Most people cringe when they hear the word physics. Physics is a very technical science that most people rely on every day, but do not really care to understand. Things work, and that is enough for most of us. Solving Crimes with Physics delves into the use of this challenging science to give readers a basic understanding of how the principles of physics can be used to solve crimes. From ballistics to bomb blasts, the knowledge of the theories of physics are powerful tools in the hands of a skilled forensic scientist.

A riveting blend of science writing and true-crime narrative that explores the valuable but often shocking interface between crime and nature--and the secrets each can reveal about the other--from a pioneer in forensic ecology and a trailblazing female scientist. From mud tracks on a quiet country road to dirt specks on the soles of walking boots, forensic ecologist Patricia Wiltshire uses her decades of scientific expertise to find often-overlooked clues left behind by criminal activity. She detects evidence and eliminates hypotheses armed with little more than a microscope, eventually developing a compelling thesis of the who, what, how, and when of a crime. Wiltshire's remarkable accuracy has made her one of the most in-demand police consultants in the world, and her curiosity, humility, and passion for the truth have guided her every step of the way. A riveting blend of science writing and true-crime narrative, The Nature of Life and Death details Wiltshire's unique journey from college professor to crime fighter: solving murders, locating corpses, and exonerating the falsely accused. Along the way, she introduces us to the unseen world all around us and underneath our feet: plants, animals, pollen, spores, fungi, and microbes that we move through every day. Her story is a testament to the power of persistence and reveals how our relationship with the vast natural world reaches far deeper than we might think.

Collects twenty science experiments that mimic techniques used at crime scenes, including figuring out a suspects height and analyzing handwriting and paper fibers.

A flake of skin...a strand of hair...a fleck of saliva...a drop of blood...everywhere we go we leave behind bits of ourselves that are as unique as fingerprints. Each cell contains genetic material called DNA, which holds information that scientists can use to learn about the person who left those cells behind. In the past twenty-five years, researchers have made significant advances in all disciplines of science, including the study of genetics. As science has leapt forward, the effect on forensics has been remarkable. New knowledge of DNA has dramatically changed the amount of information available to forensic scientists at the scene of a crime, opening doors that were never open before.

Television programs and feature films present criminal psychology and profiling as a blend of psychic visions, supernatural intuition, and evidence analysis. The reality, however, is quite different. Using true-crime case studies from history and the present, examples from current and former FBI profilers, and informative sidebars, Criminal Psychology & Personality Profiling explores the many roles and responsibilities criminal psychologists and profilers fill as they support other professionals in addressing crime and its consequences. From crime-scene analysis to offering expert testimony in court, these behavioral scientists offer an understanding of crime, the criminal mind, and those affected by crime.

Welcome to the exciting world of forensic investigation—the science of solving crimes. This introduces the field of forensic anthropology, where scientists and criminal investigators use the human skeleton to solve some of the world's most mysterious and violent crimes. From the nineteenth-century murderer who boiled his wife in a vat of acid, to the modern-day pig farmer accused of murdering more than sixty women, forensic anthropology shows how even the tiniest fragments of bones can reveal the identities of victims as well as killers. From mass-transit accidents to war to genocide and terrorist attacks, this science also pieces together the most scattered and seemingly unidentifiable remains. Using recent finds such as bags of bones in the woods, or the five-thousand-year-old skeleton of a victim of foul play, forensic detectives use the smallest clues, revealing a massive crime-recording device: the human body. See how the dead do tell tales to those who know how to listen!

In The Scientific Sherlock Holmes, James O'Brien provides an in-depth look at Holmes's use of science in his investigations.