News and Updates

Displaying 1 - 25 of 131

New Report Reveals Evidence Handlers’ Common Practices, Makes Recommendations

December 16, 2025

In 2021 a committee established by NIST and NIJ surveyed evidence handlers to identify best practices in retention, preservation, integrity, and disposition of...

OSAC's Wildlife Forensic Biology Subcommittee Develops Process Map

September 19, 2025

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science’s Wildlife Forensic Biology Subcommittee has developed a process map that captures...

Texas Forensic Science Commission Supports NIST Recommendations

January 13, 2025

By Christina Reed There is one answer forensic scientists sometimes provide after analyzing evidence that confounds lawyers and judges: inconclusive. When...

NIST Publishes Report on DNA Mixture Interpretation Methods

December 19, 2024

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published DNA Mixture Interpretation: A Scientific Foundation Review. This report reviews the...

A laboratory technician wearing gloves, a mask and a lab coat holds a dropper over a vial with liquid that is held in the other hand. There are digital images floating around the center of the image as if seen on an invisible screen. The dropper is not exactly lined up with the opening of the vial, indicating that we are looking at the moment after the task of putting the liquid from the dropper into the vial is done and now the digital analysis will take place.

NIST Report Outlines Strategic Opportunities to Advance Forensic Science in the U.S.

September 4, 2024

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published Strategic Opportunities to Advance Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward...

NIST Researchers to Test New Approach for Detecting Cannabis in Breath

August 15, 2024

The new approach involves two breath tests separated by a specified time interval.

An open gray box filled with circuitry, wires, sensors and a single-board computer sits outside on a lawn.

Spotlight: Monitoring Carbon Dioxide Measurements During a Solar Eclipse

April 22, 2024

Researchers were curious as to whether their sensors would detect any changes to the concentration of CO2 during the eclipse.

NIST Upgrades Tech for Monitoring Methane Emissions

January 16, 2024

Understanding and accurately measuring greenhouse gas emissions can help policymakers to craft better-informed policies to reduce them.

Person pours a cream-colored liquid alongside a shoeprint in the dirt.

Spotlight: Forensics Videos and App for Collecting Trace Evidence

January 8, 2024

When it comes to crime scene investigation, a lot needs to happen behind the scenes so that judges and juries can trust the validity of evidence presented at...

A man wearing safety glasses and sitting at a computer workstation reaches into a box with wiring and circuitry.

Spotlight: Measuring a City’s Carbon Footprint With NIST Researcher Tyler Boyle

September 25, 2023

The path that brought Tyler Boyle to NIST has been anything but straight and predictable.

Researchers Analyze THC in Breath of Cannabis Smokers

May 22, 2023

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

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.

Overview of OSAC's Fire Investigation Process Map

OSAC's Fire & Explosion Investigation Subcommittee Develops Process Map

March 14, 2023

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science’s Fire Investigation & Explosion Subcommittee has developed a process map that...

Overview of the OSAC Seized Drugs Process Map

OSAC's Seized Drugs Subcommittee Develops Process Map

November 30, 2022

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science’s Seized Drugs Subcommittee has developed a process map that captures the decision...

A diagram showing the the teeth of the upper and lower human jaws, with central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, premolars and molars appearing in different colors.

Forensic Bitemark Analysis Not Supported by Sufficient Data, NIST Draft Review Finds

October 11, 2022

NIST scientific foundation reviews address issues of accuracy, reliability and validity in forensic science.

A fired cartridge case and a fired bullet.

Two New Forensic Firearm Examination Standards Added to the OSAC Registry of Approved Standards

August 8, 2022

Registry notches its 100th standard, marking a milestone for the forensic science organization.

Overview of OSAC's Footwear and Tire Examination Process Map

OSAC's Footwear & Tire Subcommittee Develops Process Map

June 9, 2022

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science’s Footwear & Tire Subcommittee has developed a process map that describes the process...

NIST Publishes Review of Digital Forensic Methods

May 10, 2022

Report documents the scientific foundations of digital evidence examination and recommends ways to advance the field.

Forensic Science Organization to Draft Standards for Sexual Assault Examinations

July 20, 2021

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced today that the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic...

Landscape view of buildings and lasers scanning the atmosphere

NIST Laser ‘Comb’ Systems Now Measure All Primary Greenhouse Gases in the Air

June 30, 2021

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have upgraded their laser frequency-comb instrument to simultaneously measure three...

Forensic Science Internships at NIST – A look at Cannabis Compounds

June 10, 2021

By: Christina Reed Maryam Abdur-Rahman is a Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) intern conducting forensic science research with NIST’s Cannabis team in...

NIST Publishes Review of DNA Mixture Interpretation Methods

June 9, 2021

[Editor's Note: The final version of this report was published on Dec. 19, 2024. More information, including a link to the final report, is available here.] The...

Carbon Dioxide Sensors in 2 Urban Areas Registered Big Drop in Emissions During COVID-19 Pandemic

June 7, 2021

Carbon dioxide emissions in Los Angeles fell 33% in April of 2020 compared with previous years, as roads emptied and economic activity slowed due to the COVID...

Handwriting Examiners in the Digital Age

June 3, 2021

People are writing more than ever with their keyboards and phones, but handwritten notes have become rare. Even signatures are going out of style. Most credit...

Man standing next to equipment on top of building during a sunset.

Commerce Building Now Part of NOAA, NIST Weather and Greenhouse Gas Tracking Network

April 19, 2021

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have installed a Doppler lidar...

Advanced communications
-Open Radio Access Network (Open-RAN)
-Quantum communications
-Spectrum sharing
-Wireless (RF)
Artificial intelligence
-AI measurement and evaluation
-Autonomous systems
--Automated vehicles
--Autonomous laboratories
-Applied AI
-Fundamental AI
-Hardware for AI
-Machine learning
-Trustworthy and responsible AI
Bioscience
-Bioeconomy
--Biological data
-Bioimaging
-Bioinformatics
-Biomanufacturing
-Biomaterials
-Biometrology
-Biosecurity
--Biosurveillance
--Genomic cybersecurity
--Nucleic acid sequence screening
-Cell measurements
-Engineering / synthetic biology
--Biofabrication
--Cell-free systems
--Genome engineering
--Protein engineering
-Gene delivery systems
-Genome editing
-Genomics
-Glycomics
-Metabolomics
-Microbial measurements
-Proteomics
Buildings and Construction
-Building codes and standards
-Building control systems
-Building damage and repair
-Building economics
-Building materials
-Energy efficiency
-Heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment
-Indoor air quality
-Structural engineering
-Thermal comfort
Chemistry
-Analytical chemistry
-Chemical engineering and processing
-Chemical thermodynamics and chemical properties
-Molecular characterization
-Theoretical chemistry and modeling
-Thermochemical properties
Electronics
-Electromagnetics
-Flexible electronics
-Magnetoelectronics
-Optoelectronics
-Organic electronics
-Semiconductors
-Sensors
-Superconducting electronics
Energy
-Alternative energy
-Conventional energy
-Electric power / smart grid
-Fuels
Environment
-Air / water / soil quality
-Climate Measurements
-Environmental health
-Greenhouse gas measurements
-Marine science
-Sustainability
Fire
-Fire detection
-Fire dynamics and science
-Fire fighting
-Fire modeling
-Fire risk reduction
-Materials flammability
-Structural fire resistance
-Wildland urban interface fire
Forensic Science
-Digital evidence
-Drugs and toxicology
-Firearms and toolmarks
-Forensic biometrics
-Forensic genetics
-Trace evidence
Health
-Biopharmaceuticals
-Cell and gene therapy
-Clinical diagnostics
--Cancer
--Medical imaging
-Food and nutrition
-Human microbiome
-Precision medicine
-Regenerative medicine and advanced therapy
--Flow cytometry
Information technology
-Biometrics
-Cloud computing and virtualization
-Complex systems
-Computational science
-Conformance testing
-Cyber-physical systems
--Smart cities
-Cybersecurity and privacy
--Cryptography
--Cybersecurity education and workforce development
--Cybersecurity measurement
--Identity and access management
--Privacy engineering
--Risk management
--Securing emerging technologies
--Trustworthy networks
--Trustworthy platforms
-Data and informatics
--Human language technology
--Information retrieval
--Natural language processing
-Digital twins
-Federal information processing standards (FIPS)
-Health IT
-Internet of Things (IoT)
-Interoperability testing
-Location based services
-Mobile
-Networking
--Mobile and wireless networking
--Network management and monitoring
--Network modeling and analysis
--Network security and robustness
--Network test and measurement
--Next generation networks
--Protocol design and standardization
--Software defined and virtual networks
-Software research
--Software testing
-Usability and human factors
--Accessibility
-Video analytics
-Virtual / augmented reality
-Visualization research
-Voting systems
Infrastructure
Manufacturing
-Additive manufacturing
-Factory communications
-Factory operations planning and control
-Interoperability in manufacturing
-Machining
-Manufacturing economics
-Manufacturing quality assurance
-Manufacturing systems design and analysis
-Monitoring, diagnostics and prognostics
-Process improvement
-Process measurement and control
-Product data
-Robotics
--Agility and adaptability
--Collaborative robots
--Dexterous grasping
--Manipulation
--Mobility and industrial autonomous vehicles
--Navigation / actuation / control
--Sensing and perception
-Supply chain
-Sustainable manufacturing
-Systems engineering
-Systems integration
-Technology commercialization
Materials
-Ceramics
-Composites
-Concrete / cement
-Materials characterization
--Composition and structure
--Mechanical properties
--Thermal properties
-Metals
-Modeling and computational material science
-Polymers
-Superconductors
Mathematics and statistics
-Experiment design
-Image and signal processing
-Modeling and simulation research
-Numerical methods and software
-Statistical analysis
-Uncertainty quantification
Metrology
-Amount of substance
-Dimensional metrology
-Electrical / electromagnetic metrology
-Flow metrology and rheology
-Force metrology
-Humidity metrology
-Ionizing radiation metrology
-Mass metrology
-Metric
-Optical / photometry / laser metrology
-Pressure and vacuum metrology
-Thermometry metrology
-Time and frequency metrology
-Weights and measures
Nanotechnology
-Nanobiotechnology
-Nanochemistry
-Nanoelectronics
-Nanofabrication / manufacturing
--Lithography
--Self-assembly
-Nanofluidics
-Nanomagnetics
-Nanomaterials
-Nanomechanics
-Nanometrology
-Nanophotonics
-Nanophysics
-Nanoplasmonics
Neutron research
Performance excellence
-Assessment tools and services
-Baldrige award
-Baldrige examiners
-Baldrige Framework and Criteria
-Best practices
-Leadership development
Physics
-Atomic / molecular / quantum
-Biological physics
-Condensed matter
-Electron physics
-Magnetics
-Nuclear physics
-Optical physics and communications
-Quantum information science
-Radiation
-Spectroscopy
-Thermodynamics
-Time and frequency
Public safety
-Chemical / Biological / Radiological / Nuclear / Explosives (CBRNE)
-First responder preparedness
-Law enforcement
-Public safety communications research
-Response robots
Resilience
-Community resilience
--Recovery
--Resilience metrics
-Disaster and failure studies
-Earthquake risk reduction
-Resilience economics
-Resilient materials
-Windstorm impact reduction
Standards
-Accreditation
-Calibration services
-Conformity assessment
-Documentary standards
-Frameworks
-Quality assurance
-Reference data
-Reference instruments
-Reference materials
-Standards education
Technology transfer
Transportation
-Aerospace
-Automotive