Forensic science
The latest chemistry news and research on forensics, including trace analysis, toxicology and DNA analysis, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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ResearchFragmented forensics in England and Wales has led to ‘postcode lottery’ with no fix in sight
Proposed forensics service would take over from individual police forces but is still likely years away
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OpinionExperimenting with murder
A criminal mastermind made sure their unusual poison attack would be fatal
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ResearchPrehistoric humans hunted with poisoned arrows thousands of years earlier than thought
Deadly plant alkaloids discovered on 60,000-year-old arrowheads
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NewsPublic inquiry into death of Dawn Sturgess from Novichok poisoning concludes
Report makes numerous findings on how nerve agent concealed in perfume bottle lead to tragedy
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OpinionAn analytical gold mine
How forensic techniques can help trace the origin of illegally sourced gold
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OpinionWhen the cat’s away, the bats will play
Does Felis catus play nicely with its seasonal partners?
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NewsUK’s new national laboratories site will support ‘invisible infrastructure’ of measurements that keep world in sync
£20 million investment by LGC will boost country’s analytical and metrology capabilities
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ResearchMammoth task of identifying legal ivory made simpler and cheaper by isotope analysis
Technique could help authorities tell legal mammoth ivory from poached elephant ivory
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WebinarForensic taphonomy: the chemistry of delivering justice
Join us to discover the chemical processes that occur after death and how they’re revolutionising criminal investigations
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FeatureWhat happens to our bodies after we die?
The decay and decomposition of a human body may be unpleasant to consider, but it can be crucial in criminal justice. Rupali Dabas talks to the forensic scientists developing techniques that can sniff out the truth
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NewsDirty secret of mysterious ‘tar balls’ washed up on Sydney’s shores uncovered
Scientists unite to investigate objects that shut down beaches in New South Wales
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OpinionDoes lysergic acid link the Salem witch trials and a Catholic saint?
A fungal factor may have been the common cause of witch hunts and St Anthony’s fire
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OpinionScience can make doping tests more trustworthy
Contamination cases at the Olympics and beyond highlight the need for minimum reporting thresholds for drug testing in sport
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OpinionWhat’s lurking in your drink and drugs?
How to test illicit substances at festivals and identify the rodent in your beer
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NewsBritish cyclist’s doping case raises questions over testing precision
Lizzy Banks’ case puts exceptional sensitivity of tests under scrutiny
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NewsNew European Union Drugs Agency to strengthen bloc’s response to illicit drugs
EUDA will have broader remit to respond to challenges illicit drug pose
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NewsThree new recreational drugs discovered in checks by Australian chemists
Analytical service uncovers novel psychoactive substances with no known safety data
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ResearchNew spray-on dyes can instantly reveal fingerprints at crime scenes
Fluorescent molecules are simple to use and non-toxic