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Forensic Science

News and Updates

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New NIST Biometric Data Standard Adds DNA, Footmarks and Enhanced Fingerprint Descriptions

December 6, 2011

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published a revised biometric standard in November, 2011, that vastly expands the type and amount of

NIST and Researcher Butler Recognized for Forensic Science Citations

July 6, 2011

When ScienceWatch.com, a Thomson Reuters web resource for measuring and analyzing science trends, recently listed the most influential institutions and

Graph shows the NIST detector's linear increase in frequency as a function of time

The Secret Behind NIST's New Gas Detector? Chirp Before Sniffing

May 10, 2011

Trace gas detection, the ability to detect a scant quantity of a particular molecule—a whiff of formaldehyde or a hint of acetone—in a vast sea of others

This scanning electron micrograph shows spores from the anthrax vaccine strain of Bacillus anthracis.

NIST Seeks Improved Recovery of Samples from Biohazard Events

April 26, 2011

It may not be as catchy a combination as "Miss Scarlet in the parlor with a revolver," but "polyester-rayon wipes in the field followed by saline-surfactant

New Guidance Issued for First Responders Collecting Suspected Biothreat Agents

November 24, 2010

Suspicious packages and powders have triggered more than 30,000 responses by U.S. law enforcement agencies across the country since 2001. These events are

JILA Unveils Improved 'Molecular Fingerprinting' for Trace Gas Detection

October 13, 2010

Scientists at JILA and collaborators have demonstrated an improved laser-based "molecular fingerprinting" technique that picks out traces of key hydrogen

Body of Evidence: New Fast, Reliable Method to Detect Gravesoil

July 21, 2010

Nothing against bloodhounds, but finding bodies buried by someone who wanted them to stay undiscovered can be difficult. However a new technique developed by

Graphic depicting how the ice fishing method determines the distance across a membrane nanopore.

Lollipops and Ice Fishing: Molecular Rulers Used to Probe Nanopores

April 27, 2010

Using a pair of exotic techniques including a molecular-scale version of ice fishing, a team of researchers working at the National Institute of Standards and

NIST Develops Experimental Validation Tool for Cell Phone Forensics

December 1, 2009

Viewers of TV dramas don't focus on the technology behind how a forensics crime team tracks a terrorist or drug ring using cell phone data, but scientists at

TEDCO NIST NIH Bio-Imaging Technologies Showcase (9/2009)

October 6, 2009

A TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND FEDERAL MARKETPLACE EVENT TEDCO, NIST and NIH Present Bio-imaging Technologies For Commercial Adoption On Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Microscopic photographs showing the level of fluorescence (green images) and the numbers of cells (blue images) at the time the cells were exposed to ricin and 6 hours later.

NIST Researchers 'All Aglow' Over New Test of Toxin Strength

June 16, 2009

A new National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) assay using a "glow or no glow" technique may soon help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

NIST Receives 64 Submissions for New 'Hash' Algorithm

November 12, 2008

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has received a total of 64 submissions for a competition to develop a new cryptographic "hash"

NIST Issues Call for a New 'Hash' Algorithm

November 8, 2007

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has opened a competition to develop a new cryptographic "hash" algorithm, a tool that converts a file

New SRM Allows Accurate Accounting of Forensic DNA

October 25, 2007

Thanks to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a method for making multiple copies of DNA fragments, even tiny bits of biological evidence (in the form of hair

NIST Presents Its Microfluidics Technologies For Commercial Adoption

October 12, 2007

A TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND FEDERAL MARKETPLACE EVENT NIST Presents Its Microfluidics Technologies For Commercial Adoption On Tuesday, October 9, 2007, NIST

NIST ‘Standard Bullet’ Fights Gang Violence

January 19, 2007

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a copper bullet designed to help end criminal sprees without once being

NIST Guide Details Forensic Practices for Data Analysis

September 14, 2006

TV shows such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" have popularized the role of forensic science in solving crimes. Now, computer security experts at the

Low-Cost Microfluidics Can Be a Sticky Problem

May 12, 2006

A deceptively simple approach to bonding thermoplastic microchannel plates together with solvent could be used for low-cost, high-volume production of

Conference to Highlight New Biometric Technologies

August 26, 2005

The Biometrics Consortium Conference 2005 will address the latest trends in research, development, testing and application of biometric technologies, especially

New System 'Sees' Crimes on Audiotape

October 26, 2004

The Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a real-time magnetic imaging system that enables criminal

NIST Study Shows Computerized Fingerprint Matching Is Highly Accurate

July 6, 2004

Computerized systems that automatically match fingerprints have become so sophisticated that the best of them are accurate more than 99 percent of the time

NIST Issues Guidelines to Protect First Responders Exposed to Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear Agents

September 19, 2002

A new report issued today by the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is the first comprehensive set of basic procedures

New DNA Quality Assurance Standard Helps Ensure Accuracy Of DNA Profiling

June 14, 1995

A new federal DNA quality assurance standard will help forensic and medical laboratories ensure that DNA profiles made by the fastest and most popular profiling

DNA Profiling Standard Wins R&D 100 Award for NIST

August 11, 1993

A DNA Profiling Standard developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to ensure accuracy in forensic DNA analysis—the "DNA typing" technique

Technology Transfer Activity as a “Concierge Service” to the Scientific and Engineering Community

Commercialization Academy Director for Venture Partners of the University of Colorado, Boulder, Ms. Sally Hatcher, who is my colleague and fellow Technology

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