Human skulls and forensic anthropology are changing together. There are 29 bones (hyoid included) in the human skull, and for many years anthropologists have been using markers from this area of the body to determine sex, age, race, and to make…
Prior to the implementation of fingerprints as the primary means by which to identify people, many penitentiaries had adopted what was known as the Bertillon system of measurements. These measurements established a record for every prisoner, much like 10-print (fingerprint)…
A ballistic fingerprint database is a computerized database of markings on bullet casings made by legally purchased guns. The idea is much the same as the fingerprint database AFIS or the DNA database CODIS, both of which house input known…
Is bacteria the new forensic tool? A new study out of Colorado shows that it may be possible to identify who touched an object by what bacterial colonies they left behind. According to a "hand bacteria study" of more than…
Sherlock Holmes and forensics had a connection. Sherlock Holmes was a fictitious detective who is thought to have been born in the mid to late 19th century though his true birth year can be attributed to 1887 when Scottish author Sir Arthur…
What is art forgery? For the most part art forgery is the creating and or selling of works of art that are falsely attributed to an artist that did not create the piece of art. This can involve replicating an…
Fingerprints recovered from guns are found on the ‘spent’ or fired shell casings. When a bullet is fired it is sent through the barrel of the gun at an amazing speed, as part of the firing mechanism the primer in…
John Dillinger (June 22, 1903–July 22, 1934), one of the most notorious criminals in American History, was often glorified by the American media for his daring bank heists and thrilling prison escapes. He operated in the 20’s and 30’s during…
What is a forensic light source? That blue light you always see the CSIs shining on the crime scenes while wearing big orange goggles is not some science version of a psychedelic party. What investigators are doing in that situation is…
What are the first steps of a homicide investigation? When we think of CSI or forensic science, the first thing that comes to mind is a bloody crime scene or murderous serial killers, but homicides may only make up an…