National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

We know tiny plastics are everywhere, including in our bodies. But scientists need to know more about the effect these plastics may have on our health.     So NIST researchers are growing a replica of the human digestive tissue in a lab, and it’s a complex process.      The goal is to create reproducible measurements of these small plastics as they move through the tissue — similar to how plastics currently move through our guts when we unknowingly eat or inhale them. We focus on the measurement challenges so the larger scientific community can learn more about these plastics and their impact on our health.    Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eynmVfs3   #PublicHealth #Plastics #Research

By sculpting DNA into hinges, NIST scientists have developed tiny devices with the potential to measure trace amounts of compounds important for human health and the environment.     The hinges, formed with a technique called DNA origami, open or close when attached to a molecule they were designed to detect. In the next year, our researchers plan to bind their DNA origami shapes to environmental toxins or pollutants, or biomarkers for human diseases. Find out more about the research: https://lnkd.in/eGg9Gvfk   #DNA #Biotechnology #Sensors #Nanotechnology 

Last week, the U.S. AI Safety Institute convened government leaders from around the world and AI experts from industry, academia, and civil society to launch the International Network of AI Safety Institutes.      The United States will serve as the chair of this newly formed network, which published a joint mission statement, the network's first international test of an AI model, and announced $11M in funding to advance scientific inquiry into AI safety.     Read more: https://lnkd.in/gaw8C52g   #ArtificialIntelligence #AI 

Experience the state of the art. Check out our latest roundup of position openings at NIST: Director of Legislative Affairs: https://lnkd.in/em8yyWNd    Senior Advisor for Transaction Risk: https://lnkd.in/gnM6HbYq    Supervisory Accountant:   https://lnkd.in/gcVpcpqn    Administrative Office Assistant: https://lnkd.in/g7NPZpfA    Physicist:  https://lnkd.in/gpha6PDm    Browse our full listing of current openings: https://lnkd.in/d6KBevq    #NISTjob #JobOpening #JobOpportunities 

NIST has transferred custody of building evidence collected from the 2021 partial collapse of Champlain Towers South condominiums in Surfside, Florida, to the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD). This important milestone indicates that NIST has completed its review, measurement, and testing of the evidence from the partially collapsed condominium. The investigative team is continuing their analysis of the test results, with the goal of completing their technical work in 2025. A draft report with the investigation’s findings and recommendations is planned for the spring of 2026, (NIST is not authorized to find fault, responsibility or negligence when investigating a building failure). Learn more details in our November update on the investigation: https://lnkd.in/gnnp748e #Miami #Surfside #StructuralEngineering #Engineering

Here is our latest monthly roundup of NIST news highlights on LinkedIn! In this issue: A two-story, four-bedroom residential home sits just inside the main entrance of NIST’s Gaithersburg, Maryland, campus. The home’s beautiful exterior belies its true purpose: a laboratory for studying energy efficiency and related topics in a building that produces more energy than it consumes. Our latest feature article describes the 11-year history of the Net Zero Energy Residential Test Facility and its research on topics from indoor air quality to advanced insulation. #ScienceAndTechnology #Science #Technology #Newsletter

If doctors want to see inside human muscle, they must remove a sample during a procedure called a biopsy.     However, by using a technique a NIST researcher is developing, it’s possible that in the future, a doctor could use specialized lasers called frequency combs to look deep inside your muscles without cutting.     This could benefit research on conditions such as strokes or muscular dystrophy. The same technique could help surgeons someday illuminate muscles (similar to X-rays) and immediately know which parts of the muscle are healthy and which are not.    We shine a light on this exciting science in our latest Taking Measure blog post: https://lnkd.in/eKXjs9y2

This summer, a NIST intern researched the role that human error, such as weak passwords, plays in cyberattacks. His work may help organizations better protect their networks.      If this kind of work sounds interesting and you’re an undergraduate student, apply to join us as a NIST intern next summer. The deadline is Jan. 31.     Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gRztBVzp    #Intern #Internship #SummerInternship #Undergraduate

Congratulations to Melissa Midzor, who has been named the new director of NIST’s Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL).    Melissa has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives such as the National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network and the Advanced Wireless Test Platform.    Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gUVENixB   #Wireless #PublicSafety 

Is your heart in the right place? Check out our latest roundup of position openings at NIST: Director of Legislative Affairs: https://lnkd.in/em8yyWNd Biological Science Technician: https://lnkd.in/evk_T_z5 Maintenance Mechanic: https://lnkd.in/e_YUc4cD IT Specialist (AI): https://lnkd.in/eD7UKpYN Electronics Engineer: https://lnkd.in/e_VkBrFP    Browse our full listing of current openings at NIST: https://lnkd.in/d6KBevq    #NISTjob #JobOpening #JobOpportunities