National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST researchers recently sent a package of house dust into space, in collaboration with NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and Rhodium Scientific.  That may seem like an odd choice to pack in a space suitcase, but house dust is one of the most complex and best chemically understood reference materials we have here at NIST. The dust’s journey to space may help us better understand how space flight and time in space affect materials.    https://lnkd.in/emyXTB9n    #Space #SpaceTravel 

The “forever chemicals” known as PFAS are commonly used in firefighters’ protective gear to repel moisture. But these long-lived compounds have also been linked to an increased risk of cancer. NIST researchers conducted a series of studies to understand how much PFAS is present in firefighter gear. Their latest study looks at how wear and tear affects PFAS levels in the hoods and gloves worn by structural firefighters (firefighters who work in buildings) as well as the lightweight clothes worn by wildland firefighters. They found that after wear and tear, PFAS levels increased in hoods and gloves but decreased in wildland gear. Understanding these changing PFAS levels will be an important factor for people who make, buy, or wear firefighter gear. Learn more about the new study here: https://lnkd.in/euK_EKu6

We're mapping out the chemical makeup of the illicit drug landscape in near real-time through NIST's Rapid Drug Analysis and Research (RaDAR) program. Our researchers work with local, state and federal partners to provide quick, comprehensive and actionable data to address a rapidly evolving public health crisis. With this data, it's possible to track new substances of concern (such as animal tranquilizers used as cutting agents) as they enter the supply in one area of the country and estimate when they might reach another area. Making public health professionals aware of what's coming can make a difference in how they treat patients entering health clinics and hospitals. The measurement work by NIST is done in this laboratory. Here, we use instruments called direct analysis in real time mass spectrometers (DART-MS) to analyze drug residue samples. The black tubes are portable snorkels, which suck in the vapors generated during the DART-MS analyses to keep our researchers safe from possible exposure.

Building safety tip for disasters: Set up weather alerts for your family. Some disasters, like fires and tornadoes, can strike suddenly, sometimes only giving you minutes to react. May is Building Safety Month. You can help make your home safer today by setting up multiple ways to receive warnings, such as a NOAA weather radio and mobile "push" alerts. Don't rely on sirens alone! Visit https://lnkd.in/ghWjGSD for information on how to set up different types of weather alerts. #BuildingSafety365 #StrongCommunities

Take a peek inside the NIST Fire Research Lab. This facility is dedicated to understanding how fire behaves and how structures respond to fire. It houses four exhaust hoods to filter smoke, gases and other combustion products during fire research experiments. The large high-bay test area (shown here) has the lab’s largest exhaust hood. It also has a unique concrete floor and surrounding wall, allowing researchers to construct various building structures for fire experiments. For example, they’ve built part of a kitchen, part of a house’s exterior wall, and an entire floor of a building. They’ve also conducted a large car burn and a 20-foot pine tree burn for wildfire research.

Here is a translation from your friendly Gen-Z social media team: "To be honest, NIST is underrated."

NIST researcher Leon Chao and his team built a precise machine, known as a Kibble balance, for directly measuring a kilogram using quantum physics. They also made a tiny version of the Kibble balance using Lego bricks. The resulting paper was a scientific hit and inspired imitation Kibble balances worldwide.  Now, they’re applying those same scientific principles to calibrating torque wrenches, which are a vital tool for building and maintaining planes. Through a partnership with Snap-on Industrial and the U.S. Air Force, NIST’s work may make calibrating these important tools more efficient.  Learn more in our latest Taking Measure blog post: https://lnkd.in/eG5G9mda 

It’s the season of high fashion with the Met Gala upon us. If you’re inspired by the latest trends and heading to your favorite clothing stores, you probably noticed a small problem: not every clothing size is the same. Back in the day, the National Bureau of Standards – the agency that would become NIST – tried to fix this issue. Because of the mass production of uniforms during the Civil War, men’s clothes became standardized first. After years of struggling to standardize women’s clothes, the clothing industry asked us in 1949 to see if we could solve the problem. Over almost a decade, our researchers looked at former attempts to create standards for women’s clothing as well as made measurements of their own before they released their own sizing guide in 1958. The standards seemed to make an impact, but they ultimately fell out of fashion in the 1970s and 1980s. Just like certain styles from the early 2000s and Y2K fashion trends are making a comeback, hopefully, standardizing women’s clothes will resurface. Curious to see what else NIST has been involved in? Check out the NISTory video series: https://lnkd.in/e6TgJG2x

Building safety tip for wildfire: Clear the area around your home of combustible objects. It’s a straightforward step to keep your home safer from wildfire. NIST research has found that trashcans, sheds, and vegetation can create a pathway for flames, making it more likely that a fire will spread to your home. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eH9Bd-P3 May is building safety month, so we’ll be highlighting people and research here at NIST that help keep the buildings around us safe. #BuildingSafety365

What? You don't think about geese and World Metrology Day? Are you saying we're alone with these invasive thoughts?