How do forensic scientists find fingerprints? (with Nicki Stewart)
from Chemistry For Your Life Hosted by Bleav + For Your Life
There are a lot more ways to reveal a fingerprint than the black powder you see on TV.In this second part of our forensic chemistry series with Nicki Stewart, we explore the surprising chemistry behind fingerprints. From powders and iodine vapor to super glue fumes and chemical reactions, we break down how forensic scientists reveal invisible fingerprints—and why choosing the right method depends entirely on the surface, the chemistry, and the evidence they’re trying to preserve. Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife 0:00 – What are fingerprints, really? 5:30 – What’s actually left behind when you touch something? 9:20 – The two main categories of fingerprint detection 14:00 – How fingerprint powder actually works 18:40 – Iodine fuming and why fingerprints disappear again 25:25 – Revealing fingerprints on sticky tape 29:40 – Ninhydrin and the chemistry behind purple fingerprints 35:05 – The surprising science of super glue fuming 42:20 – Why collecting fingerprints is much harder than TV makes it look 46:10 – Jam’s biggest takeaways from fingerprint chemistry References from the Episode: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ed400597u https://www.sciencenews.org/article/bacteria-staining-method-has-long-been-misexplained https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5514188/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5898818/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38684936/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ns_N9To-Mk Thanks to our monthly supporters Sara Hull Dog Day Dan Bri . Summer Alden Amanda Raymond Kyle McCray Justine Ash Vince W Julie S. Heather Ragusa Autoclave Dorien VD Scott Beyer Jessie Reder J0HNTR0Y Cullyn R Erica Bee Elizabeth P Rachel Reina Letila Katrina Barnum-Huckins Suzanne Phillips Venus Rebholz Jacob Taber Brian Kimball Kristina Gotfredsen Timothy Parker Steven Boyles Chris Skupien Chelsea B Avishai Barnoy Hunter Reardon Support this podcast on Patreon Buy Podcast Merch and Apparel Check out our website at chemforyourlife.com Watch our episodes on YouTube Find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ChemForYourLife
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There are a lot more ways to reveal a fingerprint than the black powder you see on TV. In this second part of our forensic chemistry series with Nicki Stewart, we explore the surprising chemistry behind fingerprints. From powders and iodine vapor to super glue fumes and chemical reactions, we break down how forensic scientists reveal invisible fingerprints—and why choosing the right method depends entirely on the surface, the chemistry, and the evidence they’re trying to preserve.
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