Forensic Science

Renowned forensic anthropologist Dr. Emily Craig recently filed a patent for a new style of body bag designed to afford protection to forensic and emergency personnel working in hazardous conditions.

In what is claimed to be a world's first, delegates at the UK National Police Improvement Agency's annual e-crime conference looked on as a forensic examination of a remote computer was conducted via a mobile phone some 70 miles away.

CSI: The Experience is an interactive exhibit based on the very popular TV show. According to the exhibit mission statement, CSI: The Experience, immerses guests in hands-on science while leading them through the challenge of solving a crime mystery.

Anybody interested in crime scene investigation should take a look at Brian Stampfl's blog CSI Seattle. The author is currently enrolled on a 10 week course at the National Forensic Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee and he is using his blog to document the forensic science and crime scene investigation procedures being showcased, taught and studied.

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Read a great online forensic science article published on the Scotsman.com website. I was drawn to the piece by its intriguing title "Written in your toenails - the secrets of what you eat and where you live".

The article was based around the fact that the "humble" toenail can reveal a chemical fingerprint which can provide important forensic evidence such as what a person had been eating and drinking prior to their death.

Forensic science is shedding new light on one of the most notorious murder cases in British history. In 1910 American born Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen was found guilty and subsequently hanged for the murder of his wife Cora. Crippen is said to have poisoned Cora, dismembered her body and then buried her remains in the cellar of their London home.

Read a very interesting forensic science article published online by Economist.com which documented the issues surrounding the mass storage of DNA samples.

The article notes that the traditional way of keeping samples i.e. refrigeration is less than perfect given that power supplies can be interrupted and thermostats can be mis-set. However, it would seem a more satisfactory solution is as hand, a solution that enables DNA samples to be kept at room temperature.

The fascinating range of investigations to which forensic science can be applied never ceases to amaze me. This was recently confirmed when I read that the Mercer Tool Museum in Pennsylvania (or should that be Transylvania!) had approached scientists to find out if their vampire hunter's kit was a fake.

The death of Marilyn Sheppard in 1954 remains one of the most infamous unsolved murders in the USA. The subsequent arrest of her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard resulted in what became known as the "Trial of the Century" in 1954 followed by the "Re-Trial of the Century" in 1966.

Very useful forensic science video produced by the University of Maryland in 2003. Professors Marilyn London and Tom Mauriello join host Andrew Wolvin, Ph.D., to discuss how scientists assist in criminal investigations.

Ludwig van Beethoven, one the greatest composers in the history of music died on March 26, 1827, aged just 56. According to forensic scientist Christian Reiter, Beethoven's untimely demise was a result of lead poisoning accidentally administered by his own doctor.

Death: The Last Taboo is an informative website resource produced by the Australian Museum. The section on what happens after death includes a number of forensic science related topic areas.

Very useful forensic science careers article that was first published online in 2002 by The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The School of Life Sciences at Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen, Scotland, UK) is offering a short summer course for anyone interested in learning about the reality behind such hit TV shows as CSI.

In a traditional lineup five or six people, including the police´s main suspect stand side by side while a witness looks on usually via a one-way mirror to see if they can identify anybody connected with the crime under investigation.

I came across a very interesting forensic science article that was first published online in NewScientist back in November 2006. What makes this particular forensic science article stand out is that it provides instant links to previews of other forensic science related articles.

Dr Michael Welner is self-funding a research project entitled The Depravity Scale, the primary aims of which are to establish societal standards of what makes a crime depraved, and to develop a standardized instrument based on specific characteristics of a crime that must be proven in order to merit more severe sentences.

Anybody who can get to the Arizona Science Center should fly over there to check out the new forensic entomology exhibition which is described as a fascinating exhibition that reveals the creepy crawly side of criminal investigations.

According to records at the UK's National Footwear Intelligence and Refererence Database, Nike shoes top the list when it comes to shoeprints left at crime scenes.

Podiatry is a field of healthcare related to the study and medical treatment of the foot and ankle and it's application in a legal context (Forensic podiatry) is helping to inform criminal investigations by matching criminals to their footprints and footwear.