A “magic” marker pen developed at the University of Leicester enables forensic experts, police and criminal investigators to quickly determine whether a receipt potentially containing fingerprint deposits is made of thermal paper, with another device then used to reveal the presence of any fingerprints. The devices come thanks to the work of the suitably-named Dr Bond, John Bond, from the University’s Department of Criminology.
Dr Bond’s marker contains a solution of water, glycerol emulsion, and butylene glycol that reacts with the dye in the paper, changing its color to indicate thermal paper, which is commonly used to print receipts at gas stations, supermarkets, and ATMs. The conventional method of identifying thermal paper irreversibly turns the paper black and obliterates any fingerprints.
via Gizmag
Image: University of Leicester
