Recently in a study of forensic sciences, a team of ‘blood
detectives’ are looking into creating a working model of a camera that can
detect and date blood traces more accurately. Since blood samples and splatter patterns
are some of the most commonly used forms of prosecution evidence in violent
crimes, these scientists are hoping to use this new camera to better date blood
samples and create a more accurate chronology of events, let alone a precise
time of death. This technology could also be used to detect and date other
fluids, such as saliva, sweat, and semen, which could help improve conviction
rates in rape cases and other sexual assaults.
Dr Meez Islam, the leader of the team working on the project,
said forensic teams are still using techniques devised over a century ago
because there currently is no effective way of dating blood. These include what
is commonly seen on television where forensic scientists paint on chemicals to
areas where blood is believed to be and hope a color reaction takes place due
to the iron found in the hemoglobin of the blood.
He also stated that the forensic scientists often go to a crime scene and what appears to be blood is actually not. Blood on dark backgrounds are hard to see, and there are also traces of blood that are not visible to the naked human eye, so this new camera will allow for a fast, at-the-scene identification of the blood to speed up the investigative process. This imaging will scan the crime scene for blood and make the chances of missing a bloodstain very low.
A prototype built in Teesside University has apparently
shown extremely high accuracy in blood sample laboratories. So far, police
forces have shown a very high interest in the creation of these cameras, but Dr
Islam says his team needs about 100,000 euros to fund the creation of a working
model. This small investment though would lead to a large societal impact.
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