http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/matter_energy/biometric/ Biometric Technology. New biometric security devices such as a new iris scanner. Read research on the reliability of DNA tests, fingerprint matches, and other biometrics. en-us Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:05:01 EST Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/matter_energy/biometric/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091118160627.htm Engineering researchers have developed a unique and robust method to prevent cloning of passive radio frequency identification tags. The technology, based on one or more unique physical attributes of individual tags rather than information stored on them, will prevent the production of counterfeit tags and thus greatly enhance both security and privacy for government agencies, businesses and consumers. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091118160627.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091110090858.htm A number of US states now use facial recognition technology when issuing drivers licenses. Similar methods are also used to grant access to buildings and to verify the identities of international travelers. Historically, obtaining accurate results with this type of technology has been a time intensive activity. Now, researchers have developed ways to make the technology more efficient while improving accuracy. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091110090858.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090806112353.htm Scientists in England are constructing highly sensitive detectors as part of an international project to understand the elements that make up the universe. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090806112353.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091111115841.htm The explosive growth of video on the internet calls for new ways of sorting and searching audiovisual content. Researchers have developed a groundbreaking solution that is finding commercial applications. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091111115841.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104101628.htm The eyes may be the mirror to the soul, but the iris reveals a person's true identity. A new report demonstrates that iris recognition algorithms can maintain their accuracy even with compact images, affirming their potential for large-scale identity management applications. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104101628.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029155956.htm DNA samples often convict criminals. But many of today's forensic tests are so polluted by soil, tobacco and food remains, for example, that they can not be used. Now researchers in Sweden have improved a critical part of the analysis process. The first findings indicate that the new method strengthens the DNA analysis so that previously negative samples yield positive and usable DNA profiles. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091029155956.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026093731.htm Technology that can identify partial, distorted, scratched, smudged, or otherwise warped fingerprints in just a few seconds has just scored top marks in the world's two toughest technical fingerprint tests. The technology is also being rapidly taken up by the UK building trade who are delighted to have fingerprint technology which can cope with the often worn and ravaged builders' thumbprints. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026093731.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922185658.htm After learning how DNA interacts with the novel nanomaterial graphene, researchers propose a DNA-graphene nanoscaffold be used as a biosensor to diagnose diseases, detect toxins in tainted food and detect pathogens in biological weapons, among other applications. Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922185658.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916123515.htm Against the backdrop of last week's Congressional hearing into the future of forensic science, researchers have published a landmark paper on the controversial topic of bitemark analysis. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916123515.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909111630.htm Two publications from NIST describe new capabilities for authentication systems using smart cards or other personal security devices. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909111630.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826110120.htm Researchers are reporting development of a new electronic sensor that shows promise as a faster, less expensive, and more practical alternative than tests now used to detect DNA. Such tests are done for criminal investigation, disease diagnosis, and other purposes. The new lab-on-a-chip test could lead to wider, more convenient use of DNA testing, the researchers say. Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826110120.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826152806.htm A new publication that recommends best practices for the next generation of portable biometric acquisition devices -- Mobile ID -- has been published by NIST. Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826152806.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826113825.htm A novel electronic sensor array for more rapid, accurate and cost-efficient testing of DNA for disease diagnosis and biological research has shown "excellent" sensitivity at detecting trace amounts of DNA. Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090826113825.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090816170925.htm Better tools for manipulating DNA in the laboratory may soon be possible with newly discovered deoxyribozymes (catalytic DNA) capable of cleaving single-stranded DNA, researchers say. Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090816170925.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090722110859.htm Fingerprints, move over. Scientists are reporting evidence that people have another defining trait that may distinguish each of the 6.7 billion humans on Earth from one another almost as surely as the arches, loops, and whorls on their fingertips. Scientists now report evidence from studies in humans for the existence of unique patterns in metabolism. Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090722110859.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810174228.htm Canadian researchers have developed a new way to extract DNA and RNA from small or heavily contaminated samples that could help forensic investigators and molecular biologists get to "the truth." Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810174228.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090731085817.htm A system that allows biometric data to be used to create a secret key for data encryption has been developed by researchers in South Africa. Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090731085817.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090713085018.htm Chemistry researchers have developed a simple but effective way of lifting fingerprints. The technique involves studying the chemical and physical interactions occurring between the metal and the fingerprint sweat deposit. Using advanced surface imaging techniques, such as an atomic force microscope, nanoscale observations of fingerprinted brass samples can identify optimum conditions to promote the natural enhancement of the fingerprint. Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090713085018.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430101445.htm A forensics toolkit for the Xbox gaming console has been developed. The toolkit could allow law enforcement agencies to scour the inbuilt hard disk of such devices and find illicit hidden materials easily. Fri, 01 May 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430101445.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423105856.htm Overworked crime scene investigators can take heart at the results of recent tests of new technologies that automate the manual portion of latent fingerprint identification. Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090423105856.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090325150611.htm Forget LED thumb-pad identification devices, complex retinal laser scanning, or even computerized iris recognition. The way forward for biometric validation is a quick X-ray snapshot of a person's knees, according to a new report. Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090325150611.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090218135119.htm A congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council finds serious deficiencies in the U.S. forensic science system and calls for major reforms and new research. Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090218135119.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217112520.htm A handheld device to predict whether patients will respond adversely to medication is one step closer to the market. Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217112520.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090205101138.htm Sensors able to identify individuals' brain patterns and heart rhythms could become part of security systems which also use more traditional forms of biometric recognition. Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090205101138.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090115092701.htm A pioneering forensic scientist at Northamptonshire Police and the University of Leicester is being called on by US force officers to tackle a decade-old murder case. Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090115092701.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090115164520.htm A handheld, ultra-portable device that can recognize and immediately report on a wide variety of environmental or medical compounds may eventually be possible, using a method that incorporates a mixture of biologically tagged nanowires onto integrated circuit chips, according to researchers. Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090115164520.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081227215020.htm Organic compounds exhibit specific isotopic compositions that can be used as their "fingerprint". Environmental chemists nowadays exploit changes of isotopic compositions to identify the origin of organic pollutants and to assess their (bio)degradation in the environment by compound-specific stable isotope analysis. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081227215020.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081120073159.htm A murder case on America's Most Wanted list is to be tackled by a forensic scientist at the University of Leicester and Northamptonshire Police. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081120073159.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081110071240.htm Scientists have developed a method to look into the brain of a person and read out who has spoken to him or her and what was said. With the help of neuroimaging and data mining techniques the researchers mapped the brain activity associated with the recognition of speech sounds and voices. In their Science article "Who" is Saying "What"? Brain-Based Decoding of Human Voice and Speech the four authors demonstrate that speech sounds and voices can be identified by means of a unique 'neural fingerprint' in the listener's brain. Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081110071240.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081103102116.htm Researchers in Spain are reporting that a new DNA identification method could thwart false labeling of shark species used in various seafood products, including the expensive Chinese delicacy known as shark fin soup. Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081103102116.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081030203247.htm Scientists present behavioral and chemical findings to reveal that an individual's underlying odor signature remains detectable even in the face of major dietary changes. The findings indicate that biologically-based odorprints, like fingerprints, could be a reliable way to identify individual humans. Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081030203247.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081022101503.htm These days you can take a photograph with almost every mobile phone. However, using this sort of photo to protect confidential data and send it safely is something new. Scientists have been researching this new way of employing biometrics. Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081022101503.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080923121954.htm Scientists have developed a new class of disposable, microplate-based optical biosensors capable of detecting protein-DNA interactions. Based on the properties of photonic crystals, the biosensors are suitable for the rapid identification of inhibitors of protein-nucleic acid and protein-protein interactions. Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080923121954.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915210509.htm The inventor of a revolutionary new forensic fingerprinting technique claims criminals who eat processed foods have 'sticky fingers,' which are more likely to corrode metal. This makes them more likely to be discovered by police. Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915210509.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080904102751.htm Electronic fingerprinting, iris scans, and signature recognition software are all becoming commonplace biometrics for user authentication and security. However, they all suffer from one major drawback -- they can be spoofed by a sufficiently sophisticated intruder. Researchers now describe a new approach based on a person's reflexes that could never be copied, forged, or spoofed. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080904102751.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080828220505.htm A team of investigators have found a way to identify possible suspects at crime scenes using only a small amount of DNA, even if it is mixed with hundreds of other genetic fingerprints. Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080828220505.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080827102738.htm A double murder investigation that has remained unsolved for almost a decade could be provided new impetus following a forensic breakthrough. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080827102738.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080826080812.htm University of Leicester experts have held discussions with military personnel in Afghanistan following the discovery of new technology to identify fingerprints on metal. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080826080812.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080815130419.htm Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, the Bureau of Reclamation, which operates and manages dams that provide water and power to millions of people, has invested significant resources in security and is better able to protect its facilities and personnel, says a new report from the National Research Council. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080815130419.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630130134.htm Researchers have invented a technique in which DNA assays -- the key to personalized medicine -- can be read and evaluated with no need of elaborate chemical labeling or sophisticated instrumentation. Based on electrostatic repulsion that yields images visible to the naked eye, the technique could revolutionize the use of DNA microarrays for both research and diagnostics. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630130134.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080619133057.htm An automatic image retrieval system has been created, whereby law enforcement agencies will be able to match scars, marks and tattoos to identify suspects and victims. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080619133057.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080613105914.htm A new DNA microarray chip can predict severe disability and remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The chip has yielded two clinical-genetic models of RA outcomes, to assist physicians in anticipating likely disease progression and prognosis and thereby guide decisions on the best course of treatment for individual patients. Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080613105914.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080609141241.htm Biometrics is commonly associated retinal scans, iris recognition and DNA databases, but researchers in India are working on another form of biometrics that could allow law enforcement agencies and airport security to recognize suspects based on the way they were, their characteristic gait. Viewed from the side, we each have a unique gait that makes us easily recognizable. Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080609141241.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602103331.htm New techniques have been developed for identifying fingerprints on metal. The technique can enhance -- after firing -- a fingerprint that has been deposited on a small caliber metal cartridge case before it is fired. Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602103331.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507084218.htm Approximately 250,000 items of sexual assault evidence are mired in three- to 12-month backlogs awaiting analysis in US forensic laboratories. A forensic chemist has now developed a method for handling rape evidence that reduces part of the DNA analysis time from 24 hours to as little as 30 to 45 minutes and improves the sperm cell recovery rate by 100 percent. Wed, 07 May 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507084218.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501110025.htm Fingerprints that used to escape detection could soon help point to the killer. Using a field portable system investigators at crime scenes will be able to detect latent prints on human skin. The system takes advantage of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based agents to visualize latent prints. Sat, 03 May 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501110025.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080410131603.htm Detection of a fraud attempt in sample taking for a DNA analysis is modifying forensic scientists' action protocol: It will be compulsory for the donor to wash his mouth out before a witness. The fraud attempt took place in a paternity test, when the donor mixed his own saliva with that of someone else's. Faced with the evidence, the suspect admitted that, shortly before the sample taking, he put someone else's saliva into his mouth from a little container. Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080410131603.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402100005.htm A fingerprint identification technology for use in Personal Identification Verification cards that offers improved protection from identity theft meets the standardized accuracy criteria for federal identification cards. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402100005.htm