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Material Measurement Laboratory

News and Updates

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NIST Innovation Could Improve Detection of COVID-19 Infections

October 5, 2020

A multidisciplinary research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a way to increase the sensitivity of the primary

A man (Zhi Liang) wearing dark safety goggles leans over a table, working with scientific equipment.

Spotlight: Computing the Properties of a Titan Among Manufacturing Materials

September 26, 2020

Improve the material; improve life. NIST postdoctoral researcher Zhi Liang believes the development of humanity depends on the development of materials, and few

A woman with safety goggles and gloves stands at a lab bench.

A Better Alternative to Phthalates?

September 25, 2020

Detergents, shampoos, soaps and other everyday items sometimes contain a group of chemicals called phthalates, which are often used to enhance products and add

Spotlight: From the Alaskan Wilderness to the NIST State-of-the-Art Labs

September 25, 2020

Over the course of seven years, recent postdoctoral researcher Michelle Bailey went from spending summers in the Alaskan wilderness to pushing boundaries in

woman holding a North American Atlantic salmon

Spotlight: The Trek North for Precious Mucus Hormones in Salmon

September 23, 2020

Something smells fishy, and NIST postdoctoral researcher Erin Legacki is on the job to figure out what’s happening. The North American Atlantic salmon has seen

A glowing purple bar representing the LED is attached to a green surface by a yellow metal contact.

A Light Bright and Tiny: NIST Scientists Build a Better Nanoscale LED

August 14, 2020

A new design for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) developed by a team including scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may hold the

Two birds with black heads and white bellies stand on a rock.

Climate Variability May Alter Pollutants in Some Sub-Arctic Birds

August 11, 2020

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Emory University have discovered that some bird species in the sub-Arctic tend to ingest

woman stands at mass spectrometer machine

NIST Expands Database That Helps Identify Unknown Compounds in Milk

July 27, 2020

Got milk? Most people have seen the famous ads featuring celebrities that highlight the importance of drinking milk for building strong bones. Research shows

Green leafy material inside a graduated cylinder.

NIST to Help Labs Achieve Accurate THC, CBD Measurements

July 21, 2020

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a program to help laboratories accurately measure key chemical compounds in marijuana

Micrograph shows coiled fibers on yellow background with inset of lighter yellow square.

Face Coverings Made From Layered Cotton Fabric Likely Slow the Spread of COVID-19 Better Than Synthetics, New Study Finds

June 29, 2020

Researchers have completed a new study of how well a variety of natural and synthetic fabrics filter particles of a similar size to the virus that causes COVID

Vapor-Liquid Equilibria Article- the #1 Most Downloaded paper from the Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data

June 25, 2020

A paper from members of the Applied Chemicals and Materials Division has 762 downloads from the Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data in the last 30 days

Woman uses gas analysis mass spectrometer at NBS for chemical analysis of gas or vapor mixtures

NIST Adds New 'Fingerprints' to Chemical Identification Database

June 17, 2020

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has updated its database of chemical fingerprints, called mass spectra, that are used to identify

A scientist stands in front of a book, which represents the human genome, and tries to identify the missing pieces or chapters.

NIST Develops Benchmark for Accurately Detecting Large Genetic Mutations Linked to Major Diseases

June 15, 2020

Many serious diseases, including autism, schizophrenia and numerous cardiac disorders, are believed to result from mutation of an individual’s DNA. But some

A man wearing safety goggles leans over a scientific device.

Spotlight: Collaboration With CHiMaD to Build New Materials That Can Take a Hit

June 8, 2020

Impact in 3 … 2 … 1 … Meet Marcos Reyes-Martinez, a NIST researcher working to build new materials that could protect fragile items in transit, spacecraft

Spotlight: Elijah Petersen's Professional Journey in Chemical Toxicity

May 28, 2020

Particles, big or small: NIST’s Elijah Petersen is ready to investigate them all. Walk through the phases of his professional journey in chemical toxicity

A large brown seal is in the snow. It has whiskers that look like a beard on a human male.

NIST Helps Expand Genome Sequencing of Marine Mammals

May 7, 2020

Researchers will soon have access to the full genomic sequences for 23 marine mammal species preserved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology

$an opalescent close up of Roman glass. There is a clear semi-circular fracture in the center of the piece.$

$Electron backscatter diffraction for additive manufacturing, 1 of 2$

Spotlight: Jake Benzing and Electron Backscatter Diffraction

February 8, 2020

These images scream “manufacturing,” right? For NIST’s Jake Benzing, they certainly do. With an electron microscope by his side, the NRC postdoctoral fellow