Solving Crime

Identifying Evidence to Help Solve Crimes

Investigators can use radioisotopes to identify certain chemicals through a technique called “activation analysis.” The technique is highly sensitive and can be applied to almost every element on Earth.

It is especially useful in identifying trace qualities of materials such as paint, glass, tape, gunpowder, lead, and poisons. These elements can be linked to crimes, and criminal investigators frequently rely on activation analysis to obtain physical evidence for legal purposes. Using this technique, criminologists (people who study crimes) are able to gather important evidence linking a suspect with a specific crime. The technique can also be used to scan luggage to detect explosives or weapons.

Another use of activation analysis is to help prove or disprove the authenticity of old paintings. It does this by showing whether modern materials are present. This technique is very useful to museums in spotting forged works of art. Forged art is a fake copy of an original painting or sculpture.