News and Updates

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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.

Researchers Analyze THC in Breath of Cannabis Smokers

May 22, 2023

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

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.

NIST’s NanoFab Reopens its Doors to Universities, Industry, and Research Institutions

April 3, 2023

In the Lilliputian world of nanofabrication, where billions of microscopic circuit elements are sculpted or imprinted on a fingernail-sized silicon chip

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.

NIST Director Laurie Locascio Elected to National Academy of Engineering

February 8, 2023

The recognition is one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.

A graphical representation of a DNA biosensor device for clinical diagnostics that is the size and shape of a smartphone.

New DNA Biosensor Could Unlock Powerful, Low-Cost Clinical Diagnostics

January 24, 2023

The biosensor, developed by researchers at NIST, Brown University and the French research institute CEA-Leti, identifies biomarkers by measuring how binding

Reliable Flow for Chip Makers

December 13, 2022

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have begun an ambitious project to attack a vexing problem in the semiconductor

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

December 8, 2022

Molecular orientation is key to designing better materials.

Research on the Rocks: Combining Neutrons and X-Ray Imaging, NIST Scientists Study Meteorites to Explore the Mystery of How Earth Acquired Its Water

November 3, 2022

Each year, hundreds of meteorites — rocky bodies left over from the formation of the solar system — bombard Earth, delivering minerals, metals and water to our

This Simple Material Could Scrub Carbon Dioxide From Power Plant Smokestacks

November 2, 2022

An easily synthesized chemical filter could stop the greenhouse gas from reaching the atmosphere.

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

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.

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.

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.

Laurie Locascio Confirmed as the 17th NIST Director

April 19, 2022

“I am excited to return to NIST — an agency with such an impactful mission filled with brilliant, dedicated public servants,” said Locascio.

An open black box with foam inserts holds plastic vials labeled SRM 2917.

NIST Collaborates With EPA to Develop a Standard to Improve Fecal Pollution Measurements in Recreational Waters

April 6, 2022

As we approach summer beach season, you may occasionally encounter a "keep out" sign indicating that the area is temporarily closed. If fecal pollution is

Painting of woman holding a mandolin has magnified section showing metal soap structures.

NIST, Collaborators Uncover New Details on the Formation of ‘Metal Soaps’ in Oil Paint Hindering the Conservation of Artworks

March 3, 2022

When you think of soaps, you may first picture the liquid foams or solid bars that wash away dirt, grime and bacteria. However, not all soaps are cleansers. In

Chemistry