Latest science stories

• A joint paper published in Nanoscale with collaborators from the USA has addressed an important challenge in multiferroic materials.
• A collaboration between NPL's Functional Materials Group and Queen's University Belfast has led to a paper in Physical Review B, which describes how thermal and thickness gradients at the nanoscale act to modify the properties of functional materials.
• Collaborative research between NPL, University of Montreal and McGill University on the distribution of charged particles during treatment will contribute to safer radiotherapy for cancer patients
• NPL and partners have published a paper in Smart Materials and Structures describing the effects of humidity and temperature on the electrical and piezoelectric properties of piezoelectric ceramics.
• NPL scientists have made an accurate frequency measurement that could be used as the basis for the next generation of optical atomic clocks.
• NPL has developed an innovative measurement technique that will drive improvements in fuel cell performance and durability.

Ever since opening in 1900, NPL has strived to deliver the highest social and economic impact through world-class measurement science, innovative applied research and knowledge services.

NPL maintains a wide portfolio of internationally visible research programmes that advance measurement science, underpin the SI system of measurement units and support various cross-disciplinary technologies.

Outstanding people

Over 500 scientists are employed across almost every discipline, from physicists to biochemists, and mathematicians to materials scientists. These passionate people deliver solutions to a wide range of problems for government, industry and other organisations, often well beyond the scope of measurement science.

World-class facilities

Research activities are housed in a state-of-the-art building providing 36,000 m² of custom-designed laboratories and support facilities. This enables the highest precision measurements to be realised, many of which exploit effects at the atomic level.

Collaboration

Collaboration is fundamental to much of NPL's research and scientists work with UK and international universities, as well as with other National Measurement Institutes and companies, from small start-ups to large multi-national corporations.

For more information on our work with commercial organisations, please visit the Commercial Services pages.

Science quality at NPL is monitored internally by our Chief Scientist, key scientists, and Knowledge Leaders, and externally via regular visits from the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering