https://www.nist.gov/ Taking Measure blog posts en https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/insulation-melts-your-walls-and-could-reduce-your-energy-costs Wherever humans go, we take some form of insulation with us to keep us at just the right temperature. But just because the idea is old doesn’t mean that there haven’t been innovations. One of those innovations could lower your energy costs. Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Brian Gutierrez https://www.nist.gov/node/1873856 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/high-flying-science-how-and-why-we-sent-refrigerator-halfway-space NIST-developed tools can study the remnants of the Big Bang and more, and now researchers are working to launch these tools high above the Earth’s atmosphere — in a scientific refrigerator. Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Ephraim Gau https://www.nist.gov/node/1873071 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/5-concepts-can-help-you-understand-quantum-mechanics-and-technology-without Quantum is everywhere, and you can understand the basic quirks of life at the quantum level … no math required. Wed, 05 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Tara Fortier https://www.nist.gov/node/1873491 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/drones-disaster-zones-how-advanced-3d-mapping-technology-can-help-first NIST is working to help emergency workers have more information in a crisis by encouraging the development of advanced drones at an affordable price. Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Megan King https://www.nist.gov/node/1871176 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/robots-and-ai-are-working-together-bring-you-better-medicines-shampoo-and-more Products you use every day are carefully formulated in a lab. Experts at NIST are now working to revolutionize how those products are made. Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Peter Beaucage https://www.nist.gov/node/1870046 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/speeding-wheels-justice-how-nist-resources-can-help-crime-labs-work-faster Forensic science is not as easy as it looks on TV. But NIST resources are helping crime labs examine evidence more efficiently — so the justice system can work better for everyone. Wed, 08 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Briana Capistran https://www.nist.gov/node/1868826 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/look-back-past-3-years-accomplishments-nist-director-laurie-e-locascio NIST Director Laurie E. Locascio departs NIST this month after more than 30 years at the agency, including three as its director. Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Laurie E. Locascio https://www.nist.gov/node/1870296 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/safer-skies-fewer-fires-10-ways-nist-impacts-your-daily-life If you’ve ever had a medical test, flown on an airplane, or needed to check the time, NIST’s work affects your life every day. Thu, 19 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Robin Materese https://www.nist.gov/node/1869336 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/pirouetting-molecules-can-help-us-learn-about-history-universe Our researchers are trapping tiny, fast-moving molecules — in hopes of learning more about the formation of our stars and universe. Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Dietrich Leibfried https://www.nist.gov/node/1867971 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/talk-nisty-me-when-everyday-words-take-different-meanings-measurement-science Words that have common meanings have different definitions in the world of measurement science. Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Ben P. Stein https://www.nist.gov/node/1865356 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/laser-could-offer-peek-insides-our-muscles-or-look-through-fire A NIST-developed laser system might someday check your muscle health when you flex your arm. These lasers can also see how an object changes during heat exposure when it is in a fire. Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Esther Baumann https://www.nist.gov/node/1865206 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/natures-lessons-creating-greener-future-manufacturing What if one manufacturer’s trash could be another’s treasure? A NIST researcher looks to nature for answers to this question. Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Abheek Chatterjee https://www.nist.gov/node/1863821 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/how-atomic-clocks-have-changed-our-world We spend our days immersed in time. But where does time come from? How do we track it? This has evolved along with technology in recent years. Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Gabriel Popkin https://www.nist.gov/node/1864316 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/safety-moon-shot-how-fire-research-cut-deaths-half-generation NIST research helped make the smoke alarm a standard part of our homes, and it’s one of many ways our fire research has made everyone safer. Tue, 29 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Megan King https://www.nist.gov/node/1863191 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/whats-name-magnetic-weber Dr. Wilhelm Weber gets the distinction of having the unit of magnetic flux, the weber, named in his honor. Magnetic flux measures the total magnetic field that passes through a surface. Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Sandy Ressler https://www.nist.gov/node/1862866 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/cybersecurity-careers-go-beyond-coding You don’t have to be a coder or have a technical background to work in cybersecurity. Learn about the career stories of three of our NIST cybersecurity professionals. Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.nist.gov/node/1862756 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/can-nanotechnology-help-solve-climate-change When we think about the climate crisis, we tend to think big. But two NIST researchers are thinking of small ways to help our planet — as in technology 1,000 times smaller than a hair. Wed, 09 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Lawrence Goodman https://www.nist.gov/node/1860866 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/facing-facts-keep-our-biometrics-secure As facial recognition has become more common — from opening your smartphone to identifying yourself at a national border — NIST’s work in facial recognition has become more high-stakes. Wed, 02 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Mei Lee Ngan https://www.nist.gov/node/1862056 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/curiosity-career-encouraging-students-pursue-stem-education A NIST researcher is volunteering to educate young students about life as a scientist — and encourage kids to envision a career for themselves in STEM. Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000 J. Trey Diulus https://www.nist.gov/node/1860556 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/keepers-right-answer-why-measurements-nist-are-important-nation-and-world Practically everything you use in your everyday life works because of measurement science. Wed, 11 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000 James K. Olthoff https://www.nist.gov/node/1859561 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sinking-our-teeth-science-how-biomedical-engineering-can-help-make-us-healthier From safer dental products to tracking the movement of tiny plastics through gut tissues, regenerative medicine can make us healthier. Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Robert A. Gutierrez https://www.nist.gov/node/1857936 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/summer-studying-cybersecurity-and-human-errors-role-attacks A NIST intern spent his summer researching cybersecurity — and the human errors that can jeopardize it. Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Miles Walker https://www.nist.gov/node/1856466 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/unlocking-our-worlds-earliest-secrets-one-tiny-electron-time Why do we exist? It’s a big question — and one that some of NIST’s early universe detectives are getting closer to answering. Wed, 07 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Sun Park https://www.nist.gov/node/1854386 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/promise-synthetic-cells-revolutionary-new-drugs-outer-space-explorers-and Scientists are getting closer to creating a living cell from scratch. It could help treat diseases or even create life forms that can be better adapted to space. Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.nist.gov/node/1853391 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/one-worlds-roundest-objects-helping-build-better-mass-measurement Different countries' approaches can lead to different definitions of the kilogram. But NIST is working with our international partners to see how we can close those tiny gaps. Wed, 17 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Megan King https://www.nist.gov/node/1853156 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/you-dont-learn-school-my-experience-nist-summer-intern The most important thing I remember from being a NIST intern last summer is the power of persistence in research. Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000 George Sellers https://www.nist.gov/node/1849906 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/how-low-can-temperature-go-lord-kelvin-and-science-absolute-zero On Lord Kelvin’s 200th birthday today, we’re remembering the scientist who brought us the metric (SI) unit for temperature. Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Stephen Eckel https://www.nist.gov/node/1847761 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/your-future-medications-could-be-personalized-you-3d-printer Your future medications could be made on a 3D printer, and a NIST researcher is working to make sure that process is safe. Wed, 12 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Lawrence Goodman https://www.nist.gov/node/1849446 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/nist-researchers-measure-greenhouse-gases-during-solar-eclipse Check out some of the things happening at NIST during the past few months through the lens of social media. Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Alex Boss https://www.nist.gov/node/1847936 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/one-nists-most-prolific-inventors-also-our-director-and-shes-still-inventor Before she was the director of NIST, Laurie E. Locascio invented materials that make us healthier. Wed, 22 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.nist.gov/node/1848406 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/trash-cash-how-ai-and-machine-learning-can-help-make-recycling-less-expensive Can AI help us recycle better? A NIST researcher is working to make that happen. Wed, 15 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Bradley Sutliff https://www.nist.gov/node/1847511 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/nist-research-setting-standard-help-buildings-withstand-tornadoes Two NIST researchers have been recognized for their work to create new standards for buildings that can better withstand tornadoes. Wed, 08 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Brian Gutierrez https://www.nist.gov/node/1847671 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/nist-physicists-once-obscure-work-now-helping-researchers-learn-about-origins A NIST researcher worked in obscurity for years — until his work was needed to help us understand the origins of our universe. Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Ron Cowen https://www.nist.gov/node/1846011 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/measuring-microplastics-solve-problem-we-have-understand-and-measure-it My friends sometimes jokingly ask me, “How many microplastics do you think I consumed this week?” Unfortunately, the answer is not zero. Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000 George Caceres https://www.nist.gov/node/1842661 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/demystifying-quantum-its-here-there-and-everywhere It’s time to celebrate World Quantum Day! But what is quantum, anyway? A NIST physicist answers your questions. Wed, 10 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Tara Fortier https://www.nist.gov/node/1843771 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/listening-data-how-nist-tool-helps-labs-worldwide-harmonize-measurements In a global economy, measurements need to be reliably comparable across the world. But how do we ensure that actually happens? Wed, 03 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Antonio Possolo https://www.nist.gov/node/1843026 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/sound-soot-how-strange-noise-can-keep-us-safer-fires Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s fire, there is soot. And where there is soot, there is … noise. Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Amy Mensch, Ryan Falkenstein-Smith https://www.nist.gov/node/1840781 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/bookmobiles-big-data-how-library-scientists-make-information-accessible-all During Women’s History Month, a NIST librarian looks back at the librarian who brought us the bookmobile — back when it brought books by horse and buggy. Wed, 20 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Kathryn Miller https://www.nist.gov/node/1840496 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/houston-we-have-engine-remnants-how-my-lab-pieced-together-forgotten-part Like many people, I had dreams of flying into space as an astronaut when I was a child. That interest in aerospace and space exploration has continued throughout my life. Wed, 13 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Adam Creuziger https://www.nist.gov/node/1841561 https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/measurement-movies The nominees are in … for the best use of measurement in a movie. Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Ben P. Stein https://www.nist.gov/node/1840401