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A biweekly news digest from the
National Institute of Standards and Technology
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MARCH 28, 2023
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Animal Tranquilizer Floods Illicit Drug Markets in Maryland
NIST researchers used the technique of mass spectrometry to show the alarming presence of the chemical xylazine along with fentanyl in the illegal drug market.
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NIST Partnership Helps Communities Manage Unknown Dangers in Common Street Drugs
A new collaboration between NIST scientists and Maryland health and law enforcement officials allows illicit drug samples to be analyzed much more quickly.
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By Cracking a Metal 3D-Printing Conundrum, Researchers Propel the Technology Toward Widespread Application
Using particle accelerators, researchers peered into the internal structure of steel as it was melted and then solidified during 3D printing to find ways to prevent cracking.
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Ada Lovelace: The World’s First Computer Programmer Who Predicted Artificial Intelligence
During Women’s History Month, NIST researcher Justyna Zwolak remembers Ada Lovelace’s impact on her as a young scientist and mathematician.
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Food irradiation helps to make imported produce safer and longer-lasting. Travel to Facebook and see how NIST research chemist Ileana Pazos helps the process along with her radiation expertise.
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MORE NEWS FROM NIST |
NIST research reveals misconceptions about users that can negatively affect cybersecurity strategies — and offers solutions.
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 In this video, NIST mechanical engineer Matthew Staymates explains how he uses specialized video techniques to understand and improve aerodynamic sampling, a safe and efficient method for screening of packages for fentanyl.
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For Good Measure
From trustworthy AI to building safety, NIST focuses its research on topics that have great economic and societal importance. Nowhere is this more evident than in NIST’s work in analyzing opioids and other emerging threats in illicit drugs. NIST’s technological expertise has led to the ability to identify the substances in street drugs in real time. This work also illustrates NIST’s collaborative nature as our research is done in partnership with law enforcement and public health organizations. In addition to this issue’s news story and blog post on illicit drug detection, check out our feature story on the science in the fight against killer drugs, our Q&A with NIST’s Ed Sisco, and our videos on aerodynamic methods for detecting fentanyl and a way to safely test seized narcotics that might contain this drug.
—Ben P. Stein, Managing Editor
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