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Funding Cuts Disband NIST's Key Atomic Spectroscopy Group

12/4/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Lost Science series reports that funding cuts under the Trump administration led to 23-year disbandment of NIST's Atomic Spectroscopy Group.
Yuri Ralchenko, former leader of NIST's Atomic Spectroscopy Group, says the unit provided critical atomic data for space research.
Some tools will move to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, while many instruments stay at NIST.
Ralchenko continues his research as a guest at NIST and as a NASA contractor.

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Story summary

The Lost Science series reports that funding cuts under the Trump administration led to 23-year disbandment of NIST's Atomic Spectroscopy Group.
Yuri Ralchenko, former leader of NIST's Atomic Spectroscopy Group, says the unit provided critical atomic data for space research.
Some tools will move to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, while many instruments stay at NIST.
Ralchenko continues his research as a guest at NIST and as a NASA contractor.