Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Physics

News and Updates

Keyword

Organization

Better Accuracy Out of Thin (or Thick) Air

February 17, 2016

NIST scientists have devised and improved a prototype instrument the size of a loaf of bread that can substantially increase the accuracy of length measurements

Shedding Light on Dark Matter with SQUIDs

February 16, 2016

Perhaps fortunately, most folks haven't noticed that 85% of the Milky Way is missing: The kind of familiar, ordinary matter we know – made up of protons

Transforming Welding with Comprehensive NIST Metrology

February 2, 2016

Welding has been around, in some form, for centuries. Today it enables a large percentage of the U.S. economy,* thanks to its role in the creation of a diverse

Thinking Outside the Cuvette: To Measure Dimensions of Skinny Glass Container, PML Scientists Get Creative

February 1, 2016

Let's say you're a biotechnologist working to develop new medicines or a better test for forensic analysis. You might find yourself frequently using absorbance

The complete Primary Mirror Backplane Support Structure for the James Webb Space Telescope. The inset shows the location of the four support mounts of the type that NIST measured.

NIST Performs Critical Measurements for James Webb Space Telescope

February 1, 2016

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has accurately measured parts designed for the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, the long-awaited

New 'Quick Test' Station May Speed Commercialization of Photonic Thermometers

January 29, 2016

Physicists in NIST's Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) have been working on a new class of chip-based photonic thermometers that measure temperature with

Quantum Information Transfer: From Microwaves to Motion to Light

January 28, 2016

When a long-awaited quantum information network finally arrives, in whatever form, it will incorporate two essential technologies: a method of generating and

NIST Featured in Media's Top Science Stories of 2015

January 6, 2016

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is featured in several of the news media's lists of the top science stories of 2015. NIST's change at

HID Lamps: Getting Brighter Faster

January 6, 2016

NIST has been issued a patent for a novel method to improve the performance and utility of the sort of high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps used for stadium and

Colorized micrograph of a NIST single-photon detector

Less Jitter, More Bits: New Material for Detecting Photons Captures More Quantum Information

January 5, 2016

Detecting individual particles of light just got a bit more precise—by 74 picoseconds to be exact—thanks to advances in materials by National Institute of

'Squeezed' Motion in a Massive Object

December 22, 2015

Everyone expects objects at the atomic scale to follow the weird rules of quantum mechanics. But in the past few years, scientists at NIST and elsewhere have

NIST Adds to Quantum Computing Toolkit with Mixed-Atom Logic Operations

December 16, 2015

BOULDER, Colo.–Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have added to their collection of ingredients for future quantum

NIST Boulder Lab Building Renamed for Katharine Blodgett Gebbie

December 15, 2015

BOULDER, Colo.—Two landmarks merged on Dec. 10, 2015, when the most advanced laboratory building at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST's Cryogenic Flow Measurement Facility at Boulder, CO

The Once and Future Cryogenic Flow Facility

December 14, 2015

As recently as a few months ago, somebody who needed an internationally recognized calibration for a flow meter that operates with very low-temperature fluids

Seeing Into Cells More Clearly

December 7, 2015

NIST scientists, with collaborators at the University of Michigan, have designed and demonstrated a new and easily tunable, high-contrast scattering agent for

Measuring Smokestack Emissions Accurately

November 23, 2015

Society is increasingly concerned about exactly how much carbon dioxide and other pollutants are coming out of smokestacks. But current measurements are clouded

RFPs: The Best and the Brightest

November 20, 2015

How, precisely, does disease begin and progress in a single cell? To fully understand such processes on the smallest scales, scientists need a way to peer deep

On the Road to a Neutron Microscope: First Light for World-Class Neutron Imaging Facility

November 20, 2015

Neutrons, the charge-less constituents of atomic nuclei, are nifty imagers. Since the 1950s, scientists have been using these particles' eerie ability to non

How NIST Detected Spooky Actions at a Distance

November 10, 2015

This graphic describes how researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) used pairs of light particles to perform a "Bell test,"

NIST physicist Krister Shalm with the photon source used in the Bell test

NIST Team Proves 'Spooky Action at a Distance' is Really Real

November 10, 2015

BOULDER, Colo.—Einstein was wrong about at least one thing: There are, in fact, "spooky actions at a distance," as now proven by researchers at the National

It's a Beauty: JILA's Quantum Crystal is Now More Valuable

November 5, 2015

Physicists at JILA have made their "quantum crystal" of ultracold molecules more valuable than ever by packing about five times more molecules into it. The

New Ballistics Control Chart for Forensic Imaging

October 28, 2015

You've probably seen it on TV: To determine whether a single weapon was used in multiple crimes, forensics labs run images of a spent bullet through a database

Measuring Optical Power with Single-Photon Detectors

October 27, 2015

Precise measurements of optical power enable activities from fiber-optic communications to laser manufacturing and biomedical imaging — anything requiring a

Fundamental Constants: The Latest . . . and the Last?

October 26, 2015

In a world of incessant change, some things have to stay the same. One is the set of values for the fundamental physical constants – such as the speed of light

Top-of-the-Atmosphere Sunlight — As Seen from Earth

October 22, 2015

It may seem hard to believe, but we still don't know nearly enough about sunlight. Although people have been splitting the sun's rays into a spectrum and

Was this page helpful?

NIST Headquarters
-Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America (CHIPS)
--CHIPS Program Office
---CHIPS Program Headquarters
----CHIPS Program Headquarters - HQ
----Opportunity & Inclusion Group
---External & Government Affairs Division
----External & Government Affairs – HQ
---Investments Division
----Investments Division – HQ
---Operations Office
----Operations Office – HQ
---Risk Management Division
----Risk Management – HQ
---Strategy, Technology & Policy Division
----Strategy, Technology & Policy – HQ
--CHIPS Research & Development Program Office
---CHIPS Research & Development Program Headquarters Division
----CHIPS Research & Development Program Headquarters – HQ
----Integration & Policy Office
----Outreach & Partnerships Office
---External R&D Partnerships Division
----External R&D Partnerships – HQ
----National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program Group
----National Semiconductor Technology Center Group
---Industrial Advisory Committee
----Industrial Advisory Committee – HQ
---Semiconductor Manufacturing Institute Division
----Semiconductor Manufacturing Institute – HQ
---Semiconductor Metrology & Characterization Office
----Semiconductor Metrology & Characterization Office – HQ
-Management Resources
--Management Resources
---Associate Director for Management Resources
----Associate Director for Management Resources - HQ
---Business Operations Office
----Business Analytics Group
----Business Operations Office - HQ
----Customer Relationship Management Group
----Process Engineering Office
----Project Management Office
---Emergency Services Office
----Emergency Management, Preparedness and Coordination Group
----Emergency Services - HQ
----Fire Protection Group
----Security Systems and Access Control Group
---Equal Employment Opportunity and Accessibility Office
----Equal Employment Opportunity and Accessibility - HQ
---NIST Research Library and Museum
----NIST Research Library and Museum - HQ
---Fabrication Technology Office
----Fabrication Technology Office - HQ
--Office of Facilities and Property Management
---Boulder Design and Construction Division
----Boulder Design and Construction - HQ
----Facilities Improvement (Boulder) Group
----Reimbursable Work Group
----Facilities Modernization (Boulder) Group
---Gaithersburg Design and Construction Division
----Facilities Improvement (Gaithersburg) Group
----Reimbursable Work (Gaithersburg) Group
----Facilities Modernization (Gaithersburg) Group
----Gaithersburg Design and Construction - HQ
---Gaithersburg Facility Maintenance Division
----Building Management (Gaithersburg) Group
----Operations Engineering Group
----Gaithersburg Facility Maintenance - HQ
----Operations and Maintenance (Gaithersburg) Group
---Facilities Services Division
----Logistics Group
----Materials Management (Gaithersburg) Group
----Site Services Group
----Facilities Services Division - HQ
---Boulder Facilities Maintenance Division
----Site Support Group
----Boulder Facilities Maintenance- HQ
---Office of Facilities and Property Management
----Capital Asset Management and Facilities Planning Group
----OFPM Program Management Office
----Office of Facilities and Property Management - HQ
----Administrative Operations Group
----Safety, Health and Compliance Group
--Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management
---Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management
----Office of Acquisition and Agreements Management - HQ
---Financial Assistance Agreements Management Office
----Financial Assistance Agreements Management Office – HQ
---Acquisition Management Division
----Acquisition Management - HQ
----Acquisition Operations
----Acquisition Operations
----Acquisition Policy and Reimbursable Agreements
--Office of Information Systems Management
---Applications Systems Division
----Applications Systems - HQ
----Business Systems Group
----Custom Applications Development Group
----Data Management & Business Intelligence Group
----Database & Applications Infrastructure Group
----Drupal Development Group
----Identity & Access Management (IDAM) Group
----Institutional Systems Support Group
----OSHE Web Development Group
----Salesforce Development Group
----ServiceNow Development Group
---Research Services Office
----Lab Automation Group
----Research Services Office - HQ
----Scientific Systems Group
---Information Technology Security & Networking Division
----A&A Assessment Group
----A&A Infrastructure Group
----Assessment & Accreditation (A&A) Program
----Embedded IT Security Officer Group
----Information Technology Security & Networking - HQ
----Network Security Group
----Networking Group
----Privacy Group
----Security Implementation & Incident Response Group
----Telecommunications Group
---Customer Access and Support Division
----CASD Boulder Site Support Group
----Customer Access and Support - HQ
----Desktop Support Group
----Embedded Support Group A
----Embedded Support Group B
----Managed Endpoint for MAC & Mobile Group
----Managed Endpoint Windows Group
----Service Desk Operations Group
---Infrastructure Services Division
----Compute & Storage Group
----Computer Facilities Group
----Infrastructure Services Division - HQ
----Security & Monitoring Group
----Unix Hosting Group
----Windows Hosting Group
---Office of Information Systems Management
----Office of Information Systems Management - HQ
----Service & Project Management Group
---Platform Services Division
----Authentication & Directory Services Group
----Collaboration Services Group
----Enterprise Cloud Communications Group
----Enterprise Continuous Diagnostics and Monitoring Group
----Platform Management Group
----Platform Services Division - HQ
--Office of Human Resources Management
---Learning and Organizational Development Division
----Learning and Organizational Development – HQ
---Talent Acquisition Division
----Talent Acquisition – HQ
---Workforce Analytics and Technology Division
----Workforce Analytics and Technology – HQ
---Human Resources Management Office
----Human Resources Management Office - HQ
---Workforce Programs Division
----Workforce Programs – HQ
--Office of Safety, Health and Environment
---Office of Safety, Health and Environment
----Office of Safety, Health and Environment - HQ
---Gaithersburg Safety, Health and Environment Division
----Safety and Health Group
----Gaithersburg Safety, Health and Environment - HQ
----Fire and Facilities Safety Group
----Environmental Management Group
---Radiation Safety Division
----Radiation Facilities Group
----Program Development and Compliance Group
----Radiation Safety - HQ
---Boulder Safety, Health and Environment Division
----Boulder Safety, Health and Environment - HQ
--Office of Financial Resource Management
---Financial Systems and Reporting Division
----CBS Core Support Group
----CBS Feeder System Support Group
----Financial Systems and Reporting Division - HQ
----Financial Statements Group
----Data Control Group
----Reconciliations Group
---Office of Financial Resource Management
----Office of Financial Resource Management - HQ
----Internal Controls Management & Evaluation Office
----Enterprise Risk Management Office
---Financial Operations Division
----Travel Group
----Agreements Group
----Accounts Receivable Group
----Financial Operations - HQ
----Accounts Payable Group
---Budget Division
----Technical and Extramural Programs Group
----Institutional Support and Facilities Group
----Budget - HQ
----Formulation and Financial Management Group
-Laboratory Programs
--Communications Technology Laboratory
---RF Technology Division
----High-Speed Waveform Metrology Group
----Superconductive Electronics Group
----Guided Wave Electromagnetics Group
----Electromagnetic Fields Group
----RF Technology Division - HQ
---Smart Connected Systems Division
----IoT Devices and Infrastructures Group
----Networked Control Systems Group
----Smart Connected Manufacturing Systems Group
----Smart Grid Group
----Transformational Networks and Services Group
---Spectrum Technology and Research Division
----Applied Systems Metrology Group
----Fiber Sources and Applications Group
----Shared Spectrum Metrology Group
----Spectrum Technology and Research – HQ
---Wireless Networks Division
----Internet Technologies Research Group
----Radio Access and Propagation Metrology Group
----Wireless Networks Division - HQ
----Wireless Systems Innovation and Performance Group
---Public Safety Communications Research Division
----Public Safety Communications Research Division - HQ
----Advanced Communications Research Group
----Network Operations Group
---Communications Technology Laboratory HQ
----Communications Technology Laboratory HQ Gp
----Boulder Laboratory Director Office
--Engineering Laboratory
---Building Energy and Environment Division
----Building Energy and Environment - HQ
----Mechanical Systems and Controls Group
----Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Group
----HVAC&R Equipment Performance Group
----Heat Transfer and Alternative Energy Systems Group
---Intelligent Systems Division
----Intelligent Systems - HQ
----Manipulation and Mobility Systems Group
----Cognition and Collaboration Systems Group
----Production Systems Group
----Sensing and Perception Systems Group
---Materials and Structural Systems Division
----Earthquake Engineering Group
----Engineering Research Support Group
----Infrastructure Materials Group
----Community Resilience Group
----Materials and Structural Systems - HQ
----Structures Group
---Engineering Laboratory Office
----Applied Economics Office
----Disaster Impact Reduction Office
----Engineering Laboratory - HQ
----Engineering Laboratory Data, Security, Technology Group
---Fire Research Division
----National Fire Research Laboratory Group
----Wildland Urban Interface Fire Group
----Flammability Reduction Group
----Fire Research - HQ
----Engineered Fire Safety Group
----Fire Fighting Technology Group
---Systems Integration Division
----Life Cycle Engineering Group
----Process Engineering Group
----Information Modeling and Testing Group
----Systems Integration - HQ
--Information Technology Laboratory
---Applied Cybersecurity Division
----Applied Cybersecurity - HQ
----Cybersecurity and Privacy Applications Group
----National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
----NICE
---Computer Security Division
----Computer Security - HQ
----Cryptographic Technology Group
----Secure Systems and Applications Group
----Security Components and Mechanisms Group
----Security Test, Validation and Measurement Group
----Security Engineering and Risk Management Group
---Applied and Computational Mathematics Division
----Mathematical Software Group
----Mathematical Analysis and Modeling Group
----Quantum Information Group
----High Performance Computing and Visualization Group
----Applied and Computational Mathematics - HQ
---Statistical Engineering Division
----Applied and Computational Statistics Group
----Statistical Design, Analysis, and Modeling Group
----Statistical Engineering - HQ
---Software and Systems Division
----Systems Interoperability Group
----Software Quality Group
----Software and Systems - HQ
----Cyber Infrastructure Group
----Information Systems Group
---Information Access Division
----Information Access - HQ
----Image Group
----Multimodal Information Group
----Retrieval Group
----Visualization and Usability Group
---Information Technology Laboratory Office
----Office of Computational Science for Metrology
----Office of Emerging Technologies
----Office of IT Standardization
----Office of Government and Industrial Liaison
----Information Technology Laboratory Office - HQ
----Office of Chief Cybersecurity Advisor
--Laboratory Programs
---Research Data and Computing Office
----Research Data and Computing Office – HQ
---Research Protections Office
----Research Protections Office - HQ
---Research Security and Safeguarding Science Office
----Research Security and Safeguarding Science - HQ
---Standards Coordination Office
----International Standards Policy and Coordination Group
----Standards and Conformity Assessment Services Group
----Standards Coordination Office - HQ
----National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)
---Special Programs Office
----Special Programs Office-HQ
---Associate Director for Laboratory Programs
----Associate Director for Laboratory Programs - HQ
--Material Measurement Laboratory
---Office of Reference Materials
----Business and Quality Management Group
----Business Application Development, Support, and Security Group
----Sales and Customer Services Group
----Publication and Web Services Group
----Office of Reference Materials - HQ
----Materials and Physical Services Group
---Office of Data and Informatics
----Office of Data and Informatics - HQ
----Data Services Group
----Data Sciences Group
---Biosystems and Biomaterials Division
----Biomarker and Genomic Sciences Group
----Cellular Engineering Group
----Biomaterials Group
----Complex Microbial Systems Group
----Cell Systems Science Group
----Biosystems and Biomaterials Division - HQ
---Chemical Sciences Division
----Biochemical and Exposure Science Group
----Chemical Informatics Group
----Optical Measurements Group
----Chemical Process and Nuclear Measurements Group
----Gas Sensing Metrology Group
----Inorganic Chemical Metrology Group
----Biospecimen Science Group
----Chemical Sciences Division - HQ
----Organic Chemical Metrology Group
---Biomolecular Measurement Division
----Biomolecular Structure and Function Group
----Mass Spectrometry Data Center Group
----Bioprocess Measurements Group
----Bioanalytical Science Group
----Biomolecular Measurement Division - HQ
----Applied Genetics Group
---Applied Chemicals and Materials Division
----Applied Chemicals and Materials Division - HQ
----Thermodynamics Research Center Group
----Thermophysical Properties of Fluids Group
----Nanoscale Reliability Group
----Fluid Characterization Group
----Fatigue and Fracture Group
---Materials Science and Engineering Division
----Thermodynamics and Kinetics Group
----Polymers Processing Group
----Mechanical Performance Group
----Polymers and Complex Fluids Group
----Materials Science and Engineering Division - HQ
----Functional Polymers Group
----Functional Nanostructured Materials Group
---Materials Measurement Science Division
----Security Technologies Group
----Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group
----Nanomechanical Properties Group
----Nano Materials Research Group
----Materials Structure and Data Group
----Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Group
----Synchrotron Science Group
----Materials Measurement Science Division - HQ
----Data and AI-Driven Materials Science Group
---Material Measurement Laboratory Office
----The Material Measurement Laboratory Office of Operations Group
----Material Measurement Laboratory - HQ
----Genome-Scale Measurement Group
--NIST Center for Neutron Research
---NIST Center for Neutron Research
----Research Facility Operations Group
----NIST Center for Neutron Research - HQ
----Reactor Operations and Engineering Group
----Neutron-Condensed Matter Science Group
--Physical Measurement Laboratory
---Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division
----Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group
----Microsystems and Nanotechnology - HQ
----Nanostructure Fabrication and Measurement Group
----Photonics and Optomechanics Group
---Time and Frequency Division
----Atomic Devices & Instrumentation Group
----Precision Photonic Synthesis Group
----Quantum & Nonlinear Nanophotonics Group
----Ion Storage Group
----Neutral Atom Optical Clocks Group
----Time Realization and Distribution Group
----Phase Noise Metrology Group
----Time and Frequency - HQ
---Quantum Physics Division
----Quantum Physics - HQ
---Radiation Physics Division
----Dosimetry Group
----Radioactivity Group
----Radiation Physics - HQ
----Neutron Physics Group
---Sensor Science Division
----Fundamental Thermodynamics Group
----Sensor Science - HQ
----Temperature & Humidity Group
----Remote Sensing Group
----Optical Radiation Group
----Fluid Metrology Group
----Surface and Interface Metrology Group
---Applied Physics Division
----Advanced Microwave Photonics Group
----Spin Electronics Group
----Applied Physics - HQ
----Faint Photonics Group
----Quantitative Nanostructure Characterization Group
----Molecular and Bio-Photonics Group
----Magnetic Imaging Group
----Quantum Nanophotonics Group
----Sources and Detectors Group
---Quantum Measurement Division
----Quantum Optics Group
----Mass and Force Group
----Quantum Measurement - HQ
----Laser Cooling and Trapping Group
----Fundamental Electrical Measurements Group
----Applied Electrical Metrology Group
----Atomic Spectroscopy Group
---Quantum Sensors Division
----Device Fabrication Group
----Long Wavelength Sensors and Applications Group
----Quantum Calorimeters Group
----Quantum Electronics Group
----Quantum Sensors – HQ
---Nanoscale Device Characterization Division
----Nanoscale Device Characterization Division - HQ
----Nanoscale Spectroscopy Group
----Advanced Electronics Group
---Physical Measurement Laboratory Office
----Boulder Microfabrication Facility
----Physical Measurement Laboratory- HQ
----PML Information Office
----Office of Weights and Measures
-Innovation & Industry Services
--Office of Advanced Manufacturing
---Microelectronics Manufacturing Division
----Microelectronics Manufacturing – HQ
----Microelectronics Strategy and Enterprise Group
----Semiconductor Coordination Group
----Semiconductor Operations Group
----Workforce and Equity Development Group
---Office of Advanced Manufacturing
----Office of Advanced Manufacturing - HQ
---Partnerships and Outreach Division
----Communications and Marketing Group
----Education and Workforce Development Group
----Partnership Engagement Group
----Partnerships and Outreach – HQ
----Technology Hubs Development Group
---Program Operations Division
----Competitions Group
----Institute and Program Management Group
----Performance Management Group
----Program Operations - HQ
---Strategy and Planning Division
----Analysis and Benchmarking Group
----Strategic Planning Group
----Strategy and Planning – HQ
--Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
---Baldrige Performance Excellence Program Office
----Award Process Group
----Director's Office, Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
----Administrative Support/Electronic Information Group
----Outreach and Communications Group
----Publications Management Group
----Workforce Development Group
--Innovation & Industry Services
---Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services
----Associate Director for Innovation & Industry Services - HQ
---Technology Partnerships Office
----Technology Partnerships Office - HQ
--Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program
---National Platforms Division
----National Platforms – HQ
----Network Knowledge Management Group
----Supply Chain Group
---National Programs Division
----National Programs- HQ
---Outreach and External Affairs Division
----Outreach and External Affairs – HQ
---Performance Evaluation and Economic Impacts Division
----Performance Evaluation and Economic Impacts - HQ
----Performance Metrics and Evaluation Group
---Network Agreements Management Division
----Network Agreements Management - HQ
----Node B Group
----Node A Group
---Internal Operations Division
----Internal Operations – HQ
---Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program Office
----Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program - HQ
-Director's Office
--Director's Office
---Ombuds Office
----Ombuds Office - HQ
---Public Affairs Office
----Media Liaison Group
----Video and Digital Media Production Group
----Public Affairs Office - HQ
----Internal Communications and Inquiries Group
----Conference Program and Audiovisual Services Group
----Boulder Meetings Support and Services Group
----Web Content Development Group
---Program Coordination Office
----Program Coordination Office - HQ
---Director's Office
----Director's Office - HQ
---Congressional and Legislative Affairs Office
----Congressional and Legislative Affairs Office - HQ
---Management and Organization Office
----Management and Organization Office- HQ
---International and Academic Affairs Office
----International and Academic Affairs Office - HQ