Glowing Fingerprinting Technique Used To Fight Crime

An Australian scientist has developed a glowing fingerprint method which is used as a new crime scene identification technique for fingerprint detection and analysis, according to a news release.

Investigators can now add a drop of liquid containing crystals to surfaces, and by using a UV light, they would able to see invisible fingerprints "glow" in about 30 seconds. The powerful luminescent effects create a contrast between the underlying print and surface, enabling resolution images to be taken for easier and more precise analyses.

"Our method reduces these steps, and because it's done on the spot, a digital device could be used at the scene to capture images of the glowing prints to run through the database in real time," Dr. Kang Liang, a materials scientist, who developed this technique at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). "While police and forensics experts use a range of different techniques, sometimes in complex cases evidence needs to be sent off to a lab where heat and vacuum treatment is applied."

Liang developed this technique after his house was broken into. He saw that fingerprinting is a common practice for police and since dusting has been around for a long time, Liang was inspired to improvise a new innovative mechanisms that could create better results.

He claimed that this technique could be used for more challenging evidence, since conventional dusting is not efficient.

The study found that tiny crystals rapidly bind to fingerprint residue, such as proteins, fatty acids salts and peptides, where it created an ultrathin coating, in an identical replica of the pattern.

"Because it works at a molecular level it's very precise and lowers the risk of damaging the print," Liang said.

This method was tested on several nonporous surfaces, such as a window, wine glass, metal blades and plastic light switches, where the results were successful.

Law enforcements and forensics have used finger printing for over 100 years, by using CSIRO's technique, they could save time, money and improve investigations.

"As far as we know, it's the first time that these extremely porous metal organic framework (MOF) crystals have been researched for forensics," Liang said.

MOF crystals is a cheap and effective technique does not create dust or fumes, reducing waste and risk of inhalation. The CSIRO is looking to partner with law enforcement agencies to start using the new technique. 

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