Browsing: News & Updates

In a groundbreaking development in the field of forensic science, researchers at Murdoch University have made a startling discovery that could revolutionize the conviction process for sex offenders. By delving into the realm of microbiology, the scientists have found compelling evidence suggesting that bacteria could serve as a key identifier in cases where DNA evidence is absent. This breakthrough has the potential to provide law enforcement with additional tools to hold perpetrators accountable and bring justice to survivors of sexual assault. The findings, recently published in the renowned Forensic Science International journal, mark a significant leap forward in the quest for improved evidence gathering and stronger outcomes in such sensitive cases.

A study to investigate how blood behaves when a gun is fired, revealed that smaller blood droplets are more easily propelled towards the victim by the gases expelled from the gun. Furthermore, the researchers discovered that the gases create a turbulent vortex that can push back some of the blood droplets towards the victim. The implications of this study are significant, as it could provide a possible explanation for how a short-range shooter could avoid getting blood stains on their clothes.

This report discusses the slow adoption of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology in forensic laboratories, citing barriers such as the need for heavy investment in resources, additional laboratory space, and the time-consuming process of integrating NGS workflows with standard operating procedures and laboratory information management systems. The team behind the report suggests that an increase in published validation studies and publicly available information can help ease the transition from PCR-CE to NGS, which can lead to general acceptance of NGS within the court system.

Adham Mohammed was arrested and convicted of intentional homicide on January 19, 2020, based on DNA evidence. Adham initially denied killing Gasim but later confessed. He claimed that he was not in control of his actions because he was drunk. Adham’s legal team may appeal the death sentence, but the process can be lengthy and complicated.

UIDAI and IIT Bombay have partnered to develop a touchless fingerprint biometric capture system that includes built-in liveness detection and supports biometric authentication using multiple fingers simultaneously. The technology will be integrated into the Aadhaar ecosystem, making biometric authentication more accessible and more user-friendly.

The Maldives police have started investigating the death of an elderly woman in N. Manadhoo. The investigation was prompted by suspicions surrounding her death.

Household dust is an attractive source of evidence as it accumulates on undisturbed surfaces and contains sufficient DNA for analysis. The researchers used SNPs genotyping from indoor dust using MPS and found out that it could identify individuals connected to a crime scene.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said Nizam killed Mohammed Liton for money in his possession. Mohamed Nizam stole more than MVR 51,000 (fifty-one thousand Rufiyaa) belonging to Mohammed Liton from the boat.

9 years after a young woman was sexually assaulted at knifepoint at a commuter rail station in Acton, an investigative breakthrough has resulted in the identification and arrest of Christopher Aldrich, 28, of Lunenberg.

Factors such as temperature, humidity and changing seasons can affect the lifecycle of a blowfly species. Thus can be differentiated by species, locations, dates, seasons, temperature, humidity and other conditions.

Now two European projects have developed technologies to improve ways of finding the microscopic material needed to ensure a conviction. One – from French biotechnology company AXO Science – is a newly formulated spray for detecting evidence at rape scenes.

The oldest known DNA revealed that Greenland was a lush landscape of trees and vegetation with an array of animals, even the now-extinct mastodon.

They then narrowed down the selection to three metabolites that could serve as reference urinary biomarkers to detect OXIZID consumption. The metabolites were identified due to them being unique markers found in high abundance in urine samples following OXIZID consumption.

chemically linking fentanyl to the sodium pockets that exist within nerve cell receptors, they could block the drug’s harmful side effects and still reduce pain.

Research team used the Ga-rich component design and developed amorphous GaOx (a-GaOx) photo-synapses with enhanced persistent photoconductivity (PPC) effects. A non-linear mapping relationship for the DUV in-sensor RC system was constructed by inputting 4-bit equivalent light pulses for simulation so that the image pixel sequence information could be sampled for feature values.

team of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists has developed a new technique to analyze fentanyl in human blood and urine samples that could aid work in the fields of medicine and chemical forensics.

Scientists at a Wisconsin headquartered in Dane County have developed new technology that has the potential to change DNA analysis across the globe. It’s the Spectrum CE System from Promega. 

Scotland has become the first nation in the world to publish a special code that governs the use of DNA and other biometrics data in a criminal justice setting.

A 34-year-old sexual assault case was closed earlier this week with the arrest of George Thomas Jr., 61, of Arlington. 

George Thomas Jr. was charged with two counts of rape, sodomy, and abduction for a sexual assault that occurred on Aug. 24, 1988. George Thomas Jr. and the late Gregory Allen Thomas abducted the 22-year-old victim as she left her job at the Skyline Mall.

Organisms shed their DNA into the environment as skin particles, cells, and liquids, even while still alive. When these DNA fragments are sequenced they can be matched to DNA sequences from known organisms in eDNA reference libraries providing an identification. Even when comparison sequences from named organisms are unavailable, as they are for many microbes, the number of unique eDNA sequences can provide a biodiversity estimate.