National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST researchers and their collaborators continue to make leaps and bounds in improving miniature versions of measuring devices known as frequency combs, “rulers for light” that were recognized in the 2005 Nobel Prize in physics shared by NIST’s Jan Hall. Frequency combs produce a set of colors that are equally spaced in the optical spectrum. Researchers can aim this comb of colors at objects of interest to make precise measurements. Frequency combs have many uses, including interfacing with ultra-precise atomic clock, detecting compounds in our breath that can indicate disease, and discovering planets outside our solar system. Once bulky setups confined to laboratories, frequency combs are increasingly being deployed for portable applications. However, these microcombs are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, causing them to produce colors of light that, instead of being pure and highly stable, fluctuate. Now, researchers at NIST and their collaborators at the Joint Quantum Institute and the University of Maryland Baltimore County are using an added laser to help stabilize the pulses of light from the combs. In this image, a microscopic carousel (known as a microring resonator) generates a set of light pulses (shown in yellow) that is sent down an adjacent rail (known as a waveguide) while red laser light captures and stabilizes the colors of the light pulses. This advancement may help microcombs become a more widely used technology in areas like better radar and lidar in rugged areas such as mountains. The researchers report their results in the journal Optica. https://lnkd.in/eQNJvdwX 

Most software needs updating from time to time, but a patch release can create cybersecurity risks and impact operations if not managed effectively. NIST has drafted updates to its security and privacy control catalog to support successful software updates and patches, aimed at both the developers who create updates and organizations that receive and implement them in their own systems.   NIST is issuing these best practices as draft changes to Special Publication (SP) 800-53 in order to provide additional guidance on how to securely and reliably deploy patches and updates. These draft changes are in response to Executive Order 14306, Sustaining Select Efforts to Strengthen the Nation’s Cybersecurity and Amending Executive Order 13694 and Executive Order 14144. The changes address topics including software resiliency, developer testing, the deployment and management of updates, root cause analysis, and software integrity and validation.   The agency is accepting public comments on the draft changes for two weeks through August 5, 2025. Visit our webpage for details: https://lnkd.in/eWbrjvPe

Mass measurement doesn't always need massive equipment.  Unlike traditional balances that rely on physical weights, the NIST-4 Kibble balance uses electrical currents and voltages to precisely measure mass, making it more accurate and stable over time. The Kibble balance, originally a massive research project, has been a game changer. However, its size and cost have made it inaccessible to many. Recognizing this limitation, NIST set out to make this technology more widely available by creating a much smaller and more portable version: the tabletop Kibble balance. As seen in this video, the tabletop Kibble balance is significantly smaller than the original. The NIST-4 Kibble balance stands as tall as a grizzly bear, where the tabletop balance is the size of a tortoise. With mass measurement more accessible to the masses, uncertainty weighs us down a little less.  

Fire Protection Engineer Alexander Maranghides has been studying wildfires for more than 20 years to understand how to best to prepare and escape from them. This year he was recognized as a Service to America Medal honoree. Also known as the “Sammie,” it’s one of the most prestigious awards for government employees. Congratulations, Alex! https://lnkd.in/eQDcFVik 

RNA “scissors” called self-cleaving ribozymes naturally occur in viruses and many lifeforms. But researchers have learned these ribozymes can be repurposed to engineer vaccines, medical treatments and supplements.  Precise measurements are vital to this research, and that’s where NIST researcher Sam Schaffter comes in. His work is helping scientists better understand how the “scissors” operate in our bodies.  Learn more in our latest Taking Measure blog post: https://lnkd.in/ezf9ykPX #CellularEngineering #BioTech 

NIST is releasing detailed and comprehensive data about the entire genetic content of a pancreatic cancer cell. Scientists and labs can use this data to research tumors, develop and improve cancer diagnostic tests, and develop new cancer treatments.    The genetic data came from a woman with pancreatic cancer. She gave her full consent for the data to be used for medical research, which will ensure its ongoing availability to scientists.     “In the past, there have been controversies using genetic data for research due to the lack of consent by patients,” said NIST biomedical engineer Justin Zook. “This is the first cancer cell line developed from an individual who explicitly consented to making her genomic data public.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/ec-s6hF9 

When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017, estimated wind gusts reached as high as 200 mph (322 km/h) at some locations, accelerated by the shape of steep hills and mountains. Over 40,000 landslides and extensive flooding from heavy rainfall added to the destruction. NIST has been conducting a detailed investigation of how the disaster unfolded and what could be done to protect Americans from future hurricanes. Several preliminary findings of this investigation have just been released here: https://lnkd.in/e4z5rsR7 #Hurricane #NaturalDisaster #Investigation

Ever wondered what the most accurate clock in the world looks like? NIST, with some help from colleagues at JILA, have improved their optical atomic clock based on a trapped aluminum ion, making it the most accurate clock in the world It is 41% more accurate than the previous record-holding clock, and it is also 2.6 times more stable than any other ion clock. Compared to cesium clocks, which provide the current scientific definition of the second, the aluminum ion clock divides time into even smaller increments, accurate down to less than a quintillionth of a second. With an extremely steady, high-frequency “ticking” rate, its ticks are more stable than those of cesium. The aluminum ion also isn’t as sensitive as other clocks to some environmental conditions, like temperature and magnetic fields. With this new record, the aluminum ion clock contributes to the international effort to redefine the second to much greater levels of accuracy than before, facilitating new scientific and technological advances. Take some time out of your day and read more at https://lnkd.in/e5BRsCSU   

Join us in congratulating Glenn Bell on being awarded the 2025 IStructE Gold Medal. The Institution of Structural Engineers’ Gold Medal is awarded annually for outstanding contributions to the advancement of structural engineering. Glenn is being recognized for his role as a research civil engineer at NIST, where he co-leads the investigation of the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers condominium in Surfside, Florida. The Gold Medal also recognizes Glenn’s extensive contributions to design, consultancy, and forensic engineering. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eKPfAAr7

National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing: The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), with assistance from NIST, published a request for information in the Federal Register for the National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing.  This plan, updated every four years with facilitation from NIST, guides federal efforts to enhance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, create jobs, boost economic growth, strengthen national security, and improve healthcare. Responses are due by September 30, 2025. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e5KuDDjp