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Manufacturing

Getting Food on Our Tables From the U.S. and Around the World, Safely and Less Wastefully

November 13, 2019

I’m still amazed to see strawberries, avocados and watermelons in my grocery store out of their “normal” season. As amazing as this is, I know it means that my

When a Manufacturer Asks ‘How Do We Get Smart?’

October 4, 2019

“How do we get smart?” I was first asked this question while sitting in on a call with a small manufacturer who supplied parts for automotive manufacturers

The Cybernetic Revolution: The Influence of Metrology on the User Experience in Human-Robot Interaction

May 1, 2019

I was told there would be robots. We are living in a world in which we are surrounded by technology tailored to our needs. Our clothes are treated with

Rethinking Manufacturing

July 2, 2019

This is the first in a series of posts to spotlight the revitalization of U.S. manufacturing happening across the nation through Manufacturing USA® institutes

For All Times, For All Peoples: How Replacing the Kilogram Empowers Industry

November 27, 2018

Two unusual things happened on Nov. 16, 2018. Fifty-four nations from every continent (except Antarctica) agreed on something, and metrology, the science of

An Invention in Focus: When Science Gets Real

June 18, 2018

As a research scientist, I often face a difficult problem when discussing my work with family or friends. Everyone seems initially fascinated that I am a

Small-Business Cybersecurity is Twice as Nice as Pumpkin Spice

October 11, 2017

I think we’ve taken this pumpkin spice thing too far. Don’t get me wrong, I love fall. That first crisp evening when you need to put on a sweater, the crunch of

Timothy Zimmerman checking connections in the Cybersecurity for Smart Manufacturing Systems testbed

Ensuring the Cybersecurity of Manufacturing Systems

October 6, 2017

Cybersecurity, at this point in the technological age, has become a household word. Every week, almost like clockwork, it seems there is a story on the news

Printing with Concrete: How I Spent My Summer Vacation

September 4, 2017

Since they came out a few years ago, the capabilities of commercially available 3-D printers have radically expanded. At first, they could only print little

NIST scientist with jars of baby food and scientific equipment

(Baby) Food for Thought: The Limits of Detecting Toxic Elements

July 27, 2017

As the seasoned mom of three grown children, I’m happy to say that they all made it through babyhood without any major health issues. While I worked as an

Things That Make Me Wannacry

June 21, 2017

I’m a bit emotional these days. My youngest—my baby—just graduated from high school. It’s the end of an era for our family: The years of homework, packing

Carbon Nanotubular: SURFing into the Sciences

May 5, 2017

I’m a bit of a romantic when it comes to science. When anyone asks what inspires me to be a scientist, I tell them that it’s amazing to add to the collective

Making 'The Technology' for Exoskeletons a Reality

February 28, 2017

I grew up in a small farming community in southern Georgia. My main exposure to new technology was through the annual farm equipment exposition, science fiction

Helping Robots Be Less Robotic

November 16, 2016

Whether they’re behind the scenes assembling products or helping you parallel park your car, robots are already playing a big role in our day-to-day lives. And

A Little Light Construction: Laser Welding in Three Acts

November 7, 2016

Welding is said to be more art than science. In part, this is a nod to the vital, skilled work that welders perform. It’s also recognition of the fact that the

Revolution by Design: The Materials Genome Initiative

August 17, 2016

The creation of a new material has long been either an accident or a matter of trial and error. Steel, for instance, was developed over hundreds of years by

Additive Manufacturing Equals Excitement

June 23, 2016

I research additive manufacturing, which some people call solid freeform fabrication, but most people know as 3-D printing. Additive manufacturing covers a wide

National Inventor’s Month: You Can Make It If You Try!

May 5, 2016

Depending on whom you ask, May (or August or April, it would be great if someone were to standardize this … we’re going with May) is National Inventor’s Month

May with brown ponytail and safety glasses working in lab

Making a Lasting Impression on the Auto Industry

April 6, 2016

Today in Taking Measure we asked Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) recipient Adam Creuziger a few questions about his life

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About this blog

Taking Measure is the official blog of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

It provides a behind-the-scenes look at NIST’s research and programs, covering a broad range of science and technology areas. Through this blog, NIST’s researchers and staff share why they do what they do and how today’s research will lead to tomorrow’s innovations.

The views presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of NIST.

If you have any questions about our blog or reprint requests, please contact us at takingmeasure [at] nist.gov (takingmeasure[at]nist[dot]gov).

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