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Revolutionary Method Reveals Fingerprints on Heated Bullet Casings

11/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Chemists Eithne Dempsey and Colm McKeever of Maynooth University developed a method to recover fingerprints from super-heated bullet casings, revealing pores.
The researchers showed that some biological residue can survive the heat of firing using a chemical solution and voltage.
The study, published in Forensic Chemistry, shows fingerprints can be revealed on casings stored for over a year.
Further testing is required because evidence suggests gunfire may erase most fingerprints.

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Story summary

Chemists Eithne Dempsey and Colm McKeever of Maynooth University developed a method to recover fingerprints from super-heated bullet casings, revealing pores.
The researchers showed that some biological residue can survive the heat of firing using a chemical solution and voltage.
The study, published in Forensic Chemistry, shows fingerprints can be revealed on casings stored for over a year.
Further testing is required because evidence suggests gunfire may erase most fingerprints.