NIST scientists have developed a theoretical model to decode electrical signals generated by nanopores, enabling the identification and quantification of proteins and other molecules. This breakthrough brings us closer to realizing nanopores as a powerful diagnostic tool for medical science.
Researchers at NIST have developed a technique using atomic force microscopy to study subsurface conditions in nanostructured composite materials. The method, which uses electrostatic forces, allows for the mapping of electric potential distribution and quantification of carbon nanotube concentrations.
NIST researchers use a chemical trick to change the acidity of a solution instantly, allowing them to study how nanoparticles behave when exposed to sudden changes in pH. This technique has implications for designing nanoparticles for medical applications, where pH can vary significantly within cells.
Researchers at NIST and JILA developed a new type of pulsed laser that excels at not producing light, generating sustained streams of dark pulses. These ultrashort pulses are suitable for measurements on short timescales and may be useful in signal processing.
Researchers developed liposome-hydrogel hybrid nanoparticles that combine the strengths of both materials while compensating for their weaknesses. These nanoparticles have controlled release capabilities and can target specific cells, making them potential tools for targeted drug delivery.
Researchers found that flaws in magnetic nanowire structure impact device operating speed. Disorder in the wire enables domain walls to move faster, affecting future experiment interpretation.
The Virtual Manufacturing Automation Competition and Mobile Microrobotics Challenge demonstrated robotic capabilities for complex tasks like mixed palletizing and microassembly. The competitions aimed to advance robotic skills for future robots in various industries.
Researchers at NIST used neutron beams to study magnetite nanoparticles, revealing a complex interaction between the inner 'core' and outer 'shell'. The discovery could lead to new tools for controlling particle behavior in data storage and biological applications.
Researchers used nondestructive evaluation techniques to analyze ancient coins minted by King Agrippa I and II. The study revealed that the copper used in the coins likely came from mines previously thought not to have been opened until a century later, suggesting a closer relationship between the Romans and the region.
A research team from NIST and NIH developed a technique to rapidly optimize 3D cell growth media to meet the developmental needs of specific cell types. They found that cells prefer softer environments for development, but those in stiffer gels are more active in building bone tissue.
The NIST-developed Phannie phantom is a plastic sphere filled with water-bathed grids of small magnetized spheres. It allows for accurate calibration of MRI machines, improving image quality and reliability. The phantom will help reduce medical costs by enabling consistent tumor measurements across patients and scanners.
Researchers at NIST and Georgia Tech have developed a new technique to analyze multilayer graphene, revealing the rotational orientation of graphene sheets and mapping stress fields. The method uses atomic scale moiré patterns to measure strain in graphene layers with high sensitivity.
A team of researchers at NIST developed methods to accurately measure the length of nanopores, which could enable rapid DNA analysis. They created 'molecular rulers' using exotic techniques, including a molecular-scale version of ice fishing, to calibrate tailor-made nanopores.
A NIST research team has found that using volumetrics can improve the accuracy of CT scans for diagnosing lung cancer, allowing physicians to notice smaller volume changes. This method could potentially cut diagnosis time from six months to four weeks.
Researchers at NIST have developed a new type of control device that can tune interactions between quantum bits (qubits) and quantum buses, potentially speeding up the development of practical quantum computers. The 'dimmer switch' enables flexible control over interactions in intricate networks.
Researchers used neutron beams and atomic-force microscopes to study the behavior of IPMC actuators, finding that water molecules play a major role in their actuation. The team's findings could lead to the development of more powerful and efficient materials for robotics and other applications.
Researchers at JILA have demonstrated a new tool for controlling ultracold gases and ultracold chemistry by applying small electric fields. The study shows that the electric field spurs a dramatic increase in chemical reactions, with molecules reacting faster when approaching each other head-to-tail parallel to the applied field.
Researchers at NIST and University of Maryland have developed a microfluidic method called COMMAND to produce uniform liposomes with controlled sizes. The technique uses a microscopic fluidic device to mix phospholipid molecules, resulting in nanoscale vesicles that can deliver drugs directly to cancer cells.
Researchers at NIST have designed an instrument that can quickly and precisely detect trace amounts of chemical compounds indicating poultry spoilage. The technique relies on identifying low-volatility compounds present early in the decay process.
The NIST team has developed a single photon detector that can count individual photons with 99 percent efficiency. This breakthrough technology improves the accuracy of electronic communication and quantum computing, while also enabling the detection of missing photons in long-distance data transmission to prevent information theft.
The NIST team has built an ultra-stable instrument for tugging on chains of atoms, achieving results that require heroic efforts at vibration isolation. The new instrument enables the direct measurement of force between two gold atoms, giving researchers a direct method to calibrate their equipment.
A multidisciplinary research team at NIST has found a viable candidate for creating large-area electronics by spraying organic semiconductor material onto a surface. The material overcomes a major cost hurdle in the manufacture of organic thin-film transistors, which could lead to disposable devices.
Researchers found that single-walled carbon nanotube coatings can develop irreversible changes when bent, reducing conductivity. They suggest ways to engineer the films to minimize these effects and achieve deformability.
Physicists at NIST create a device that can trap dozens of ions with versatile control, advancing the quest for practical quantum computers. The racetrack ion trap features 150 work zones and can be scaled up for mass fabrication.
Researchers have discovered a new material called graphene-oxide-framework (GOF) that can store hydrogen safely and efficiently. GOFs exhibit unique properties, including high hydrogen absorption at low temperatures, making them a promising candidate for gas storage applications.
Researchers at NIST have developed a new method for simulating wireless signal environments, reducing the time required for testing cellular phones by hours. The new technique uses a reverberation chamber to replicate complex real-world environments, enabling faster and more accurate design and test of wireless equipment.
Researchers confirm NEIL3 as a functional DNA glycosylase in both vitro and in vivo studies. The protein effectively removes damaged bases from DNA, particularly the FapyGua lesion, which may cause dangerous mutations.
Physicists at JILA have observed chemical reactions near absolute zero, demonstrating that chemistry is possible at ultralow temperatures. By controlling ultracold molecules' internal states and molecular motions, scientists can study how the molecules scatter or interact with each other quantum mechanically.
NIST's new aluminum-based quantum logic clock outperforms previous mercury atom clocks by more than twice its precision, achieving accuracy within 17 decimal places. The enhanced logic clock uses a different type of partner ion to improve efficiency and sets the stage for future time standards.
Using a stacked arrangement, researchers observed single photons traveling through dielectric materials with significantly reduced transit times. This phenomenon can be explained by the wave properties of light and its behavior when interacting with specific material layers.
A research team from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a new method to detect subtle clues to environmental threats affecting blue crabs. By analyzing metabolite levels in blue crab hemolymph using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, they found biomarkers that can identify specific sourc...
Researchers have designed and tested experimental antennas that are highly efficient and remarkably small, potentially useful for emergency communications devices, micro-sensors, and portable ground-penetrating radars. The novel antennas radiate up to 95% of an input radio signal while defying normal design parameters.
Researchers at NIST found that standard-sized refrigerators without freezers outperform smaller, dormitory-style refrigerators in storing vaccines. The study identified several best practices for vaccine storage, including keeping vaccines away from the door shelves and walls to prevent temperature drifts.
Researchers at NIST and their colleagues predict the existence of a new, 'immortal' soliton in ultracold gases. This exotic wave could provide new avenues for studying strongly interacting quantum systems and understanding phase transitions, including those in the early universe.
Ape teeth are shaped to handle scarce food resources during stressful times. The study found that gorillas have broader back teeth for chewing leaves and orangutans have thicker enamel for cracking seeds. Conservation efforts must also protect fallback foods sources, such as forest areas where fruits grow.
JQI researchers have created 'synthetic' magnetic fields for ultracold gas atoms by tricking them into behaving like electrically charged particles. This demonstration paves the way for studying the complex natural phenomena involving charged particles in magnetic fields and may contribute to an exotic new form of quantum computing.
Scientists have observed ion channels within the surface membrane of cells for the first time, improving our understanding of how signals travel among neurons. This discovery may lead to a complete picture of how ion channels function and could have implications for future drug development.
A team of NIST researchers has created a nanotube-antibody combination to detect and destroy aggressive HER2 breast cancer cells, with nearly 100% eradication rates in laboratory tests. The technique uses near-infrared laser light to target and incinerate the cancer cells.
Researchers at NIST and Naval Research Laboratory create a technique to selectively implant atoms in crystals, enabling study of electrical and magnetic properties on an atomic scale. This development is crucial for spintronics, electronic devices that utilize electron spin instead of charge for storing information.
Physicists at the Joint Quantum Institute have developed a technique to create entangled photons from quantum dots tweaked with a laser. This method may enable more compact and convenient sources of entangled photon pairs than presently available, revolutionizing quantum information applications.
The NIST magnetic connector eliminates leakage and improves flexibility in microfluidic systems, making it suitable for various applications. Researchers demonstrated the viability of their magnetic connector in a liposome generation device with no visible leakage.
NIST researchers have developed a novel method for analyzing complex samples with minimal sample preparation, using Gradient Elution Moving Boundary Electrophoresis (GEMBE) in microfluidic devices. This technique enables the separation of components from solutions containing particulates or other contaminating materials.
Physicists at NIST demonstrate the first universal programmable quantum information processor using two qubits, capable of running any program allowed by quantum mechanics. The processor stores binary information in beryllium ions and can perform 160 different processing routines, making it 'universal'.
Researchers at NIST have developed a method to calculate the motions and forces of thousands of atoms simultaneously over longer time scales. This breakthrough enables modeling of atomic-scale processes that unfold over time, such as vibrations in crystals, and improves results in fields like nanotechnology and materials science.
Researchers at NIST have developed a method to quantify extremely low levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a molecule that indicates cardiovascular disease risk. The new certified reference material will improve the accuracy of clinical laboratory tests for CRP, enabling more precise detection of individuals at high risk of heart attack.
A new report by NIST demonstrates that iris recognition algorithms can maintain their accuracy and interoperability with compact images, affirming their potential for large-scale identity management applications. The study's results show that two compression standards, JPEG2000 and PNG format, performed well in preserving image quality.
Researchers at NIST and University of Konstanz create a frequency comb that can be visually observed, allowing for precise measurement of visible light frequencies. The new comb has approximately 50,000 distinct 'teeth' separated enough to be seen with the naked eye, enabling applications in astronomy, communications, and other fields.
A new method for harvesting purified protein molecules has been discovered, utilizing an enzymatic 'on-switch' to separate desired proteins from impurities. The technique, developed by a multi-institutional research team, shows promise for obtaining high-purity proteins with greater than 95% efficiency.
Researchers created simplified synthetic cells that shed light on electric voltage generation in real cells and can act as tiny batteries. The cells harness a modified protein to create pores allowing ions to flow, generating a stable voltage across the bilayer.
Researchers at NIST and University of Maryland have found that radio-frequency waves can influence atomic collisions in rubidium atoms, allowing for finer control over their interactions. This discovery could lead to the creation of exotic states of matter and more complex arrangements of ultracold atoms.