‘The Last Artifact’ Brings Metrology to TV

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="content: http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/ dc: http://purl.org/dc/terms/ foaf: http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/ og: http://ogp.me/ns# rdfs: http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema# schema: http://schema.org/ sioc: http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns# sioct: http://rdfs.org/sioc/types# skos: http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core# xsd: http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema# "> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv","20231001165712","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1696179432"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta charset="utf-8"/><script type="text/javascript">(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).init={ajax:{deny_list:["gov-bam.nr-data.net"]}};(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).loader_config={licenseKey:"37b7ccb661",applicationID:"1089704227"};;/*! For license information please see nr-loader-rum-1.242.0.min.js.LICENSE.txt */ (()=>{"use strict";var e,t,n={234:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{P_:()=>h,Mt:()=>m,C5:()=>s,DL:()=>w,OP:()=>j,lF:()=>N,Yu:()=>_,Dg:()=>v,CX:()=>c,GE:()=>A,sU:()=>T});var r=n(8632),i=n(9567);const a={beacon:r.ce.beacon,errorBeacon:r.ce.errorBeacon,licenseKey:void 0,applicationID:void 0,sa:void 0,queueTime:void 0,applicationTime:void 0,ttGuid:void 0,user:void 0,account:void 0,product:void 0,extra:void 0,jsAttributes:{},userAttributes:void 0,atts:void 0,transactionName:void 0,tNamePlain:void 0},o={};function s(e){if(!e)throw new Error("All info objects require an agent identifier!");if(!o[e])throw new Error("Info for ".concat(e," was never set"));return o[e]}function c(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All info objects require an agent identifier!");o[e]=(0,i.D)(t,a),(0,r.Qy)(e,o[e],"info")}const d=e=>{if(!e||"string"!=typeof e)return!1;try{document.createDocumentFragment().querySelector(e)}catch{return!1}return!0};var u=n(7056),l=n(50);const f=()=>{const e={mask_selector:"*",block_selector:"[data-nr-block]",mask_input_options:{color:!1,date:!1,"datetime-local":!1,email:!1,month:!1,number:!1,range:!1,search:!1,tel:!1,text:!1,time:!1,url:!1,week:!1,textarea:!1,select:!1,password:!0}};return{proxy:{assets:void 0,beacon:void 0},privacy:{cookies_enabled:!0},ajax:{deny_list:void 0,block_internal:!0,enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0},distributed_tracing:{enabled:void 0,exclude_newrelic_header:void 0,cors_use_newrelic_header:void 0,cors_use_tracecontext_headers:void 0,allowed_origins:void 0},session:{domain:void 0,expiresMs:u.oD,inactiveMs:u.Hb},ssl:void 0,obfuscate:void 0,jserrors:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0},metrics:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},page_action:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:30,autoStart:!0},page_view_event:{enabled:!0,autoStart:!0},page_view_timing:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:30,long_task:!1,autoStart:!0},session_trace:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0},harvest:{tooManyRequestsDelay:60},session_replay:{autoStart:!0,enabled:!1,harvestTimeSeconds:60,sampling_rate:50,error_sampling_rate:50,mask_all_inputs:!0,get mask_text_selector(){return e.mask_selector},set mask_text_selector(t){d(t)?e.mask_selector=t+",[data-nr-mask]":null===t?e.mask_selector=t:(0,l.Z)("An invalid session_replay.mask_selector was provided and will not be used",t)},get block_class(){return"nr-block"},get ignore_class(){return"nr-ignore"},get mask_text_class(){return"nr-mask"},get block_selector(){return e.block_selector},set block_selector(t){d(t)?e.block_selector+=",".concat(t):""!==t&&(0,l.Z)("An invalid session_replay.block_selector was provided and will not be used",t)},get mask_input_options(){return e.mask_input_options},set mask_input_options(t){t&&"object"==typeof t?e.mask_input_options={...t,password:!0}:(0,l.Z)("An invalid session_replay.mask_input_option was provided and will not be used",t)}},spa:{enabled:!0,harvestTimeSeconds:10,autoStart:!0}}},g={},p="All configuration objects require an agent identifier!";function h(e){if(!e)throw new Error(p);if(!g[e])throw new Error("Configuration for ".concat(e," was never set"));return g[e]}function v(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error(p);g[e]=(0,i.D)(t,f()),(0,r.Qy)(e,g[e],"config")}function m(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error(p);var n=h(e);if(n){for(var r=t.split("."),i=0;i<r.length-1;i++)if("object"!=typeof(n=n[r[i]]))return;n=n[r[r.length-1]]}return n}const b={accountID:void 0,trustKey:void 0,agentID:void 0,licenseKey:void 0,applicationID:void 0,xpid:void 0},y={};function w(e){if(!e)throw new Error("All loader-config objects require an agent identifier!");if(!y[e])throw new Error("LoaderConfig for ".concat(e," was never set"));return y[e]}function A(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All loader-config objects require an agent identifier!");y[e]=(0,i.D)(t,b),(0,r.Qy)(e,y[e],"loader_config")}const _=(0,r.mF)().o;var x=n(385),D=n(6818);const k={buildEnv:D.Re,customTransaction:void 0,disabled:!1,distMethod:D.gF,isolatedBacklog:!1,loaderType:void 0,maxBytes:3e4,offset:Math.floor(x._A?.performance?.timeOrigin||x._A?.performance?.timing?.navigationStart||Date.now()),onerror:void 0,origin:""+x._A.location,ptid:void 0,releaseIds:{},session:void 0,xhrWrappable:"function"==typeof x._A.XMLHttpRequest?.prototype?.addEventListener,version:D.q4,denyList:void 0},E={};function j(e){if(!e)throw new Error("All runtime objects require an agent identifier!");if(!E[e])throw new Error("Runtime for ".concat(e," was never set"));return E[e]}function T(e,t){if(!e)throw new Error("All runtime objects require an agent identifier!");E[e]=(0,i.D)(t,k),(0,r.Qy)(e,E[e],"runtime")}function N(e){return function(e){try{const t=s(e);return!!t.licenseKey&&!!t.errorBeacon&&!!t.applicationID}catch(e){return!1}}(e)}},9567:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{D:()=>i});var r=n(50);function i(e,t){try{if(!e||"object"!=typeof e)return(0,r.Z)("Setting a Configurable requires an object as input");if(!t||"object"!=typeof t)return(0,r.Z)("Setting a Configurable requires a model to set its initial properties");const n=Object.create(Object.getPrototypeOf(t),Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptors(t)),a=0===Object.keys(n).length?e:n;for(let o in a)if(void 0!==e[o])try{"object"==typeof e[o]&&"object"==typeof t[o]?n[o]=i(e[o],t[o]):n[o]=e[o]}catch(e){(0,r.Z)("An error occurred while setting a property of a Configurable",e)}return n}catch(e){(0,r.Z)("An error occured while setting a Configurable",e)}}},6818:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{Re:()=>i,gF:()=>a,q4:()=>r});const r="1.242.0",i="PROD",a="CDN"},385:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{Nk:()=>u,Tt:()=>s,_A:()=>a,cv:()=>l,iS:()=>o,il:()=>r,ux:()=>c,v6:()=>i,w1:()=>d});const r="undefined"!=typeof window&&!!window.document,i="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&("undefined"!=typeof self&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&self.navigator instanceof WorkerNavigator||"undefined"!=typeof globalThis&&globalThis instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&globalThis.navigator instanceof WorkerNavigator),a=r?window:"undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&("undefined"!=typeof self&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&self||"undefined"!=typeof globalThis&&globalThis instanceof WorkerGlobalScope&&globalThis),o=Boolean("hidden"===a?.document?.visibilityState),s=(a?.location,/iPad|iPhone|iPod/.test(a.navigator?.userAgent)),c=s&&"undefined"==typeof SharedWorker,d=((()=>{const e=a.navigator?.userAgent?.match(/Firefox[/\s](\d+\.\d+)/);Array.isArray(e)&&e.length>=2&&e[1]})(),Boolean(r&&window.document.documentMode)),u=!!a.navigator?.sendBeacon,l=Math.floor(a?.performance?.timeOrigin||a?.performance?.timing?.navigationStart||Date.now())},1117:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{w:()=>a});var r=n(50);const i={agentIdentifier:"",ee:void 0};class a{constructor(e){try{if("object"!=typeof e)return(0,r.Z)("shared context requires an object as input");this.sharedContext={},Object.assign(this.sharedContext,i),Object.entries(e).forEach((e=>{let[t,n]=e;Object.keys(i).includes(t)&&(this.sharedContext[t]=n)}))}catch(e){(0,r.Z)("An error occured while setting SharedContext",e)}}}},8e3:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{L:()=>u,R:()=>c});var r=n(8325),i=n(1284),a=n(4322),o=n(3325);const s={};function c(e,t){const n={staged:!1,priority:o.p[t]||0};d(e),s[e].get(t)||s[e].set(t,n)}function d(e){e&&(s[e]||(s[e]=new Map))}function u(){let e=arguments.length>0&&void 0!==arguments[0]?arguments[0]:"",t=arguments.length>1&&void 0!==arguments[1]?arguments[1]:"feature";if(d(e),!e||!s[e].get(t))return o(t);s[e].get(t).staged=!0;const n=[...s[e]];function o(t){const n=e?r.ee.get(e):r.ee,o=a.X.handlers;if(n.backlog&&o){var s=n.backlog[t],c=o[t];if(c){for(var d=0;s&&d<s.length;++d)l(s[d],c);(0,i.D)(c,(function(e,t){(0,i.D)(t,(function(t,n){n[0].on(e,n[1])}))}))}delete o[t],n.backlog[t]=null,n.emit("drain-"+t,[])}}n.every((e=>{let[t,n]=e;return n.staged}))&&(n.sort(((e,t)=>e[1].priority-t[1].priority)),n.forEach((t=>{let[n]=t;s[e].delete(n),o(n)})))}function l(e,t){var n=e[1];(0,i.D)(t[n],(function(t,n){var r=e[0];if(n[0]===r){var i=n[1],a=e[3],o=e[2];i.apply(a,o)}}))}},8325:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{A:()=>c,ee:()=>d});var r=n(8632),i=n(2210),a=n(234);class o{constructor(e){this.contextId=e}}var s=n(3117);const c="nr@context:".concat(s.a),d=function e(t,n){var r={},s={},u={},f=!1;try{f=16===n.length&&(0,a.OP)(n).isolatedBacklog}catch(e){}var g={on:h,addEventListener:h,removeEventListener:function(e,t){var n=r[e];if(!n)return;for(var i=0;i<n.length;i++)n[i]===t&&n.splice(i,1)},emit:function(e,n,r,i,a){!1!==a&&(a=!0);if(d.aborted&&!i)return;t&&a&&t.emit(e,n,r);for(var o=p(r),c=v(e),u=c.length,l=0;l<u;l++)c[l].apply(o,n);var f=b()[s[e]];f&&f.push([g,e,n,o]);return o},get:m,listeners:v,context:p,buffer:function(e,t){const n=b();if(t=t||"feature",g.aborted)return;Object.entries(e||{}).forEach((e=>{let[r,i]=e;s[i]=t,t in n||(n[t]=[])}))},abort:l,aborted:!1,isBuffering:function(e){return!!b()[s[e]]},debugId:n,backlog:f?{}:t&&"object"==typeof t.backlog?t.backlog:{}};return g;function p(e){return e&&e instanceof o?e:e?(0,i.X)(e,c,(()=>new o(c))):new o(c)}function h(e,t){r[e]=v(e).concat(t)}function v(e){return r[e]||[]}function m(t){return u[t]=u[t]||e(g,t)}function b(){return g.backlog}}(void 0,"globalEE"),u=(0,r.fP)();function l(){d.aborted=!0,d.backlog={}}u.ee||(u.ee=d)},5546:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{E:()=>r,p:()=>i});var r=n(8325).ee.get("handle");function i(e,t,n,i,a){a?(a.buffer([e],i),a.emit(e,t,n)):(r.buffer([e],i),r.emit(e,t,n))}},4322:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{X:()=>a});var r=n(5546);a.on=o;var i=a.handlers={};function a(e,t,n,a){o(a||r.E,i,e,t,n)}function o(e,t,n,i,a){a||(a="feature"),e||(e=r.E);var o=t[a]=t[a]||{};(o[n]=o[n]||[]).push([e,i])}},3239:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{bP:()=>s,iz:()=>c,m$:()=>o});var r=n(385);let i=!1,a=!1;try{const e={get passive(){return i=!0,!1},get signal(){return a=!0,!1}};r._A.addEventListener("test",null,e),r._A.removeEventListener("test",null,e)}catch(e){}function o(e,t){return i||a?{capture:!!e,passive:i,signal:t}:!!e}function s(e,t){let n=arguments.length>2&&void 0!==arguments[2]&&arguments[2],r=arguments.length>3?arguments[3]:void 0;window.addEventListener(e,t,o(n,r))}function c(e,t){let n=arguments.length>2&&void 0!==arguments[2]&&arguments[2],r=arguments.length>3?arguments[3]:void 0;document.addEventListener(e,t,o(n,r))}},3117:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{a:()=>r});const r=(0,n(4402).Rl)()},4402:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{Rl:()=>o,ky:()=>s});var r=n(385);const i="xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx";function a(e,t){return e?15&e[t]:16*Math.random()|0}function o(){const e=r._A?.crypto||r._A?.msCrypto;let t,n=0;return e&&e.getRandomValues&&(t=e.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(31))),i.split("").map((e=>"x"===e?a(t,++n).toString(16):"y"===e?(3&a()|8).toString(16):e)).join("")}function s(e){const t=r._A?.crypto||r._A?.msCrypto;let n,i=0;t&&t.getRandomValues&&(n=t.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(31)));const o=[];for(var s=0;s<e;s++)o.push(a(n,++i).toString(16));return o.join("")}},7056:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{Bq:()=>r,Hb:()=>a,oD:()=>i});const r="NRBA",i=144e5,a=18e5},7894:(e,t,n)=>{function r(){return Math.round(performance.now())}n.d(t,{z:()=>r})},50:(e,t,n)=>{function r(e,t){"function"==typeof console.warn&&(console.warn("New Relic: ".concat(e)),t&&console.warn(t))}n.d(t,{Z:()=>r})},2587:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{N:()=>c,T:()=>d});var r=n(8325),i=n(5546),a=n(3325);const o={stn:[a.D.sessionTrace],err:[a.D.jserrors,a.D.metrics],ins:[a.D.pageAction],spa:[a.D.spa],sr:[a.D.sessionReplay,a.D.sessionTrace]},s=new Set;function c(e,t){const n=r.ee.get(t);e&&"object"==typeof e&&(s.has(t)||Object.entries(e).forEach((e=>{let[t,r]=e;o[t]?o[t].forEach((e=>{r?(0,i.p)("feat-"+t,[],void 0,e,n):(0,i.p)("block-"+t,[],void 0,e,n),(0,i.p)("rumresp-"+t,[Boolean(r)],void 0,e,n)})):r&&(0,i.p)("feat-"+t,[],void 0,void 0,n),d[t]=Boolean(r)})),Object.keys(o).forEach((e=>{void 0===d[e]&&(o[e]?.forEach((t=>(0,i.p)("rumresp-"+e,[!1],void 0,t,n))),d[e]=!1)})),s.add(t))}const d={}},2210:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{X:()=>i});var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;function i(e,t,n){if(r.call(e,t))return e[t];var i=n();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,t,{value:i,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),i}catch(e){}return e[t]=i,i}},1284:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{D:()=>r});const r=(e,t)=>Object.entries(e||{}).map((e=>{let[n,r]=e;return t(n,r)}))},4351:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{P:()=>a});var r=n(8325);const i=()=>{const e=new WeakSet;return(t,n)=>{if("object"==typeof n&&null!==n){if(e.has(n))return;e.add(n)}return n}};function a(e){try{return JSON.stringify(e,i())}catch(e){try{r.ee.emit("internal-error",[e])}catch(e){}}}},3960:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{K:()=>o,b:()=>a});var r=n(3239);function i(){return"undefined"==typeof document||"complete"===document.readyState}function a(e,t){if(i())return e();(0,r.bP)("load",e,t)}function o(e){if(i())return e();(0,r.iz)("DOMContentLoaded",e)}},8632:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{EZ:()=>d,Qy:()=>c,ce:()=>a,fP:()=>o,gG:()=>u,mF:()=>s});var r=n(7894),i=n(385);const a={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net"};function o(){return i._A.NREUM||(i._A.NREUM={}),void 0===i._A.newrelic&&(i._A.newrelic=i._A.NREUM),i._A.NREUM}function s(){let e=o();return e.o||(e.o={ST:i._A.setTimeout,SI:i._A.setImmediate,CT:i._A.clearTimeout,XHR:i._A.XMLHttpRequest,REQ:i._A.Request,EV:i._A.Event,PR:i._A.Promise,MO:i._A.MutationObserver,FETCH:i._A.fetch}),e}function c(e,t,n){let i=o();const a=i.initializedAgents||{},s=a[e]||{};return Object.keys(s).length||(s.initializedAt={ms:(0,r.z)(),date:new Date}),i.initializedAgents={...a,[e]:{...s,[n]:t}},i}function d(e,t){o()[e]=t}function u(){return function(){let e=o();const t=e.info||{};e.info={beacon:a.beacon,errorBeacon:a.errorBeacon,...t}}(),function(){let e=o();const t=e.init||{};e.init={...t}}(),s(),function(){let e=o();const t=e.loader_config||{};e.loader_config={...t}}(),o()}},7956:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{N:()=>i});var r=n(3239);function i(e){let t=arguments.length>1&&void 0!==arguments[1]&&arguments[1],n=arguments.length>2?arguments[2]:void 0,i=arguments.length>3?arguments[3]:void 0;(0,r.iz)("visibilitychange",(function(){if(t)return void("hidden"===document.visibilityState&&e());e(document.visibilityState)}),n,i)}},3081:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{gF:()=>a,mY:()=>i,t9:()=>r,vz:()=>s,xS:()=>o});const r=n(3325).D.metrics,i="sm",a="cm",o="storeSupportabilityMetrics",s="storeEventMetrics"},7633:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{t:()=>r});const r=n(3325).D.pageViewEvent},9251:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{t:()=>r});const r=n(3325).D.pageViewTiming},5938:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{W:()=>a});var r=n(234),i=n(8325);class a{constructor(e,t,n){this.agentIdentifier=e,this.aggregator=t,this.ee=i.ee.get(e,(0,r.OP)(this.agentIdentifier).isolatedBacklog),this.featureName=n,this.blocked=!1}}},7530:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{j:()=>b});var r=n(3325),i=n(234),a=n(5546),o=n(8325),s=n(7894),c=n(8e3),d=n(3960),u=n(385),l=n(50),f=n(3081),g=n(8632);function p(){const e=(0,g.gG)();["setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","addRelease","addPageAction","setCurrentRouteName","setPageViewName","setCustomAttribute","interaction","noticeError","setUserId","setApplicationVersion","start"].forEach((t=>{e[t]=function(){for(var n=arguments.length,r=new Array(n),i=0;i<n;i++)r[i]=arguments[i];return function(t){for(var n=arguments.length,r=new Array(n>1?n-1:0),i=1;i<n;i++)r[i-1]=arguments[i];let a=[];return Object.values(e.initializedAgents).forEach((e=>{e.exposed&&e.api[t]&&a.push(e.api[t](...r))})),a.length>1?a:a[0]}(t,...r)}}))}var h=n(2587);const v=e=>{n.p=e};let m=!1;function b(e){let t=arguments.length>1&&void 0!==arguments[1]?arguments[1]:{},b=arguments.length>2?arguments[2]:void 0,y=arguments.length>3?arguments[3]:void 0,{init:w,info:A,loader_config:_,runtime:x={loaderType:b},exposed:D=!0}=t;const k=(0,g.gG)();A||(w=k.init,A=k.info,_=k.loader_config),(0,i.Dg)(e,w||{}),(0,i.GE)(e,_||{}),A.jsAttributes??={},u.v6&&(A.jsAttributes.isWorker=!0),(0,i.CX)(e,A);const E=(0,i.P_)(e),j=[A.beacon,A.errorBeacon];m||(m=!0,E.proxy.assets&&(v(E.proxy.assets+"/"),j.push(E.proxy.assets)),E.proxy.beacon&&j.push(E.proxy.beacon)),x.denyList=[...E.ajax.deny_list||[],...E.ajax.block_internal?j:[]],(0,i.sU)(e,x),p();const T=function(e,t){t||(0,c.R)(e,"api");const g={};var p=o.ee.get(e),h=p.get("tracer"),v="api-",m=v+"ixn-";function b(t,n,r,a){const o=(0,i.C5)(e);return null===n?delete o.jsAttributes[t]:(0,i.CX)(e,{...o,jsAttributes:{...o.jsAttributes,[t]:n}}),A(v,r,!0,a||null===n?"session":void 0)(t,n)}function y(){}["setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","addRelease"].forEach((e=>{g[e]=A(v,e,!0,"api")})),g.addPageAction=A(v,"addPageAction",!0,r.D.pageAction),g.setCurrentRouteName=A(v,"routeName",!0,r.D.spa),g.setPageViewName=function(t,n){if("string"==typeof t)return"/"!==t.charAt(0)&&(t="/"+t),(0,i.OP)(e).customTransaction=(n||"https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/http://custom.transaction")+t,A(v,"setPageViewName",!0)()},g.setCustomAttribute=function(e,t){let n=arguments.length>2&&void 0!==arguments[2]&&arguments[2];if("string"==typeof e){if(["string","number"].includes(typeof t)||null===t)return b(e,t,"setCustomAttribute",n);(0,l.Z)("Failed to execute setCustomAttribute.\nNon-null value must be a string or number type, but a type of <".concat(typeof t,"> was provided."))}else(0,l.Z)("Failed to execute setCustomAttribute.\nName must be a string type, but a type of <".concat(typeof e,"> was provided."))},g.setUserId=function(e){if("string"==typeof e||null===e)return b("enduser.id",e,"setUserId",!0);(0,l.Z)("Failed to execute setUserId.\nNon-null value must be a string type, but a type of <".concat(typeof e,"> was provided."))},g.setApplicationVersion=function(e){if("string"==typeof e||null===e)return b("application.version",e,"setApplicationVersion",!1);(0,l.Z)("Failed to execute setApplicationVersion. Expected <String | null>, but got <".concat(typeof e,">."))},g.start=e=>{try{const t=e?"defined":"undefined";(0,a.p)(f.xS,["API/start/".concat(t,"/called")],void 0,r.D.metrics,p);const n=Object.values(r.D);if(void 0===e)e=n;else{if((e=Array.isArray(e)&&e.length?e:[e]).some((e=>!n.includes(e))))return(0,l.Z)("Invalid feature name supplied. Acceptable feature names are: ".concat(n));e.includes(r.D.pageViewEvent)||e.push(r.D.pageViewEvent)}e.forEach((e=>{p.emit("".concat(e,"-opt-in"))}))}catch(e){(0,l.Z)("An unexpected issue occurred",e)}},g.interaction=function(){return(new y).get()};var w=y.prototype={createTracer:function(e,t){var n={},i=this,o="function"==typeof t;return(0,a.p)(m+"tracer",[(0,s.z)(),e,n],i,r.D.spa,p),function(){if(h.emit((o?"":"no-")+"fn-start",[(0,s.z)(),i,o],n),o)try{return t.apply(this,arguments)}catch(e){throw h.emit("fn-err",[arguments,this,e],n),e}finally{h.emit("fn-end",[(0,s.z)()],n)}}}};function A(e,t,n,i){return function(){return(0,a.p)(f.xS,["API/"+t+"/called"],void 0,r.D.metrics,p),i&&(0,a.p)(e+t,[(0,s.z)(),...arguments],n?null:this,i,p),n?void 0:this}}function _(){n.e(75).then(n.bind(n,7438)).then((t=>{let{setAPI:n}=t;n(e),(0,c.L)(e,"api")})).catch((()=>(0,l.Z)("Downloading runtime APIs failed...")))}return["actionText","setName","setAttribute","save","ignore","onEnd","getContext","end","get"].forEach((e=>{w[e]=A(m,e,void 0,r.D.spa)})),g.noticeError=function(e,t){"string"==typeof e&&(e=new Error(e)),(0,a.p)(f.xS,["API/noticeError/called"],void 0,r.D.metrics,p),(0,a.p)("err",[e,(0,s.z)(),!1,t],void 0,r.D.jserrors,p)},u.il?(0,d.b)((()=>_()),!0):_(),g}(e,y);return(0,g.Qy)(e,T,"api"),(0,g.Qy)(e,D,"exposed"),(0,g.EZ)("activatedFeatures",h.T),T}},3325:(e,t,n)=>{n.d(t,{D:()=>r,p:()=>i});const r={ajax:"ajax",jserrors:"jserrors",metrics:"metrics",pageAction:"page_action",pageViewEvent:"page_view_event",pageViewTiming:"page_view_timing",sessionReplay:"session_replay",sessionTrace:"session_trace",spa:"spa"},i={[r.pageViewEvent]:1,[r.pageViewTiming]:2,[r.metrics]:3,[r.jserrors]:4,[r.ajax]:5,[r.sessionTrace]:6,[r.pageAction]:7,[r.spa]:8,[r.sessionReplay]:9}}},r={};function i(e){var t=r[e];if(void 0!==t)return t.exports;var a=r[e]={exports:{}};return n[e](a,a.exports,i),a.exports}i.m=n,i.d=(e,t)=>{for(var n in t)i.o(t,n)&&!i.o(e,n)&&Object.defineProperty(e,n,{enumerable:!0,get:t[n]})},i.f={},i.e=e=>Promise.all(Object.keys(i.f).reduce(((t,n)=>(i.f[n](e,t),t)),[])),i.u=e=>"nr-rum-1.242.0.min.js",i.o=(e,t)=>Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(e,t),e={},t="NRBA-1.242.0.PROD:",i.l=(n,r,a,o)=>{if(e[n])e[n].push(r);else{var s,c;if(void 0!==a)for(var d=document.getElementsByTagName("script"),u=0;u<d.length;u++){var l=d[u];if(l.getAttribute("src")==n||l.getAttribute("data-webpack")==t+a){s=l;break}}s||(c=!0,(s=document.createElement("script")).charset="utf-8",s.timeout=120,i.nc&&s.setAttribute("nonce",i.nc),s.setAttribute("data-webpack",t+a),s.src=n),e[n]=[r];var f=(t,r)=>{s.onerror=s.onload=null,clearTimeout(g);var i=e[n];if(delete e[n],s.parentNode&&s.parentNode.removeChild(s),i&&i.forEach((e=>e(r))),t)return t(r)},g=setTimeout(f.bind(null,void 0,{type:"timeout",target:s}),12e4);s.onerror=f.bind(null,s.onerror),s.onload=f.bind(null,s.onload),c&&document.head.appendChild(s)}},i.r=e=>{"undefined"!=typeof Symbol&&Symbol.toStringTag&&Object.defineProperty(e,Symbol.toStringTag,{value:"Module"}),Object.defineProperty(e,"__esModule",{value:!0})},i.p="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://js-agent.newrelic.com/",(()=>{var e={50:0,832:0};i.f.j=(t,n)=>{var r=i.o(e,t)?e[t]:void 0;if(0!==r)if(r)n.push(r[2]);else{var a=new Promise(((n,i)=>r=e[t]=[n,i]));n.push(r[2]=a);var o=i.p+i.u(t),s=new Error;i.l(o,(n=>{if(i.o(e,t)&&(0!==(r=e[t])&&(e[t]=void 0),r)){var a=n&&("load"===n.type?"missing":n.type),o=n&&n.target&&n.target.src;s.message="Loading chunk "+t+" failed.\n("+a+": "+o+")",s.name="ChunkLoadError",s.type=a,s.request=o,r[1](s)}}),"chunk-"+t,t)}};var t=(t,n)=>{var r,a,[o,s,c]=n,d=0;if(o.some((t=>0!==e[t]))){for(r in s)i.o(s,r)&&(i.m[r]=s[r]);if(c)c(i)}for(t&&t(n);d<o.length;d++)a=o[d],i.o(e,a)&&e[a]&&e[a][0](),e[a]=0},n=self["webpackChunk:NRBA-1.242.0.PROD"]=self["webpackChunk:NRBA-1.242.0.PROD"]||[];n.forEach(t.bind(null,0)),n.push=t.bind(null,n.push.bind(n))})(),(()=>{var e=i(50);class t{addPageAction(t,n){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api addPageAction failed. The session trace feature is not currently initialized.")}setPageViewName(t,n){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api setPageViewName failed. The page view feature is not currently initialized.")}setCustomAttribute(t,n,r){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api setCustomAttribute failed. The js errors feature is not currently initialized.")}noticeError(t,n){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api noticeError failed. The js errors feature is not currently initialized.")}setUserId(t){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api setUserId failed. The js errors feature is not currently initialized.")}setApplicationVersion(t){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api setApplicationVersion failed. The agent is not currently initialized.")}setErrorHandler(t){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api setErrorHandler failed. The js errors feature is not currently initialized.")}finished(t){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api finished failed. The page action feature is not currently initialized.")}addRelease(t,n){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api addRelease failed. The agent is not currently initialized.")}start(t){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api addRelease failed. The agent is not currently initialized.")}}var n=i(3325),r=i(234);const a=Object.values(n.D);function o(e){const t={};return a.forEach((n=>{t[n]=function(e,t){return!1!==(0,r.Mt)(t,"".concat(e,".enabled"))}(n,e)})),t}var s=i(7530);var c=i(8e3),d=i(5938),u=i(3960),l=i(385);class f extends d.W{constructor(e,t,n){let i=!(arguments.length>3&&void 0!==arguments[3])||arguments[3];super(e,t,n),this.auto=i,this.abortHandler=void 0,this.featAggregate=void 0,this.onAggregateImported=void 0,!1===(0,r.Mt)(this.agentIdentifier,"".concat(this.featureName,".autoStart"))&&(this.auto=!1),this.auto&&(0,c.R)(e,n)}importAggregator(){let t=arguments.length>0&&void 0!==arguments[0]?arguments[0]:{};if(this.featAggregate)return;if(!this.auto)return void this.ee.on("".concat(this.featureName,"-opt-in"),(()=>{(0,c.R)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName),this.auto=!0,this.importAggregator()}));const n=l.il&&!0===(0,r.Mt)(this.agentIdentifier,"privacy.cookies_enabled");let a;this.onAggregateImported=new Promise((e=>{a=e}));const o=async()=>{let r;try{if(n){const{setupAgentSession:e}=await i.e(75).then(i.bind(i,3228));r=e(this.agentIdentifier)}}catch(t){(0,e.Z)("A problem occurred when starting up session manager. This page will not start or extend any session.",t)}try{if(!this.shouldImportAgg(this.featureName,r))return(0,c.L)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName),void a(!1);const{lazyFeatureLoader:e}=await i.e(75).then(i.bind(i,8582)),{Aggregate:n}=await e(this.featureName,"aggregate");this.featAggregate=new n(this.agentIdentifier,this.aggregator,t),a(!0)}catch(t){(0,e.Z)("Downloading and initializing ".concat(this.featureName," failed..."),t),this.abortHandler?.(),(0,c.L)(this.agentIdentifier,this.featureName),a(!1)}};l.il?(0,u.b)((()=>o()),!0):o()}shouldImportAgg(e,t){return e!==n.D.sessionReplay||!!r.Yu.MO&&(!1!==(0,r.Mt)(this.agentIdentifier,"session_trace.enabled")&&(!!t?.isNew||!!t?.state.sessionReplay))}}var g=i(7633);class p extends f{static featureName=g.t;constructor(e,t){let n=!(arguments.length>2&&void 0!==arguments[2])||arguments[2];super(e,t,g.t,n),this.importAggregator()}}var h=i(1117),v=i(1284);class m extends h.w{constructor(e){super(e),this.aggregatedData={}}store(e,t,n,r,i){var a=this.getBucket(e,t,n,i);return a.metrics=function(e,t){t||(t={count:0});return t.count+=1,(0,v.D)(e,(function(e,n){t[e]=b(n,t[e])})),t}(r,a.metrics),a}merge(e,t,n,r,i){var a=this.getBucket(e,t,r,i);if(a.metrics){var o=a.metrics;o.count+=n.count,(0,v.D)(n,(function(e,t){if("count"!==e){var r=o[e],i=n[e];i&&!i.c?o[e]=b(i.t,r):o[e]=function(e,t){if(!t)return e;t.c||(t=y(t.t));return t.min=Math.min(e.min,t.min),t.max=Math.max(e.max,t.max),t.t+=e.t,t.sos+=e.sos,t.c+=e.c,t}(i,o[e])}}))}else a.metrics=n}storeMetric(e,t,n,r){var i=this.getBucket(e,t,n);return i.stats=b(r,i.stats),i}getBucket(e,t,n,r){this.aggregatedData[e]||(this.aggregatedData[e]={});var i=this.aggregatedData[e][t];return i||(i=this.aggregatedData[e][t]={params:n||{}},r&&(i.custom=r)),i}get(e,t){return t?this.aggregatedData[e]&&this.aggregatedData[e][t]:this.aggregatedData[e]}take(e){for(var t={},n="",r=!1,i=0;i<e.length;i++)t[n=e[i]]=w(this.aggregatedData[n]),t[n].length&&(r=!0),delete this.aggregatedData[n];return r?t:null}}function b(e,t){return null==e?function(e){e?e.c++:e={c:1};return e}(t):t?(t.c||(t=y(t.t)),t.c+=1,t.t+=e,t.sos+=e*e,e>t.max&&(t.max=e),e<t.min&&(t.min=e),t):{t:e}}function y(e){return{t:e,min:e,max:e,sos:e*e,c:1}}function w(e){return"object"!=typeof e?[]:(0,v.D)(e,A)}function A(e,t){return t}var _=i(8632),x=i(4402),D=i(4351);var k=i(5546),E=i(7956),j=i(3239),T=i(7894),N=i(9251);class S extends f{static featureName=N.t;constructor(e,t){let n=!(arguments.length>2&&void 0!==arguments[2])||arguments[2];super(e,t,N.t,n),l.il&&((0,E.N)((()=>(0,k.p)("docHidden",[(0,T.z)()],void 0,N.t,this.ee)),!0),(0,j.bP)("pagehide",(()=>(0,k.p)("winPagehide",[(0,T.z)()],void 0,N.t,this.ee))),this.importAggregator())}}var P=i(3081);class C extends f{static featureName=P.t9;constructor(e,t){let n=!(arguments.length>2&&void 0!==arguments[2])||arguments[2];super(e,t,P.t9,n),this.importAggregator()}}new class extends t{constructor(t){let n=arguments.length>1&&void 0!==arguments[1]?arguments[1]:(0,x.ky)(16);super(),l._A?(this.agentIdentifier=n,this.sharedAggregator=new m({agentIdentifier:this.agentIdentifier}),this.features={},this.desiredFeatures=new Set(t.features||[]),this.desiredFeatures.add(p),Object.assign(this,(0,s.j)(this.agentIdentifier,t,t.loaderType||"agent")),this.run()):(0,e.Z)("Failed to initial the agent. Could not determine the runtime environment.")}get config(){return{info:(0,r.C5)(this.agentIdentifier),init:(0,r.P_)(this.agentIdentifier),loader_config:(0,r.DL)(this.agentIdentifier),runtime:(0,r.OP)(this.agentIdentifier)}}run(){const t="features";try{const r=o(this.agentIdentifier),i=[...this.desiredFeatures];i.sort(((e,t)=>n.p[e.featureName]-n.p[t.featureName])),i.forEach((t=>{if(r[t.featureName]||t.featureName===n.D.pageViewEvent){const i=function(e){switch(e){case n.D.ajax:return[n.D.jserrors];case n.D.sessionTrace:return[n.D.ajax,n.D.pageViewEvent];case n.D.sessionReplay:return[n.D.sessionTrace];case n.D.pageViewTiming:return[n.D.pageViewEvent];default:return[]}}(t.featureName);i.every((e=>r[e]))||(0,e.Z)("".concat(t.featureName," is enabled but one or more dependent features has been disabled (").concat((0,D.P)(i),"). This may cause unintended consequences or missing data...")),this.features[t.featureName]=new t(this.agentIdentifier,this.sharedAggregator)}})),(0,_.Qy)(this.agentIdentifier,this.features,t)}catch(n){(0,e.Z)("Failed to initialize all enabled instrument classes (agent aborted) -",n);for(const e in this.features)this.features[e].abortHandler?.();const r=(0,_.fP)();return delete r.initializedAgents[this.agentIdentifier]?.api,delete r.initializedAgents[this.agentIdentifier]?.[t],delete this.sharedAggregator,r.ee?.abort(),delete r.ee?.get(this.agentIdentifier),!1}}addToTrace(t){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api addToTrace failed. The page action feature is not currently initialized.")}setCurrentRouteName(t){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api setCurrentRouteName failed. The spa feature is not currently initialized.")}interaction(){(0,e.Z)("Call to agent api interaction failed. The spa feature is not currently initialized.")}}({features:[p,S,C],loaderType:"lite"})})()})();</script> <noscript><style>form.antibot * :not(.antibot-message) { display: none !important; }</style> </noscript><script async src="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712js_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-HEQ0YF2VYL"></script> <script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments)};gtag("js", new Date());gtag("set", "developer_id.dMDhkMT", true);gtag('set', {'cookie_flags': 'SameSite=None;Secure', 'cookie_domain': 'www.nist.gov'});gtag("config", "G-HEQ0YF2VYL", {"groups":"default","page_placeholder":"PLACEHOLDER_page_location","link_attribution":true,"allow_ad_personalization_signals":false});gtag("event", "custom", {"node_title":"\u2018The Last Artifact\u2019 Brings Metrology to TV","node_id":"1633501","blog_author":"Jason Stoughton","content_type":"Blog entry"});</script> <meta name="description" content="Remember that documentary you saw that finally explained metrology and why measurements are critical to practically every aspect of modern life?"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv"/> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/node/1633501"/> <meta name="citation_title" content="‘The Last Artifact’ Brings Metrology to TV | NIST"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="NIST"/> <meta property="og:type" content="Article"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv"/> <meta property="og:title" content="‘The Last Artifact’ Brings Metrology to TV"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Remember that documentary you saw that finally explained metrology and why measurements are critical to practically every aspect of modern life?"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/images/2020/08/20/Filming%20in%20the%20Kibble%20balance%20lab.jpg"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="220"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="110"/> <meta property="article:author" content="Jason Stoughton"/> <meta property="article:tag" content="kilogram"/> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2020-09-10T08:00-04:00"/> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2022-03-09T13:27-05:00"/> <meta name="dcterms.title" content="‘The Last Artifact’ Brings Metrology to TV"/> <meta name="dcterms.creator" content="Jason Stoughton"/> <meta name="dcterms.description" content="Remember that documentary you saw that finally explained metrology and why measurements are critical to practically every aspect of modern life?"/> <meta name="dcterms.publisher" content="Jason Stoughton"/> <meta name="dcterms.contributor" content="NIST"/> <meta name="dcterms.date" content="2020-09-10T08:00-04:00"/> <meta name="dcterms.type" content="text"/> <meta name="dcterms.format" content="text/html"/> <meta name="dcterms.identifier" content="https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv"/> <meta name="dcterms.source" content="NIST"/> <meta name="dcterms.created" content="2020-09-10T08:00-04:00"/> <meta name="dcterms.modified" content="2022-03-09T13:27-05:00"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Remember that documentary you saw that finally explained metrology and why measurements are critical to practically every aspect of modern life?"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="NIST"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="‘The Last Artifact’ Brings Metrology to TV"/> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/images/2020/08/20/Filming%20in%20the%20Kibble%20balance%20lab.jpg"/> <meta name="twitter:image:height" content="110"/> <meta name="twitter:image:width" content="220"/> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="QMu0ODkER3rN5hLcMLqNVf7e3bkjYsNLTuhqfH48jCA"/> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 9 (https://www.drupal.org)"/> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width"/> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"/> <meta name="nist_search_modified" class="elastic" content="2022-03-09T13:27:00-05:00"/> <script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "headline": "‘The Last Artifact’ Brings Metrology to TV | NIST", "description": "Remember that documentary you saw that finally explained metrology and why measurements are critical to practically every aspect of modern life?", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/images/2020/08/20/Filming%20in%20the%20Kibble%20balance%20lab.jpg", "width": "220", "height": "110" }, "datePublished": "2020-09-10T08:00-04:00", "dateModified": "2022-03-09T13:27-05:00" } ] }</script> <meta name="nist_search_bundle" class="elastic" content="blog"/> <link rel="icon" href="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/themes/custom/nist_www/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon"/> <title>‘The Last Artifact’ Brings Metrology to TV | NIST</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20231001165712cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_ss_5H_6aoid5fhMaRoYBcYF_qqeBVjYf6haEMWfUE4E.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="/web/20231001165712cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_J7RuJ-PwWY36lMjcmfbU1Uvs509-G5bIcbR2QTQU4K0.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="print" href="/web/20231001165712cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_zbjDhj-AmeVwgu9y0DlPwEfp7l-a5BpoK3MpoGmRB6o.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20231001165712cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_PV0KmreUx3hVeYI6yGypf71UDz9BSQl1Z5DjiESDh-Y.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="/web/20231001165712cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_AbQ-Et9ahnwNdmjkdX7ZUl-TsIfoP4W6aAktBfxnFWo.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20231001165712cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_NjDDNWX3gT9AQim3Wat6xpK9XSySncGi6dMPubV7CJQ.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="/web/20231001165712cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_mCRChb5imR7G-MyyS1tXLG1rucUC8YO_tBpWFFku_M8.css"/> <script src="/web/20231001165712js_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_VDwaIMNiRtzQn-NZvj1F9loIzJ-i4yEDiruzS8Z6Ejo.js"></script> </head> <body class="node-1633501"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable" data-elastic-exclude> Skip to main content </a> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas>  <section data-elastic-exclude class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official government website"> <div class="usa-accordion"> <header class="usa-banner__header"> <div class="usa-banner__inner"> <div class="grid-col-auto"> <img class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/us_flag_small.png" alt="U.S. flag"> </div> <div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto"> <p class="usa-banner__header-text">An official website of the United States government</p> <p class="usa-banner__header-action" aria-hidden="true">Here’s how you know</p> </div> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default"> <span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here’s how you know</span> </button> </div> </header> <div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg"> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Official websites use .gov</strong> <br/> A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. </p> </div> </div> <div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"> <img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/icon-https.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="usa-media-block__body"> <p> <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong> <br/> A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewbox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-title banner-lock-description" focusable="false"> <title id="banner-lock-title">Lock</title> <desc id="banner-lock-description">A locked padlock</desc><path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z"/></svg> </span> ) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section>  <div data-elastic-exclude>  <div class="nist-print-header" style="display:none;"> <p class="nist-print-header__url">https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv</p> <img class="nist-print-header__logo" width="289" height="38" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/nist_logo_sidestack.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology"/> </div> <div class="usa-overlay"></div> <header class="usa-header nist-header--www nist-header--minimal" role="banner"> <div class="usa-navbar"> <div class="usa-logo flex-fill"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/" title="National Institute of Standards and Technology" aria-label="Home"> <img src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/logo.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology" width="300px" height="80px"/> </a> </div> <div class="usa-header__right grid-row flex-auto"> <div class="grid-col-fill nist-header__search-group"> <form class="usa-search usa-search--small" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/search" id="search_form" method="get"> <div role="search"> <label class="usa-sr-only" for="search-form">Search NIST</label> <input class="usa-input" id="search-form" type="search" name="s" placeholder="Search NIST" required="" maxlength="128"> <button class="usa-button" type="submit"><img src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/usa-icons-bg/search--white.svg" class="usa-search__submit-icon" alt="Search"></button> </div> </form> </div> <div class="grid-col-auto padding-left-1"> <button class="usa-menu-btn">Menu</button> </div> </div> </div> <nav aria-label="Primary navigation" class="usa-nav"> <div class="usa-nav__inner"> <button class="usa-nav__close">Close</button> <ul class="usa-nav__primary usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-1"><span>Topics</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-1" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/topics" class="usa-nav__link">All Topics</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/advanced-communications" class="usa-nav__link">Advanced communications</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/artificial-intelligence" class="usa-nav__link">Artificial intelligence</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/bioscience" class="usa-nav__link">Bioscience</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/buildings-construction" class="usa-nav__link">Buildings and construction</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/chemistry" class="usa-nav__link">Chemistry</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/climate" class="usa-nav__link">Climate</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/cybersecurity" class="usa-nav__link">Cybersecurity</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/electronics" class="usa-nav__link">Electronics</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/energy" class="usa-nav__link">Energy</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/environment" class="usa-nav__link">Environment</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/fire" class="usa-nav__link">Fire</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/forensic-science" class="usa-nav__link">Forensic science</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/health" class="usa-nav__link">Health</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/information-technology" class="usa-nav__link">Information technology</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/infrastructure" class="usa-nav__link">Infrastructure</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/manufacturing" class="usa-nav__link">Manufacturing</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/materials" class="usa-nav__link">Materials</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/mathematics-statistics" class="usa-nav__link">Mathematics and statistics</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/metrology" class="usa-nav__link">Metrology</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/nanotechnology" class="usa-nav__link">Nanotechnology</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/neutron-research" class="usa-nav__link">Neutron research</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/performance-excellence" class="usa-nav__link">Performance excellence</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/physics" class="usa-nav__link">Physics</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/public-safety" class="usa-nav__link">Public safety</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/resilience" class="usa-nav__link">Resilience</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/standards" class="usa-nav__link">Standards</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/transportation" class="usa-nav__link">Transportation</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <a class="usa-nav__link" href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/publications">Publications</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-3"><span>Labs & Major Programs</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-3" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/labs-major-programs/laboratories" class="usa-nav__link">Laboratories</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/ctl" class="usa-nav__link">Communications Technology Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/el" class="usa-nav__link">Engineering Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/itl" class="usa-nav__link">Information Technology Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/mml" class="usa-nav__link">Material Measurement Laboratory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/pml" class="usa-nav__link">Physical Measurement Laboratory</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/labs-major-programs/user-facilities" class="usa-nav__link">User Facilities</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/ncnr" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Center for Neutron Research</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/cnst" class="usa-nav__link">CNST NanoFab</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/labs-major-programs/research-test-beds" class="usa-nav__link">Research Test Beds</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/laboratories/projects-programs" class="usa-nav__link">Research Projects</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/laboratories/tools-instruments" class="usa-nav__link">Tools & Instruments</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/labs-major-programs/major-programs" class="usa-nav__link">Major Programs</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/baldrige" class="usa-nav__link">Baldrige Performance Excellence Program</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/chips" class="usa-nav__link">CHIPS for America Initiative</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/mep" class="usa-nav__link">Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/oam" class="usa-nav__link">Office of Advanced Manufacturing</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/spo" class="usa-nav__link">Special Programs Office</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/tpo" class="usa-nav__link">Technology Partnerships Office</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-4"><span>Services & Resources</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-4" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/services-resources/standards-and-measurements" class="usa-nav__link">Standards and Measurements</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/calibrations" class="usa-nav__link">Calibration Services</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/nvlap" class="usa-nav__link">Laboratory Accreditation (NVLAP)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/nist-quality-system" class="usa-nav__link">Quality System</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/srm" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/standardsgov" class="usa-nav__link">Standards.gov</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/time-services" class="usa-nav__link">Time Services</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm" class="usa-nav__link">Office of Weights and Measures</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/services-resources/software" class="usa-nav__link">Software</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/data" class="usa-nav__link">Data</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/" class="usa-nav__link">Chemistry WebBook</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://nvd.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">National Vulnerability Database</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/pml/productsservices/physical-reference-data" class="usa-nav__link">Physical Reference Data</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/srd" class="usa-nav__link">Standard Reference Data (SRD)</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/shop" class="usa-nav__link">Storefront</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/tpo" class="usa-nav__link">License & Patents</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://csrc.nist.gov/" class="usa-nav__link">Computer Security Resource Center (CSRC)</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/nist-research-library" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Research Library</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-5"><span>News & Events</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-5" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news" class="usa-nav__link">News</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/news-events/events" class="usa-nav__link">Events</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs" class="usa-nav__link">Blogs</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/feature-stories" class="usa-nav__link">Feature Stories</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/awards" class="usa-nav__link">Awards</a> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/video-gallery" class="usa-nav__link">Video Gallery</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/image-gallery" class="usa-nav__link">Image Gallery</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/pao/media-contacts" class="usa-nav__link">Media Contacts</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="usa-nav__primary-item"> <button class="usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="primary_menu-6"><span>About NIST</span></button> <div id="primary_menu-6" class="usa-nav__submenu usa-megamenu"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist" class="usa-nav__link">About Us</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/contact-us" class="usa-nav__link">Contact Us</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/visit" class="usa-nav__link">Visit</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/careers" class="usa-nav__link">Careers</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/director/nist-organization-structure" class="usa-nav__link">Our Organization</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/director" class="usa-nav__link">Office of the Director</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/director/nist-organization-structure/budget-planning" class="usa-nav__link">Budget & Planning</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul></div><div class="column-break tablet:grid-col-fill"><ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/work-nist" class="usa-nav__link">Work with NIST</a> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/history" class="usa-nav__link">History</a> <ul class="usa-nav__submenu-list"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/http://nistdigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org/" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Digital Archives</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/nist-museum" class="usa-nav__link">NIST Museum</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/nist-and-nobel" class="usa-nav__link">NIST and the Nobel</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-nav__submenu-item"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/education" class="usa-nav__link">Educational Resources</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </header>  </div> <div class="grid-container"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> <div id="block-nist-www-content" class="nist-block"> <section class="nist-page__content usa-section clearfix"> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content-top-full"> <div class="nist-block"> <div class="entity-reference"> <div class="nist-blog-header nist-blog-header--purple nist-blog-header--inner"> <div class="nist-blog-header__bkgrd"> <div class="nist-blog-header__main grid-container"> <div class="grid-row"> <h2 class="nist-blog-header__title"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure"> Taking Measure </a> </h2> <div class="nist-blog-header__tagline"> <p class="text">Just a Standard Blog</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container margin-top-4"> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content-top"> <div class="nist-block"> <h1 class="nist-page__title">‘The Last Artifact’ Brings Metrology to TV</h1> </div> <div class="font-body-md"> <div class="daterange"><time datetime="2020-09-10T12:00:00Z">September 10, 2020</time> </div> </div> <div class="nist-block"> <span>By: </span> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/authors/jason-stoughton" hreflang="en">Jason Stoughton</a> </div> <div class="nist-block">  <div data-elastic-exclude class="nist-block nist-social__wrapper"> <h2 class="nist-social__title">Share</h2> <div class="social-media-sharing"> <div class="nist-social__wrapper--share"> <div> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv" title="Facebook" class="nist-social nist-social--facebook-gray"> <span>Facebook</span> </a> </div> <div> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv&source=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv" title="Linkedin" class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin-gray"> <span>Linkedin</span> </a> </div> <div> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv&status=https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv" title="Twitter" class="nist-social nist-social--twitter-gray"> <span>Twitter</span> </a> </div> <div> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/mailto:/?subject=NIST.gov&body=Check out this site https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv" title="Email" class="nist-social nist-social--envelope-gray"> <span>Email</span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container margin-top-4"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-6"> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content tablet-lg:grid-col-8"> <div class="nist-block"> <div class="text-with-summary"> <figure class="nist-image--lightbox nist-image" data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2020/08/20/Filming%20in%20the%20Kibble%20balance%20lab.jpg?itok=tM-ix8u9" data-media-id="588596"> <img src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/960_x_960_limit/public/images/2020/08/20/Filming%20in%20the%20Kibble%20balance%20lab.jpg?itok=N--7CjrR" width="960" height="480" alt="Film crew films a pair NIST researchers operating the NIST Kibble balance" title="Filming in the Kibble balance lab" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image"/> <figcaption class="nist-image__caption"> <div data-caption-editable="true" class="nist-image__caption-content"> <p>The crew of <em>The Last Artifact</em> films NIST’s Kibble balance, a complex instrument used in the redefinition of the kilogram. From left, NIST researchers Stephan Schlamminger and Darine Haddad, sound recordist Parker Brown, director of photography Rick Smith and co-director/producer Jaime Jacobsen.</p> </div> <div class="nist-image__credit"> <span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span> J. Stoughton/NIST </div> </figcaption> </figure> <p>Remember that documentary you saw that <em>finally </em>explained metrology and why measurements are critical to practically every aspect of modern life? Yeah, neither do I. Probably because that documentary doesn’t exist …</p> <p>Or does it?</p> <p><em>The Last Artifact</em>, a new one-hour film that PBS stations are <span><span>planning to broadcast starting this month</span></span>, aims to fill that cinematic void by bringing metrology to the people. It tells the tale of measurement science and features researchers from metrology laboratories around the world, including several faces from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).</p> <figure class="nist-image--lightbox nist-image" data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2020/08/20/Interviewing%20Jon%20Pratt.jpg?itok=OWy9chVr" data-media-id="588581"><img alt="camera crew interviewing Jon Pratt" height="640" loading="lazy" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/images/2020/08/20/Interviewing%20Jon%20Pratt.jpg" title="camera crew interviewing Jon Pratt" typeof="foaf:Image" width="960"><figcaption class="nist-image__caption"><div class="nist-image__caption-content" data-caption-editable="true"> Jaime Jacobsen interviews NIST researcher Jon Pratt during filming at NIST. From left, Rick Smith, Jacobsen, Parker Brown and Pratt. </div> <div class="nist-image__credit"> <span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span> J. Stoughton/NIST </div> </figcaption></figure><p>Perhaps the most prominent character in the film, however, is inanimate: the eponymous “Last Artifact,” aka the International Prototype Kilogram, aka “Le Grand K.” <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.bipm.org/en/history-si/kilogram">This cylinder, composed primarily of platinum, served for 130 years as the definition of the kilogram</a> and the standard for practically all measurements involving mass. Its longtime status of defining the mass of the kilogram officially ended in May 2019 as a result of an international vote in late 2018 to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/a-massive-change-nations-will-vote-to-redefine-the-kilogram/2018/11/15/b5704b0a-e6c7-11e8-b8dc-66cca409c180_story.html"> redefine the kilogram based on fundamental constants of nature</a><span><span><span>, including the speed of light and Planck’s constant.</span></span></span></p> <p>As part of that historic redefinition of the International System of Units, other units of measurement — the ampere, the kelvin and the mole — were also redefined in terms of natural constants. But it was the kilogram that seemed to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/16/science/kilogram-physics-measurement.html"> capture people’s imaginations</a>. Its ascension from the material to the universal evoked something bigger and more profound. And, it didn’t hurt that Le Grand K also had a certain mystique, residing in international territory just outside Paris, inside a triple-locked underground vault in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.bipm.org/en/about-us/pavillon-de-breteuil/"> a pavilion built by the brother of Louis XIV in 1672 and later restored by Napoleon</a>.</p> <p>As a defining measurement standard embodied in a physical artifact, Le Grand K was indeed the last of its kind. The evolution of the kilogram even served as a sort of metaphor for the work of metrologists over the decades, who took the long view and strove to make our units of measurement increasingly accurate and egalitarian by basing them on the ultimate standard of objectivity: nature.</p> <p>In the words of former NIST Director Willie May, “This would make a pretty good movie.”</p> <p>American Public Television (APT), the largest syndicator of programming for public television stations in the United States, vetted the film with 340 PBS stations across the country, and based on stations’ positive responses, expects nearly 100% coverage in public television markets. APT will make the documentary available to public television stations to air and repeat for over six years, beginning this September. The film will also be made available internationally through a distribution deal with <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://pbsinternational.org/programs/last-artifact-the/">PBS International</a>.</p> <p>Check out the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/http://www.thelastartifactfilm.com/trailer/"> trailer for the film</a>, and check your local listings for other showtimes.</p> <p>The film has received several accolades including being awarded the international award for "Best Documentary Feature" at the British Documentary Film Festival.</p> <p>PBS Learning Media created a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://mpt.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/the-last-artifact/">digital learning collection</a> with media from <em>The Last Artifact</em>, which contains 12 short videos on instruments, measurements, and units for grades 5-12, available to educators everywhere.</p> <p>In addition, Jason Learning, a 501(c)3 organization that provides STEM curriculum for U.S. K-12 teachers, will include five videos from <em>The Last Artifact</em> as part of their new physics curriculum surrounding the redesign of the SI system, to be released in fall 2020.</p> <figure class="nist-image--lightbox nist-image" data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2020/08/20/The%20Last%20Artifact%20poster.jpg?itok=Yp3Ay0Xd" data-media-id="588586"><img alt="movie poster that reads "The Last Artifact, a film by Jaime Jacobsen and Ed Watkins, a production of Montana PBS and Montana State University." The prototype kilogram is under three glass bell jars in the center. " height="2500" loading="lazy" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/images/2020/08/20/The%20Last%20Artifact%20poster.jpg" title="The Last Artifact movie poster" typeof="foaf:Image" width="1875"><figcaption class="nist-image__caption"><div class="nist-image__caption-content" data-caption-editable="true"> </div> <div class="nist-image__credit"> <span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span> Credit: KUSM-TV/MontanaPBS </div> </figcaption></figure><h2>A small but fascinating niche</h2> <p>In 2016 when documentary filmmakers Jaime Jacobsen and Ed Watkins applied for the NIST grant providing up to $500,000 to create a science documentary about the redefinition of the kilogram, they knew they had a rare opportunity. “This grant provided us with the means to make a beautiful science film that could have a large impact,” says producer and director Jacobsen, who led the team that created <em>The Last Artifact</em>.</p> <p>As a filmmaker — particularly a documentary filmmaker — that’s not something you come across every day,” she says. “Science filmmaking is really considered a small niche within the broader world of documentary filmmaking.”</p> <p>“Metrology is a fascinating topic, but not one that commercial broadcasters would ever fund upfront,” says writer and co-director Watkins in describing the dilemma of how to make and nationally distribute a film about an important but largely unknown scientific subject.</p> <p>As veteran documentary filmmakers, Jacobsen and Watkins know all about the challenges of getting science on screen. They first met in 2005 when they were students in the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/http://sfp.montana.edu/sciencenaturefilm/">Science and Natural History Filmmaking program at Montana State University</a>. Jacobsen went on to produce numerous documentaries, including <em><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3956712/">Finding Traction</a></em>, which was featured on both Netflix and Amazon Prime. She has filmed on every continent except Antarctica. Watkins has produced science and natural history documentaries for PBS, the BBC, NOVA, National Geographic and others. His best-known production is perhaps <em><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6417924/">Stephen Hawking’s Favorite Places</a></em>, a three-part miniseries that featured the famous University of Cambridge physicist and won a national news and documentary Emmy Award in 2017.</p> <p>“The huge advantage of <em>The Last Artifact</em> being funded through a grant was that we had the ability to make a show without having to worry about what any given channel's executive producer would demand,” says Watkins. “In the end, that allowed us to make a far more engaging and accessible film than otherwise would have been possible.”</p> <p>As science-filmmaking pros with an impressive credit list — having documented and explained everything from ants to black holes — Jacobsen and Watkins were experts in using the techniques of filmmaking to explain and demystify complex topics and concepts. And although they were well versed in the milieu of scientific research, even <em>they</em> had never heard of the science of metrology prior to learning about the NIST grant.</p> <p>They would spend the next three years becoming experts.</p> <h2>How on earth do we tell this story?</h2> <p>After Jacobsen and her team were awarded the NIST grant in early 2017, they spent two years traveling the globe, filming in six countries and recording detailed interviews with 25 different researchers at metrology labs and other institutions. The footage they captured includes rare scenes of Le Grand K itself, when the three keyholders to its underground vault assembled in October 2017 to open the rarely unsealed sanctum.</p> <figure class="nist-image--lightbox nist-image" data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2020/08/20/selfie%20with%20kilogram.jpg?itok=Y03Ssg3d" data-media-id="588591"><img alt="three men take a selfie inside the kilogram vault. The kilogram is visible in a safe behind them. " height="1334" loading="lazy" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/images/2020/08/20/selfie%20with%20kilogram.jpg" title="selfie with kilogram" typeof="foaf:Image" width="2000"><figcaption class="nist-image__caption"><div class="nist-image__caption-content" data-caption-editable="true"> The Last Artifact writer and co-director Ed Watkins (left) poses for a quick selfie with Le Grand K — visible in the vault in the background — along with Rick Smith and International Bureau of Weights and Measures Director Martin Milton (right). </div> <div class="nist-image__credit"> <span class="nist-image__credit-label">Credit:</span> R. Smith </div> </figcaption></figure><p>Jacobsen, Watkins and their team spent a year editing and polishing this massive repository of footage into a cohesive one-hour film that tells the tale of measurement science through the ages, culminating with the now-legendary <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/13/18087002/kilogram-new-definition-kg-metric-unit-ipk-measurement">2018 meeting of the General Conference on Weights and Measures in Versailles, France</a>, where representatives from 60 countries unanimously agreed to redefine the kilogram, the kelvin, the ampere and the mole based on constants of nature.</p> <p>“How on earth do we tell this story?” Jacobsen recalls thinking when she started work on the film. “The science behind the redefinition is incredibly technical. As a storyteller, that presents a real challenge.”</p> <p>And, let’s face it, metrology is a little quirky. Jacobsen and Watkins picked up on this during their travels to metrology institutes around the world, and it inspired them to adopt a style for <em>The Last Artifact</em> that any fan of the movies <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128445/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_16"><em>Rushmore</em></a> or <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362270/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_14"><em>The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou</em></a> will recognize. Watkins explains: “The more metrologists I met, the more I was struck by the meticulous nature of their work and how joyfully passionate they are about their research. Stylistically, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0027572/">Wes Anderson's films</a> are just like that — clean, precise, and delightfully warm and joyful.”</p> <h2>Let’s hear it for the metrologists</h2> <p>For thousands of years, human-made measurements were defined by varied and sometimes capricious physical artifacts like the width of a barleycorn or the length of a particular king’s foot. The French Revolution gave rise to the metric system — now subsumed into the International System of Units — kicking off a 200-year movement toward truly universal standards of measurement that are both fair and necessary for the advancement of society.</p> <p>“When someone watches <em>The Last Artifact,</em> I hope they come away with a sense of awe for the scientific process and the scientific work that goes on behind the scenes,” says Jacobsen. “We don’t hear about it often, but it underpins our world and keeps our society going.”</p> <p>All our present-day industries and inventions — air travel, smartphones, medicine, electronic stock trading, and more — depend on our measurement standards, as do the industries and inventions of the future. These standards exist because of the work of generations of scientists, including metrologists.</p> <p>“There are so many things we take for granted, and barely even stop to wonder about,” adds Watkins. “I hope people see just how important scientists really are."</p> <figure class="nist-image--lightbox nist-image" data-lightbox="https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/2800_x_2800_limit/public/images/2020/09/10/Last%20Artifact%20group%20photo.jpg?itok=ttnfbNbK" data-media-id="590651"><img alt="group of people at a movie premiere" height="960" loading="lazy" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/images/2020/09/10/Last%20Artifact%20group%20photo.jpg" title="Last Artifact group photo" typeof="foaf:Image" width="1200"><figcaption class="nist-image__caption"><div class="nist-image__caption-content" data-caption-editable="true"> The International Bureau of Weights and Measures, located in Sèvres, France, arranged a special October 2019 screening of “The Last Artifact” in Paris for an audience composed of the leaders of national metrology labs from around the world. The NIST and "Last Artifact" delegations at the screening, shown here, are, from left, Jason Stoughton (who wrote this article), NIST Associate Director for Laboratory Programs Jim Olthoff, film editor and writer Stefanie Watkins, film co-producer/director Jaime Jacobsen, NIST International and Academic Affairs Director Claire Saundry, NIST Chief of Staff Kevin Kimball, NIST Public Affairs Director Gail Porter and NIST Director Walter Copan. </div> </figcaption></figure><p><em>*Edited Dec. 7, 2020</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="nist-block"> <div class="nist-tags"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/taking-measure-categories/electronics" hreflang="en">Electronics</a>, <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/taking-measure-categories/metrology" hreflang="en">Metrology</a>, <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/taking-measure-categories/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a> and <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/taking-measure-categories/standards" hreflang="en">Standards</a></div> </div> <div class="nist-block"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">About the author</h2> <div class="nist-field nist-field--label-hidden entity-reference"> <div class="nist-field__items"> <div class="nist-field__item"> <article role="article" about="/blogs/taking-measure/authors/jason-stoughton" class="nist-teaser"> <div class="nist-teaser__image"> <div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/authors/jason-stoughton" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2017/08/22/j_stoughton_headshot.jpg?itok=D02MlH7N" width="100" height="100" alt="Jason Stoughton" typeof="foaf:Image"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper"> <header> <h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/authors/jason-stoughton"><span>Jason Stoughton</span> </a></h3> </header> <div class="nist-teaser__content"> <div class="text-with-summary"> <p>In addition to being an unabashed science fanboy, Jason Stoughton is a writer, photographer, video producer and former director of NIST internal communications (now working at the National Science...</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container nist-block no-print"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">Related posts</h2> <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-68c10e0036e83d50ae616ec9866b8b0b71cafa36cc7e27ca6cf98aea2aef124b"> <div> <article role="article" about="/blogs/taking-measure/and-away-how-nist-research-helped-improve-weather-balloon-forecasting" class="nist-teaser"> <div class="nist-teaser__image"> <div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/and-away-how-nist-research-helped-improve-weather-balloon-forecasting" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2023/08/23/WeatherBalloon_nws_photo_july_2023.jpg?itok=rM7mUYzz" width="100" height="78" alt="A large white balloon with a small box attached to it waits inside a cinderblock building with a rolltop door. " typeof="foaf:Image"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper"> <header> <h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/and-away-how-nist-research-helped-improve-weather-balloon-forecasting"><span>Up, Up and Away: How NIST Research Helped Improve Weather Balloon Forecasting</span> </a></h3> <div class="nist-teaser__date"> <div class="daterange"><time datetime="2023-09-27T12:00:00Z">September 27, 2023</time> </div> </div> </header> <div class="nist-teaser__content"> <div class="text-with-summary"> A key component of the weather balloon — which helps meteorologists forecast the weather every day — was developed at NIST in the 1930s. </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div> <article role="article" about="/blogs/taking-measure/agents-contrast-software-runaway-hit-our-early-universe-sample-stories-nist" class="nist-teaser"> <div class="nist-teaser__image"> <div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/agents-contrast-software-runaway-hit-our-early-universe-sample-stories-nist" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2023/07/28/tammy_lucas_photo_for_spotlight_072023.jpg?itok=ykRs4_nS" width="100" height="75" alt="Two people wearing coveralls in a "clean room" lab look up at a disk-shaped object that one of them is holding. " typeof="foaf:Image"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper"> <header> <h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/agents-contrast-software-runaway-hit-our-early-universe-sample-stories-nist"><span>Agents of Contrast, Software Runaway Hit, Our Early Universe: A Sample of Stories on NIST Social Media</span> </a></h3> <div class="nist-teaser__date"> <div class="daterange"><time datetime="2023-09-06T12:00:00Z">September 6, 2023</time> </div> </div> </header> <div class="nist-teaser__content"> <div class="text-with-summary"> Curious? It’s time to get you caught up on a few of the summer happenings at NIST. </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div> <article role="article" about="/blogs/taking-measure/protecting-people-plumbing-pathogens-personal-me" class="nist-teaser"> <div class="nist-teaser__image"> <div class="entity-reference"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/protecting-people-plumbing-pathogens-personal-me" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/images/2023/07/20/alshae_logan_lab_1_071823_960x600_web.png?itok=Rbqfi7Yc" width="100" height="63" alt="Alshae' Logan-Jackson wears a purple coverall and safety glasses in the lab as she uses tweezers to hold a small white disk. " typeof="foaf:Image"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="nist-teaser__content-wrapper"> <header> <h3 class="nist-teaser__title"><a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/protecting-people-plumbing-pathogens-personal-me"><span>Protecting People From Plumbing Pathogens Is Personal to Me</span> </a></h3> <div class="nist-teaser__date"> <div class="daterange"><time datetime="2023-08-16T12:00:00Z">August 16, 2023</time> </div> </div> </header> <div class="nist-teaser__content"> <div class="text-with-summary"> Pathogens can get into our water through plumbing and are especially dangerous for people with compromised immune systems. </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nist-block no-print"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">Comments</h2> <section> <h2>Add new comment</h2> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20231001165712cs_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/css/css_h5db7_5E6JMms7UCu-io8CVqOAEq48XxgxVWxs4m4kY.css"/> <form class="comment-comment-node-blog-form comment-form usa-form antibot" novalidate="novalidate" data-drupal-selector="comment-form" data-action="/comment/reply/node/1633501/comment_node_blog" action="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/antibot" method="post" id="comment-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <noscript> <div class="antibot-no-js antibot-message antibot-message-warning">You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form.</div> </noscript> <div class="tablet:grid-col-3 form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-name js-form-item-name"> <label for="edit-name" class="usa-label"> Your name </label> <input data-drupal-default-value="Anonymous" data-drupal-selector="edit-name" type="text" id="edit-name" name="name" value="" size="30" maxlength="60" class="form-text usa-input"/> </div> <input autocomplete="off" data-drupal-selector="form-rgnf9uth9wbluj0gvhlppmfi19x6s6nhb7amkgmrxz8" type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-RgNf9utH9wBLuJ0gVHlPpmfi19x6s6nhb7aMkgmRxZ8" class="usa-input"/><input data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-comment-node-blog-form" type="hidden" name="form_id" value="comment_comment_node_blog_form" class="usa-input"/><input data-drupal-selector="edit-antibot-key" type="hidden" name="antibot_key" value="" class="usa-input"/><div class="field--type-text-long field--name-comment-body field--widget-text-textarea js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-wrapper" id="edit-comment-body-wrapper"> <div class="js-text-format-wrapper js-form-item form-item"> <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textarea js-form-type-textarea form-item-comment-body-0-value js-form-item-comment-body-0-value"> <label for="edit-comment-body-0-value" class="usa-label js-form-required form-required"> Comment <span class="usa-label--required"> <span class="usa-sr-only">Required</span>*</span></label> <div class="form-textarea-wrapper"> <textarea class="js-text-full text-full form-textarea required usa-textarea resize-vertical" data-entity_embed-host-entity-langcode="en" data-media-embed-host-entity-langcode="en" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-0-value" id="edit-comment-body-0-value" name="comment_body[0][value]" rows="5" cols="60" placeholder="" required="required" aria-required="true"></textarea> </div> </div> <div class="js-filter-wrapper filter-wrapper hidden js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-0-format" id="edit-comment-body-0-format"><div class="js-filter-guidelines filter-guidelines js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-comment-body-0-format-guidelines" id="edit-comment-body-0-format-guidelines"><div data-drupal-format-id="plain_text"> <h4>Plain text</h4> <ul> <li>No HTML tags allowed.</li> <li>Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.</li> <li>Lines and paragraphs break automatically.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <fieldset data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha" class="captcha captcha-type-challenge--image"> <legend class="captcha__title js-form-required form-required"> CAPTCHA </legend> <div class="captcha__element"> <input data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-sid" type="hidden" name="captcha_sid" value="403770056" class="usa-input"/><input data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-token" type="hidden" name="captcha_token" value="Awmlf1QPu4iJD9Ay75gWmr5SLTuzF_Ms0YVeIXtYbTc" class="usa-input"/><div class="captcha__image-wrapper js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-image-wrapper" id="edit-captcha-image-wrapper"><img data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-image" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/image-captcha-generate/403770056/1696179431" width="180" height="60" alt="Image CAPTCHA" title="Image CAPTCHA" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image"/> </div> <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-captcha-response js-form-item-captcha-response"> <label for="edit-captcha-response" class="usa-label js-form-required form-required"> What code is in the image? <span class="usa-label--required"> <span class="usa-sr-only">Required</span>*</span></label> <input autocomplete="off" data-drupal-selector="edit-captcha-response" aria-describedby="edit-captcha-response--description" type="text" id="edit-captcha-response" name="captcha_response" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" class="form-text required usa-input" required="required" aria-required="true"/> <div id="edit-captcha-response--description" class="description help-block"> Enter the characters shown in the image. </div> </div> </div> <div class="captcha__description description">This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.</div> </fieldset> <div data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" class="form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Save" class="button button--primary js-form-submit form-submit usa-button"/></div> <div class="comments__disclaimer padding-top-2"> <em>Please be respectful when posting comments. We will post all comments without editing as long as they are appropriate for a public, family friendly website, are on topic and do not contain profanity, personal attacks, misleading or false information/accusations or promote specific commercial products, services or organizations. Comments that violate our comment policy or include links to non-government organizations/web pages will not be posted.</em> </div> </form> </section> </div> </div> <aside class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--sidebar-second tablet-lg:grid-col-4"> <div> <div class="nist-block"> <div> <div about="/blogs/taking-measure"> <div class="views-exposed-form usa-form filters nist-block" novalidate="novalidate" data-drupal-selector="views-exposed-form-search-blog-taking-measure-search-page"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">Search</h2> <form action="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/search" method="get" id="views-exposed-form-search-blog-taking-measure-search-page" accept-charset="UTF-8" class="usa-form"> <div class="form-item js-form-item form-type-textfield js-form-type-textfield form-item-k js-form-item-k form-no-label"> <input placeholder="Search this blog" data-drupal-selector="edit-k" type="text" id="edit-k" name="k" value="" size="30" maxlength="128" class="form-text usa-input"/> <div id="edit-k--description" class="description help-block"> Put exact phrase in quotes (e.g., "artificial intelligence") </div> </div> <div class="grid-col-12 form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper" data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" id="edit-actions"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-submit-search-blog" type="submit" id="edit-submit-search-blog" value="Search" class="button js-form-submit form-submit usa-button"/></div> </form> </div> <div class="nist-block no-print"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">Email alerts</h2> <div class="text-long"><p>Sign up for e-mail alerts from the Taking Measure blog by entering your e-mail address in the box below.</p> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscribers/qualify" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="post"> <input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"> <input type="hidden" name="authenticity_token" value="GleKn0r3EFkuIRsIWsyLN6Mrqim4qc3U7eIUCWGqBFz2ziQ/qv0gnQTJUhVbKHMSlmrsC7UHIm6S8IfK6qk9EQ=="> <input type="hidden" name="topic_id" id="topic_id" value="USNIST_309"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-1"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-8"> <label class="usa-sr-only" for="email">Enter Email Address</label> <input class="usa-input" type="text" name="email" id="email" title="email"> </div> <div class="tablet:grid-col-4"> <input type="submit" name="commit" value="Sign Up" class="usa-button margin-top-1"> </div> </div> </form></div> </div> <div class="nist-block no-print"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">Stay connected</h2> <div data-quickedit-field-id="taxonomy_term/1937651/field_shared_social_links/en/_custom"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.facebook.com/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--facebook" title="Facebook"><span>Facebook</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.linkedin.com/company/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin" title="LinkedIn"><span>LinkedIn</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.twitter.com/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--twitter" title="Twitter"><span>Twitter</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.youtube.com/nist" class="nist-social nist-social--youtube" title="Youtube"><span>Youtube</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.instagram.com/nist/" class="nist-social nist-social--instagram" title="Instagram"><span>Instagram</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/new?topic_id=USNIST_309" class="nist-social nist-social--envelope" title="GovDelivery"><span>GovDelivery</span></a></div> </div> <div class="views-element-container nist-block no-print"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">Categories</h2> <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-98755ce5ed8783e0218f57a6907b4df1badaeed8eca903a36fc8b072a02ffc7e"> <div> <select class="usa-select ViewsJumpMenu js-viewsJumpMenu" title="-- Choose --" id="blog-categories-block-1-jump-menu"> <option>-- Choose --</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/advanced-communications">Advanced Communications</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/bioscience">Bioscience</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/buildings-and-construction">Buildings and Construction</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/chemistry">Chemistry</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/cybersecurity">Cybersecurity</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/disaster-resilience">Disaster Resilience</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/electronics">Electronics</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/energy">Energy</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/engineering">Engineering</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/environment">Environment</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/fire">Fire</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/forensics">Forensics</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/health">Health</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/information-technology">Information Technology</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/infrastructure">Infrastructure</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/manufacturing">Manufacturing</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/materials">Materials</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/mathematics-and-statistics">Mathematics and Statistics</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/metrology">Metrology</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/nanotechnology">Nanotechnology</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/neutron-research">Neutron Research</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/nist-general">NIST General</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/performance-excellence">Performance Excellence</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/physics">Physics</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/public-safety">Public Safety</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/quality">Quality</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/robotics">Robotics</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/standards">Standards</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/transportation">Transportation</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/uncategorized">Uncategorized</option> <option data-url="/taking-measure-categories/weights-and-measures">Weights and Measures</option> </select> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nist-block"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">About this blog</h2> <div class="text-long"><p>Taking Measure is the official blog of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).</p> <p>It provides a behind-the-scenes look at NIST’s research and programs, covering a broad range of science and technology areas. Through this blog, NIST’s researchers and staff share why they do what they do and how today’s research will lead to tomorrow’s innovations.</p> <p>The views presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of NIST.</p> <p>If you have any questions about our blog or reprint requests, please contact us at <span class="spamspan"><span class="u">takingmeasure</span> [at] <span class="d">nist.gov</span></span>.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container"> </div> </section> </div> <div data-elastic-exclude>  <footer class="nist-footer padding-bottom-4"> <div class="grid-container nist-footer__info"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="tablet:grid-col-6"> <div class="nist-footer__logo"> <a href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/" title="National Institute of Standards and Technology" rel="home"> <img class="nist-footer__logo-img" src="/web/20231001165712im_/https://www.nist.gov/libraries/nist-component-library/dist/img/logo/NIST-Logo-Brand-White.svg" alt="National Institute of Standards and Technology logo" width="300px" height="42px"/> </a> </div> <div class="nist-footer__contact"> <h3 class="nist-footer__contact-heading">HEADQUARTERS</h3> <address> 100 Bureau Drive<br> Gaithersburg, MD 20899<br> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/tel:301-975-2000">301-975-2000</a> </address> <p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/mailto:do-webmaster@nist.gov">Webmaster</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/contact-us">Contact Us</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/visit">Our Other Offices</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class="tablet:grid-col-6"> <div class="nist-footer__social-links"> <a class="nist-social nist-social--twitter-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://twitter.com/NIST"> <span>Twitter</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--facebook-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.facebook.com/NIST"> <span>Facebook</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--linkedin-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.linkedin.com/company/nist"> <span>LinkedIn</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--instagram-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.instagram.com/nist/"> <span>Instagram</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--youtube-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.youtube.com/NIST"> <span>YouTube</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--giphy-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://giphy.com/nist"> <span>Giphy</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--rss-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/news-events/nist-rss-feeds"> <span>RSS Feed</span> </a> <a class="nist-social nist-social--envelope-white" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/new"> <span>Mailing List</span> </a> </div> <div class="nist-footer__feedback"> How are we doing? <a class="usa-button" rel="nofollow" href="/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/form/nist-gov-feedback?destination=/blogs/taking-measure/last-artifact-brings-metrology-tv" title="Provide feedback">Feedback</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="nist-footer__nav" role="navigation"> <ul> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/privacy-policy">Site Privacy</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/oism/accessibility">Accessibility</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/privacy">Privacy Program</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/oism/copyrights">Copyrights</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.commerce.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy">Vulnerability Disclosure</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/no-fear-act-policy">No Fear Act Policy</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/office-director/freedom-information-act">FOIA</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/environmental-policy-statement">Environmental Policy</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/summary-report-scientific-integrity">Scientific Integrity</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.nist.gov/nist-information-quality-standards">Information Quality Standards</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://www.commerce.gov/">Commerce.gov</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/http://www.science.gov/">Science.gov</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/http://www.usa.gov/">USA.gov</a> </li> <li class="nist-footer__menu-item"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712/https://vote.gov/">Vote.gov</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer>  </div> </div> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","scriptPath":null,"pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/1633501","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"back_to_top":{"back_to_top_button_trigger":100,"back_to_top_prevent_on_mobile":false,"back_to_top_prevent_in_admin":true,"back_to_top_button_type":"image","back_to_top_button_text":"Back to top"},"google_analytics":{"account":"G-HEQ0YF2VYL","trackOutbound":true,"trackMailto":true,"trackTel":true,"trackDownload":true,"trackDownloadExtensions":"7z|aac|arc|arj|asf|asx|avi|bin|bsh|c|csv|doc(x|m)?|dot(x|m)?|dw(fx|g|gd)|dxf|eps|epub|exe|f(90)|flv|gif|gz|gzip|hqx|jar|jpe?g|js|m1v|mp(2|3|4|e?g)|mobi|mov(ie)?|msi|msp|pdf|phps|pl|png|ppt(x|m)?|pot(x|m)?|pps(x|m)?|ppam|sld(x|m)?|thmx|qtm?|ra(m|r)?|rfa|rtf|rvt|sch|sea|sit|swf|tar|tgz|tif|txt|txz|wav|wma|wmv|wpd|wrl|xls(x|m|b)?|xlt(x|m)|xlam|xml|xsd|z|zip"},"nist_search":{"clickTracking":"search-report-click","isDebug":false,"clickTrackEnabled":true,"message":"NIST Search in debug mode. Check the browsers network inspector for Click Track reporting results..."},"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":false,"extTargetNoOverride":false,"extNofollow":false,"extNoreferrer":false,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":true,"extExclude":"\\.gov\\\/|\\.mil\\\/|\\manufacturingusa\\.com\\\/","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":true,"extAlertText":"Thank you for visiting NIST. We hope your visit was informative. We have provided a link to this site because it has information that may be of interest to our users. NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on this site. Further, NIST does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on this site. Click OK to be directed to your link.","mailtoClass":"0","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"append","extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","whitelistedDomains":[]}},"viewsJumpMenu":{"blog-categories-block-1-jump-menu":{"new_window":false}},"ajaxTrustedUrl":{"\/blogs\/taking-measure\/search":true,"\/comment\/reply\/node\/1633501\/comment_node_blog":true},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"582eea317b4636ab5a0dffc8c6a006df3d6901ea5610498a0bbefc925ea1da0f"},"antibot":{"forms":{"comment-form":{"id":"comment-form","key":"XDytyE7gAWRG1VSJ5XfNCdeIU0-NupWAiBNUrPHes38"}}}}</script> <script src="/web/20231001165712js_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_vUzvThvSSVoHTSCkBCQkydhdsfaK1XKjKqS_Be_Zm8E.js"></script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20231001165712js_/https://siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_6017546.js" async></script> <script src="/web/20231001165712js_/https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/js/js_-xFhvc96WhhK9js9XHOL5uLr6nuVsVr1urdN2xEKKKg.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"gov-bam.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"37b7ccb661","applicationID":"1089704227","transactionName":"YFxUN0sADEdYVkBaClkWdwBNCA1aFnFGRhVWVWoNVgUHaHpaWkcXWFVaBks9LFtdUGJaAEB6WQ1NEw1YVVBGHltBUFMU","queueTime":5,"applicationTime":686,"atts":"TBtXQQMaH0k=","errorBeacon":"gov-bam.nr-data.net","agent":""}</script></body> </html>

CINXE.COM

‘The Last Artifact’ Brings Metrology to TV | NIST