FYI Sleuths, Thermal Signatures

[Kat]

http://www.photonics.com/Content/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=37382

Thermal Signatures Determine Time of Death

During decomposition microorganisms emit different thermal signatures, which can be detected by thermographic imaging...

...According to a preliminary study ... these signatures more accurately determine time of death...

...This new technique, which could prove quite useful for the field of criminology...

...The stages of cadaverous decomposition and putrefaction can be affected by environmental variations, which can decrease the accuracy of forensic dating. However, the growth of microorganisms on cadavers remains constant, regardless of the environmental conditions. By combining traditional microbiological methods with thermography, the margin of error associated with time of death estimations could seemingly be greatly reduced...

I thought this was interesting enough to share with others here that have an interest in forensics and criminology.