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Search News by Chad Boutin

Displaying 301 - 325 of 539

Toward New Precision in Measuring the Neutron Lifetime

February 3, 2014

A team of PML scientists and collaborators* has achieved a five-fold reduction in the dominant uncertainty in an experiment that measured the mean lifetime of

Preparing the Next Generation of Female Physicists

February 3, 2014

"If the profession of physics is to thrive, we must make it our goal to achieve a scientifically literate society, a population that understands and values the

double-paddle oscillator in its mounting, seen from below

Surface Detail: Oscillator to Explore Secrets of Mass Variation

January 30, 2014

It might seem that when the world agrees on a new definition of the kilogram based on a fixed value of a physical constant, as is expected soon, no one will

Nearly Everyone Uses Piezoelectrics. Be Nice to Know How They Work.

January 29, 2014

Piezoelectrics—materials that can change mechanical stress to electricity and back again—are everywhere in modern life. Computer hard drives. Loud speakers

PML Measurements Drive Development of New Length Artifact

January 17, 2014

Laser trackers are state-of-the-art measuring machines that are capable of measuring the dimensions of large objects (up to approximately 120 meters in length)

New Value for the Planck Constant May Hasten Electronic Kilogram

January 14, 2014

After two years of difficult and meticulous work examining, refurbishing, and testing the aging workhorse watt balance called NIST-3, PML researchers have used

simulation of laser flashes on windshield

Helping the Judicial System Understand Laser Strikes on Aircraft

January 14, 2014

Joshua Hadler and colleagues in PML's Quantum Electronics and Photonics Division have devised a simple, accurate measurement system that can help law

keys illustration to denote a new "one-shot" memory device

Quantum Physics Could Make Secure, Single-Use Computer Memories Possible

January 14, 2014

Computer security systems may one day get a boost from quantum physics, as a result of recent research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology

Val Miller demonstrates volume instrument.

OWM Sees Progress in Proficiency Testing

December 23, 2013

Americans rely on many measurements of mass and volume in their daily lives, from weighing broccoli at the grocery store to putting gas in the family car. In

New NIST Tests Explore Safety of Nanotubes in Modern Plastics Over Time

December 17, 2013

Who cares about old plastic? Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) do, so that you won't have to years down the road, when

PML Study Supports Validity of Toolmark Identification in Forensics

December 13, 2013

Toolmark identification is an important forensic discipline where scrape and impression marks found at a crime scene are used to identify the type, brand, or

Probing the Inner Secrets of Nanowires

December 11, 2013

Semiconductor nanowires (NWs) are vanishingly small: NWs from a recent batch made by scientists in PML's Quantum Electronics and Photonics Division measure

Controllable Mode Competition in a Phonon Laser

November 19, 2013

Using a novel realization of a "phonon laser," scientists at PML and the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) have observed and learned to control a process called

SIM Metrology School at NIST

November 4, 2013

They spanned 140 degrees of latitude – from Canada to Chile – and varied widely in age and experience. But their goal was the same: To improve their

NIST Seeks Public Input on Updated Smart Grid Cybersecurity Guidelines

October 25, 2013

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is requesting public comments on the first revision to its guidelines for secure implementation of

NIST/JQI Team 'Gets the Edge' on Photon Transport in Silicon

October 22, 2013

Scientists have a new way to edge around a difficult problem in quantum physics, now that a research team from the National Institute of Standards and

Quantum Voltage Standard Delivered to BIPM

October 17, 2013

A PML team has delivered a state-of-the-art 10 V voltage standard to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), where it will serve as the

Image output from a 3D laser scanning measurement system.

Collaboration with Industry Leads to Improved Forensics Work and Industry Growth

August 20, 2013

Three-dimensional (3D) scanners used at crime scenes for forensic investigations are not just the stuff of prime time television. Investigators and crime

New Explanation for Key Step in Anthrax Infection Proposed by NIST and USAMRIID

August 20, 2013

A new hypothesis concerning a crucial step in the anthrax infection process has been advanced by scientists at the National Institute of Standards and

Spraying Mosquitoes . . . with Gamma Rays

August 16, 2013

A recently announced malaria vaccine – found to be 100 % effective in a small human sample – was years in the making, and its creators had to overcome many

Yuqin Zong with LED timetime test enclosure

LEDs Get a Life Sentence

August 15, 2013

The light-emitting diode (LED) appears on track to become the light of our lives. Switching to bright, energy-efficient, durable, and environmentally friendly

The Persistence of Memory: Looking into MRAM

August 5, 2013

Many in the electronics industry want to change how memories are made. So PML scientists are exploring the physics and developing the metrology required to do

New NIST Standard Reference Material to Help Calibrate Hospital CAT Scanners

July 23, 2013

Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new standard reference material (SRM), the first such measurement tool

NIST Releases Updates to Digital Signature Standard

July 23, 2013

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a revision to the digital standard used to ensure the integrity of electronic documents

Making the Case for History

July 1, 2013

The original Declaration of Independence on display at the National Archives reaches its 237th anniversary this year protected by NIST science and engineering