A mysterious white powder, a smear of blood and a moldy ham sandwich: objects completely unrelated to most cases. But they could be significant for forensic scientists, who analyze physical evidence and samples for clues to solve crimes. Television shows like Bones, CSI, and Law & Order have fascinated forensic scientists and made the field more popular, so competition can be intense. However, if you have a strong desire to shape the world of justice by using science to solve criminal puzzles, then it may be worth pursuing a career in forensic science. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Forensic science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences and technologies to investigate and establish facts of interest in relation to criminal or civil law. To become one you need to have at least a degree in science. Common specializations include chemistry, physics, biology, or forensic science. Approximately 90% of forensic chemists work in laboratories associated with a federal, state, or local police department, a medical examiner's office, a forensic services laboratory, or a branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). There are some private laboratories that carry out forensic analysis. They tend to have strict working hours, but if you are very interested in the industry, this shouldn't be a problem for you. When it comes to chemistry, this field of work is related to forensics in many ways. For example, blood tests. In addition to being used for suspect identification, the contents of blood at a crime scene can be evaluated to reveal the presence of substances. For this evaluation, a chemist will perform a chromatographic test, which uses intense heat to separate blood into different contents. Next, a chemist determines the level of substances such as alcohol or drugs that could affect the suspect's actions and motivations during the crime in question. Another practice practiced by forensic scientists that relates to chemistry would be forensic DNA analysis in criminal cases. Forensic DNA analysis is used in criminal cases to match an individual's DNA to that of body cells left at the crime scene, such as skin cells, hair and blood. The FBI most commonly uses STR analysis for its cases. With STR analysis, chemists take DNA samples from crime scene areas. These are then compared to individuals' DNA profiles in a large database called CODIS to identify suspects. The third and final topic touched upon by forensic scientists is the analysis of firearms. Chemistry is often used in crimes involving firearms to identify information from recovered bullets and residue. For example, a forensic scientist will examine a suspect's hands and clothing with infrared lights for gunpowder residue. If this residue matches that of the bullet found in the victim, there is evidence that the suspect recently fired the same type of firearm responsible for harming the victim. If no gunpowder residue is found on a suspect, a chemical analysis of the bullet can still reveal information such as the type of firearm used and how long ago the bullet was fired. There are several popular criminal cases where these chemical-based practices have been applied. Forensic scientists are also sometimes the reason cold cases get solved. For example, the infamous OJ Simpson case. As many of us know, Nicole Brown Simpson and thehis friend Ronald Goldman were stabbed to death on the evening of June 12, 1994. Although 99% of the world believes that OJ Simpson is guilty of killing his ex-wife and her friend, one question regarding the case remains an absolute mystery: two Did cops plant DNA evidence at the scene to try to build a damning case? Detective Furman, who was exposed as a violent racist during the trials, was accused of planting OJ's glove at the scene. It was also proven that Simpson's blood sample was taken to the crime scene by a police evidence technician. The tube of blood at the crime scene was later found to contain only 6 cc of blood when 8 cc had been extracted. . Simpson's blood at the crime scene reflected DNA that had been mixed with EDTA, a substance added to blood taken for DNA testing. Furman pleaded no contest to the charges against him regarding this OJ “conspiracy” and is now a convicted felon. If it were not for the work of forensic scientists and the application of chemistry, this plan would not have been put to rest. Another case would be the murder of Anna Palmer. It was DNA evidence that led to the conviction in the 1998 murder case of 10-year-old Anna Palmer who was attacked and killed on her doorstep in Salt Lake City. The crime was vicious and included multiple stab wounds to his body, but following the crime, investigators had no witnesses, little evidence and no apparent suspects, the news station reports. However, in 2009, forensic analysts were called to assist in the case and decided to examine the girl's fingernails to obtain DNA samples. Using visible, alternative light sources to look for DNA not belonging to the girl, they got a hit and matched him to a man named Matthew Brock, who lived a block away at the time of her murder and was 19 at the time. Brock was already in prison serving a 10-year sentence for a crime related to sex with a child, and pleaded guilty in 2011 to an aggravated murder charge in the death of Anna Palmer and is now in prison for life . Finally, the murder of Leanne Tiernan was a case solved by forensic scientists and their knowledge in the field of chemistry. In August 2001, a man walking his dog in Lindley Woods, West Yorkshire, found the body of 16-year-old Leanne Tiernan buried in a shallow grave. His head was wrapped in a black plastic bag, held in place by a leather collar; the zip ties also held her wrists together. His body was wrapped in green plastic garbage bin bags and tied with string. She was found about ten miles from her home in Leeds. She was returning home from a Christmas shopping trip with her best friend in November 2000 when she disappeared. However, pathologists said his body had not been there since November. She had been strangled and in the meantime her body had been preserved at low temperatures. Police managed to track down the suppliers of the dog collar and found a man who had purchased several dog collars similar to the one found around Leanne's neck. This man was John Taylor, a poacher who often hunted in the same woods where Leanne's body was found. The twine it was wrapped in was an unusual type, used for rabbit netting, and was traced to a supplier in Devon, who had only produced one batch. It matched the string found at John Taylor's house. Some of the cable ties used on Leanne Tiernan were of the type used almost exclusively by John Taylor's employer's patent company, Parcel Force. When the police.