This Fluorescent Nanomaterial Could Reveal Previously Unseen Fingerprints

Veuer

Researchers at the University of Leicester in the UK are evaluating a new fluorescent nanomaterial which could reveal fingerprints that other forensic materials don’t capture. Veuer’s Matt Hoffman reports.

Transcript

00:00Criminals may soon be caught fluorescent-handed.

00:03Researchers at the University of Leicester in the UK are evaluating a new fluorescent nanomaterial

00:08which could reveal fingerprints that other forensic materials don't capture.

00:12This is chemistry PhD student Nick Ross.

00:15We should be able to get fingerprints that maybe someone's washed their hands more recently

00:20and they've touched something but they've left less residue behind

00:25but we're going to be able to get that using a more sensitive powder.

00:28The new material combines a silicon nanoparticle, fluorescent dye and chitosan,

00:33a substance derived from powdered shrimp, crab or lobster shells.

00:37Physical chemistry professor Robert Hillman says this innovation could allow for breakthroughs

00:42in previously unsolvable cold cases.

00:45I would be reasonably optimistic about this

00:49because there will inevitably be some residue left,

00:53perhaps not very much, but we don't need very much.

00:56According to a university news release, the material could also potentially be used

01:00directly at crime scenes rather than just in a laboratory.

01:03A paper published by the researchers in the journal RSC Advances

01:07says the material has significant promise for superior exploitation by forensic practitioners

01:12in the acquisition and analysis of crime scene evidence.

Category

Transcript

Recommended