“Materials Chemists Apply Photonic Crystals to Forensics”
Megan Cyganowski
This article explains the possibility of photonic crystals, which are materials with precise patterns of gaps that make them reflect only selected wavelengths of light, could soon replace ink-base fingerprinting. Apparently, the spacing of these gaps changes in response to the amount of pressure applied. “Imagine a security system that relied on something unique to every single person -- his fingerprint. Now, scientists have developed a material that makes those prints nearly impossible to forge.” At the University of Toronto, material chemists have been making new crystals, which reflect light. Opal gemstone is very nice because you get all these multi-faceted color effects," Arsenault tells DBIS.
I think this is a very important because it is altering the way we identify criminals and solve major cases. Such decisions and experiments regarding these situations must be thought and dealt with care because it results in a safe and secure society. Many tests and experiments must be completed in order to make sure this new method for criminology is effective. I thought it was very interesting to see and vision how the scientists work in the lab on such important projects.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0106-molding_fingerprints.htm
6 comments:
First of all, I think the author did a good job presenting the article in a simple way. Although the concept of photonic crystals is hard to grasp, I was able to understand how these crystal can be used. Another thing that impressed me was that the author explained the importance of this discovery. It helped the reader understand the magnitude of the situation. Finally, I liked that the author used direct quotes.
I guess the post could have been a little longer with more detail, but perhaps that would have taken away from the post's simplicity. Also, maybe the author could have talked a little bit more about the old methods of fingerprint ID.
One thing that was really surprising for me was that the field of criminology is still evolving and new methods are still being discovered.
Megans emphasis on the potential of the photonic crystals to help with identification was very intriguing. The quotes from the people doing the studies was a great addition to this piece. Megan explained reall well how the fingerprinting method would not be as useful as the crystals.
To improve this post, I think that more data concerning the crystals could be submitted as well as more in depth info comparing how effective the crystals would be compared to fingerprinting.
The thing that amazed me the most is how these crystals work with light. They seem like the most advanced system of identification possible.
This was a well written summarization of the article. It contained information and detail on the new fingerprint method. However I would have liked to have learned more about the previous methods of fingerprinting. other than that it was very well written.
Megan presented the article, concisely and clearly. She explained photonic crystals well even though it was a confusing subject. She also did a good job of showing how photonic crystal fingerprinting is different from ink based fingerprinting and why its important.
The post could have been longer and could have explained her point about it making fingerprints impossible to forge.
The most intriguing thing about the article is the crystals unique properties and the way they interact with light.
Three aspects of this article that I liked was that Megan chose an interesting topic to discuss, she presented it in an easy way, and discuessed the method clearly. Her post could improve by being a little longer and stating how long this new method of criminology will take to be used in all forensic labs.I thought it was very interesting that photonic crystals can possibly replace ink-base fingerprinting.
Megan presented the article, concisely and clearly. She explained photonic crystals well even though it was a confusing subject. She also did a good job of showing how photonic crystal fingerprinting is different from ink based fingerprinting and why its important.
The post could have been longer and could have explained her point about it making fingerprints impossible to forge.
The most intriguing thing about the article is the crystals unique properties and the way they interact with light.
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