Content by Ben P. Stein
Measurement in the MoviesThe reality behind onscreen metrology
Mon, 03/25/2024 - 00:03
Many critics and movie fans alike name 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark as one of the best films of all time. But watching the movie as a 12-year-old, I didn’t realize that it has what some consider to be a major flaw, pointed out in a 2013 episode of…
Why NIST Is Putting Its CHIPS Into US ManufacturingIf it plugs in, it probably has a chip

Mon, 10/24/2022 - 12:02
Right after the pandemic hit, I bought a new vacuum cleaner. I wanted to step up my housecleaning skills since I knew I’d be home a lot more. I was able to buy mine right away, but friends who wanted new appliances weren’t so lucky. My relatives had…
Quirky Measurement Units Throughout Human HistoryFrom the noggin to the butt
Tue, 05/24/2022 - 12:02
When we talk about measurement units here at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), you’ll typically hear us rattling off the official ones—such as the meter, the second, and the kilogram. These official measurements, which are…
Scientists Update Four Key Fundamental Constants
Wed, 11/15/2017 - 12:03
Paving the way for transforming the world’s measurement system, an international task force has determined updated values for four fundamental constants of nature. The updated values comprise the last scientific piece of the puzzle for redefining…
Talk NISTy to MeEveryday words take on different meanings in measurement science
Mon, 12/23/2024 - 12:43
NIST is unique as the national measurement science institute. We are the U.S. agency responsible for maintaining measurement standards, from the second to the kilogram. We help ensure that these units of measure are consistent across our watches…