The smell of death is easily recognised but not fully understood. Identifying the compounds behind it could lead to a number of improvements in forensics, including better trained cadaver dogs.
So much of modern life involves our digital devices – including crime. As the field of digital forensics gains prominence, practitioners need practical and ethical guidelines.
The Brazilian’s death showed a major human weakness.
PA/Johnny Green
The death of the Brazilian electrician at the hands of the Metropolitan Police was a notorious case of mistaken identity. The same thing would probably happen today.
There aren’t enough skilled investigators to tackle the cybersecurity problem.
polygraphus/shutterstock.com
Despite what we see on television, forensic science is not always easy to understand or simple to convey to a jury, many of whom may not have studied science since they were in school. When a case fails…
The painting of the Sistine Chapel was an exercise in logistics, which can be analysed for insights into who and what was involved in its creation. The same goes for any crime requiring some organisation.
EPA
Mention the word “logistics” and most people would probably think of trucks or the shipping of freight at a mundane best. A more textbook definition might be that logistics is the managed movement of resources…
First bodies of victims in the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash arrive at Eindhoven Airbase, the Netherlands.
AAP/Dan Himbrechts
The first of the bodies from Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 have arrived in the Netherlands ready for forensic investigation into the remains of the 298 passengers and crew. Identifying the victims is…
Vital forensic evidence could be lost as bodies from Malaysia Airlines MH17 are moved.
EPA/Anastasia Vlasova
Returning the 298 victims from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 to their families with dignity and respect is a major priority for each nation involved. Disaster victim identification (DVI) is a difficult…
False recollections can lead to wrongful convictions.
Justin Gaurav Murgai
A recent series of articles on The Conversation focused on the value of forensic science in criminal cases. Many specialities were covered. But what about forensic psychology? Professionals in this field…
What’s in you and on you says a lot about you … and a lot about where you’ve been.
FORENSICS AUSTRALIA – Thanks to television crime shows and crime novels many people are now familiar with the use of DNA as forensic evidence in criminal cases. In these scenarios, DNA profiles are based…