Look inside a lab! Today, we’re stepping into a special space for national metrology institutes around the world. The NIST-4 Kibble balance provides the definition of mass for the United States. It’s basing its measurements on the Planck constant that was given a fixed value as part of the redefinition of the kilogram in 2019. But not every country around the world can afford to house that kind of massive instrument. That’s why we have a shrunken version, which our researchers are working to mak

Mass measurement doesn't always need massive equipment. Unlike traditional balances that rely on physical weights, the NIST-4 Kibble balance uses electrical currents and voltages to precisely measure mass, making it more accurate and stable over time. The Kibble balance, originally a massive research project, has been a game changer. However, its size and cost have made it inaccessible to many. Recognizing this limitation, NIST set out to make this technology more widely available by creating a