Researchers created a 3D nanofluidic device using grayscale photolithography to separate nanoparticles by size and analyze DNA behavior. The device demonstrates versatility in manipulating rigid nanoparticles and deforming flexible DNA strands.
A NIST research collaboration has solved the internal structure of Galfenol, a compound that changes shape in response to magnetic fields. The team found that adding gallium creates clusters of distorted cells within an otherwise regular crystal lattice, leading to its enhanced magnetostrictive properties.
Researchers at NIST have discovered that magnetism plays a crucial role in governing the physical properties of iron pnictides, allowing them to superconduct at high temperatures. The team's findings provide strong evidence for the importance of magnetism in understanding iron-based superconductivity.
Researchers at NIST and CU have developed a method to detect and monitor light reflected off the probe needle point, improving AFM stability under ambient conditions. This enables sensitive atomic-scale measurements at room temperature in liquids, with improved image quality and reduced drift.
Scientists at NIST's JQI have successfully created ultracold rubidium atoms that exhibit cyclotron motions identical to charged particles in a magnetic field. This breakthrough has the potential to reveal clues for exotic computing and understanding of the fractional quantum Hall effect.
Researchers at NIST developed a practical solution to enhance radio signal power at disaster sites using randomly placed antennas. The study found a significant increase in median received power, with a five-fold gain and a two-and-a-half to four-fold increase when using multiple transmitters.
Scientists at NIST developed a measurement method to quantify the slowing down of molecular rattling in preservative formulations. The team discovered a general pattern of behavior that applies to various materials, promising better preservation and extended shelf life for vaccines, food, and other biological materials.
Researchers developed a novel instrument, Multi-Axis Crystal Spectrometer (MACS), to explore promising materials' properties. MACS offers improved sensitivity and range compared to older spectrometers, enabling scientists to analyze small samples in various conditions.
Researchers at NIST and Maryland have demonstrated a 'quantum buffer' technique to control data flow inside a quantum computer, potentially speeding up decryption and database search tasks. The technique involves delaying entangled images by up to 27 nanoseconds, which can be useful for quantum information-processing systems.
Engineers at NIST have developed a method to slow down penetration of chloride and sulfate ions into concrete, reducing maintenance costs and catastrophic failures. The new technology could save billions of dollars and many lives by extending the service life of concrete.
A novel alloy composed of manganese, iron, phosphorus and germanium has been found to exhibit exceptional magnetic cooling properties, making it a potential replacement for traditional gas-compression refrigerators.
Researchers used finite element analysis to determine the forces and stresses involved in chewing food, contradicting previous classical analyses. The study suggests that Australopithecus africanus may have eaten larger hard objects, such as nuts, due to their fracture properties rather than wear patterns.
Researchers at NIST have discovered a material that can reduce magnetic film stress by a factor of 200 and lower saturation field by a factor of 400, enhancing magnetic sensor sensitivity. This breakthrough could lead to improved applications in weapons detection, non-destructive testing, medical devices, and data storage.
Researchers at NIST and Brookhaven National Laboratory have defined the structure of a metabolic switch found inside most types of bacteria, revealing how a key protein regulates genes involved in bacterial survival. The discovery could lead to new methods for preventing tuberculosis and other pathogenic diseases.
Physicists at NIST and the University of Maryland have proposed a method for creating a supersolid, an exotic state of matter that behaves as both a solid and a friction-free superfluid. The team identified clear experimental signatures, verifying the simultaneous existence of these properties in ultracold atoms.
Scientists at NIST have developed a new technique using terahertz spectroscopy to study biomolecules in water. The method uses nanoscale droplets of soap-like molecules called micelles, which provide an aqueous environment for the biomolecules to flex and bend while limiting water absorption.
A team of scientists at NIST discovered that temperature can influence the competing processes of crystallization and dewetting in polymer films. This understanding could lead to better control of these processes, resulting in more stable and uniform films for applications like organic solar cells. The research also has implications fo...
Researchers at NIST and Rice University have discovered a new method for self-assembling carbon nanotubes using bile acid, allowing for the creation of ordered, aligned arrangements of individual nanotubes. This process is inexpensive and does not require external magnetic or electrical fields.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a new method to accelerate stability testing of biodiesel fuel made from soybeans. The 'advanced distillation curve' method identifies additives that enhance stability at high temperatures, which can cause biodiesel to break down.
New NIST report explores electronic technologies for overseas voting, highlighting potential risks and control measures. The report suggests that postal mail can be augmented with electronic methods to distribute blank ballots, but transmission of completed ballots via telephone, e-mail, and the Web faces significant security threats.
Researchers at NIST have developed a new technique to measure the toughness of thin insulating films used in high-performance integrated circuits. This breakthrough could help improve the reliability and manufacturability of ICs by identifying films with brittle fracture failure, affecting both manufacturing yields and device reliability.
The NIST electromagnetic phantom is a standardized test object that mimics the human body's electrical conductivity. This phantom allows for reproducible testing of walk-through metal detectors, enabling more accurate discrimination between threatening and non-threatening objects.
Researchers at NIST found that adjusting camera settings, using traditional cameras, and graphical overlays can significantly improve facial image quality. These steps can be easily implemented with existing facial recognition technology.
A new, economical method allows LED manufacturers to obtain accurate measurements of LED brightness and color, enabling reproducible and comparable results. The method takes into account the temperature of the semiconductor chip inside the LED.
Researchers have demonstrated the existence of antiferromagnetic coupling in a specially built semiconductor device, which could enable magnetic data storage and processing. This discovery raises hopes for even smaller and faster gadgets that could utilize this property.
A rescue robot exercise was held at Disaster City, Texas, where about three dozen robots were tested by developers and first responders. The event aimed to develop a standard suite of performance tests for candidate mechanical rescuers in urban search and rescue missions.
Researchers at NIST have demonstrated a way to measure low levels of stress in semiconductor devices as small as 10 nanometers across. By combining two techniques - electron back scattered diffraction and confocal Raman microscopy - they resolved the long-standing disagreement between two widely used methods of stress measurement.
Scientists at NIST have discovered a new class of iron-based high-temperature superconductors that exhibit unusual behavior under pressure, suggesting a possible alternative mechanism behind superconductivity. The discovery could lead to the development of higher-temperature superconductors with improved properties.
Researchers at NIST create a focused ion beam with cold atoms, offering a non-contaminating alternative to hot gallium ions for nanoscale features and imaging. The technique enables precise cutting and enhanced resolution, opening up new possibilities for nanotechnology and microscopy.
Researchers found ultrafine particles (UFP) with diameters between 2-10 nanometers emitted by kitchen appliances, outnumbering larger particles detected before. This range affects indoor exposure to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
The new online community aims to accelerate creation of critically needed nanotechnology standards, including reference materials and tests. The initiative will utilize Web 2.0-style social networking technologies to facilitate information sharing and deliberation among experts.
Researchers at NIST have developed an electronic nose that can recognize hundreds of chemical compounds with high accuracy and robustness. The device mimics the biological approach used by animals to detect odors, allowing it to generalize knowledge from familiar smells to unknown ones.
A new NIST technique uses an optical microscope to quickly analyze nanoscale dimensions with high sensitivity. The 'Through-focus Scanning Optical Microscope' (TSOM) method has potential applications in nanomanufacturing, semiconductor process control, and biotechnology.
Researchers at NIST discovered gold nanostars exhibit superior optical qualities for SERS, outperforming nanorods and nanospheres for enhanced signal detection. The team created gold nanostars using surface alterations and demonstrated their ability to amplify molecular signatures.
Researchers at NIST and JILA have created a tunable 'noiseless' amplifier that can significantly reduce uncertainty in delicate measurements of microwave signals. This amplifier could enable faster, more precise measurements in quantum computers and communications systems.
Scientists at NIST made precise measurements of nanotube concentrations for transparent conducting sheets, revealing the importance of uniform length for high-performance films. The study validated one theory, showing that longer nanotubes become electrically conducting at lower concentrations.
A prototype sensor developed by NIST and CSM can detect tiny amounts of hydrogen accumulation in coated pipeline steel. The sensor's measurement sensitivity is exceptional, allowing it to identify levels below 1 ppm, significantly earlier than conventional analytical techniques.
Scientists trained a species of moth to link specific scents with sugar water rewards, discovering that the interval between odor presentation and reward is crucial for learning. This process allows integration of neural activities and represents a key finding in understanding how associations are built between stimuli and behavior.
Researchers developed a 'slug calorimeter' technique to measure thermal conductivity of fireproofing materials under extreme heat. This new method has been adopted commercially and published as a national standard, with potential applications in steel fireproofing, wood-based materials, and spacecraft insulation.
Researchers developed a complex numerical model to represent the conversion of ion concentrations to electrical impulses in eel cells. They found that artificial cells can generate more energy than natural electrocytes, with potential applications for powering small implant devices.
Researchers used aberration-corrected STEM instruments to visualize individual gold atoms on iron oxide surfaces, discovering that bilayer nanoclusters with 10 gold atoms are most active in CO conversion, achieving up to 100% efficiency
Researchers have developed a new class of polymer-based semiconductors that distribute themselves evenly at the top and bottom of the film, enabling large-scale manufacturing. This breakthrough could lead to practical, high-performance electronic devices such as flexible displays and photovoltaic cells.
Researchers at NIST have developed a method to evaluate the stability of protein-based drugs at room temperature using a fluorescent probe. This new method can measure the lifetime of hydrogen bonding networks that stabilize proteins, reducing the time and expense associated with traditional methods.
Researchers at NIST and JQI have developed a technique to fine-tune light from quantum dots using laser pairs, potentially improving entangled photon generation for quantum information technologies. This breakthrough could accelerate advanced cryptography applications and pave the way for compact quantum dot devices.
Researchers at NIST study gas-liquid interactions using powerful lasers, observing the rotational dynamics of a molecule bouncing off a liquid surface. They found molecules tend to tumble forward with a 'top spin' motion.
Researchers at NIST have detailed fundamental processes involved in extracting sugars from biomass, a crucial step in producing ethanol by fermentation. The study provides theoretical limits of reactions and energy needed to break down cellulose and hemicellulose, helping engineers design more efficient process designs.
Scientists at JILA have developed a powerful new technique to study ultracold atomic gases, revealing previously hidden properties. The technique, using photoemission spectroscopy, simultaneously probes energy and momentum, providing insights into the pairing of atoms.
Researchers discovered a titanium compound that creates a wear-resistant nanoscale layer on engine parts, making it a potential substitute for traditional phosphorus-based additives. This breakthrough could lead to more environmentally friendly engine oils with improved wear resistance.
Scientists at NIST have developed a technique to accurately measure the formation of protein clumps in biologic drugs, addressing a major concern for quality control and safety. The new method uses electrospray differential mobility analysis (ES-DMA) to quickly resolve particle sizes differing by as little as 0.2 nanometers.
The NIST model assigns a probable risk of attack to guide IT managers in securing their networks by analyzing all possible paths that system attackers could penetrate through. This allows decision makers to make wise decisions and investments to protect their network from data breaches.