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Material Measurement Laboratory

Materials Measurement Science Division

News and Updates

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X-Ray Probe Finds New Organic Transistors Do Well in Hot Water

April 17, 2012

Materials scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), working with an international research team, have helped prove the

Graphene: What Can Go Wrong? New Studies Point to Wrinkles, Process Contaminants

July 6, 2011

Using a combination of sophisticated computer modeling and advanced materials analysis techniques at synchrotron laboratories, a research team led by the

Sketch of a typical gold nanoparticle encased in dendrons.

Branch Offices: New Family of Gold-Based Nanoparticles Could Serve as Biomedical 'Testbed'

June 21, 2011

Gold nanoparticles are becoming the ... well ... gold standard for medical-use nanoparticles. A new paper by researchers from the National Institute of

Defect in Graphene May Present Bouquet of Possibilities

May 24, 2011

A class of decorative, flower-like defects in the nanomaterial graphene could have potentially important effects on the material's already unique electrical and

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of silver nanoparticles

Silver Cycle: New Evidence for Natural Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles

May 10, 2011

Nanoparticles of silver are being found increasingly in the environment—and in environmental science laboratories. Because they have a variety of useful

Using Artificial, Cell-Like 'Honey Pots' To Entrap Deadly Viruses

March 1, 2011

Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Weill Cornell Medical College have designed artificial "protocells" that can

'A Little Off the Top' Helps NIST Map Cells with Submicrometer Resolution

March 1, 2011

To determine if a tissue biopsy reveals the presence of cancer, a histologist often screens for cells with an abnormal appearance or a specific visible trait

Illustration of a single row of nanowires

Growing Nanowires Horizontally Yields New Benefit: 'Nano-LEDs'

September 28, 2010

While refining their novel method for making nanoscale wires, chemists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) discovered an unexpected

Among Apes, Teeth Are Made for the Toughest Times

December 15, 2009

The teeth of some apes are formed primarily to handle the most stressful times when food is scarce, according to new research performed at the National

Synthetic Cells Shed Biological Insights While Delivering Battery Power

October 20, 2009

Trying to understand the complex workings of a biological cell by teasing out the function of every molecule within it is a daunting task. But by making

New NIST Nano-Ruler Sets Some Very Small Marks

September 22, 2009

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a new ruler, and even for an organization that routinely deals in superlatives, it sets

Multi-Laboratory Study Sizes Up Nanoparticle Sizing

August 11, 2009

As a result of a major inter-laboratory study, the standards body ASTM International has been able to update its guidelines for a commonly used technique for

NIST Hosts Two International Materials Research Meetings in June

June 2, 2009

For the materials research community, all roads will lead to the Gaithersburg, Md., headquarters of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Vise Squad: Putting the Squeeze on a Crystal Leads to Novel Electronics

May 5, 2009

A clever materials science technique that uses a silicon crystal as a sort of nanoscale vise to squeeze another crystal into a more useful shape may launch a

Scanning electron microscope image of typical titania nanotubes for a photocatalytic cell to produce hydrogen gas from water.

Discovery of an Unexpected Boost for Solar Water-Splitting Cells

April 21, 2009

A research team from Northeastern University and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has discovered, serendipitously, that a residue of a

Nano Changes Rise to Macro Importance in a Key Electronics Material

April 7, 2009

By combining the results of a number of powerful techniques for studying material structure at the nanoscale, a team of researchers from the National Institute

Finite Element Model and Color Mapping of Cranium

Toothsome Research: Deducing the Diet of a Prehistoric Hominid

February 10, 2009

In an unusual intersection of materials science and anthropology, researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and The George

NIST 'Stress Tests' Probe Nanoscale Strains in Materials

November 25, 2008

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated their ability to measure relatively low levels of stress or strain in

NCI and NIST Propose Online Community To Speed Up Development of Nanotech Standards

November 12, 2008

Federal government and U.S. industry scientists are forging ahead with plans to establish an international online forum for collaboration that aims to

Two NIST Researchers' Papers Recognized in Ceramics 'Best Of' Collection

November 12, 2008

Two materials scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have papers in a special list of the "11 best papers" published by the

Illustration of the anatomy of an electric eel

Models of Eel Cells Suggest Electrifying Possibilities

October 1, 2008

Engineers long have known that great ideas can be lifted from Mother Nature, but a new paper by researchers at Yale University and the National Institute of

NIST and Partners Identify Tiny Gold Clusters as Top-Notch Catalysts

September 16, 2008

For most of us, gold is only valuable if we possess it in large-sized pieces. However, the "bigger is better" rule isn't the case for those interested in

NIST materials scientists Cherno Jaye (r.) and Dan Fischer adjust a sample chamber for NIST's soft x-ray materials characterization beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source.

Slippery Customer: A Greener Antiwear Additive for Engine Oils

July 22, 2008

Titanium, a protean element with applications from pigments to aerospace alloys, could get a new role as an environmentally friendly additive for automotive oil

Closeup photomicrograph of rotifer B. calyciflorus with quantum dots assimilated from ingested ciliates appearing red.

Research Measures Movement of Nanomaterials in Simple Model Food Chain

June 10, 2008

New research shows that while engineered nanomaterials can be transferred up the lowest levels of the food chain from single-cell organisms to higher

Scanning electron microscope image of 'cleaned' carbon nanotubes at NIST

Carbon Nanotube Measurements: Latest in NIST 'How-To' Series

April 15, 2008

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), has published

Advanced communications
-Open Radio Access Network (Open-RAN)
-Quantum communications
-Spectrum sharing
-Wireless (RF)
Bioscience
-Bioeconomy
--Biological data
-Bioimaging
-Bioinformatics
-Biomanufacturing
-Biomaterials
-Biometrology
-Biosecurity
--Biosurveillance
--Genomic cybersecurity
--Nucleic acid sequence screening
-Cell measurements
-Engineering / synthetic biology
--Biofabrication
--Cell-free systems
--Genome engineering
--Protein engineering
-Gene delivery systems
-Genome editing
-Genomics
-Glycomics
-Metabolomics
-Microbial measurements
-Proteomics
-Transcriptomics
Buildings and Construction
-Building codes and standards
-Building control systems
-Building damage and repair
-Building economics
-Building materials
-Energy efficiency
-Heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment
-Indoor air quality
-Structural engineering
-Thermal comfort
Chemistry
-Analytical chemistry
-Chemical engineering and processing
-Chemical thermodynamics and chemical properties
-Molecular characterization
-Theoretical chemistry and modeling
-Thermochemical properties
Electronics
-Electromagnetics
-Flexible electronics
-Magnetoelectronics
-Optoelectronics
-Organic electronics
-Semiconductors
-Sensors
-Superconducting electronics
Energy
-Alternative energy
-Conventional energy
-Electric power / smart grid
-Fuels
Environment
-Air / water / soil quality
-Climate Measurements
-Environmental health
-Greenhouse gas measurements
-Marine science
-Sustainability
Fire
-Fire detection
-Fire dynamics and science
-Fire fighting
-Fire modeling
-Fire risk reduction
-Materials flammability
-Structural fire resistance
-Wildland urban interface fire
Forensic Science
-Digital evidence
-Drugs and toxicology
-Firearms and toolmarks
-Forensic biometrics
-Forensic genetics
-Trace evidence
Health
-Biopharmaceuticals
-Cell and gene therapy
-Clinical diagnostics
--Cancer
--Medical imaging
-Food and nutrition
-Human microbiome
-Precision medicine
-Regenerative medicine and advanced therapy
--Flow cytometry
Information technology
-Artificial intelligence
--AI measurement and evaluation
--Applied AI
--Fundamental AI
--Hardware for AI
--Machine learning
--Trustworthy and responsible AI
-Biometrics
-Cloud computing and virtualization
-Complex systems
-Computational science
-Conformance testing
-Cyber-physical systems
--Smart cities
-Cybersecurity
--Cryptography
--Cybersecurity education and workforce development
--Cybersecurity measurement
--Identity and access management
--Privacy engineering
--Risk management
--Securing emerging technologies
--Trustworthy networks
--Trustworthy platforms
-Data and informatics
--Human language technology
--Information retrieval
--Natural language processing
-Federal information processing standards (FIPS)
-Health IT
-Internet of Things (IoT)
-Interoperability testing
-Location based services
-Mobile
-Networking
--Mobile and wireless networking
--Network management and monitoring
--Network modeling and analysis
--Network security and robustness
--Network test and measurement
--Next generation networks
--Protocol design and standardization
--Software defined and virtual networks
-Privacy
-Software research
--Software testing
-Usability and human factors
--Accessibility
-Video analytics
-Virtual / augmented reality
-Visualization research
-Voting systems
Infrastructure
Manufacturing
-Additive manufacturing
-Factory communications
-Factory operations planning and control
-Interoperability in manufacturing
-Machining
-Manufacturing economics
-Manufacturing quality assurance
-Manufacturing systems design and analysis
-Monitoring, diagnostics and prognostics
-Process improvement
-Process measurement and control
-Product data
-Robotics in manufacturing
--Agility and adaptability
--Collaborative robots
--Dexterous grasping
--Manipulation
--Mobility and industrial autonomous vehicles
--Navigation / actuation / control
--Sensing and perception
-Supply chain
-Sustainable manufacturing
-Systems engineering
-Systems integration
-Technology commercialization
Materials
-Ceramics
-Composites
-Concrete / cement
-Materials characterization
--Composition and structure
--Mechanical properties
--Thermal properties
-Metals
-Modeling and computational material science
-Polymers
-Superconductors
Mathematics and statistics
-Experiment design
-Image and signal processing
-Modeling and simulation research
-Numerical methods and software
-Statistical analysis
-Uncertainty quantification
Metrology
-Amount of substance
-Dimensional metrology
-Electrical / electromagnetic metrology
-Flow metrology and rheology
-Force metrology
-Humidity metrology
-Ionizing radiation metrology
-Mass metrology
-Metric
-Optical / photometry / laser metrology
-Pressure and vacuum metrology
-Thermometry metrology
-Time and frequency metrology
-Weights and measures
Nanotechnology
-Nanobiotechnology
-Nanochemistry
-Nanoelectronics
-Nanofabrication / manufacturing
--Lithography
--Self-assembly
-Nanofluidics
-Nanomagnetics
-Nanomaterials
-Nanomechanics
-Nanometrology
-Nanophotonics
-Nanophysics
-Nanoplasmonics
Neutron research
Performance excellence
-Assessment tools and services
-Baldrige award
-Baldrige examiners
-Baldrige Framework and Criteria
-Best practices
-Leadership development
Physics
-Atomic / molecular / quantum
-Biological physics
-Condensed matter
-Electron physics
-Magnetics
-Nuclear physics
-Optical physics and communications
-Quantum information science
-Radiation
-Spectroscopy
-Thermodynamics
-Time and frequency
Public safety
-Chemical / Biological / Radiological / Nuclear / Explosives (CBRNE)
-First responder preparedness
-Law enforcement
-Public safety communications research
-Response robots
Resilience
-Community resilience
--Recovery
--Resilience metrics
-Disaster and failure studies
-Earthquake risk reduction
-Resilience economics
-Resilient materials
-Windstorm impact reduction
Standards
-Accreditation
-Calibration services
-Conformity assessment
-Documentary standards
-Frameworks
-Quality assurance
-Reference data
-Reference instruments
-Reference materials
-Standards education
Technology transfer
Transportation
-Aerospace
-Automotive