News and Updates

Displaying 1 - 25 of 127

SRM Story: SRM 1641f Mercury in Water

July 17, 2025

Natural erosion and weathering of rocks and soils, as well as inputs from industrial processes, contribute to the mineral content of groundwater, rivers, lakes

SRM Story: SRM 1224 Carbon Steel, AISI 1078 (disk form)

July 7, 2025

Do you ever think about how steel can be used for surgical instruments, reinforced concrete, cookware, ball bearings, railroad tracks, generating electricity

Assuring the Accuracy of Metabolite Measurement and Identification

March 18, 2025

This reference material is intended to be used as quality assurance/quality control material for laboratory metabolomic measurements. Products of metabolism act

A scientist wearing protective equipment places a tray of diced geoduck clam tissue into large open machinery.

NIST Researchers Develop Material for Measuring Arsenic in Shellfish

March 13, 2025

NIST’s new standard reference material will help ensure that geoduck clams and other shellfish are safe to eat.

An RM for Measuring Cannabinoids and Toxic Elements in Hemp

July 8, 2024

The Hemp Plant reference material (RM 8210) provides values for cannabinoids and toxic elements in a dried ground hemp plant material to help cannabis and

NIST’s New Hemp Reference Material Will Help Ensure Accurate Cannabis Measurements

July 8, 2024

This will help forensic labs correctly determine whether a seized material is hemp, which is legal in all 50 states, or marijuana, which is a controlled

Research Finds Dolphins With Elevated Mercury Levels in Florida and Georgia

June 12, 2024

Scientists said their study could inform future research on mercury in humans living in the affected areas.

Diagram shows a vertical column with blue arrows (air flow) pointing down and moving through a central area marked with small circles (carbon molecules).

NIST Develops New Testing System for Carbon Capture in Fight Against Global Warming

April 25, 2024

The agency plans to release an early-stage reference material that companies can use to test equipment for direct air capture.

A Standard for Quantifying Yohimbe in Dietary Supplements

April 17, 2024

SRM 3383 Yohimbe-Containing Solid Oral Dosage Form is part of a continuing collaboration with NIH-Office of Dietary Supplements to develop dietary supplement

An SRM for Measuring Arsenic in Shellfish

April 16, 2024

NIST has developed many environmentally relevant Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) over the years, including whale blubber, fish and mussel tissues, human

A researcher wearing a mask and gloves points at a computer screen showing graphs labeled "Mass Spectrometry Analysis Report."

New NIST Database of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Will Help Scientists Monitor Environmental Pollution

February 15, 2024

NIST has developed a first-of-its-kind database to help researchers identify and categorize unknown PFAS.

A Lead Isotopic Standard for Instrument Calibration

January 31, 2024

Stable isotope analysis is an important interdisciplinary tool used by numerous fields such as nuclear and homeland security, forensics, medicine and

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.

Wear and Tear May Cause Firefighter Gear to Release More ‘Forever Chemicals’

January 16, 2024

Are firefighters at risk of increased exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in their protective clothing?

A scientific device attached to a lab table has a round, porthole-like opening on one end of a cylinder wrapped in foil.

Spotlight: Near-Perfect Mirror Surfaces for Reflecting Mid-Infrared Light Better

December 6, 2023

Mirror, mirror in the chamber, how can we get light to reflect from you better?

New Frequency Comb Can Identify Molecules in 20-Nanosecond Snapshots

October 30, 2023

Laser-based system now has the ability to capture moment-to-moment details of high-speed processes such as hypersonic propulsion and protein folding.

Someone wearing a safety vest holds up a handful of black plastic pellets.

Spotlight: Paving the Way With Recycled Plastics in the State of Hawai‘i

October 3, 2023

In the state of Hawai‘i, our collaborators are building asphalt roads with recycled plastics. It’s part of a sustainable transportation initiative. NIST is

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

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

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

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.

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

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