News and Updates

Displaying 1 - 25 of 635

A close-up of a virus particle shows spikes protruding from the particle's surface and blobby sugars that cling to the spikes.

New NIST Method Can Better Identify Sneaky Sugars on Viruses’ Spiky Weapons

September 28, 2023

A better picture of the sugars can increase our understanding of how humans get infected by the virus behind COVID-19 and other pathogens.

Woman in safety glasses stands next to an enclosed space with scientific equipment inside.

Spotlight: Postdoctoral Researcher Ana Morales and the Nanoscale Plastics Pervading Our World

September 21, 2023

Nanoplastics are shedding from places you might not expect, including single-use coffee cups and laundry.

Four small dark glass ampules stand on a lab table, market with skull and crossbones danger icons.

NIST Researchers Develop Standards to Help Eliminate ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Firefighting Foams

September 18, 2023

These foams contain chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have raised environmental and health concerns.

Pieces of salmon are being fed from a metal holder into the icy opening of a milling machine.

NIST’s Shrimp and Salmon Reference Materials Could Help Combat Seafood Fraud

September 8, 2023

Seafood fraud can happen when fish is incorrectly labeled for consumers as a more expensive variety.

Detangling Light-based Thermometers with Combs

August 29, 2023

Photonic thermometers , which measure temperature using light, have the potential to revolutionize temperature measurement by being faster, smaller, and more

Illustration shows a gloved hand holding a puzzle piece that fits into the center of a puzzle showing the letter Y.

Researchers Fully Sequence the Y Chromosome for the First Time

August 23, 2023

What was once the final frontier of the human genome — the Y chromosome — has just been mapped out in its entirety.

Martin Organizes International Hydrogen Conference

August 22, 2023

May Martin of the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory Applied Chemicals and Materials Division, along with Professor Jimmy Burns of the University of Virginia

Kidney Disease Diagnosis and Monitoring

August 8, 2023

Kidney disease is a major global public health issue, with c hronic kidney disease (CKD) representing the 12 th highest cause of death worldwide. It has been

Diagram shows microprojectile as a small ball moving upward through a square of polymer film with camera to the right.

New Laser-Based Method Could Help Scientists Discover New Puncture-Resistant Materials

July 3, 2023

Using tiny laser-launched projectiles and troves of data, scientists can more quickly bridge the gap between a material’s microscopic properties and its real

Standards for Tracking PFAS Contaminants

June 22, 2023

Aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) containing PFAS have been used since the 1960s for fire control and training for aviation crash and jet fuel spills at

Jake Benzing wears safety glasses as he bends over to adjust piece of scientific equipment in the lab.

Spotlight: Searching for 3D-Printed Titanium’s Breaking Point With Jake Benzing

May 24, 2023

We have researchers who break stuff so that others can live their lives without stuff breaking down prematurely.

A large hydraulic press machine with vertical columns stands on a platform behind tanks labeled "Nitrogen."

Spotlight: Putting Steel to the Test Under Cryogenic Temperatures

May 24, 2023

How NIST researchers measure the fatigue of high-performance steels used for transporting and storing cryogenic liquids.

Researchers Analyze THC in Breath of Cannabis Smokers

May 22, 2023

Distinguishing between recent use and past use remains an elusive goal.

A hand in a purple glove turns a metal dial on a plate holding tiny vials of purple liquid.

NIST Develops New Nondestructive Method for Assessing Bioengineered Artificial Tissues

May 5, 2023

Real-time technique noninvasively counts the number of live cells in a 3D artificial scaffold.

The graphic depicts a firefighter wearing protective turnout gear with a diagram of the three layers of the gear, which are the outer shell, the moisture barrier and thermal barrier.

Researchers Pin Down PFAS Prevalence in Firefighter Gear

May 1, 2023

The findings hint at potential solutions for safer equipment.

A woman in safety glasses stands between rows of metal cylinders.

Spotlight: Physical Scientist Christina Cecelski Goes From In-Flight to In-the-Lab Experiences

April 20, 2023

Coming from flights of fancy (instruments), physical scientist Christina Cecelski has landed at a place that matches her personality: NIST.

An SRM for the Verification of 3D Optical Medical Imaging Devices

April 4, 2023

Medical imaging devices and systems must be calibrated to ensure uniformity and reliability of test results. A Standard Reference Material (SRM) or "phantom"

Testing Infant Formula Nutritional Content

March 27, 2023

Infant formula is one of the most highly regulated foods in the United States and around the world. The Infant Formula Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-359) requires

$Diagram shows X-rays diffraction during 3D printing, with colorized microscopic image showing the orientation of different grains within the material.$

Material Measurement Laboratory