Establishing time-since-death is key in forensic investigations.
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Pigs, specifically those weighing around 60kg, are useful in human decomposition studies.
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A uniquely identifying population of bacteria can survive on clothes for months after a person wears them.
Fingerprints have been used as unique identifiers for decades.
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
Using fingerprints to catch criminals isn’t 100% accurate, but analyzing fingerprints in 3D, rather than 2D, could improve the process.
Astronomer Copernicus, or Conversations with God (1873)
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A team of archaeologists discovered the remains of the 16th-century father of modern astronomy, who demonstrated that the Earth orbits the Sun.
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The meanings we carry around in our heads seem so natural and inborn that we fail to realise other people can have quite different understandings.
Jurors tend to rely heavily on forensic testimony, even when they don’t understand it.
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Educating mock jurors about what kinds of statements are appropriate − or not − led to more critical assessments of forensic testimony and improved the quality of their decisions.
The scent emitted from your hands could offer clues about who you are.
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Human scent could one day be used as evidence in forensics and as diagnostic information in medicine.
Ötzi was found in 1991 in the Alps near the Italian-Austrian border.
Museo Archeologico/HO
We can predict hair and eye colour with reasonable accuracy from DNA, but other characteristics are being investigated.
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Fatal stabbings are the leading cause of homicide in countries with restricted access to firearms, including Australia. New research could help solve these cases.
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The Titan disaster happened in international waters, in a commercially operated vessel, and with victims of different nationalities. Any details that emerge will likely be treated with sensitivity.
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Such bodies have proven to bring a cost-effective improvement to the accuracy of criminal justice systems overseas.
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
A way to recover the owner’s DNA from ancient artefacts will help archaeologists understand past societies in more detail than ever before.
“The camera never lies,” goes the old adage. But how true is that?
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CCTV is a popular form of digital evidence but it can be unreliable and problematic.
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Most methods for detecting lies actually detect signs of stress – which makes them extremely unreliable.
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Our vehicles hold a remarkable amount of information, which can be used by digital forensic investigators in the detection of crime.
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Modern DNA sampling is shockingly sensitive – you can get someone’s profile from just 80 cells.
Researchers know better ways to get accurate information from child witnesses.
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Human memory doesn’t work like a video camera, simply recording a scene as it happens. But researchers know how to help children recall information accurately.
Paola Magni
The remains of murder victims often turn up in suitcases, bins, and similar items. Forensic researchers in Australia are leading the way in helping to solve such cases.
A protest against police brutality outside parliament buildings in Nairobi.
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A host of problems are behind police failures, including poor evidence gathering and the mistreatment of witnesses.
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Identifying the victims of a mass casualty event is a crucial part of grieving and community healing.