New fingerprint detection technology

by rpshen | June 2, 2008 at 02:34 pm

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The latest technology breakthrough at the University of Leicester allows for the detection of fingerprints even after they have been washed off. This technique could lead to the reopening of many cold cases.

Forensic scientists at the University of Leicester, working with Northamptonshire Police, have announced a major breakthrough in crime detection which could lead to hundreds of cold cases being reopened. The University's Forensic Research Centre has been working with Northamptonshire Police's scientific support unit to develop new ways of taking fingerprints from a crime scene.

Researchers in the University Department of Chemistry and the Police's scientific support unit have developed the method that enables scientists to 'visualise fingerprints' even after the print itself has been removed. They conducted a study into the way fingerprints can corrode metal surfaces.

Dr John Bond, Honorary Fellow at the University of Leicester and Scientific Support Manager at Northamptonshire Police said: "For the first time we can get prints from people who handled a cartridge before it was fired."

"The procedure works by applying an electric charge to a metal - say a gun or bullet - which has been coated in a fine conducting powder, similar to that used in photocopiers.

"Even if the fingerprint has been washed off, it leaves a slight corrosion on the metal and this attracts the powder when the charge is applied, so showing up a residual fingerprint.

"The technique works on everything from bullet casings to machine guns. Even if heat vaporises normal clues, police will be able to prove who handled a particular gun."

As a result of the research, cases dating back decades could be reopened because the underlying print never disappears, say the scientists. The technique also works in cases where prints may be left on other metals.

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Shakabrah

at 06:19 on June 3rd, 2008

ammo loaded into a 50 caliber machine gun in Baghdad Iraq. This gun is mounted on top of a Hum-Vee.

Shakabrah has contributed a photo to this story.

Mitchell McMillan

at 06:57 on June 3rd, 2008

AR-15

Mitchell McMillan has contributed a photo to this story.

zer_cool

at 07:44 on June 3rd, 2008

Winchester 9x19mm FMJ

zer_cool has contributed a photo to this story.

Alejandro_Colo

at 08:47 on June 3rd, 2008

Alejandro_Colo has contributed a photo to this story.

arizona guy

at 09:20 on June 3rd, 2008

side arm

arizona guy has contributed a photo to this story.

ALaS26

at 11:44 on June 3rd, 2008

Meet Chris. He's a military veteran who collects antique military weapons. He is aiming down a Yugoslavian made SKS from the 1950's. He modified it by adding a bi-pod and a custom stock on it. It's a 7.62 x 39 mm caliber and it holds up to 10 rounds and is semi-automatic. That's some heavy fire power if you ask me. The gun was standard military fire arm for "Warsaw Pack Nations" through the 1950's and was used in Vietnam by the Viet Cong.
ALaS26 has contributed a photo to this story.

Eddie Green

at 12:26 on June 3rd, 2008

Mounted on a restored Vietnam era helicopter.

Eddie Green has contributed a photo to this story.

ike4014

at 12:58 on June 3rd, 2008

ruger p345 .45 cal with streamlight tlr-1 on it.

ike4014 has contributed a photo to this story.

hungarianred26

at 14:45 on June 3rd, 2008

Revolvers are indexed after being found at a crime scene to show if a bullet has been fired and how many were loaded into the gun. Fingerprints are then done on the shell casing and the firearm.

hungarianred26 has contributed a photo to this story.

Yakima_gulag

at 23:51 on June 3rd, 2008

this pen was purchased in Baščaršija, an older part of Sarajevo and my v ery favorite tourist trap area. Pens like it are common souvenirs. This particular one cost 15KM and it is very heavy. I carry it all the time, as much as an item to use in self defense if need be, as to use for a pen. I have other shell casing pens, one is my REAL favorite because it is retractable and could probably take a Space Pen filler. I should really photograph it too.
The first bullet casing pens I bought were made by a guy who helped dig the famous Tunel under the airport here. There was a documentary about the Tunel, which was shown March 1 on T.V. here, and he was in the documentary! So those particular pens, purchased on my first day back in Sarajevo are very special, I am reserving them as gifts for family members.

Brass corrodes very easily, and the best way of cleaning it is ash, I find ash from Indian incense to be the best, mixed with baby talc, and oil, I use mineral oil for this job,
First rub the object to be cleaned with mineral oil, then sprinkle on the ash and talc mixture, and rub until it shines.

Organic stuff really messes up brass. For some reason the brass used in making ammunition is particularly easily corroded.

mikaplexus

at 23:57 on June 3rd, 2008

This is a nine millimeter hollow point, an extra deadly bullet... and it's forged in solid silver, so you can really mess that werewolf up!

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Les Langley

at 08:03 on June 4th, 2008

A macro image of a 5.56 mm ball round taken beside a 1 Euro coin.

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dankohlstrom

at 15:47 on June 5th, 2008

Gun belonging to a security guard in Ouagadougou - Burkina Faso, West Africs

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[ Fred ]

at 13:40 on June 21st, 2008

This is a photo of the 7,62mm M968 a.k.a. "MosqueFAL" ammunition, taken at a shooting training mission of the mandatory military service on Brazil - Araraquara - SP.
This rifle is the main non-automatic long-range rifle used by the brazilian army on training missions, reaching up to 4km in range, at a angular shooting. At a tense-line shooting, the range falls to 300m, where the naked human eye no longer can distinguish two differente points. The real usefull range of this rifle is about to 150-200m, where the shooter can actually aim correctly to the target.

[ Fred ] has contributed a photo to this story.