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Material Measurement Laboratory

News and Updates

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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

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

By Cracking a Metal 3D-Printing Conundrum, Researchers Propel the Technology Toward Widespread Application

March 20, 2023

Gaps in our understanding of what happens within metal during the process have made results inconsistent. But a new breakthrough could grant an unprecedented

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

Animal Tranquilizer Floods Illicit Drug Markets in Maryland

March 16, 2023

NIST study shows alarming changes in the illegal drug supply.

A Crystalline SRM for the Analysis of Glucose in Clinical Samples

February 28, 2023

This Standard Reference Material (SRM) is intended primarily for use in calibrating measuring systems employed for the analysis of glucose in clinical samples

Spotlight: Toot, Toot! NIST Innovation in 3D Printing Takes a Familiar Form for the Industry

February 13, 2023

Do you know Benchy the Boat? The 3D-printing design is helping NIST researchers make waves with a technique called vat photopolymerization.

Measuring Herbicide Residue in Oat-Based Food Products

January 30, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes tolerances for pesticide and herbicide residues in food that are still considered safe for consumption

Assessing the Fineness of Construction Materials

January 20, 2023

Portland cement powder is characterized by particle size for use in calibrating instruments, measuring fineness characteristics of portland cement, and other

SRM 3461: An Accurate and Precise Force Calibration Artifact

January 18, 2023

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a popular technique for interrogating surfaces on the micro and nano scales. The most common use for AFM is imaging; however

SRM 915c Calcium Carbonate Mass Fraction Standard

January 18, 2023

This standard reference material from NIST will help calibrate procedures for calcium determinations used in clinical analysis and for routine critical

A gloved hand holds a glass flask partly full of pinkish liquid, with a label in marker saying in part "NISTCHO RCB."

NIST, Partners Develop Living Reference Material for Producing Monoclonal Antibodies

January 11, 2023

Publicly available NISTCHO cell line expands the biomanufacturing and research applications of NIST’s monoclonal antibody standard, NISTmAb.

NIST Develops Yeast Material for Training First Responders on Biothreats

January 4, 2023

Researchers based the material on baker’s yeast because it is harmless and a living biological material.

Molecules Have an Orientation, and Scientists Have a New Way to Measure It

December 8, 2022

Molecular orientation is key to designing better materials.

What is a Standard Reference Material?

November 28, 2022

https://www.nist.gov/video/what-standard-reference-material-or-srm.

Side-by-side micrographs show elongated grains inside 3D-printed stainless steel.

Researchers Uncover How to 3D-Print One of the Strongest Stainless Steels

September 22, 2022

High-energy X-rays lit a path forward.

NIST Awards Funding for Educational Programs on a Circular Economy to Reduce Plastic Waste

September 20, 2022

Five universities have each been awarded $500,000 to develop new curricula for students who are interested in helping to solve the growing problem of plastic

Side-by-side photos show twin brothers posing with arms crossed in lab or office settings.

Spotlight: Two Brothers, One Passion for Mechanical Engineering

September 20, 2022

This is a tale of two brothers who both found a passion for mechanical engineering research, separated to pursue their own interests in graduate school, and

Polette Centellas wears safety glasses as she leans toward the camera while adjusting a scientific device on a lab table.

Spotlight: Making an Impact in Aerospace Materials With Polette Centellas

September 15, 2022

NIST researchers are measuring the way different materials hold up when hit with the force of a speeding object.

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Buildings and Construction
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Chemistry
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Electronics
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Energy
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Fire
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Mathematics and statistics
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Nanotechnology
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