The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the national measurement standards laboratory for the United Kingdom, based at Bushy Park in Teddington, London, England. It is the largest applied physics organisation in the UK. NPL is an internationally respected centre of excellence in measurement and materials science. Since 1900, when Bushy House was selected as the site of NPL, it has developed and maintained the primary national measurement standards. Today it provides the scientific resources for the National Measurement System financed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. NPL also offers a range of commercial services, applying scientific skills to industrial measurement problems, and manages the MSF time signal. Teddington was also home to the UK National Chemical Laboratory but this was closed in 1965 and some of its work was transferred to NPL. The National Physical Laboratory was contractorised in 1995 and is operated by Serco. Since contractorisation, overheads have been halved, third party revenues have grown by 16% per annum, and the number of peer-reviewed research papers published have doubled.
First precise MEMS output measurement technique unveiled
The commercial application of MEMS, or micro-electro-mechanical systems, will receive a major boost today following the presentation of a brand new way to accurately measure the power requirements and outputs ...
May 14, 2013
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Graphene joins the race to redefine the ampere
A new joint innovation by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the University of Cambridge could pave the way for redefining the ampere in terms of fundamental constants of physics. The world's first ...
May 12, 2013
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Liquid lens shrinks laser measuring device
Lasers are widely used in many areas of science, industry and medicine and the quality of the beams they produce needs to be measured to make sure they perform correctly. As electronic devices become smaller ...
May 10, 2013
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Cold atoms for quantum technology
Researchers from the National Physical Laboratory, University of Strathclyde, Imperial College London and University of Glasgow have developed a portable way to produce ultracold atoms for quantum technology ...
May 08, 2013
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Electronic zippers control DNA strands
A research team from NPL and the University of Edinburgh have invented a new way to zip and unzip DNA strands using electrochemistry.
Apr 18, 2013
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Team improves the world's most accurate instrument for resistance measurement
Cryogenic Ltd and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have designed and developed the most accurate instrument for comparative measurements of electric current. The instrument can now be used by National Measurement Institutes ...
Apr 10, 2013
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European collaboration to improve radioactivity measurement in waste materials
As part of the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP), the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is working to improve the radioactivity measurements needed to ensure safety at nuclear power plants and waste repositories ...
Apr 04, 2013
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Squashed loft insulation 50 percent less effective
Research from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has shown that by squashing down loft insulation, for example under storage boxes, homeowners almost halve its performance.
Mar 18, 2013
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On-site electric current measurement to improve Smart Grid design
New and improved technology for measuring power quality in smart grids could save 839k tonnes of carbon and bring £250 million annual GVA in economic benefit. The technology has been developed by scientists at the Centre ...
Mar 12, 2013
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Modelling method to address pollution monitoring systems' data loss
A paper published in the journal Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts by NPL's Richard Brown is featured as the cover story and named as a 'HOT article' on the journal's blog.
Mar 07, 2013
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Centre for Carbon Measurement set to deliver large carbon reductions
The Centre for Carbon Measurement at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) will deliver eight megatonnes of carbon emissions reductions and over half a billion pounds in economic benefit over the next decade, according to ...
Feb 21, 2013
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Heart-shaped nano beads
(Phys.org)—Biotechnologists at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) specialise in the measurement of biomolecules in solution, at interfaces and in cells and tissues. They examine the benefits and limitations ...
Feb 14, 2013
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New technologies deployed to counter the threat of GPS jamming
The first profile of the perpetrators of GPS jamming on British roads will be presented today alongside research results that confirm it is these small device, available online for as little as £30, rather extreme solar ...
Feb 13, 2013
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Reacting to meltdown
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has helped CEA (Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission of France) measure high temperature reference standards in one of their research furnaces, which are ...
Jan 23, 2013
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Standardised measurement methods enable transition of IPL treatments from specialist clinics to consumers' homes
Intense pulsed light (IPL) is used to treat unwanted body and facial hair. The light emitted from IPL devices reduces hair growth by damaging individual hairs and therefore preventing their re-growth.
Jan 23, 2013
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