The article explains the role of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as the U.S. national measurement institute. NIST maintains primary measurement standards for physical units like the meter and kilogram, ensuring consistent measurements across industries and globally. These standards are disseminated through an “unbroken chain” of calibrations to businesses and consumers, enabling accurate measurements in various applications such as mammography and international trade.
NIST collaborates with other national measurement institutes worldwide through the International System of Units (SI) and the International Committee on Weights and Measures. The institute also develops documentary standards, like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which provide technical guidelines for various industries. NIST is actively working on standards for post-quantum cryptography to protect against potential quantum computer threats.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/nmi
Keywords: precision, calibration, measurement, standards, metrology
