Crime
5 mind-melting true crime cases solved by science
The ingenious methods that have put the biggest criminals behind bars.
How scientists could now use your surname to catch serial killers
A DNA revolution is cracking cases around the world.
Your fingerprints aren't unique after all, discovers AI
The breakthrough could re-open many criminal cold cases.
Police line-ups suck at catching criminals. Here’s how AI could fix them
How can we catch more bad guys and fewer innocent people? Spoiler: not through an Internet community of cat lovers.
Content moderators pay a psychological toll to keep social media clean. We should be helping them
As technology develops, we need to make sure we are keeping pace with any potentially damaging effects it may be having on our mental wellbeing.
Instant Genius Podcast | How plants solve crimes, with David Gibson
Professor David Gibson sits down to explain how forensic botany - the study of plants to help solve crimes - has helped to solve real cases.
An algorithm can predict future crimes with 90% accuracy. Here’s why the creator thinks the tech won’t be abused
The AI model was tested across eight cities in the US and predicts future crimes with 80 to 90 per cent accuracy, without falling foul of bias.
Translation errors in police interviews could send innocent people to jail
Using interpreters can distort how police evaluate suspects and witnesses.
How false memories can shape a criminal court case
False memories make for thorny debates in research and the courtroom alike.
Stopping benefit payments increases criminal activity – and ends up costing governments more
A study of US citizens who had their welfare payments cut shows that removing cash support leads to more criminal activity later down the line.
How small changes to prison food drastically cut inmate violence
In prison, suicides, self-harm and assaults on officers are on the rise. But studies suggest there is a cheap, low-risk way to improve inmate behaviour and mental health, making the facilities safer for both staff and prisoners.
Instant Genius Podcast | Psychology of evil, with Dr Julia Shaw
Criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw joins us on our podcasts, Instant Genius and Instant Genius Extra.
Podcast | The creator of Bellingcat on using the internet to investigate global affairs
Eliot Higgins tells the story of how a group of amateur hobbyists ended up taking on Russian spies.
Forensic science | What we still don't know
Forensic science is a mainstay in investigating crimes, but there's still a lot we don't know.
What is forensic science?
Crime scene investigators in plastic overalls are a common sight on TV dramas, but what's the science behind what they do?
Sue Black | What stories do our skeletons tell?
Professor Sue Black reveals how forensic anthropologists search for the criminal secrets that are etched on the bones of victims.
Sue Black reveals the secrets stored in our bones
Read the full transcript of our Science Focus Podcast interview with Sue Black on the human skeleton – listen to the full episode at the bottom of the page.
Why are we so obsessed with true crime?
We’ve teamed up with the folks behind BBC World Service’s CrowdScience to answer your questions on one topic - this week it's all about why we are obsessed with true crime
Unsolved murder | How police are using family tree forensics to solve cold cases
In the US, hundreds of long-forgotten cold cases are being reopened by detectives who mine new DNA databases for leads, but it seems time might be running out.
Smart cities | A smart city does not have to become a surveillance city, but it requires a strong public commitment to privacy rights
With little protection afforded in legal systems throughout the world, urbanites have to rely on the commitments of governments and companies conducting the surveillance.
Scientists fake rhino horn from horse hair to flood illegal market
They hope the fakes could help conservation efforts by confusing those trading real rhino horns.
Unsolved murder | Has science identified Jack the Ripper?
Criminologist David Wilson applies the latest scientific techniques in a new BBC Science documentary - we asked him if we finally know the identity of Jack the Ripper.
Can a head injury make you more prone to criminal behaviour?
A growing body of research has found the defence of "my brain made me do it" might carry more weight than we previously thought.
The Science of True Crime
This BBC Focus Special Edition reveals the cutting-edge techniques being used to catch criminals.