Science: Botched fingerprint analysis raises questions. The Houston Police Department says it hasn’t found any suspects wrongly identified by its troubled fingerprint analysis unit in a review of fingerprint evidence from 2004 to 2009. But a misidentification from 1996 uncovered by the Houston Chronicle raises questions about whether there were other misidentifications at the fingerprint lab and whether the costly review should be expanded to cover more years. fwix, 2010

Technology: Smart Grid Security, Ground Zero for Cyber Security. "One of things incumbent on all of us is to introduce strong authentication into the fabric of the smart grid. We did not do that with the Internet." Vint Cerf, godfather of the Internet. digitalcommunities, 2010

Law: 400 Drunken-Driving Convictions in D.C. Based on Flawed Test, Official Says D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles states that approximately 400 driving while intoxicated (DWI) cases were decided based onerroneous breath test results. An investigation into the accuracy of D.C.'s breath test machines revealed that all of D.C.'s breath test machines were not calibrated correctly. The machines have been replaced and the Attorney General's office is in the process of contacting those affected. Washington Post, 2010

Science: Troubled Toxicology Legacy Remains. On May 13, Michael Wagner resigned as director of the Indiana State Toxicology Department after working less than two years in the position. Wagner is being criticized for purchasing and not implementing new breath alcohol testing equipment that cost $1.5 million. Wagner is also blamed for the department's backlog of 1,300 blood testing cases and representing that department employees were expert defense witnesses on Indiana University School of Medicine's website. The Indianapolis Star (Indiana), 2010

Technology: MASS MARKETING FRAUD: Old Scams, New Wineskins. A few decades ago, mass marketing fraud—the kind that exploits mass communication techniques like bulk mail or telemarketing—was relatively low-tech and mostly a regional crime problem targeting victims nearby. These days, it’s a different story. Thanks to the Internet, criminals and crime groups can also target victims halfway around the world, blasting out spam e-mails by the millions and setting up phony but realistic websites to lure people in. FBI News Update, 2010

Law: Supreme Court: Suspects Must Invoke Right to Remain Silent in Interrogations. On Tuesday, in a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court modifiedthe ruling in the 1966 case, Miranda v. Arizona. Miranda is famous for establishing a defendant's right to remain silent and the right to legal counsel. In this most recent case, Berghuis v. Thompkins, the Court ruled that a suspect must clearly express his desire to remain silent. In Berghuis, the suspect had remained silent during several hours of police interrogation but then answered one question in the affirmative. This response was used against him in court and the defendant was convicted of murder. The Court ruled that by answering this one question, the defendant had waived his right to remain silent. Washington Post, 2010

Science: More BWI Passengers To Go Through Imaging Machines. Security screening procedures at BWI airport are changing this week. Instead of randomly screening passengers with advanced imaging technology, TSA officers will now be screening all passengers using advanced imaging technology. Passengers can object to this type of screening but will be subject to pat down searches and metal detector screening. Baltimore Sun, 2010

Technology: Cyber Command Chief Says Military Computer Networks are Vulnerable to Attack. General Keith B. Alexander, head of the new Cyber Command, spoke to several hundred people on Thursday about the potential for cyber attacks aimed at U.S. military computer networks. The newly established Cyber Command isresponsible for protecting the U.S. military's 15,000 computer networks. Washington Post, 2010

Law: Auto Bill Draft Would Require Black Boxes, Allow NHTSA To Issue Quick Recalls. Congress is considering passing a bill that would force automakers to install black boxes, also known as event data recorders (EDR's) in every vehicle. Auto manufacturers would also be required to pay a safety user fee on each vehicle. The fees would help cover costs of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Additionaly, NHTSA could seek higher penalties against auto manufacturers for safety violations. Washington Post, 2010

Science: Tech Talk Podcast: Car Viruses. Computer security experts from the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Washington, backed by the National Science Foundation, were able to remotely take over car brakes and other critical controls. With modern vehicles increasingly dependent on computers, the researchers say, it’s important to address these issues before they become a problem. New York Times, 2010

Technology: Army Leak Suspect Is Turned In, by Ex-Hacker. According to the article, a former computer hacker turned in an Army intelligence officer who leaked "classified, explosive video of an American helicopter attack in Baghdad that left 12 people dead, including two employees of the Reuters news agency." The intelligence officer also claimed "he gave Wikileaks 260,000 classified United States diplomatic cables and video of a United States airstrike in Afghanistan that killed 97 civilians last year." New York Times, 2010

Law: Successful Law Enforcement Depends on Sharing Information: New White Paper. In today’s environment, successful law enforcement requires more than just a willingness to work together. It requires the ability to effectively share data, information and intelligence across multiple jurisdictional boundaries in a secure and efficient manner.digital communities, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Casting (cast•ing; [kas΄tiŋ]—noun): (Footwear): (Firearms): The filling of a three-dimensional footwear impression with material that takes on and retains the characteristics that were left in that impression by the footwear. Also, a method of making a mold by first making a three-dimensional model of a shoe and then making a cast from that model. (Human remains): Term also used to refer to the initial search for a scent.

Science: Chief Orders Drug Lab Closed Permanently. San Francisco Police Chief George Gascon announced that the Police Crime Lab at Hunter's Point will no longer test narcotics. The announcement comes a few months after an investigation revealed that one of the crime lab's drug analysts was stealing and using drugs from the lab. Approximately 600 criminal cases were dismissed because of the controversy. Gascon stated that police officers will perform initial drug testing in the field and independent labs will conduct the drug analysis for approximately $100 per sample. The crime lab will still conduct DNA testing and firearms testing. Gascon hopes that the lab will receive its national re-accreditation. San Francisco Chronicle, 2010

Technology: Gen. Keith Alexander Confirmed to Head Cyber-Command. The Senate confirmed Keith Alexanderto lead a new cyber-command division. Alexander has been the director of the National Security Agency (NSA) since 2005. The new command will be part of the U.S. Strategic Command in Nebraska but will be located at Fort Meade, NSA's headquarters. Washington Post, 2010

Law: NEW VIOLENT ROBBERY INITIATIVE: Gets Help from an Older Federal Law. Last month in Philadelphia, local police and the FBI began looking into a string of convenience store robberies that involved suspects holding store employees—and in some instances, customers—at gunpoint. Though violent crime is down in Philadelphia, armed robberies of businesses, especially those committed by repeat violent offenders, remain an ongoing problem. The FBI and partners in the Philadelphia Police Department have teamed up in a new task force that will tackle these cases using the federal Hobbs Act. FBI News Update, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Caliber (cal|i•ber; [kal΄ә bәr]—noun): (Firearms): The approximate diameter of the circle formed by the tops of the lands of a rifled barrel. (Ammunition): A numerical term, without the decimal point, included in a cartridge name to indicate a rough approximation of the bullet diameter.

Science: Crime and Traffic Safety Data Help Public Safety Agencies Reduce Serious Crashes and Crimes. An emerging concept of policing appears to be helping communities reduce traffic accidents and serious crime. Consider Lafourche Parish, La., one of seven test sites nationwide implementing a paradigm known as Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS). In 2009, the number of severe traffic accidents in the parish dropped to just 10, down from an average of 24 annually in previous years. Major crimes also declined, while drunken driving arrests increased from 154 in 2008 to 297 the following year. digital communities, 2010

Technology: State and Local Public Agencies Grapple with Social Media Liability Concerns. While the federal government has recently had success renegotiating its terms of service agreement with Facebook and other sites -- the U.S. General Services Administration led a coalition of agencies to negotiate agreements with each new media provider that can work across government, allowing federal agencies to choose to sign the same agreement -- states are challenged with 50 new sets of legal contexts and an almost exponential set of risk assessments, according to a National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) newsletter. digital communities, 2010

Law: Justices Bar Life Terms for Youths Who Haven’t Killed. The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that juveniles who commit crimes in which no one is killed may not be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. New York Times, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Buccal cells (buc•cal cells; [buk΄әl sels]—noun): Cells derived from the inner cheek lining. These cells are present in the saliva or can be gently scraped from the inner cheek surface.

Science: Times Square Bomb's Ordinary Ingredients Posed A Deadly Threat. Authorities are investigating an attempted car bombing in New York over the weekend. An SUV was found filled with gasoline, propane, and inexpensive black powder. Although the bomb did not detonate it could have caused significant damage. It is unclear whether this amateur bombing attempt is linked with al-Qaeda or another terrorist group. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Accounts Differ as Sarah Palin E-mail Hacking Case is Sent to Court in Knoxville. Sarah Palin testified against David Kernell, the 22-year-old accused of hacking into her email account in September 2008. An FBI computer forensic expert testified thatKernell hacked into Palin's account, changed the password and posted the new password on the Internet. Kernell has been charged with identity theft, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and unauthorized access of a personal computer. He faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted. Washington Post, 2010

Law: Bills Take New Aim At D.C. Gun Control. Senators Jon Tester and John McCain are sponsoring a new gun bill that if passed would make it easier to purchase firearms in Washington D.C. The bill would also abolish the current registration rules and restrict local gun enforcement authority. Washington Post, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Bloodstain (blood•stain; [blud stān]—noun): Liquid blood that has dried once it has come into contact with a surface.

Science: Government Goes High-tech to Redesign $100 Bills. A new United States $100 bill will bereleased soon that incorporates several new security techniques to prevent counterfeiting. The new bill has 3-D images that shift and change colors when the bill is moved slightly. Bureau of Engraving and Printing money site, 2010

Technology: Cyberattack: U.S. Unready For Future Face Of War. "The next time there is a big war, it will include a cyberattack," says Richard Clarke, a former White House cybersecurity adviser and the author of a new book, Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It. For the United States, the prospect is especially worrisome. The entire U.S. economy depends on operations in cyberspace. If computer networks shut down, so will the country. npr, 2010

Law: CRIME FROM BEHIND BARS: The Case of the Con Turned Con Artist. He was already in jail for fraud and other crimes, yet he managed to lead a massive, two-year identity theft and bribery scheme that earned him a separate 309-year prison sentence—more than twice that of crooked financier Bernie Madoff, and reportedly the fourth-longest in the history of U.S. white-collar crime. FBI News Update, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Blood group (blood group; [blud grōōp]—noun): An immunologically distinct, genetically determined class of human erythrocyte antigens, identified as A, B, AB, and O. A classification of red blood cell surface antigens, ABO is the best known of the blood group systems.

Science: The CSI Effect: How TV Influences True Crime. It seems counter-intuitive, but in criminal trials lawyers for both the prosecution and the defense want jurors who know as little as possible about the issues involved in the case. For example, if you are an accountant and you are called for jury duty in a case involving embezzling by an accountant, you’ll be one of the first dismissed by the lawyers (in a legal process called voir dire). The reason is that lawyers on both sides want jurors whose opinions they can influence and mold to their benefit. Any expertise or specialized knowledge should come from one side or the other, not from the jurors’ own experience or education—and certainly not from television. Discovery News, 2010

Technology: Senators On Key Panel Express Confidence In Cybersecurity Nominee. In October 2009, President Obama nominated Keith B. Alexander to lead a new cybersecurity organization. Alexander has extensive militaryintelligenceexperience and has been in charge of the National Security Agency for several years. The new organization will be responsible for preventing and responding to cyber attacks. Washington Post, 2010

Law: NSA Chief Sets Out Rules For Fighting Cyber Terrorism. Lieutenant General Keith Alexander, head of National Security Agency, says if the US is attacked by someone going after Internet or computer based systems, the government should swiftly and strongly to stop or disable the threat -- even if the attacker's identity isn't known. DigTriad.com, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Bloat (bloat; [blōt]—verb): That transient phase in corpse decomposition that follows the fresh phase and is characterized by excessive swelling, produced by gases trapped internally.

Science: Accountants Closing In On Where Rothstein Ponzi Scheme Money Went. Disgraced attorney Scott Rothstein awaits his sentencing hearing for orchestrating a Ponzi scheme involving over one billion dollars. Forensic accountants and bankruptcy lawyers are sifting through documents and email records trying to determine what Rothstein did with the money. Rothstein's sentencing hearing is scheduled for May. South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), 2010

Technology: Google Links Web Attacks to Vietnam Mine Dispute. Google, fresh off a dispute with China over censorship and intrusion from hackers, says it has identified cyber-attacks aimed at silencing critics of a controversial, Chinese-backed bauxite mining project in Vietnam. New York Times, 2010

Law: CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Best Practices for CCTV Systems. Caught on Camera is not a product of Hollywood. While it does have high production values, special effects, and narration by Annie Wersching, co-star of the TV show 24, the video was created by our Operational Technology Division to show business owners how their security cameras can aid law enforcement investigations and maybe even help solve a terrorist attack. FBI News Update, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Beveling—internal or external (bev|el•ling; [bev΄әl iŋ]—noun): Defects that occur when a projectile passes through a flat bone. The perforation in the bone is typically larger and more cone shaped as the bullet passes from the entrance through the bone to the exit.

Science: Stafford Man Pleads Guilty In Death Of Infant Son . Jason W. Andre admitted to fatally shaking his 6-week-old son in 2009. In addition to brain hemmorrhages, doctors noted that the baby had several fractured ribs and multiple cuts and bruises on his body. Andre's sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 28, 2010. This is the third recent case in the Virginia area involving shaken baby syndrome. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: D.C. Emergency Radio Communication System Shuts Down. Washington D.C. police and fire departments were forced to use other communication methods on Monday night when their emergency radio system failed. Police officers and other emergency personnel utilized e-mail, cell phones, and mobile radios to communicate with each other until the system was restored. Washington Post, 2010

Law: PUBLIC CORRUPTION: Why It’s Our #1 Criminal Priority. Public corruption is a breach of trust by federal, state, or local officials—often with the help of private sector accomplices. It’s also the FBI’s top criminal investigative priority. To explain why the Bureau takes public corruption so seriously and how we investigate, we talked with ... FBI News Update, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Barrel (bar•rel; [bar΄әl]—noun): That part of a firearm through which a projectile travels under the impetus of powder gases, compressed air, or other like means; may be rifled or smooth.

Science: Throwing A Lifeline To The Next Donald Gates. A former Washington D.C. homicide investigator discusses Donald Gates's wrongful conviction and the need for an Innocence Commission in Washington D.C. Gates was released from prison after serving 28 years for a crime he did not commit. Post-conviction DNA testing proved Gates was not the perpetrator. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Dismantling Of Saudi-CIA Web Site Illustrates Need For Clearer Cyberwar Policies. Despite substantial opposition, U.S. military computer specialists shut down a Saudi-CIA website that U.S. military officials believed was being used by terrorists to plot attacks. Washington Post, 2010

Law: Illinois State Court Reversed and Remanded Ruling On Admittance on the use of a 9-locus DNA Profile. The Illinois State Court reversed and remanded for a new trial a ruling on the use of a 9-locus DNA database search in an aggravated criminal sexual assault case. This action was based on: (1) the trial court's abuse of its discretion by denying defendant's motion to order the Illinois State Police to conduct a 9-locus database search; and (2) this error violated the second prong of the plain error doctrine. LexisNexis - 2010 Ill. App. LEXIS 245, *2 and NCSTL Reference, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Bite mark (bite mark; [bīt märk]—noun): A circular or oval (doughnut) (ring-shaped) patterned injury consisting of two opposing (facing) symmetrical, U-shaped arches separated at their bases by open spaces. Following the periphery of the arches are a series of individual abrasions, contusions, or lacerations reflecting the size, shape, arrangement, and distribution of the class characteristics of the contacting surfaces of the human dentition.

Science: GAO Says Airport Body Scanners May Not Have Thwarted Christmas Day Bombing. The Government Accountability Office informed the House Homeland Security Committee that body scanners equipped with advanced imaging technology (AIT) may not have detected the explosives carried by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The Obama administration hopes to have 1,800 AIT body scanners installed in airports throughout the United States by 2014. The scanners will cost U.S. taxpayers approximately three billion dollars over eight years. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: The 10 Riskiest Cities for Cyber-Crime. The threat of falling victim to cyber-crime is ubiquitous today and 50 of America's biggest cities are more prone than elsewhere in the country, according to a well known producer of cyber-security software. Norton from Symantec teamed up with the research organization Sperling BestPlaces to discern which cities were the riskiest hot spots for cyber-security and published the results March 22 in The Norton Top 10 Riskiest Online Cities report. Government Technology, 2010

Law: US judge urges skepticism on forensic evidence: Gertner says she’ll expect defense lawyers to challenge its validity. “CSI’’ may make for gripping television, but US District Court Judge Nancy Gertner says forensic evidence isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. In a move that some legal scholars said may be the first by a federal judge, Gertner has ordered defense lawyers and prosecutors not to assume that evidence routinely accepted in the courts for decades is reliable. Defense lawyers, she wrote, should vigorously challenge fingerprints, bullet identification, handwriting, and other trace evidence, and prosecutors should be prepared to show it is valid. The Boston Globe, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Ballistics (bal•lis•tics; [bә lis΄tiks]—noun): The study of a projectile in motion, following the projectile travel from primer ignition to barrel exit, to target entry and until motion is stopped. Often confused with firearms identification.

Science: Hand Bacteria Left On Surfaces Could be Forensic Tool. CSIs may one day be able to use more than DNA and fingerprints to catch criminals, as a new study finds that the bacteria that live on our hands are just as unique to each of us as our DNA. And traces of this "personal" DNA left behind on the surfaces we touch can be matched to the person who left it. Live Science, 2010

Technology: Measure Would Force White House, Private Sector To Collaborate In Cyber-Crisis. Senators John D. Rockefeller and Olympia J. Snowe are sponsoring a revised version of The Cybersecurity Act. The legislation requires the government to join forces with private companies to counter cyber attacks. Washington Post, 2010

Law: DELIVERING THE FUTURE: The Biometric Center of Excellence. Over the years, biometrics has been incredibly useful to the FBI and its partners in the law enforcement and intelligence communities—not only to authenticate an individual’s identity, but more importantly, to figure out who someone is. Because more and more biometric technologies are being developed, the FBI launched a coordinated effort to harness the benefits of these capabilities for law enforcement and national security purposes. In late 2007, the Biometric Center of Excellence (BCOE) was established in West Virginia. FBI News Update, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Backspatter (back spat•ter; [bak spat΄әr]—noun): Blood that is directed back toward its source of energy. Backspatter is often associated with gunshot wounds of entrance.

Science: Jurors Acquit Virginia Dad In Shaken Baby Syndrome Case. Forensic experts, Craig Futterman, Ronald H. Uscinski, and Peter Stephens testified in Elmer J. Midence's trial. Midence was accused of shaking his 8-month-old baby to death in 2009. He was acquitted. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Internet Fraud's U.S. Price Tag Put At $550 Million . The Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that U.S. citizens lost over $550 million in 2009 due to various internet scams. Los Angeles Times, 2010

Law: INFRAGARD: A Partnership That Works. Infragard, an FBI-sponsored initiative, has brought together representatives from the private and public sectors to help protect our nation’s critical infrastructure and key resources from attacks by terrorists, criminals, and others who wish the U.S. harm since 1996. Now, 85 InfraGard chapters with a total of more than 35,000 members work with the FBI through field offices to ward off attacks against critical infrastructure that can come in the form of computer intrusions, physical security breaches, or other methods. FBI News Update, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Autopsy (au|top•sy; [ô΄täp΄sē]—noun): A physical examination of the corpse through dissection to determine the cause of death.

Science: A Murder Suspect’s Worth to Science. Amy Bishop, neuroscientist, inventor, murder suspect, has become bigger than life, a symbol for those who think that genius is close to madness, or that women cannot get ahead in science, or that tenure systems in universities are brutalizing — or even that progress against fatal diseases is so important that someone like Dr. Bishop should be set free to pursue cures. New York Times, 2010

Technology: Recognizr: Facial Recognition Coming to Android Phones. Swedish software and design company The Astonishing Tribe, also known as TAT, has been developing a rather astonishing augmented reality application for mobile phones. Originally built as a software concept, the Android app called "Recongnizr" is a mobile prototype that allows you to use your phone in order to "see" who a person is and what web services and social networks they're connected to. New York Times, 2010

Law: Prosecutor Reflects On Wrongful Conviction In D.C. Killing. J. Brooks Harrington, the lead prosecutor in Donald E. Gates's trial, discusses the post-conviction DNA exoneration that proved Gateswas not the man who raped and murdered a woman in 1981. Gates was recently released from prison after being incarcerated for 28 years. Washington Post, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Arson trail (ar•son trail; [är΄sәn trāl]—noun): The use of various types of materials, such as cloth rags, newspapers, or wood, that have some type of flammable liquid poured on the material by which the fire can travel along. This trail can leave a distinct mark on the floor of a fire scene.

Science: FBI investigation of 2001 anthrax attacks concluded; U.S. releases details. The Justice Department officially ended its eight-year investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks Friday with the release of hundreds of pages of documents that starkly portray the mental unraveling of the deceased Army scientist accused of committing the worst act of bioterrorism in U.S. history. New York Times, 2010

Technology: Intel Was Attacked at the Same Time as Google. According to the article, "Intel said that it was a victim of a 'sophisticated' cyber-attack that occurred around the same time as the much-publicized attack on Google and other companies." New York Times, 2010

Law: Program That IDs Jailed Illegal Immigrants Sought For Deportation Gets High Marks. Fairfax County is among 116 jurisdictions in the nation participating in a pilot program called Secure Communities. Under the program, authorities take an arrestee's digital fingerprint and compare it to a Department of Homeland Security immigration database. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is immediately notified if a person is an illegal immigrant. During 2009, the program identified 619 inmates as illegal immigrants in Fairfax County. Washington Post, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Animation (an|i•ma•tion; [an΄i mā΄shәn]—noun): A computer program that allows a reconstructionist to develop a videotape of an accident sequence to be used as an exhibit to his/her opinion of the accident scenario.

Science: FBI investigation of 2001 anthrax attacks concluded; U.S. releases details. The Justice Department has closed its investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks that claimed the lives of five people. The government has released documents implicating Bruce E. Ivins, an Army scientist, as the sole perpetrator. Ivins committed suicide in 2008. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: War Game Reveals U.S. Lacks Cyber-Crisis Skills. A nonprofit company presented a cyber attack simulation to former national security personnel. The simulation demonstrated that the U.S. government is not prepared for a major cyber attack. Washington Post, 2010

Law: Backlogs of Forensic DNA Evidence. Many jurisdictions face a backlog in processing forensic evidence gathered at crime scenes. On this page learn about: defining backlogs, counting the backlog, and reducing the backlog. FBI News Update, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Angle of impact (an•gel of im•pact; [aŋ΄gәl uv im pakt΄]—noun): The internal angle at which blood strikes a target surface relative to the horizontal plane of that surface. Thus, a straight-on impact would have an impact angle of 90° projectiles.

Science: China Leads The World In Hacked Computers, McAfee Study Says. McAfee conducted a studycovering the last three months of 2009 and determined that computers in China were hacked more than in any other country. The United States had the second highest number of hacked computers during that same time period. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: FORENSIC ANALYSIS: Clues Buried in Sounds and Images. Twenty six examiners work in the FBI’s Digital Evidence Laboratory’s Forensic Audio, Video, and Image Analysis Unit. Based in Quantico, Virginia, the unit gets requests from all 56 field offices and our overseas offices, or legal attachés. FBI News Update, 2010

Law: Virginia Lawmakers Aim To Loosen Firearm Restrictions. Virginia legislatorshave proposed several bills that if passed will ease the restraints placed on gun owners. Washington Post, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Ammunition (am•mu•ni•tion; [am΄yōō nish΄әn]—noun): (1) One or more loaded cartridges consisting of a primed case, propellant, and with one or more projectiles. Also referred to as fixed or live ammunition. (2) Compressed gas cylinder used in air guns as a means of propelling projectiles.

Science: Analysis: Iranian Plan Will Put Nation A Step Closer To Having Material For Bomb. Iran informed the United Nations that it will be manufacturing uranium to assist in the production of medical isotopes.This announcement raises concerns that Iran will use the uranium to create a nuclear bomb. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Intelligence Officials Say Al-Qaeda Will Try To Attack U.S. In Next 6 Months. Several leading intelligence officials testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committeeon February 2 about future terrorist threats to the United States. The officials agreed that an attempted attack on the United States will occur within the next six months. Washington Post, 2010

Law: Unidentified Bodies In South Florida To Be Exhumed For DNA Testing. Missing Children International Ministriescreated a project called "Who Am I?" to help identify unknown persons and provide closure to families with missing loved ones. Several unidentified bodies in Palm Beach County will be exhumed and their DNA will be entered into the FBI's national DNA database. The project may soon include other counties throughout Florida. Sun Sentinel, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Allelic marker (al•lel•ic mark|er; [ә lēl΄ik märk΄әr]—noun): Allele form of a gene used to identify chromosomal segments suspected of association with a certain phenotype. For example, allelic markers may be used with a family pedigree in which a phenotype is common to identify chromosomal segments that contain the gene responsible for the phenotype.

Science: Illinois plans reforms for processing DNA. Officials are exploring ways to address the backlog of rape kits and other problems at the Illinois State Police Crime Lab. Chicago Tribune, 2010

Technology: More Than 75,000 Computer Systems Hacked In One Of Largest Cyber Attacks, Security Firm Says. NetWitness discovered a cyber attack last month that targeted company computer systems in 196 countries. The attack appears to have originated in Eastern Europe. Cardinal Health and Merck were among the companies affected. Washington Post, 2010

Law: Big Brother Is Here: Families Say Schools Snoop in Their Homes With District-Issued Laptops & Webcams. A federal class action claims a suburban school district has been spying on students and families through the "indiscriminant use of and ability to remotely activate the webcams incorporated into each laptop issued to students," without the knowledge or consent of students or parents. The named plaintiffs say they learned that Big Brother was in their home when an assistant principal told their son that the school district knew he "was engaged in improper behavior in his home, and cited as evidence a photograph from the webcam embedded in minor plaintiff's personal laptop issued by the school district." Courthouse News Service, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Allele (al•lele; [ә lēl΄]—noun):: One of a series of alternative form of a gene (or VNTR) at a specific locus in a genome. In DNA analysis the term allele is commonly extended to include DNA fragments of variable lengths and sequence that may have no known transcriptional product but are detected in a polymorphic system.

Science: Genetic Tests Give Consumers Hints About Disease Risk; Critics Have Misgivings. Several companies such as 23andMe, Navigenics, and Decode Genetics claim that by analyzing a small sample of DNA they can providea person with important medical information including his or her predisposition for cancer and diseases. Geneticists and others in the medical community warn that this information may not be completely accurate and suggest that a doctor should be involved in the process. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Google To Enlist NSA To Help It Ward Off Cyberattacks. After Google's network was hacked in December, the company reportedly appealed to the National Security Agency to help it defend against future cyberattacks. The expected partnership between the government and the private sector raises some privacy concerns. Washington Post, 2010

Law: Poison and Progress: Modern science's race to stay ahead of global terrorists and political assassins began with some devious poisoners in the 19th and early 20th centuries.. The wholesale use of poison got another boost during the chemical revolution of the 1800s. Scientists learned to isolate and identify the basic elements and the chemical compounds that define life on Earth, gradually building a catalogue called ... The Wall Street Journal, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Air scent search (air scent search; [er sent sәrch]—verb):: Search of a designated area by a canine trained to indicate the location of particular scents; includes searches for narcotics, land mines, agricultural products, missing persons, and dead persons.

Science: U.S. Is Unprepared For Major Bioterrorism Attack, Commission Finds. The Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism issued a report stating that the United States does not have adequate plans in place to respond to a bioterrorism attack. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: ON THE GRID: Computers Crunch Numbers in Their Sleep. In the FBI’s case, the grid is made up of thousands of desktop workstations at Headquarters and in field offices and resident agencies across the country. The computers are classified “secret” and are separate from the unclassified computers assigned to Bureau staff. Computers in the grid might be called upon to solve large computational problems or sort through massive indexes of data that might otherwise take years—or even decades—to sift and process. FBI News Update, 2010

Law: Metro Plans Terrorism Drills On Train, Bus Systems. In December of 2009, Metro established an anti-terrorism unit, which was funded by a grant from theDepartment of Homeland Security. The unit is working with Metro Transit Police officers and other law enforcement personnel coordinating simulated training exercises in hopes of deterring terrorist attacks on the transit system. Washington Post, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... AFIS: Automated Fingerprint Identification System that enables computers to make rapid and accurate comparisons between fingerprints and the vast number of fingerprints in police records.

Science: Officials Fear Toxic Ingredient In Botox Could Become Terrorist Tool. Botox is a popular anti-aging drug that contains a diluted amount of botulinum toxin. A very small amount of pure botulinum toxin can be lethal. An increase in the number of black market forms of Botox has officials concerned that terrorists may use the pure toxin as a weapon of mass destruction. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Computer Graphics 'Take Jurors To Scene Of Crime'. The Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) possesses a computer forensic unit that can digitally reconstruct crime scenes. The SPSA hopes the technology will assist jurors during criminal trials. The Scotsman, 2010

Law: In A First Test For Court Watchers, Sotomayor Upholds Death Sentence. In a 7 to 2 decision, the United States Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of an Alabama man who was convicted of killing his former girlfriend. Washington Post, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Adhesive lifter ad•he•sive lift•er; [ad hē΄siv lift΄er]—noun):Any of a variety of adhesive coated materials or tapes used to lift fingerprints or footwear impressions. They are primarily used to lift powdered impressions from nonporous surfaces.

Science: Va. Day-care Provider Convicted In 'Shaken Baby' Case. Trudy E. Munoz Rueda was convicted of felony child abuse and child cruelty for shaking a 4-month-old baby. Several expert witnesses testified during the trial about shaken baby syndrome. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Hillary Clinton Calls For Web freedom, Demands China Investigate Google Attack. In a speech given on January 21, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clintonrequested that China investigate the cyber attacks on Google gmail accounts and emphasized the importance of Internet freedom. Washington Post, 2010

Law: Man Dies After Run-in With Arlington Police; Taser Was Used. Arlington County police officers used a Taser to help restrain a man suspected of theft. The mandied soon after the confrontation with police officers. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of death. Washington Post, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Active decay (ac•tive de•cay; [ak΄tiv dē kā΄]—verb): That phase of corpse decomposition that follows bloat, is characterized by much maggot activity, and terminates with a rapid decrease in body weight.

Science: Shaken Baby Syndrome Itself Is Put On Trial In Fairfax Court. Several expert witnesses testified about shaken baby syndrome during the trial of a day care provider who has been charged with felony child abuse and child endangerment following the hospitalization of 4-month-old Noah Whitmer. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Google China cyberattack part of vast espionage campaign, experts say. Google mayclose its operations in China after it discovered that a cyber attack had been launched from China in attempts to access certain Gmail accounts and networks of major financial, defense, and technology companies and research institutions in the United States, security experts said. Google has been embroiled in debates with the Chinese government regarding Internet censorhip. Google's senior vice president and chief legal officer stated that the company will no longer comply with these search restrictions. Washington Post, 2010

Law: THE PORTABLE FBI Our Newest Social Media Initiatives. More than 35 million people visited the FBI website last year, but many of you prefer your own corners of the Internet, whether it's a personal webpage, blog, networking site, or some other space. That's why in recent years we’ve worked to bring our information to where you are in the online world. FBI News Update, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... Accreditation (ac•cred•i•ta•tion; [ә kred΄ә tā shәn]—verb): (1) A formal process by which a laboratory is evaluated, with respect to established criteria, for its competence to perform a specified kind of measurement; (2) the decision based upon such a process; (3) formal recognition that a testing laboratory is competent to carry out specific tests or specific types of tests. [(3) – ISO Guide 2 1986].

Science: Wrongly Imprisoned, Donald Gates Adjusts To Freedom After 28 Years. Donald Gates was released from prison in December 2009 after post-conviction DNA testing proved that he did not commit a rape and murder in 1981. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Social Networking Among Jurors Is Trying Judges' Patience. Despite judges' warnings,jurors in several recent court cases have used social networking sites and the internet to discuss cases and conduct research. This form of juror misconduct has forced some judges to order new trials. Washington Post, 2010

Law: Supreme Court Revisits Ruling On Challenges To Forensic Reports. Last year, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Melendez-Diaz that defendants have the right to question forensic scientists prior to forensic reports being admitted into evidence. The Court is faced with this same issue in Briscoe v. Virginia. Washington Post, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... xenobiotic (\,ze-nō-bī-ˈä-tik, ˌzē-, -bē-\) n. A chemical compound (as a drug, pesticide, or carcinogen) that is foreign to a living organism. Link

Science: Testing Of Cocaine Vaccine Shows It Does Not Fully Blunt Cravings For The Drug. Scientists have developed a vaccine called TA-CD that may minimize the effects of cocaine. Washington Post, 2010

Technology: Suit Says 2 Chinese Firms Stole Web-Blocking Code. A software company in California has sued two Chinese technology firms, charging that they stole its computer code to make an Internet-monitoring program that China’s government sought to install on every computer in the country last year before backing down. NY TIMES, 2010

Law: THE YEAR IN REVIEW - A Look at FBI Cases, Part 2. The FBI worked thousands of investigations during 2009, everything from cyber crime and espionage to public corruption and billion-dollar fraud schemes. Here is a look back at some of 2009’s most significant cases. Part 1 focused on terrorism cases. This segment highlights some of the year’s top cases from the FBI’s other investigative priorities ... Federal Bureau of Investigation News, 2010

Featured forensics-related word ... ac•cel•er•ant Accelerant (ac•cel•er•ant; [ak sel΄әr әnt]—noun): Any material used to initiate or promote the spread of a fire. The most common accelerants are flammable or combustible fluids. Whether a substance is an accelerant depends not on its chemical structure, but on its use. An accelerant may be a solid, liquid, or in some instances, a gas. Definition from Forensic Science: An Illustrated Dictionary (CRC Press 2004) by John C. Brenner. Link found at Forensic Science: An Illustrated Dictionary.

Science: BSO latest to join fingerprint registry. The Broward Sheriff's Office became the latest law enforcement agency to share digitally recorded inmate fingerprints with the Department of Homeland Security as part of a nationwide program to keep criminal undocumented immigrants off the streets. Under the program, undocumented immigrants' fingerprints are compared to fingerprints of those with criminal records. Miami Herald, 2009

Technology: House takes steps to boost cybersecurity. House leaders have asked the chamber's security officials to implement a new cybersecurity training regimen for aides and take additional measures to protect sensitive information from potential hackers. Washington Post, 2009

Law: THE YEAR IN REVIEW - A Look at FBI Cases, Part 1. The FBI worked thousands of investigations during 2009—from art crime to weapons of mass destruction violations, often in close concert with our partners. As the year comes to a close, here is a rundown of some of the Bureau's most significant cases. Federal Bureau of Investigation News, 2009

Featured forensics-related word ... fo•ren•sics (f-rnsks, -zks) n. (used with a sing. verb) 1. The art or study of formal debate; argumentation. 2. The use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts in criminal or civil courts of law. The word forensic comes from the Latin word forensis: public; to the forum or public discussion; argumentative, rhetorical, belonging to debate or discussion. The modern definition of forensic as belonging to, used in or suitable to courts of judicature, or to public discussion or debate. Forensic science is science used in public, in a court, or in the justice system. Any science used for the purposes of the law is a forensic science. AAFS on Forensic Science

Science: Studying Young Minds, and How to Teach Them. “This is what we believe focused math education does: It sharpens the firing of these quantity neurons,” said Stanislas Dehaene, a cognitive neuroscientist at the Collège de France in Paris and author of the books “The Number Sense” and “Reading and the Brain.” The firing of the number neurons becomes increasingly more selective to single quantities, he said; and these cells apparently begin to communicate with neurons across the brain in language areas, connecting precise quantities to words: “two,” “ten,” “five.” New York Times, 2009

Technology: Calling on Leakers to Help Document Local Misdeeds. It was a simple idea: use the power and elusiveness of the Internet to publish secret documents that someone, somewhere thought should be made public. And dare the government, any government, to shut you down. NY Times, 2009

Law: Internet Crimes Against Children. NIJ has made available, from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, a three part report on Internet Crimes Against Children. The report is designed to aid prosecutors, legislators, researchers, child and legal advocates, law enforcement and judges. Office of Justice Programs, 2009

Science: Study Suggests Methods and Timing to Treat Fears. A new study suggests that doctors can take advantage of the brain’s natural updating process — the way it might soften its impression of, say, pit bulls after seeing a playful one — to treat phobias, post-traumatic stress and other anxiety disorders. New York Times, 2009

Technology: HOLIDAY SHOPPING ALERT Beware of Seasonal Scams. “Oh, you better watch out…” Cyber shoppers should take heed of the familiar holiday song’s timeless refrain. FBI News, 2009

Law: Report Condemns Police Lab Oversight. The New York State Police’s supervision of a major crime laboratory was so poor that it overlooked evidence of pervasively shoddy forensics work, allowing an analyst to go undetected for 15 years as he falsified test results and compromised nearly one-third of his cases, an investigation by the state’s inspector general has found. New York Times, 2009

Science: PLAYING WITH FIRE: The Dangers of Improvised Explosives. The Internet has certainly added to the problem. Not only do online searches yield recipes for making powerful bombs, they provide access to videos that offer step-by-step instructions. FBI News, 2009

Technology: Judges, lawyers can't be 'friends'. Justices and attorneys may have to unfriend each other on Facebook after a recent opinion by a state ethics committee. myFOX nepa, 2009

Law: High court to rule on employee privacy. The Su­preme Court will decide whether employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy for the text messages they send on devices owned by their employers. Washington Post, December, 2009

Science: PLAYING WITH FIRE: The Dangers of Improvised Explosives. The Internet has certainly added to the problem. Not only do online searches yield recipes for making powerful bombs, they provide access to videos that offer step-by-step instructions. FBI News, 2009

Technology: Judges, lawyers can't be 'friends'. Justices and attorneys may have to unfriend each other on Facebook after a recent opinion by a state ethics committee. myFOX nepa, 2009

Law: High court to rule on employee privacy. The Su­preme Court will decide whether employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy for the text messages they send on devices owned by their employers. Washington Post, December, 2009

Science: Another backlog on DNA evidence. The state has quietly begun comparing DNA taken from homicide victims to DNA collected from the scenes of unsolved crimes in an attempt to link the deceased to those cases, but the launch of the new initiative has been plagued by problems ... Chicago Tribune, 2009

Technology: Facebook adopts new privacy settings. The popular networking site introduced new privacy settings on Wednesday that are supposed to give its 350 million users more control over what information they share and whom they share it with. But public interest groups are concerned that Facebook's default settings for how far that information can travel are too broad. They also worry that the new program could open up a user's personal profile information to ... Washington Post, 2009

Law: St. Leonard closes doors to sex offenders. St. Leonard's Ministries, which has a long record of helping to reform all types of felons, told the Department of Corrections it would no longer house any sex offenders after Julius Anderson slipped off its grounds in August never to return, despite electronic monitoring being used. Chicago Tribune, 2009

Science: Strengthening Forensic Science: The Next Wave of Scholarship. This article focuses on threads of scholarly literature citing and commenting on the NAS Report; and highlights discussions where experts and practitioners rethink the merits of a wide range of forensic issues. LLRX.com, 2009

Technology: IMPEACHMENT VIA SOCIAL NETWORK WEBSITES. Can what you post on social network websites (such as Facebook and MySpace) be used to attack your credibility in a courtroom? Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, 2009

Law: Lawsuit Seeks Information on Federal Surveillance of Social Networking Sites. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the University of California, Berkeley’s Samuelson Clinic have filed a lawsuit (PDF document) against six government agencies, seeking information on their use of social networking sites for data collection and surveillance. resource shelf - a daily newsletter, 2009

Science: Hacked E-Mail Is New Fodder for Climate Dispute. Hundreds of private e-mail messages and documents hacked from a computer server at a British university are causing a stir among global warming skeptics, who say they show that climate scientists conspired to overstate the case for a human influence on climate change. New York Times, November, 2009

Technology: Building an Online Bulwark to Fend Off Identity Fraud Assessing risk: The Internet is awash in personal data, which means yours may never be found. Several services look for signs of sticky fingers, to know when data reaches the hands of criminals so people can act quickly. New York Times, November, 2009

Law: Facebook status update provides alibi. For 19-year-old Rodney Bradford, a simple Facebook status update turned into much more: a rock-solid alibi after he was accused of a crime ... CNN Justice, 2009

Science: More digging for bodies to come in Cleveland slayings case?. Authorities used thermal-imaging equipment and ground-penetrating radar to search outside murder suspect, Anthony Sowell's, home and a property next door ... CNN, November, 2009

Technology: READY TO RESPOND: Technology on Display. When the FBI is called upon to investigate a crime scene or to assist with incidents ranging from the criminal use of hazardous materials to hostage situations, we rely on the expertise of our dedicated and highly trained personnel. They, in turn, more often than not rely on technology to help them succeed in their missions. FBI News, 2009

Law: Nursing homes: Most sex offenders living in nursing homes aren't listed on state police's online registry. Under Illinois law, families researching nursing homes are directed to search a state police website for critical information about sex offenders living in the facilities. In Chicago fewer than one in five sex offenders in nursing homes were listed on the online registry. Part of the problem is a gap in the law ... Chicago Tribune, November, 2009

Science: New DNA Method Makes It Easier To Trace Criminals. 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 at Lund University in Sweden, working together with the Swedish National Laboratory of Forensic Science, SKL, have improved a critical part of the analysis process. Science Daily, October, 2009

Technology: Trove of Hotmail Passwords Posted Online. If you use Microsoft's free Hotmail service, it may be time to change your password: Microsoft said Monday that several thousand Hotmail account credentials were posted online over the weekend. Washington Post, November, 2009

Law: Former New York Federal Reserve Bank Employee Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Using Stolen Identities to Obtain Loans Fraudulently. United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Curtis L. Wilsthire pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft for having obtained student loans using stolen identities. FBI News, October, 2009

Science: Painful Stories Take a Toll on Military Therapists. Many of the patients who fill the day are bereft, angry, broken. The repeated stories of battle and loss can leave the most professional therapist numb or angry. New York Times, November, 2009

Technology: Operation Phish Phry - Major Cyber Fraud Takedown. Nearly 100 people were charged today in the U.S. and Egypt as part of Operation Phish Phry, one the largest cyber fraud phishing cases to date. FBI News, October, 2009

Law: Unanalyzed Evidence Held by Law Enforcement Agencies. More than 2,000 state and local law enforcement agencies responded to a survey to [1] estimate the number of unsolved homicide, rape and property cases nationwide that contain forensic evidence that has not been submitted to a crime laboratory for analysis and [2] to determine the existence of policies and procedures regarding the processing, submission to a lab and retention of forensic evidence. National Institute of Justice, 2009

Science: Justice at Last Arrest in 19-Year-Old Cold Case. In 1990, Jennifer Schuett was sexually assaulted and nearly killed. Now, 19 years later, there is an arrest in her case. FBI News, October, 2009

Technology: Paper Trail. Founded in 2000 in Palo Alto, California, with the slogan "Technology Serving Humanity," Benetech, the nonprofit organization has developed database software and statistical analysis techniques that have assisted ... Smithsonian Magazine, October, 2009

Law: Why Partnerships Matter In Cases Like 'Operation Knockout'. In his keynote address today, Mueller spoke not only about the threat of terrorism, but also about crime issues that may hit closer to home for many police chiefs and sheriffs, including the continued growth of violent gangs. FBI News, October, 2009

Science: Part 3: Hunting for 'Clandestine Burials'. A key element of training for FBI Evidence Response Teams is excavating burial sites while preserving potential evidence. FBI News, October 2009

Technology: Old Trick Threatens the Newest Weapons. Despite a six-year effort to build trusted computer chips for military systems, the Pentagon now manufactures in secure facilities run by American companies only about 2 percent of the more than $3.5 billion of integrated circuits bought annually for use in military gear. New York Times, 2009

Law: Teaching Cops to See. At New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Amy Herman schools police in the fine art of deductive observation. Smithsonian Magazine, October, 2009

Science: The Fatal Consequences of Counterfeit Drugs. In Southeast Asia, forensic investigators using cutting-edge tools are helping stanch the deadly trade in fake anti-malaria drugs. Smithsonian magazine, October 2009

Technology: F.B.I. Indicts Dozens in Online Bank Fraud. In what it is calling Operation Phish Phry, the F.B.I. began arresting 53 people on Wednesday on charges of conducting a vast financial fraud based on phishing — the act of tricking Internet users into revealing their passwords and other information. New York Times, 2009

Law: Taser makers say don't aim at chest. The maker of Taser stun guns has advised law enforcement agencies to avoid hitting suspects in the chest, partly "to minimize controversy." CNN.com Justice, 2009

Science: Tighter requirements on medical examiners are blocked in Texas. Governor Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would have given medical examiners the say-so on who can attend autopsies and required that they be trained in forensic and anatomic pathology. Star Telegram, 2009

Technology: Fingerprint Tech IDs Leonardo da Vinci. The ghost of a fingerprint in the top left corner of an obscure portrait appears to have confirmed an extraordinary art discovery: an unrecognized painting by Leonardo da Vinci. Peter Paul Biro, a Montreal-based forensic art expert, found the fingerprint while examining images captured by the revolutionary multispectral camera from the Lumière Technology company, Antiques Trade Gazette reports today. FOX news, 2009

Law: Judge Refuses to Punish Lawyer for Anti-RIAA Blogging. An attorney defending against a music-piracy lawsuit didn’t cross ethical bounds by filing motions broadly attacking the recording industry and posting them on his blog, a magistrate judge has ruled, rejecting demands from the RIAA for monetary sanctions. Wired, 2009

Science: Tighter requirements on medical examiners are blocked in Texas. Governor Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would have given medical examiners the say-so on who can attend autopsies and required that they be trained in forensic and anatomic pathology. Star Telegram, 2009

Technology: Universities Spar Over Disappearing Electronic Messages. In less than two months after a group of University of Washington computer researchers proposed a novel system for making electronic messages “disappear” after a certain period of time, a rival group of researchers based at the University of Texas at Austin, Princeton, and the University of Michigan, has claimed to have undermined the scheme. New York Times, 2009

Law: ‘Clear’ Security Service May Return at Airports. Verified Identity Pass, a company founded by the entrepreneur Steven Brill, offered travelers a tempting proposition: pay up to $199 a year, submit to a fingerprint and iris scan, and skip to the front of interminable airport security lines. New York Times, 2009

Science: Researcher who saved countless lives takes on big pharma — and pays the price. A judge overturns a big award and noted research done for the past two decades is in jeopardy ... St. Petersburg Times, 2009

Technology: Hackers Breach Payroll Giant, Target Customers. Information stolen from PayChoice, a New Jersey based payroll business, was recently used to target the company's clientele. Hackers contacted customers with instructions to download a plug-in for PayChoice's online services which actually was malicious software that would steal the victim's passwords and usernames ... Washington Post, 2009

Law: Arrest Over Software Illuminates Wall St. Secret. Mr. Aleynikov is accused of stealing software code from Goldman Sachs, his old employer. It is feared that the code could be used to “unfairly manipulate” stock prices. Is a criminal or civil suit more appropriate in cases of ultrafast computerized stock trading? New York Times, 2009

Science: Researcher who saved countless lives takes on big pharma — and pays the price. A judge overturns a big award and noted research done for the past two decades is in jeopardy ... St. Petersburg Times, 2009

Technology: Hackers Breach Payroll Giant, Target Customers. Information stolen from PayChoice, a New Jersey based payroll business, was recently used to target the company's clientele. Hackers contacted customers with instructions to download a plug-in for PayChoice's online services which actually was malicious software that would steal the victim's passwords and usernames ... Washington Post, 2009

Law: Arrest Over Software Illuminates Wall St. Secret. Mr. Aleynikov is accused of stealing software code from Goldman Sachs, his old employer. It is feared that the code could be used to “unfairly manipulate” stock prices. Is a criminal or civil suit more appropriate in cases of ultrafast computerized stock trading? New York Times, 2009

Science: DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show. Scientists in Israel have demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, undermining the credibility of what has been considered the gold standard of proof in criminal cases. New York Times, 2009

Technology: French Courts to Admit Text Messages in Divorce Cases. Unfaithful spouses in France, beware: Passionate text messages sent to mistresses and lovers can now be used as evidence against you in a divorce. New York Times, 2009

Law: Trial by Fire: Did Texas execute an innocent man? Cameron Todd Willingham insisted on his innocence in the deaths of his children and refused an offer to plead guilty in return for a life sentence ... New Yorker, 2009

Science: DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show. Scientists in Israel have demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, undermining the credibility of what has been considered the gold standard of proof in criminal cases. New York Times, 2009

Technology: Arrest Over Software Illuminates Wall St. Secret. Stealing software has suddenly become one of the most competitive and controversial on Wall Street. At its heart are computer programs that take years to develop and are treated as closely guarded secrets. New York Times, 2009

Law: Ruling Could Let Model Find, Sue Online Heckler. New York Supreme Court Judge Joan Madden ruled that a 37 year old model who had been lambasted in a blog titled "Skanks of NYC" has the right to identify the person heckling her online. Google turned over identifying information about the blog's creator ... CNN, 2009

Science: Army's Pathology Institute Defends Its Turf. Since the decision was made to close Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2011 as part of a federal base-closure program, there has been considerable confusion over whether the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) will also shut down ... Washington Post, August, 2009

Technology: Security Pros Are Focused on the Wrong Threats According to the SANS Institute, corporate information technology departments are prioritizing the wrong threats to their computer systems. Instead of focusing on the most common attacks hitting corporate networks and data on which vulnerabilities are most prevalent on company networks, the focus is on old problems. See: The Top Cyber Security, New York Times, 2009

Law: NTSB ISSUES UPDATE ON ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE MIDAIR COLLISION OVER THE HUDSON RIVER. In its continuing investigation of the midair collision of an air tour helicopter and a small plane over the Hudson River on Saturday, the NTSB has developed the following factual information ..." National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB Advisory, Washington, DC 20594, August, 2009

Science: Remains of Pilot Shot Down In Iraq Found, Navy Says. Pentagon pathologists used dental records to determine that newly found skeletal fragments and a jawbone belonged to the missing pilot. DNA testing is expected to confirm this conclusion. Washington Post, August, 2009

Technology: 3 Indicted in Theft of 130 Million Card Numbers The man who prosecutors said had masterminded some of the most brazen thefts of credit and debit card numbers in history was charged with the largest case of computer crime and identity theft ever prosecuted ... New York Times, 2009

Law: Blow for Indonesia as Militant Top Eludes Police. Noordin Mohammad Top, the Islamic militant credited with masterminding the recent attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, is not the same person shot and killed during a police raid in Central Java. Top fled the scene before law enforcement arrived ..." Reuters, 2009