In a significant breakthrough, authorities in New Hampshire have finally solved the murder of Judith "Judy" Lord, a 22-year-old mother killed in her Concord apartment in 1975. The case, which spanned over five decades, was stalled due to flawed forensic science that initially misled investigators. Judy's body was discovered by her apartment manager, who entered her ...
Forensic science is getting a high-tech upgrade. Scientists are now using infrared thermography to measure the surface temperature of corpses and the surrounding air. This method is more accurate and easier than the old ways of checking internal body temperatures like the rectum or liver. The old methods had big problems. They needed a lot of skill and were easily m...
In a remarkable turn of events, a decades-old mystery has been solved, thanks to the efforts of forensic science students and advanced technology. The case involves a woman found injured in a field in Woodstock, Maryland, back in 1971. She was treated in a hospital but never regained consciousness and passed away two months later. For years, she was known only as "Ja...
In the world of crime-solving, every little detail counts. Detectives often rely on bones and body parts to figure out who a person was. But sometimes, not all parts are found. So, what do they do when they can't find the usual stuff like feet or hands? They look for other clues, like the head and face. One interesting area they study is the ear. Yes, the ear! Scien...
Fire detectives, also known as investigators, are not born with their skills. They have to learn them, just like anyone else. In Minnesota, these detectives-in-training get a special kind of classroom: a house that has been set on fire on purpose. This house is in a rural part of Anoka County. A few weeks ago, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office lit six differe...
In 1966, a tragic crime shook Japan: a miso company executive and his family were murdered, and their home was set ablaze. Two months later, a company employee, Iwao Hakamada, was arrested and later sentenced to death based on evidence that would later be questioned. The key evidence? Bloodstained clothing found in a miso tank, which the prosecution claimed belonged ...
Sexual assault investigations often face a tricky situation. There are usually more female cells than male cells in the evidence. This makes it hard to get clear DNA results. Scientists have been testing different ways to separate these cells. They want to find the best method to identify the attacker's DNA. A recent study looked at three different techniques. These...
Breath tests for cannabis are not new, but they usually focus on smoking. Now, researchers wanted to see if these tests could also detect THC from edibles. They had people eat cannabis-infused treats and then tested their breath at different times. Before eating the edibles, some participants already had THC in their breath. After eating, THC levels changed in diffe...
Crime scene investigations just got a high-tech makeover. Scientists have found a clever way to detect blood using a smartphone and a special glowing chemical called luminol. When luminol meets blood, it lights up, and a smartphone can record the whole process in a video. This new method is not just cool; it's also eco-friendly. It uses a tiny amount of luminol comp...
In crime scene investigations, blood is a big deal. It can solve murders, rapes, and other serious crimes. But how do experts know if the blood is human? Two methods were put to the test in Pakistan. The first method uses a special tool called Anti-Human Hemoglobin (Ah-HB). It's cheaper but not as sensitive as the second method, which uses Seratec HemDirect (S_HD) s...