PML Impact: February/March 2022

The latest news from the Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) at NIST.

View As Web Page February/March 2022 Time Dilation Measured to the Millimeter JILA physicists have measured Einstein's theory of general relativity – specifically, the effect called time dilation – at the smallest scale ever, showing that two tiny atomic clocks, separated by just a millimeter or the width of a sharp pencil tip, tick at different rates. The experiments offer a route to perhaps revealing how relativity and gravity interact with quantum mechanics, a major quandary in physics. Read More FEATURE STORIES How 'Metal Soaps' Form Compounds called "metal soaps" can damage the integrity of artists' oil paint, but little is known about how they form. Now, novel infrared-light-based methods have helped identify the composition and distribution of these metal soaps at multiple levels of detail, which could help art conservators better preserve oil paintings. Read More Fluid Measurements Slip Up Researchers have discovered a potential source of error when using acoustic waves to measure the properties of fluids. Their discovery could increase accuracy in measuring blood flow for cancer diagnosis, as well as other applications such as more precise sorting of blood cells. Read More 'Radium Girls' and NIST NIST radiation expert and historian Bert Coursey recently reviewed the Institute's connection with the radium dial workers — notably the role of one heroic woman, Elizabeth Damon Hughes, whose measurements helped the workers win their day in court. Read More Craning for a Connection Scientists describe a surprising link between an equation for G – the gravitational constant that determines the strength of the attraction between massive objects – and the maneuvers required for crane operators at a construction site to safely and quickly transport heavy loads. Read More Detecting Transistor Defects A new and improved method for counting defects in transistors can provide an accurate assessment of problems that could otherwise impair the performance of transistors and limit the reliability of the chips in which they reside. Read More Better Mini Optical Ruler Researchers have greatly expanded the frequency range over which a chip-scale device, known as a microring resonator frequency comb, can generate and measure the oscillations of light waves with exquisite accuracy, potentially leading to better greenhouse gas sensors and global navigation systems. Read More Connect with us Received this email from a friend? Subscribe here. Privacy Policy Subscriber services: Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help

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