Download Forensic Science What is Forensic Science? Forensic Science (also

Forensic Science
What is Forensic Science?
Forensic Science (also known as crime scene investigation) is the process of
analyzing the evidence to reach a conclusion using science and technology. There
are many tools and methods used in Forensic Science. There are also many
branches—sub-divisions—of Forensic Science. The word “forensic” comes from the
Latin word “forēnsis” which means ‘of or before the forum’.
Tools Used in Forensic Science
There are many tools used in all branches of Forensic Science. These include:
tweezers, which are used to pick up small objects such as strands of hair; dusting
powder, which is used to collect finger prints; vacuums, which collect very small
pieces of evidence; and measuring tools, which are used to measure room
temperature, room size, and objects within the area of other objects. Microscopy is
the use of microscopes. The tools used are usually microscopes, which include the
compound microscope, stereo dissecting microscope, and the digital microscope.
Forensic Scientists also use a wide array of chemicals.
Chemicals that produce fumes are used often for documenting fingerprints.
These are used when the fingerprints are hard to reach or on surfaces where
dusting powder (see above) cannot be used. Chemicals are also used with unknown
substances. How the chemicals react with the said unknown substance is very
important when investigators check for certain substances. Chemicals are also used
in toxicology. Toxicology is the study of poisons. It was originally used to study
suspected homicides, but now is also use to investigate suicides. Toxicologists use
chemicals in tests involving urine and blood specimens to look for traces of alcohol
and other drugs.
Sub-Divisions of Forensic Science
As I mentioned before, there are many subdivisions in Forensic
Science - MANY subdivisions. Computational Forensics is the development of
algorithms & software to help with examinations. Criminalistics is various
scientists examining evidence, controlled substances, ballistics, firearm & tool mark
examination, and other criminal- involved evidence examination. Digital Forensics
is methods & techniques used to recover and analyze data from digital media.
Forensic Accounting is the study & interpretation of evidence. Forensic Aerial
Photography is the study of aerial photographs. Forensic Anthropology uses
physical anthropology, typically for identification of human remains. Forensic
Astronomy is the usage of astronomy to determine past constellations. Forensic
Botany is the study of plants to gain information on possible crimes, Forensic
Chemistry is the detection & identification of drugs, accelerants used for arson, and
explosive & gunshot remains. Forensic Dactyloscopy is the study of fingerprints.
Forensic Document Examination answers questions about argued documents
using methods involving handwriting & tries to figure out the author. Forensic
DNA Analysis uses uniqueness of DNA to answer questions and link a suspect to a
crime (i.e. rape).
Forensic Engineering is the examination of structures/products to
determine the cause of failure. Forensic Entomology is the study of insects in or
around human remains to determine time and location of death. Forensic Geology
is the study of evidence in the forms of soil, minerals, etc… Forensic Geophysics
uses the geophysical techniques (i.e. radar) for finding objects underground or
underwater. Forensic Intelligence starts with the collection of evidence and ends
with interrogation of suspects of the crime under investigation. Forensic
Interviews are conducted using methods to investigate victims, witnesses, suspects,
etc… Forensic Limnology is the analysis of evidence collected from crimes in
and/or around freshwater bodies of water. Forensic Linguistics deals with
government issues that need linguistic experience. Forensic Meteorology is the
analysis of past weather that occurred during a crime. Forensic Odontology is the
study of teeth. Smile! 
Forensic Optometry is the study of eyewear. Forensic Psychology is the
study of someone’s mind and criminal behavior. Forensic Seimology is the study of
seismic signals made by underground nuclear explosions. Forensic Serology is the
study of body fluids. Forensic Toxicology studies the effects of drugs and poisons
on the human body. Forensic Video Analysis is the examination, comparison, and
evaluation of videos. Mobile Device Forensics is the evaluation of evidence found
on cell phones. Trace Evidence is the analysis of evidence (glass, paint etc.).
Wildlife Forensic Science is involved with cases involving poaching, animal abuse,
and other things involving non-human living beings.
Forensic Scientists of Notability
There are a lot of scientists I could write about, but I have chosen only 2 and
have also decided to write about one of the historic cases that they helped solve.
Michael Baden (1934—)
Michael Baden received his medical degree in 1959 from the New York
University School of Medicine. He has been Deputy Chief Medical Examiner of
Suffolk County, has given many lectures at universities, and has worked with the
VICAP (Violent Crime Analysis Unit) and with the New York State Police Child
Abuse. He is also a Board Certified forensic pathologist. Baden was an expert
witness in the Claus Von Bulow murder trial and the OJ Simpson trial, as well as
many others. He was the Chairman of the Forensics Pathology Panel of the U.S.
Congress Select Committee that investigated the assassinations of President John F.
Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
President John F. Kennedy was shot November 22, 1963 just after noon. He
was in Dallas, Texas at the Dealey Plaza. He was aware that there was a small group
of extremists adding to the political tension in Texas. JFK arrived at the airport and
then began to go to his hotel. As his limousine passed the Texas School Book
Depository, a gun was fired. The president had been shot in the neck and head. He
was pronounced dead at 1 o’clock P.M.
Pathologists with no training or experience with gunshot wounds examined
President John F. Kennedy. Baden was the first forensic pathologist to examine the
President’s wounds. He used photographs. Less than an hour after his death, Lee
Harvey Oswald was arrested for the assassination of John F. Kennedy. When Oswald
was being transferred from the police station to the county jail, he was shot by Jack
Ruby. Oswald died 2 hours later.
Sara C. Bisel (1932—1996)
Dr. Sara C. Bisel was a physical anthropologist and a classical archaeologist.
She researched at Herculaneum. She attended the University of Minnesota and
received a master’s degree in Classical Area studies and also specialized in Greek
archaeology. She also had a Ph.D in archaeology. When she researched at
Herculaneum, she became an expert on ancient health and nutrition. She was also
awarded fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution. She did research funded by the
National Geographic Society and worked at sites in Greece, Israel, Italy, and Turkey.
Herculaneum was discovered in the 18th century while a well was being dug.
Herculaneum was lost to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It was a village in Italy at
the time. The first artifact from the area that is known to have come into the U.S. is a
piece of terracotta pottery that was sent to a man named James Logan. Since
Herculaneum was discovered, there have been around 300 skeletons recovered. It
was a breakthrough in science and anthropology because Romans almost always
cremated their dead. When the eruption occurred, almost the entire town had fled,
while around 300 took refuge in 12 boathouses.
Dr. Sara Bisel conducted much research on Herculaneum. She discovered
many things. She discovered they had a good diet and good nourishment (she found
this based on the height of the bones). She noticed that there was a lack of children’s
bones (either from a low fertility rate or the bones had decomposed faster from
being more fragile and/or smaller). She also learned the people of Herculaneum had
good teeth from their high seafood diet. She was there for six years doing chemical
analysis. Sara Bisel’s findings are extremely important for understanding the people
of Herculaneum and their nutrition.