The Development of CSI Sciences

Bullets

1835

In 1835, a comparison with the bullets was used to find a killer.

Body Temperature

1863

In 1863 the body temperature was used to determine the person's time of death. The sooner the body is found after death, this method will be able to assess the more accurately the time of death. All bets are off once the body reaches ambient temperature. But the determination of body temperature is subject to several sources of inaccuracy, even if done correctly and soon after death.

Photography

1880

The use of photography for the identification of criminals and evidence and crime scenes documentation was in the 1880s.

Fingerprints

1903

The State Prisons of New York adopted the use of fingerprints in 1903

Polygraph

1921

In 1921 John Larson invented the Modern polygraph.

Breathalyzer

1954

Breathalyzers were first invented back in 1954. Its use was to prevent harm from drunken-driving incidents.

DNA

1983

From the 1980s onwards, scientific advances authorized the use of DNA as a material for an individual's identification. Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg filed the first patent covering the direct use of DNA variation for forensics in 1983