Ask a Forensic Scientist anything

989 Questions

Last Answer on July 21, 2022

What are some types of questions you wished people would stop asking

Asked by question to all over 5 years ago

Thanks for asking! I wish kids would stop cutting and pasting their homework questions for me to answer for them.

Take LAW AND ORDER SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. What are things that they promote that are false and what things do they not really show that is real. I know like y’all don’t work on one case at a time I honestly think it would be more entertaining if they did it sorta more realistic where their working on multiple cases

Asked by DANNCY over 5 years ago

I don't watch the show, so I couldn't comment. But fiction is meant to be entertaining, and it's usually more satisfying to focus on one story at a time.

313 Votes

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What do you think of Ms. Maxwell? Just whatever you think

Asked by Jim over 5 years ago

I’m sorry but to be honest, I haven’t thought of her at all. I don’t know any more about the case than you do—probably considerably less—and I’m not aware of the relevant forensic evidence. And like most I’ve had many more immediately personal issues to hold my attention in recent months so I’m afraid I can’t help you.

313 Votes

Thanks for your quick response.

Besides black powder, do I need to use a special type of brush and/or lighting such as a UV light to uncover gloveprints?

I should add that the color of the Nitrile gloves I am trying to obtain prints from are blue.

Asked by Richard Gray about 5 years ago

No, just a regular brush, and UV light, as far as anyone here knows, wouldn’t make any difference. The gloves will, however, leave more traces the longer they are worn.

311 Votes

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Do you think a forensic science certificate of proficiency (or any other forensic science certificates) is beneficial in any way?

Asked by Christina over 4 years ago

Yes, certification in any discipline is definitely a good thing to put on a resume.

311 Votes

Do you wear a white suit? If so why or why not? What is really the point?

Asked by Benny over 5 years ago

Do you mean a Tyvek suit? To prevent cross contamination? We have whole body suits but have not yet had a scene that required them. We will wear disposable booties and of course gloves for any homicide scene. Sometimes the point, as with fentanyl and COVID risks, is to protect ourselves, and sometime the point is protect the scene and keep from dragging trace evidence from outside the scene to inside the scene.

311 Votes