … our department of metallurgy at the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology. Already a famous thermodynamics-of-materials scholar, John …
Researcher Erica Stein pipetting under chemical hood

Down for the Count: How NIST is Helping Defeat Cancer

September 20, 2017
Erica Stein
… areas of cancer diagnostics. For example, the latest cancer diagnosis technology looks for free-floating cancer DNA in the blood. At NIST, we … welcomed into a wonderful team that uses the newest and most advanced technology to quantify cancer biomarkers and develops resources that …
overlapping wavelengths of light enter from the left and pass into the optical frequency comb device. The image shows a visualization of the different wavelengths separated into even increments.

Making Measurements With a Fine-Toothed Comb

September 15, 2021
Rebecca Jacobson
… In the 1970s, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were stuck. They wanted more precise and accurate … spectrum. This opens a lot of research doors. Scientists used this new technology to make better clocks, eventually developing clocks that are …
electric vehicle symbol of a car with a plug attached on a green background

Charging Ahead: Weights and Measures Week 2020

February 26, 2020
Mark Esser
… or operator to fix the pump. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has long worked in collaboration with state and local … electrical energy and the parking time, the dispenser must display the information separately and clearly so customers can make price …
A person in coveralls and white gloves holds out a circular wafer of reflective silicon chips.

Why NIST Is Putting Its CHIPS Into U.S. Manufacturing

October 3, 2022
Ben P. Stein
… a wide range of complex tasks from sending signals to processing information. Increasingly, these circuits also have “photonic” … ways to print circuits directly onto materials such as paper using technology that’s similar to ink-jet printers. And while we’ve lost a … machines use and the manufacturing processes associated with them. The information from the NIST work could help more domestic manufacturers …
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
… GPSs and other devices to communicate with each other.  Government and technology organizations are working to protect this infrastructure, … networks. However, as we’ve become more dependent on mobile technology, concerns about its security have understandably grown. Why … art? The answer: P.   … Advanced communications … Spectrum sharing … Information technology … Cybersecurity … Risk management … …
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
… pollution levels by measuring them accurately. Our work allows that information to be shared with people and communities who need it. In … become obsolete over time, so we’re always working to evolve with technology and replace old components.  Helping the World Measure Air …