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Chemistry

From the food we eat and the pharmaceuticals doctors prescribe to the paints and fuel additives we use, the NIST develops the technology, measurement methods and standards to address the needs of the chemical industry.

The Research

Projects & Programs

Chemical Foundations for a Cannabis Breathalyzer

Ongoing
NIST's initial work in cannabis science was a series of measurements of the vapor pressure of two important cannabinoids: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Our current effort is funded in part by interagency agreements with the National Institute of Justice and by the NIST

Development of differential absorption LIDAR Technologies

Ongoing
The basic processes involved in elastic backscatter LIDAR are as follows. A laser emits a pulse of light (typically a few nanoseconds), and as the pulse propagates, the photons interact with molecules and aerosol particles. Some of these, the interactions with aerosols, such as Mie and Rayleigh

Additional Resources Links

News and Updates

NIST Database Can Help Increase Recycling of Textiles and Clothing

PFAS Found in Firefighter Gloves, Hoods and Wildland Gear

A House Ahead of Its Time

Blog Posts

Robots and AI Are Working Together to Bring You Better Medicines, Shampoo and More

One of NIST’s Most Prolific Inventors Is Also Our Director — and She’s Still an Inventor at Heart

NIST Researchers Measure Greenhouse Gases During the Solar Eclipse

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