NIST News

On December 21, 2010, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced it will hold a technical conference* on Smart Grid Interoperability Standards. The purpose of the technical … more

On December 16, 2010, Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Gary Locke presented five U.S. organizations with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's … more

The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced a total of more than $22 million in funding for nine research projects targeting innovative … more

Using the NIST-invented magneto-optical trap ion source (MOTIS), CNST researchers recently took a significant step toward the goal of creating a more versatile ion source for use in focused ion … more

A live broadcast of the presentation of the Baldrige Award Ceremony will be available on Thursday, December 16 at 3:00 pm at http://www.ebmcdn.net/nist/flash/nist-player/baldrige/index.html. Vice … more

The discoveries of superconductivity, the quantum Hall effect and the fractional quantum Hall effect were all the result of measurements made at increasingly lower temperatures. Now, pushing the … more

Two new publications from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are intended to help developers of software and computer systems for doctors' offices, clinics, and hospitals … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has joined in a new public-private partnership to spur cybersecurity innovation in the financial services sector. Through a memorandum of … more

This simulation depicts flow in a rheometer, as its rotating vane's blade begins to stir a suspension of particles. Colors represent the quadrant where the particles are initially … more

ENERGY STAR, a program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) to promote energy efficiency, has recognized the National Institute of Standards and … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's American Recovery and Reinvestment (NIST-ARRA) Act Measurement Science and Engineering Fellowship Program has announced its third round of … more

Once ignited, a dry Fraser fir, one of the most popular Christmas tree choices, bursts into flames in less than 7 seconds, and it will be consumed by fire in slightly more than a minute. But if a … more

For accomplishments ranging from determining the causes of failures in ballistic-resistant body armor to innovations in technology transfer strategies to organization-wide improvements in safety, … more

Paul Haney and Mark Stiles of the CNST have developed a theory of current-induced torques that generalizes the relationship between spin transfer torques, total angular momentum current, and … more

The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program has announced that the 2011-2012 Criteria for Performance Excellence for businesses and nonprofit organizations are now available for download. The … more

GAITHERSBURG, Md.--Employees of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were honored in ceremonies held Dec. 1, 2010, at NIST's Gaithersburg, Md., … more

Provide a valuable service to your country. If you're an expert from a business, education, healthcare or nonprofit organization, and possess knowledge and experience in leadership, strategic … more

A new chemical analysis technique developed by a research group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uses the shifting ultrasonic pitch of a small quartz crystal to test the … more

Suspicious packages and powders have triggered more than 30,000 responses by U.S. law enforcement agencies across the country since 2001. These events are expensive, time-consuming and potentially … more

Three NIST researchers have been chosen to receive Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on science and … more

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke yesterday named seven organizations as recipients of the 2010 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest Presidential honor for … more

CNST researchers Adam Steele, Brenton Knuffman, and Jabez McClelland, together with Jon Orloff of FEI Co., have invented an innovative way to extract and accelerate ions generated in a spatially … more

Three Small Businesses Chosen for the First Time in a Single Year WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today named seven organizations as recipients of the 2010 Malcolm … more

The world-leading graphene research team from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the CNST has taken yet another step toward elucidating the unique and often unexpected properties of this … more

Andrew Berglund, a Project Leader in the CNST Nanofabrication Research Group, has developed an improved data analysis method for determining the diffusion coefficient of a single nanoparticle using … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have released an updated version of a computer system testing tool that can cut costs by more efficiently finding flaws. A … more

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers have developed new certified reference materials for measuring amounts of organic acids in dietary supplements formulated with … more

Using a neutron beam as a probe, researchers working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have begun to reveal the crystal structure of a compound essential to technologies … more

The researchers characterize their new technique as a neat solution to the "needle in a haystack" problem of nanoscale microscopy, but it's more like the difference between finding … more

In two Federal Register notices, the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) asks for public comments on six NIST-prepared white papers … more

A new publication from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides technical guidance to government agencies and other organizations interested in mitigating risks with WiMAX … more

NIST researchers and their collaborators were awarded seven patents in the past year for a wide variety of technologies. Since Oct. 1, 2009, NIST has made a total of 30 invention disclosures and … more

Major factors contributing to a rapid spread of fire at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C., on June 18, 2007, included large open spaces with furniture providing high fuel loads, the inward … more

Nelson Bryner, Study Team Leader and Deputy Division Chief, Fire Research Division National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST News Release Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire Thank you, … more

Volume I: NIST Technical Study of the Sofa Super Store Fire - South Carolina, June 18, 2007 Volume II: NIST Technical Study of the Sofa Super Store Fire - South Carolina, June 18, 2007 (Note: … more

In response to the NCNR user community's request to make it easier for users to access their neutron scattering data from outside of the facility, the NCNR is implementing the following data … more

Extending its 26-year tradition of innovative quantum voltage standards, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have begun shipping a new 10-volt standard to users … more

They’ve played soccer, run dashes and deftly inserted pegs into holes—all within a world that can fit inside a single grain of rice. Now, it’s time for … more

Taking the first steps of what would be a major historical advance in the science of measurement, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is participating in a worldwide effort to … more

NIST physical scientist Henri Lezec (above), along with Federico Capasso of Harvard, won the 2010 Julius Springer Prize for Applied Physics. Henri Lezec is a project leader in NIST's … more

Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Department of Homeland Security, announced on September 30 the opening of a public comment period on a private sector emergency readiness certification program … more

Thank you to everyone who visited the NIST booth at the USA Science & Engineering Expo! We hope you enjoyed learning about measurement science and all of the amazing work our researchers … more

Two Russian scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics this week for their work on graphene, a chicken-wire-like lattice of carbon atoms. Joseph Stroscio, of the National Institute of Standards and … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) are seeking partners in the telecommunications industry to help … more

Scientists at JILA and collaborators have demonstrated an improved laser-based "molecular fingerprinting" technique that picks out traces of key hydrogen-containing and other molecules … more

On November 4 and 5, 2010, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host the Cloud Computing Forum and Workshop II to give government and industry stakeholders opportunity to … more

New insights into the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection process, which leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), may now be possible through a research method recently … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) HollingsManufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) has awarded $9.1 million in cooperative agreements for 22 projects designed to enhance … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the 2009 Technology Transfer Report, an annual report summarizing the technology transfer activities and achievements of the … more

A paper by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may breathe new life into the use of a powerful—but tricky—diagnostic technique for cell … more

Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the German national metrology institute have used NIST's miniature atom-based magnetic sensor to successfully … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has advised the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that it has identified five “foundational” sets of … more

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated* for the first time the conversion of near-infrared 1,300 nm wavelength single photons emitted from a true … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded a total of $50 million in grants to five institutions to support the construction of new scientific research facilities that … more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Ian Spielman is highlighted in the November, 2010, issue of Popular Science, where the magazine’s editors have named him to … more

NIST researcher Barbara Lippiatt (left) received the 2010 GreenGov Presidential Award for her work on a software tool that measures the environmental performance of building materials and … more

George Arnold of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been honored with a 2010 GridWeek Award for his work in advancing international Smart Grid cooperation and standards. … more

The Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has advised the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that it has identified five "foundational" … more

After 23 years as the "Baldrige National Quality Program," the nation's public-private partnership dedicated to performance excellence has decided to highlight that mission with a new … more

GAITHERSBURG, Md.—The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) today announced $9.1 million in cooperative agreements for 22 … more