NIST

An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce

Founded in 1901, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a nonregulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. With headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland, NIST’s mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.

Wed, 03/14/2007 - 22:00
NIST Researchers Correct Common Error Confounding Nanotech Measurements Accounting for measurement errors before testing materials or developing products
Tue, 09/01/2026 - 12:03
(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- Nanoscience, which studies small objects, has a big problem. According to a team of scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the field confronts a pervasive error of data analysis that can…
Quantum Computers May Put Internet Traffic at Risk NIST is safeguarding computers with new standards
Mon, 08/17/2026 - 12:02
From our bank accounts to smartphones, all our sensitive data and devices are protected with a technology known as cryptography. Present-day cryptography essentially uses a very challenging set of math problems that are nearly impossible for current…
NIST Expands Library of ‘Chemical Fingerprints’ to Identify Unknown Substances Researchers and manufacturers rely on it to identify unknown compounds for everything from food to space rocks
Thu, 07/30/2026 - 12:02
Whether you’re a researcher stumped by a mystery compound or a manufacturer perplexed by an unknown substance, there’s a major resource you can rely on: a library of chemical fingerprints, known as mass spectra, that the National Institute of…
NIST Supports Continuous-Monitor-and-Update Security Model for AI Systems Mathematical proof provides rigorous explanation of why a ‘one and done’ security model won’t do
Wed, 07/15/2026 - 12:02
(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- Can we make artificial intelligence impervious to adversaries who want to twist the technology to nefarious ends? Though AI is among the newest of technologies, the question’s answer is nearly a century old. Try as we…
NIST Experts Help Preserve 250 Years of American History Creating time capsule of artifacts and documents
Mon, 07/13/2026 - 12:02
As we celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary this year, NIST experts have been working to preserve our nation’s history for the next 250-plus years. Among other historic preservation efforts, NIST engineers and scientists created a bespoke…
Wear and Tear Changes Measurable PFAS Levels in Firefighter Hoods, Gloves, and Wildland Gear Exposure to PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” has been linked to negative health outcomes
Thu, 05/28/2026 - 12:03
(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- One of the first steps in addressing health concerns is measurement. For firefighters, one health concern is that their gear commonly contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also called “forever chemicals”…
NIST Weighs In on the Mystery of the Gravitational Constant A NIST researcher has unveiled the results of a 10-year quest to measure the constant
Thu, 05/07/2026 - 12:03
The time had come to open the envelope. But Stephan Schlamminger, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), wasn’t sure he wanted to know the secret number that was inside. For the past 10 years, Schlamminger had…
NIST Researchers Develop Photonic Chip Packaging Able to withstand extreme environments
Wed, 04/22/2026 - 12:02
(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new way to package photonic integrated circuits—tiny chips that convey information using light instead of electricity—so they can…
NIST Forensic Genetic Reference Material  Helps Crime Lab Analysis Aids crime labs to accurately analyze genetic evidence that has degraded or contains DNA from multiple individuals
Thu, 04/02/2026 - 12:03
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a new forensic DNA reference material, RM 8043, that includes degraded DNA as well as mixtures of high-quality DNA from multiple individuals. This material will help crime labs…
New Music Captures NIST’s Essence, Measure for Measure A conversation with composer Alex Cap
Wed, 03/25/2026 - 12:01
In honor of the 125th anniversary of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, anonymous donors commissioned a piece of music to honor NIST and its contributions to science and industry. A nonprofit organization paid to have the piece…