Description"Forensic science is a multidisciplinary subject used for examining crime scenes and gathering evidence to be used in prosecution of offenders in a court of law" ("Espionage Information").
The main fields used in this science is biology, chemistry, and medicine. Though there are more like the use of physics, computer science, geology, and psychology. |
Scientists examine objects, substances (blood/drug samples), chemicals (paints, explosives, toxins, tissue traces (hair, skin), or impressions (fingerprints, tidemarks).
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Ninhydrin has been used for many years to reveal prints. The object containing the evidence is spray with a solution, and after being left or several hours or heating it up to 80-100 degrees, it can produce a purple, blue print.
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Chemicals/ElementsChemical samples usually range from drug samples to blood.
Each red blood cell is about 1/3 hemoglobin. The plasma is about 92% water or H2O. The main plasma protein groups are albumins, globulins, and fibrinogens. And the main gases in blood are oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Cyanoacrylate is an ingredient that makes up about 98% of super glue. This is a very important tool in forensic science. When it is heated or mixed with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), it releases fumes that interacts with amino acids that are found in fingerprint residues found on an object, turning it to a white print. Silver nitrate is a chemical substance that is usually found in black and white photographic film. When it is applied to a latent fingerprint, the chloride that is found in the residue that is left behind interacts with the silver nitrate to form silver chloride. This substance makes the leftover fingerprint become a black or reddish-brown color in ultraviolet light. Crystalline iodine, when heated up release iodine fumes into a fuming chamber, where it interacts with the oils found in the print, producing a brownish colored fingerprint. Non-lasting: water and starch. |
Education RequiredForensic scientists typically need at least a bachelor's degree in natural science or forensic science to be work in the field, while there are some labs that require a master's degree in forensic science for advanced placement (lab technician leader/supervisor).
The masters is useful in areas such as DNA analysis/ballistics. A typical salary of a scientist in this work could be anywhere from between $30,477 and $93,872 (November 2011). |
Where People WorkProfessionals in the field can take on work inside government agencies, hospitals, universities or even private organizations - facial reconstruction artists, forensic archaeologists, criminalists, forensic multimedia analysts.
"Crime scene investigators may work long hours under distressing conditions. Most laboratory forensic science technicians work full time during normal business hours" (Bureau of Labor Statistics). |