forensics

An analysis of bone fractures in the famous hominid’s fossil remains suggest that she stretched out her arms to brace for a fall before she died.

Watching the decomposition of pig carcasses anchored to the seafloor is helping forensic researchers understand what to expect of human remains dumped in the ocean.

Watch what happens when marine organisms have their way with a sunken pig carcass.

Understanding postmortem gene expression could help researchers improve organ transplants and time-of-death estimates, according to studies on mice and zebrafish.

Sorting the Beef from the Bull, Cheats and Deceits, A Sea of Glass, and Following the Wild Bees

The amino acids left behind in a human fingerprint can be used to determine whether an individual is male or female.

For assistance in solving crimes, a company has developed a service that will construct a face based on a genetic sample.

Researchers identify people by the unique combinations of microbes found in and on their bodies.

Microbial species found in pubic hair samples could help track down criminals.

Variants of 20 genes can predict the shape of a person’s face, a study finds.

Next-generation sequencing of the bacterial assemblages that inhabit a corpse throughout decomposition improve time-of-death estimates.

The microbial community composition of a corpse could indicate how long the person has been dead, according to a study on decomposing mice.

Following natural disasters or violent political turmoil, DNA science can help identify victims. But what if a country can’t afford the technology?

Turmoil in UK forensic services could threaten the integrity of the country’s criminal justice system, according to a government report.

A new DNA assay developed by forensic scientists helps archaeologists reconstruct eye and hair color from old teeth and bones.

Libyan scientists, soon to be trained in countries around the world, are undertaking a massive search mission to find missing loved ones among thousands of dead bodies, casualties of the country’s recent popular revolution.

By analyzing a collection of 24 genetic variations, researchers are able to predict the hair and eye color of long-dead humans.

DNA samples and CT scans reveal that Ramesses III likely had his throat slashed by his son and other conspirators.

Privacy advocates are arguing that collecting genetic data upon arrest is an invasion of privacy, given recent evidence that 80 percent of the human genome is functional.

Speakers at the American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in Philadelphia this week call for researchers to help improve forensic practices.