10 Technologies for Modern Forensic Sciences

Technology is amazing and continues to advance more than ever before, with new inventions cropping up more frequently. Thanks to technology, you can now access online casinos on your mobile phone with pay by mobile slots, where you can replenish or withdraw funds conveniently.

Do you know what else technology has made easier? Modern forensic sciences. If you love watching movies or documentaries related to crime, you agree that the level of detail involved in analyzing a crime, for instance, a homicide, is truly exceptional. These shows give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes breakdown of how they use forensic sciences to nab criminals.

You have probably heard terms like DNA fingerprinting, alternative light photography, and facial reconstruction in these shows. These are among the amazing technologies used in the forensic sciences, which you are about to find out.

What Entails Forensic Sciences?

The forensic science process entails collecting, preserving, and analyzing scientific evidence during a criminal investigation. Forensic science is a critical element of putting together critical clues with the help of science to ascertain the true nature of a crime. The process involves forensic experts working together in teams, going to a crime scene to collect data, and others analyzing the collected samples in forensic labs.

Criminal acts are a weighty matter that needs the involved experts to tread carefully. Hence, forensic sciences are governed by legal procedures. The legal standards offer a roadmap to the correct criminal procedure and collecting tangible evidence to prosecute suspects. Forensic scientists also testify in court proceedings by breaking down the findings of the collected data.

What are the Technologies Used for Modern Forensic Sciences?

1. DNA Fingerprinting

Modern forensic sciences have improved the identification of suspects from their fingerprints left on a crime scene or object. The fingerprints help forensic teams compare DNA in an individual’s nuclear cells to biological samples collected from a crime scene/object. With DNA fingerprinting, it is easier to identify guilty suspects if the DNA matches, excluding innocent people from the investigation.

2. Alternative Light Photography

Alternative light photography is one of the best tools for forensic scientists to help identify unseen physical damage inflicted on a person. Forensic nurses can make life-saving decisions by using special cameras at their disposal to identify life-threatening injuries quickly. One such camera is the Omnichrome, which uses orange filters and blue light to show bruising below the skin.

This technology is also used to detect and identify biological samples like semen, blood, urine, and saliva from crime scenes using forensic lights. Forensic teams use alternative light photography to distinguish the biological samples from their surroundings. The samples are identified under Forensic Light sources (FLS), including Ultraviolet lights.

3. Scanning Electron Microscopy

Scanning electron microscopes are forensic equipment used to scan objects to obtain detailed images at very high magnifications. They are an improved version of optical microscopes and help forensic teams to conduct investigations in scenarios involving pyrotechnic post-explosion and gunshot residues. Explosives made from pyrotechnic mixtures have unique residues that are distinguished to provide clues about an explosive attack.

4. Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)

LA-ICP-MS is one of the powerful technologies used in the forensic sciences to conduct isotopic analysis on solid samples. A laser beam is used to focus on the surface of a sample to generate fine particles in a process referred to as laser ablation. The fine particles can be pieced together to carefully analyze the elements and isotopes, even in the tiniest pieces of glass.

When the pieces, for example, glass particles, are put back together using this technology, it helps forensic scientists to analyze a crime. Forensic teams can determine the type of weapon used, the direction of bullets, and the impact of a bullet in the glass, narrowing the investigation scope.

5. High-Speed Ballistics Photography

Ballistic experts use special forensic equipment to analyze bullets fired from a firearm and how they penetrated the targeted objects. Analyzing gunshot wounds, bullet holes, and how glass shatters are created from a bullet requires specialized photography skills and a high-speed camera.

6. 3D Forensic Facial Reconstruction

Facial reconstruction is a forensic science process that uses special software to identify a person’s physical/facial appearance. It is especially used to identify murder victims whose remains have been severely damaged or decomposed beyond physical recognition.

7. Forensic Palynology

Palynology is a forensic field concerned with analyzing pollen to identify fossilized geographic fingerprints that contain evidence of a crime. Pollens are tiny seeds that can withstand extreme temperatures and pass through the digestive system without being broken down by hydrochloric acid. Pollen analysis is done using a forensic science process involving computers and DNA metabarcoding to solve murder mysteries.

8. Link Analysis Software

This software is the best tool for forensic scientists to track funds and any suspicious activity in a victim or a suspect’s financial transactions. For instance, forensic scientists can trace irregular transactions from a person’s bank account using link analysis software and investigate the reasons behind them.

9. Drug testing

Scientists use forensic equipment to perform various tests, including color and microcrystalline testing, to identify unknown substances. For instance, if a suspect used an unknown substance to harm a victim, scientists can identify them regardless of whether it was in pill, powder, or liquid form. Drug testing makes it easier to determine where the suspect got the substance, narrowing the investigation scope to particular pointers.

10. Hair Bacteria Assessment

Modern forensic sciences have availed a technology that tests hair samples from victims and potential suspects. The technology resulted after scientists discovered that when two people have sexual contact by any means, whether consensual or forced, the microbes in their hair samples mix. Technology enables forensic teams to look for matches between a victim and a suspect in the microbe population, making it easier to identify the culprit.

Conclusion

The above technologies used in forensic sciences have made investigations and tracking down of criminals easier. Thanks to modern forensic sciences, identifying murder weapons used, the direction of an attack, murder suspects, and victims have been simplified. The forensic field is one critical element of investigations, as experts ensure justice prevails in criminal cases by collecting, analyzing, and presenting evidence in a court of law.

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