National Institute of Standards and Technology

NIST is notable for its critical role in developing and maintaining a wide array of standards and measurements that underpin science, technology, and commerce in the United States. Its work spans numerous fields, including nanotechnology, information technology, engineering, and material science, ensuring consistency, reliability, and safety in products and services.

Recently, the term "NIST" has appeared in news headlines for two distinct reasons. One set of headlines relates to the agency's core scientific work, such as its contributions to aviation safety standards. Another, more prominent set of recent headlines is unrelated to the agency and instead refers to Theresa Nist, a public figure from a reality television show, who shares a surname with the institute's acronym.