National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

For more than two centuries, scientists have been trying to measure the universal gravitational constant, “big G,” which determines the strength of gravity everywhere in the universe. But its value is not exactly known, making gravity the least well known of the four fundamental forces in nature. Find out the results of a painstaking, 10-year effort by NIST scientists to measure big G and how the result may only deepen the mystery of gravity. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/emuYED49

Is the future of the digital economy written in light? Traditional computer chips have transformed our world by cramming billions of electronic devices into tiny silicon chips. NIST scientists have now made a major advancement toward doing the same with light. To make their new chip, the researchers stacked specialized materials on top of each other, creating a high-tech “layer cake.” Called integrated photonic circuits, these chips can transform light, taking in one laser color and putting out a rainbow of colors. This advance could lead to profound impacts on major industries, including: • Quantum Computing • Artificial Intelligence • Navigation and Research Lean more at https://lnkd.in/egHe-Mij

Happy World Quantum Day! You know NIST has a long history as an international leader in quantum research, but did you know quantum impacts your daily life? 

Since the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 was passed, annual U.S. fire fatalities have decreased by more than 50%. NIST’s fire research has played a crucial role in saving thousands of lives annually. Starting in the early 1970s, NIST worked with Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and others on research and recommendations that led to new standards and the widespread use of smoke detectors. Between 1975 and 2000, the share of homes with a smoke alarm rose from 10% to at least 92%. In that same period, fire deaths were reduced by about half. Experiments at NIST in 2024 found that the new alarms detect fires sooner without increasing the rate of nuisance alarms. NIST is also a leader in researching fires where communities and wildland meet, what’s called the wildland-urban interface. Our researchers have developed unique tools for studying the spread of wildfire, plus strategies for reducing its hazards and for improving evacuation that have already been adopted by communities in California. Learn more about NIST’s impact on fire safety in the U.S: https://lnkd.in/e-qeffZW

It’s a tradition unlike any other: NIST researching something you never would have expected. ⛳️ In 1929, after receiving a request from the United States Golf Association (USGA), NIST conducted research on the coefficient of restitution. This is a fancy physics term for "bounciness." It tells us how efficiently energy is transferred when two objects collide. In the world of golf, this occurs when a golf ball is hit by the club. The researchers looked at a variety of factors, including deformation, spin, and dimple size and shape. They also tested different brands, as seen in the image below. Our researchers deserve their own green jacket for the work they did! You can read the 1945 publication here: https://lnkd.in/eu_qQfwu

If you’ve seen Project Hail Mary, did you happen to think about science while watching it? I know we did. Let’s be honest here. If you’re a scientist and you’re watching a movie that involves science, your viewing experience may be just a bit different than that of most moviegoers. Learn more about our “amaze amaze amaze” thoughts on this film in our latest Taking Measure blog post: https://lnkd.in/eNEa8KKZ Photo Credit: Shutterstock/lev radin

The winner of Materials Mayhem is...Radioactive Human Lung! This standard reference material (SRM) is primarily used as a quality control material to determine the accuracy of the measurements of radioactivity in the human body. When a radiation contamination incident occurs (such as in Chernobyl or Fukushima), doctors use models and calibrate instruments based on this SRM to precisely measure how much radiation a victim has absorbed and where it is located in their body, allowing for more effective medical treatment. You can learn more about SRM 4351 here: https://lnkd.in/dgzUgNm

Scientists have been using a quirk of quantum physics to make radio receivers out of atoms. By shining specially tuned lasers at atoms trapped in glass cells, scientists produce enormous “Rydberg” atoms that can be as large as the width of a human hair. These giant atoms can measure the electric fields that make up radio waves. Compared to traditional antennas, Rydberg atom sensors are much more compact and capable of measuring a much wider range of frequencies. Since their operation is based on fundamental laws of physics, they are highly accurate “out of the box” and don’t need to be calibrated at the factory like ordinary radio receivers. These quantum sensors could be used in a wide range of applications, including: • Quantum computing, communication and networking • Radio-frequency safety probes for monitoring workplace exposure to radiation • Testing, calibrating and troubleshooting automotive radar systems • Ground-penetrating radar for imaging buried objects • New methods for electric field and power calibrations, temperature and DC and AC voltage standards Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ePMW38Jq

It’s the FINAL round of Materials Mayhem! Peanut butter or radioactive lung: Which will it be? You can go ahead and vote for this round in the comments. The winner will be announced on April 9th, 2026.

April is an important month in the history of the metric system. On April 7, 1795, France formally adopted it. And on April 5, 1893, Thomas Mendenhall, director of the Office of Weights and Measures, declared the kilogram and meter to be the fundamental units of length and mass in the United States. The order still holds today, and the Office of Weights and Measures is now part of NIST. The metric system is a model of logic and consistency, but even it has its quirks. Why is the basic unit of mass the kilogram and not the gram? Why isn’t there a metric unit for rotation or angles? Learn more in our latest Taking Measure blog post: https://lnkd.in/eAgUxvMX