Researchers at NIST and CU-Boulder observed strontium atoms forming a cubic structure, with atoms flying apart in formation due to a recoil effect. The phenomenon is caused by the atoms absorbing laser energy and rapidly cooling, resulting in the creation of a 'flying structure' visible through blue fluorescence signals.
The NIST guide provides practical techniques for extracting digital data without altering information or making it appear altered. It covers topics such as securing digital evidence, hardware/software operating systems, physical access, and retrieving configuration information.
Researchers at NIST discovered that adding carbon nanotubes to polypropylene eliminates a common manufacturing headache called 'die-swell'. The addition of nanotubes allows the polymer to be processed at high speed through extruders, enabling the controlled manufacture of smaller components.
Researchers developed a novel imaging process using neutrons, providing better resolution and penetration than visible light. The microscope has potential applications in biology, particularly with samples containing hydrogen.
NIST scientists have developed three new standards to measure microdevice materials more accurately. The standards aim to reduce variations in measurements between laboratories, improving the design and performance of microdevices. The new standards advance measurement of in-plane length, residual strain, and strain gradient.
The CryoCor system, developed by CryoCor of San Diego, has shown a 98% overall treatment success rate in international clinical trials. The technology uses ultracold temperatures to block abnormal electrical signals causing arrhythmia, providing a potential cure for the condition.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has adopted a new NIST standard for across-the-road radar systems, which can detect vehicles traveling above a predetermined speed without requiring an operator. These systems are more reliable and less prone to being detected by speeders, providing enhanced safety for motorists.
A new method developed at NIST measures the strength and stiffness of thin-film samples in under 2 seconds, providing quantitative results for definitive comparisons. This technique has applications in evaluating materials for semiconductors, solar cells, fuel cells, coatings, magnetic storage devices and nanotechnology devices.
The HIV Structural Reference Database will aid in developing strategies to inhibit HIV protease activity and understand mutations that make the virus resistant to certain drugs. The database contains annotated structural data from published literature and laboratory contributions.
The new method produces uniformly sized metal nanospheres with improved safety compared to current production technologies. The solution contains a metal compound, water, and a solvent like methanol or ethanol, reducing the risk of fire or explosion.
A comprehensive NIST study found that commercially available fingerprint matching systems can accurately identify individuals at a rate of over 99% in various tests, including single-finger and multi-finger matches. The accuracy of these systems improves with additional fingerprints and high-quality prints.
Researchers at Chiral Photonics Inc. have developed a new class of devices called chiral gratings that can filter light, sense temperature and pressure changes, and transmit information via powerful and inexpensive lasers. The devices were created with support from NIST and the National Science Foundation.
Artificial viruses are used as standards in research labs to check analysis methods, but measuring their concentration is challenging. NIST scientists now use neutrons to measure the amount of RNA in these 'fake' viruses, allowing for more accurate detection of real viruses at early stages of infection.
The study found that a lack of universally accepted supply chain standards costs the auto industry over $5 billion annually and the electronics industry almost $3.9 billion. The lack of interoperability leads to duplicated efforts, redundant systems, and inefficient processes.
Recent advancements in microchip lasers and optics have improved LADAR systems' speed of data acquisition, range accuracy, and reliability. LADARs are now used to generate topographic images, survey large bodies of water, and document construction sites.
The NIST investigation found working hypotheses for WTC 1 and 2 collapses, key visual observations from photographic and videographic images, and insights from computer models and first-person interviews. The report also summarizes laboratory fire tests and experimental work on steel recovered from the WTC.
A small amount of iron adds 15-30% to the effective cooling capacity of a material, enabling improved near-room-temperature applications. The iron supplement eliminates hysteresis losses, allowing the material to perform at its peak potential.
Physicists at NIST have successfully teleported key properties of one atom to another without physical link, achieving a 78% success rate. This breakthrough technique may enable faster computation speeds and increased efficiency in quantum computing applications.
Scientists at NIST effectively turn atoms into better frequency sensors by entangling them, allowing for faster and more accurate measurements in atomic clocks. This technique could reduce the time needed to measure atomic clock ticks from weeks to months.
Researchers at NIST created a new technique to measure friction accurately in the nano- and micro-scale. The method helps designers produce more durable devices with moving parts by accounting for unintended scratching of surfaces.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a new clinical standard to help manufacturers develop and calibrate assays that measure specific protein concentrations in patient blood samples. This standard, SRM 2921, is expected to reduce variations in clinical test results by as much as 50-fold.
A consortium co-led by NIST is developing standards for well-characterized RNA molecules to validate gene chip analyses. These standards will enable technology developers and researchers to assess the performance of their assays, improving the reliability of microarray measurements.
The new software equips SEMs with a model library of possible line measurements, enabling accurate determination of circuit feature shapes and sizes. This reduces measurement errors from tens of nanometers to just a few nanometers, increasing reliability and efficiency in semiconductor manufacturing.
The company has achieved an industrial world record by producing second-generation superconducting wires with high amperage electrical current and virtually no resistance. This technology can increase the efficiency of large electric motors by up to 50% and enable smaller, more powerful magnetic resonance imaging machines.
A study by RTI International and the Mayo Clinic found that calibration errors in calcium laboratory tests can add up to $89 per patient, affecting approximately 3.55 million patients and increasing healthcare costs.
A new study led by Duke University and NIST found a correlation between sea turtle health and high levels of toxic organic chemicals. The research team analyzed blood and fat samples from 48 juvenile turtles in North Carolina waters, discovering changes in immune function, liver damage, and protein regulation.
The NIST quantum key distribution system generates a verifiably secret key at a rate of 1 million bits per second, about 100 times faster than previously reported systems. The system uses time-stamping and high-speed observations to identify photons from the sender among multiple photons from other sources.
The NIST virtual surface calibration Web site provides free two-dimensional surface texture analysis software and a database of 10 different types of surface profiles. Manufacturers can validate software measurements and upload their own surface profiles to gain confidence in the accuracy of their software.
NIST's new portable 'rainbow' source enables precise color calibration across the entire visible light spectrum, addressing uncertainty in instruments measuring ocean and atmospheric properties. The highly portable source has been ordered by NOAA to reduce uncertainties in satellite calibrations.
The NIST-developed standards provide guidelines for capturing, storing, and interpreting images of the eye to aid in diagnosing diabetic retinopathy. This approach allows healthcare professionals flexibility in choosing equipment, while ensuring quality image capture.
Luna Innovations plans to manufacture Trimetaspheres, soccerball-shaped molecules with enhanced MRI imaging capabilities. The company's ATP project enabled cost-effective production of nanomaterials with potential uses in consumer and military products.
The new database contains approximately 100 Reference Measurement Procedures, including 30 developed and maintained by NIST. The database lists 96 approved reference materials; NIST is the source for 72 of these, facilitating worldwide comparability of clinical measurements and reducing technical barriers to trade.
Researchers at NIST have developed a chip-scale device that uses magnetic force microscopy to manipulate individual biomolecules. The device can stretch, twist, and uncoil strands of DNA with piconewton forces, paving the way for genomic studies.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a new collection of critically evaluated phase diagrams, improving search capabilities and reducing design errors. The ACerS-NIST collaboration saves research time and money by providing reliable data.
Prostate cancer cell lines exhibit high levels of free radical damage and defective repair mechanisms, leading to a cascade of events culminating in further DNA damage and cellular dysfunction. The new research provides solid evidence for the critical role of free radicals and repair in prostate cancer development.
A new three-step process developed by NIST's Office of Applied Economics evaluates the vulnerability of facilities to terrorist threats, considering engineering, management, and financial strategies. The tool assesses the most cost-effective combination of risk reduction strategies to protect facilities from damages.
NIST's new reference material, calibrated microspheres coated with fluorescent dye, provides an authoritative national fluorescence measurement scale. This improvement enables more accurate measurements of signal intensity, reflecting numbers of target molecules in samples.
The study analyzed data for 10 families of protein-coding genes in multi-celled organisms, resolving a debate over the timing of intron emergence. It found that most modern introns appeared subsequent to gene creation, contradicting the 'introns-early' view.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has verified the accuracy of four world-class optical frequency rulers, a crucial step towards developing ultra-precise atomic clocks. These clocks are expected to be 100 times more accurate than current systems.
A team of NIST and IBM researchers has quantified 'electrical capture defects' in hafnium oxide chips, which can drain currents and hinder transistor operation. By applying a voltage pulse and measuring current, the scientists identified critical locations where these defects occur near the silicon substrate-hafnium oxide interface.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has approved standards for electronic methods used in measuring live animals, carcasses, and individual cuts. The new standards aim to increase consistency and confidence in measurements across technologies, benefiting equipment manufacturers, producers, packers, and consumers.
A NIST study identifies a potential source of error in the automotive industry's use of surface roughness data to predict friction. The researchers developed an improved analytical approach that can help automakers incorporate lighter weight materials and improve fuel efficiency.
Physicists at NIST used a highly sophisticated spectrometer to measure light wavelengths, providing 10 times better resolution than similar instruments. This improvement is expected to help the semiconductor industry create smaller circuits.
A new imaging technique uses quantum dots to detect faulty genes in DNA, offering improved detection of breast cancer patients who would benefit from specific drug therapy. The method provides signals that are 200-1,100% more intense than conventional tags, reducing uncertainty in the FISH test.
Researchers used immersion lithography to create circuit lines and features at least as small as 45nm using 193nm equipment. This breakthrough allows manufacturers to create more powerful chips while extending the life of their current fabrication equipment.
NIST develops standardized emergency response software and proposes industry-government collaboration to enhance interoperability. The proposed Electronic Emergency Response Framework will provide decision-makers with easily accessible modeling and simulation tools.
New research from NIST confirms that smoke alarms offer enough time to save lives in most cases, even with a three-minute warning. The study found that the placement of smoke alarms and closed bedroom doors can increase survival chances, but also noted the limitations of ionization and photoelectric alarms in detecting false alarms.
A NIST scientist has demonstrated efficient production of single photons at the highest temperatures reported for a photon source. The advance is a step toward practical, ultrasecure quantum communications and useful for certain types of metrology.
A novel laser technique has been developed to identify and quantify toxic molecules, such as trichloroethylene, in the environment. The method enables quantitative studies of real-world surface processes without requiring ultrahigh vacuum conditions.
Researchers at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offer guidelines for preserving CDs and DVDs. Handling discs with care and storing them in a cool, dark environment can help extend their lifespan. A quick reference guide to the research group's findings is available on NIST's website.