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Material Measurement Laboratory

Chemical Sciences Division

News and Updates

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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...

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...

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...

Illustrated cube has crystal framework in gray with red balls interspersed in the open spaces.

To Remove CO₂ From the Atmosphere, Imagine the Possibilities

August 24, 2022

Computer simulation methods from NIST help speed up the search for carbon capture materials.

A large turtle lies on a rocky beach with surf in the background.

Scientists Identify Potential Bioindicators for Monitoring Plastic Pollution in the North Pacific Ocean

August 15, 2022

Key marine species can serve as bioindicators to measure how much plastic exists in different ocean regions.

Picture of jars containing reference materials 8256, 8257, 8258, and 8259: Wild caught and aquacultured shrimp and salmon

Four NIST Reference Materials Help Authenticate Shrimp and Salmon

July 28, 2022

Four reference materials from NIST will help the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Customs and Border Protection agencies assess whether imported salmon and...

Two open glass containers hold powder, one brown and one wite, with half-filled plastic scoops next to each.

NIST Tree Nut Reference Materials Support Food Allergen Testing

June 6, 2022

Researchers from NIST have developed hazelnut and almond flour reference materials that will help ensure accurate and consistent results for industry test kits.

NIST Produces Complete Suite of Supports for Testing for Allergens in Food

April 25, 2022

With the addition of two new reference materials containing tree nuts, NIST now offers a complete set of aids for detecting allergens in food. As of 2022, the U...

NIST Supports Accurate Food Labeling with New Standard Reference Material for Fat

April 20, 2022

NIST Standard Reference Material® 2386 Avocado Powder helps food manufacturers evaluate their methods for determining the elements, vitamins, amino acids, fatty...

Illustration shows coffee cup with magnified section showing plastic particles.

NIST Study Shows Everyday Plastic Products Release Trillions of Microscopic Particles Into Water

April 20, 2022

Researchers analyzed widely used consumer products to better understand these microscopic plastics.

NIST Supports Measurements of Vitamins in Dietary Supplement Tablets

April 14, 2022

NIST Standard Reference Material ® 3289 Multivitamin Tablets will be used by testing laboratories to support the development of new analytical methods that...

Suite of NIST Reference Materials Reflects Supply Chain and Production Stages of Ginseng Supplements

January 25, 2022

Three NIST reference materials of ginseng in different forms support ginseng supplement manufacturers’ analysis of the authenticity and purity of their products...

NIST Food Nutrition and Safety Quality Assurance Program Launches New Exercise

January 21, 2022

The second exercise of the NIST Food Nutrition and Safety Quality Assurance Program (FNSQAP) is underway. FNSQAP helps food laboratories demonstrate measurement...

NIST Quality Assurance Program for Dietary Supplement Measurements Open for Registration

January 21, 2022

NIST has revitalized the Dietary Supplement Laboratory Quality Assurance Program (DSQAP) to support the measurement needs of the dietary supplement testing...

NIST Standard Reference Material Supports Clinical Tests for Common Chronic Diseases

December 20, 2021

NIST has developed its first reference material to aid in the measurement of free fatty acids in human blood serum. Most adults who routinely monitor their...

Updates to Fundamental Constants Reflect Redefinition of International System of Units

December 16, 2021

The CODATA Task Group on Fundamental Constants recently produced its 2018 update of a self-consistent set of internationally recommended values of the basic...

A researcher stands on a boat reaching for a cable holding a grabber device.

NIST Releases Great Lakes Sediment Material for Measuring Organic Pollutants

November 23, 2021

People who live near the Great Lakes might go there to enjoy a swim or a boat ride. But if you’re visiting from the National Institute of Standards and...

Yellowish blades of kelp are growing under the surface of the water.

Spotlight: Harvesting What's Under the Sea for the Dietary Supplement Industry and Environmental Conservation

November 16, 2021

From domestic sludge to hydrogen in titanium, we have many different types of standard reference materials (SRMs) to ensure that industry, academia and...

NIST pH Standard Reference Material Supports One of Manufacturing’s Most Measured Properties

October 19, 2021

NIST has released a pH reference material in a uniquely stable form for calibrating the instruments used by a wide variety of manufacturers. pH is one of the...

Spotlight: Tracking Methylmercury, a Toxic Substance in Natural Waters

August 16, 2021

Mercury — the only metal that exists in liquid form at room temperature — may move like water, but its effect on the environment certainly isn’t replenishing...

NIST Reference Material for Hydrogen in Titanium Now in Pin Form

August 16, 2021

Hydrogen in titanium and other metal alloys can cause embrittlement, leading to fractures in manufactured parts. A popular NIST reference material for...

Two New Reference Materials Assist Supplement Makers with Measurements of Isoflavones in Kudzu

August 3, 2021

Kudzu, a member of the pea family native to East Asia and considered an invasive weed in the American South, has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine and...

Gold-colored rectangle has circles and screws of various sizes.

Spotlight: One Small Step for SRM 610 Aboard the Mars Perseverance Rover

July 20, 2021

3, 2, 1 … blast off! One of NIST’s very own standard reference materials traveled through space and landed on the Red Planet in February as part of the National...

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