5 New Forensic Science Tools and Technology
Forensic Science is the key to solving crimes all over the world. Without it, we would be stuck in the days of Sherlock Holmes, relying on less reliable evidence to reach conclusions about life and death situations.
With advances in forensic technology, law enforcement has more tools and resources at its disposal, making it harder for criminals to get away with their actions. As a result, the demand for forensics technology has only increased over time.
Along with that, public interest in forensics has also increased, especially with the popularity of crime based television shows. Series and movies such as Hannibal, Making a Murderer, CSI, and the perennial favorite Law and Order, do a great deal to expand interest in forensics, but they don’t always accurately represent the science.
Regardless of the perceptions about what is and is not possible on the big screen, there have been some pretty mind-blowing forensics technology advances in recent years. These tech advances are helping law enforcement to solve crime and close the books on cold cases across the nation.
Here are 5 new forensics tools and technology that will blow you away…and might just make you re-think your criminal career, too.
Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS)
This may be the “most advanced tool in the field of Forensic Biology,” according to Sheree Hughes-Stamm, who will investigate this research at Sam Houston University. Basically, MPS gives more information about DNA evidence than ever before, which will be critical in helping to solve missing persons cases, or situations where there has been a large disaster with many deaths.
Hair Bacteria Assessment
It sounds yucky – and it might be, but forensic biologists are now using analysis of crime suspects’ hair bacteria to match sexual criminal suspects to the victims of their crimes. Scientists realized that hair samples have microbe populations that are mixed when people engage in sexual behavior. This makes it easier to prove that an offender committed an act if there is a match in their microbe population to the victim.
Rapid DNA
This new forensic technology, developed by the Department of Homeland Security can use DNA to make family connections in times of crisis. The Department of Immigration Services also wants to use it to connect families that are coming into the country. And of course, forensic analysts can use this tech to help solve crimes. Unlike other breakthroughs, this technology is fairly easy to use, and requires little training.
Time-Tracing Fingerprint Technology
We have all seen the detective dust for prints to see if a suspect’s fingerprints are present at the scene of a crime. Now, we can dig even deeper into this process with advanced fingerprint technology that reveals when a fingerprint was left behind. This can help eliminate innocent suspects from suspicion, and identify prints that were left at the scene long before crimes were committed.
3-D Models to Help Examine Victims
Photographs from crimes scenes and the morgue can often be hard for jurors and others to examine or understand. With new 3-D photography technology that uses image layering, investigators can learn and share more about the evidence they find. Intricate details revealed on a corpse, like relevant internal damage that may show signs of old or repeated injuries, but that can’t be seen with regular photography, will now be available.
These are just a few examples of the types of cutting edge forensics technology that law enforcement is getting their hands on to catch criminals. Police departments and government agencies, as well as labs that perform forensics testing and research will only get more sophisticated equipment over time.
Forensic science tech evolves the same way as every other area of technology. Things get faster, better, and cheaper over time as new technology replaces the old. As a result, crime solving becomes faster, more efficient and more accurate.
After all, can you remember the last time you decided to buy an older model of phone, a slower computer, or a lower definition television when replacing your current one? No.
Similarly, crime fighting agencies and the companies they contract with want to use the latest tools and technology in forensic investigation.
Time will only tell what types of forensics technology the future will bring. Btwut when you consider what’s currently on the horizon, the science fiction dreams we had in the past look like they might come true in the not-too-distant future.
Do you have news or information on the latest forensics technology?
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