Scientists at NIST have developed a method to measure the wear and degradation of AFM tips in real time, allowing for dramatic improvements in precision and speed. This technique uses contact resonance force microscopy to track the resonant frequency of the sensor tip, enabling atomic-scale resolution and reducing inaccuracies.
Researchers at NIST have developed an electronic technique called Johnson noise thermometry to measure the Boltzmann constant with an uncertainty of 12 ppm. This method has the potential to advance international efforts to revamp the world's scientific measurement system, enabling more precise definitions of units like the Kelvin.
A new outdoor testing system tracks real weather conditions and measures the impact of temperature changes on building joint sealants. This technology may help manufacturers improve the protective performance of their products, leading to reduced moisture damage and associated repairs.
Researchers at NIST and Virginia Tech developed a new reference material for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which showed more accurate measurement results than previous methods. The tool aims to reduce inter-laboratory variability in VOC emissions testing, leading to improved indoor air quality and occupant health.
Physicists at NIST have demonstrated an electromechanical circuit that processes information and controls motion at the quantum scale. The device uses a micro drum to transmit mechanical vibrations, achieving strong interactions between microwave light and the drum, paving the way for quantum applications.
Researchers at NIST and NCI have developed a technique that slices off the top of a cell, making structures accessible for spectroscopic examination. This allows for chemical mapping of cells at submicrometer resolution, potentially enabling early detection of cancer.
Scientists design artificial protocells with bait proteins that mimic henipavirus receptors, successfully entraping and deactivating experimental analogs of Nipah and Hendra viruses. This innovative technique could lead to the development of new antiviral drugs by exploiting the virus's basic infection mechanism.
Physicists at JQI successfully demonstrated spin-orbit coupling in a gas of bosonic rubidium atoms, opening new possibilities for studying fundamental physics. The technique also showed promise for creating novel interactions between fermions, which could lead to breakthroughs in topological quantum computation and superconductivity.
Physicists at NIST successfully coupled two beryllium ions, exchanging quanta and demonstrating linked motion. The technique has the potential to simplify information processing in future quantum computers and simulations.
Researchers at NIST have developed a precise method to shape and position quantum dots, enabling them to emit individual photons. This breakthrough has significant implications for powering new types of devices in quantum communications.
Researchers at NIST have developed compact high-temperature superconducting cables with improved strain tolerance, enabling thinner and more flexible cables for electric power grid applications. The new cables may also be used in scientific and medical equipment, as well as for military applications such as HTS power transmission.
JILA scientists have eliminated collisions between atoms in an atomic clock by packing them closer together. This approach improves the performance of experimental atomic clocks made of thousands or tens of thousands of neutral atoms.
Researchers at NIST developed a method to produce nanoparticle clusters in controlled sizes, stable over time. The study found that larger clusters may be less toxic to human cells due to slower dissolution rates.
Researchers at NIST have developed a reliable source of single photons that can be manipulated into specific quantum states, addressing one of the key challenges to creating practical quantum computers. The team's design allows for the creation of multiple individual photons with distinct wavelengths from a single source.
Researchers at JILA have created a terahertz radiation source that is unusually efficient and less prone to damage than similar systems. The technology uses ultrafast lasers and semiconductors to produce high-intensity output, making it suitable for applications such as detecting trace gases or imaging weapons.
Researchers at NIST found that layering graphene on a substrate transforms its properties, creating hills and valleys that hinder electron mobility. The study uses a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to investigate graphene's ideal properties in real-world conditions.
Researchers at NIST have found a way to impart electron waves with high orbital momentum, enabling the study of wider range of materials with atomic-scale resolution. This technique has potential applications in imaging magnetic and biological materials.
Researchers at JILA disprove the popular theory that DNA's backbone needs a small gap or loose ends to extend by 70% when subjected to 65 picoNewtons of force. The new study uses a novel test structure to demonstrate that the mechanism behind overstretching is the same for both nicked and intact DNA molecules.
Researchers found lower MIF mercury isotopes in eggs from northernmost nesting areas with year-round sea ice, while those from southern Alaska without ice reflected greater mass-independent fractionation effects. The study aims to investigate the relationship between ice cover and mercury distribution in the environment.
Astrophysicists can now obtain accurate answers to the mystery of accelerating universe expansion thanks to a calibrated Pan-STARRS telescope. The telescope's performance was fine-tuned at many individual wavelengths, allowing for consistent information about supernovae.
Researchers at NIST have developed a technique to extract individual mitochondria from cells, enabling further study of genetic mutations behind neuromuscular disorders. This breakthrough could lead to a better understanding of mitochondrial-based diseases and potential treatments.
A new chemical analysis technique developed by NIST uses quartz crystal microbalances to test the purity of small material samples. This technique measures reaction energy needed to decompose or oxidize a sample with heat, offering a more sensitive approach than conventional methods, enabling analysis of nanoparticles and thin films.
Researchers at NIST have developed a suite of standard reference materials for measuring organic acids in dietary supplements formulated with Vaccinium berries. These materials can help prevent economic adulteration by identifying the type and amount of berry used in products.
Researchers at NIST used a neutron beam to analyze the compound PZT, revealing its crystal structure and how it works. They found that PZT's behavior changes gradually rather than sharply, and may lead to designing better piezoelectric materials.
Researchers use a tightly focused, low-power laser beam to optically scan the area and identify target locations by minute changes in scattered light. This technique solves the 'needle in a haystack' problem of nanoscale microscopy, finding nanoscale objects with precision.
Scientists have developed an improved laser-based technique to detect traces of key molecules in a gas, including greenhouse gases and pollutants. The new technology can identify a wider variety of molecules with lower concentration levels than before, making it suitable for applications such as breath analysis and atmospheric monitoring.
Researchers successfully tracked a human heartbeat using NIST's miniature atom-based magnetic sensor, confirming its potential for biomedical applications. The device measured the heart's magnetic signature in picoteslas and demonstrated sensing stability lasting tens of seconds.
A new research method has provided unprecedented clarity on the behavior of the HIV protein Gag, which plays critical roles in the assembly of the human immunodeficiency virus. The study reveals new conformations of the protein and offers potential avenues for developing antiviral drugs.
Researchers at NIST demonstrated the conversion of near-infrared single photons to a near-visible wavelength, aiding hybrid quantum systems. This enables devices to generate and store photons with conflicting requirements, enhancing quantum communication, computation, and metrology.
A new method for molecular imaging in cells using CARS technique reduces power levels while increasing speed, enabling detailed molecular maps without damaging cells. This breakthrough opens the door for widespread use of vibrational spectroscopy in biology and clinical diagnosis.
Researchers at NIST developed a surface-directed method for growing nanowires horizontally, producing nano-LEDs with improved properties. The technique enables easy localization of individual heterojunctions on the surface, making it suitable for various applications.
Physicists at NIST have measured time dilation effects on two aluminum atomic clocks, demonstrating that time passes faster at higher elevations and slower when moving faster. The clocks' extreme precision reveals subtle differences in timekeeping, potentially leading to practical applications in geophysics.
Researchers at NIST have found theoretical evidence of a new method to generate high-frequency waves used in modern communication devices. The team's analysis predicts the creation of a soliton in a magnetic sandwich, which could lead to more secure and interference-resistant wireless technology.
Researchers tested the hypothesis that solar radiation affects radioactive decay rates and found no detectable effect. The study used radioactive gold-198 in two shapes to compare neutrino emission rates, ruling out solar neutrinos as a factor.
Researchers have discovered a new phenomenon in graphene where electrons split into unexpected energy levels when exposed to extreme conditions. The discovery raises questions about the fundamental physics of graphene and its potential for powerful applications.
Researchers at NIST have developed a simple process for producing nanocrystals that enable studies of physical and chemical properties affecting nanoparticle interaction. The process allows precise control over size, shape and composition, creating perfect-edged nanocubes with uniform size.
Physicists have discovered a new copper-based compound that exhibits properties never seen before in a superconductor. The material can be made to conduct electricity with or without electrons, offering a new path to studying the relationship between these two methods of creating superconductors.
Physicists at NIST developed a new sensor to detect forces at the scale of yoctonewtons using trapped ions. The sensor achieved a measurement speed of 390 yoctonewtons in one second, outperforming previous records by an order of magnitude.
Physicists at NIST have proposed an experiment to test gravity's behavior at very close scales, where electromagnetic forces dominate. The experiment involves suspending a glass bead in a laser beam 'bottle' to measure its motion relative to nearby objects with unprecedented sensitivity.
Researchers at NIST have created an optical Schrödinger's cat by detecting three photons simultaneously, a state predicted in quantum optics for years. This achievement enhances prospects for manipulating light to improve measurement techniques and contribute to quantum computing and communications.
Researchers at NIST have created a microminiaturized device that can measure complex viscoelasticity on sample sizes as small as a few nanoliters. This innovation enables biotechnologists to study minute quantities of materials with greater precision and accuracy.
Researchers at NIST create a laser power detector coated with the world's darkest material, a forest of carbon nanotubes that reflects almost no light. The new detector will be used for precision measurements in advanced technologies like optical communications and solar energy conversion.
A NIST-developed nanofluidic device separates and measures nanoparticles of different sizes, offering a faster and more economical approach to nanoparticle sample preparation. The device's tailored resolution and surface chemistry enable the sorting of complex nanoparticle mixtures.
Scientists used a unique frequency comb system to detect minute traces of contaminant molecules in arsine gas, which can cause semiconductor defects. The technique offers a combination of speed, sensitivity, specificity, and broad frequency coverage.
NIST nanowires grown through precisely defined holes in a stencil-like mask covering the silicon wafer exhibit excellent mechanical quality factors and controlled diameter placement. The technique enables precise control of wire location, resulting in uniform shape and size of nearly perfect hexagonal shapes.
JILA's technique uses infrared laser light to quickly and precisely heat 'nano bathtubs'—tiny sample containers—for microscopy studies of single molecules and nanoparticles. The new method enables fast, noncontact heating of very small samples, enabling new experiments with single molecules.
A new technique developed by NIST scientists can detect biochemical changes in a decomposing cadaver, making it easier to find hidden graves. The device uses an alumina-coated column with a motorized pipette to pull in air samples, detecting trace amounts of ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen.
Scientists at NIST evaluated three voice-translation devices designed to improve communications between the US military and non-English speakers. The devices, called TRANSTAC, use automatic speech recognition and text-to-speech technology to translate languages in real-time.
JILA team finds similar behavior in ultracold atomic gases and high-temperature superconductors, supporting the idea that studying superfluidity in atomic gases can help understand complicated superconductors. The discovery lends support to the concept of a 'pseudo-gap region' where atom pairing occurs above critical temperature.
Physicists at NIST have demonstrated an ion trap with a built-in optical fiber, enabling the measurement of quantum information stored in ions. The device simplifies quantum computer design and paves the way for swapping information between matter and light in future quantum networks.