Michelle Taylor

Editor-in-Chief

Forensic

Michelle Taylor has worked on the Forensic brand since 2016. Well established in the industry, Michelle has attended dozens of scientific conferences and conducted interviews with key opinion leaders, including multiple Nobel Prize winners and award-winning forensic scientists. Michelle enjoys writing about investigative forensic genetic genealogy, novel psychoactive substances, next-generation sequencing, sexual assault kits and more. Michelle received her BA in journalism from Elon University in North Carolina. Michelle can be reached at [email protected] Michelle can be reached at [email protected]

Suspect Arrested After DNA from Cigarette Butt Matches 2012 Crime Scene Evidence
March 27, 2024
A senseless argument that led to the murder of a 34-year-old man in a Pennsylvania diner parking lot has now been solved thanks to facial recognition technology and DNA left on a Styrofoam cup at the crime scene 12 years earlier. read more
Cold Case Unit Relaunches After 2-Year Hiatus
March 25, 2024
After being disbanded two years ago, the Portland Police Bureau has announced the reinstatement of the Cold Case Unit thanks to a grant awarded through the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI). read more
13 Tribal Nations to Accelerate Hemp Development
March 18, 2024
Oregon State University has been given a $10 million grant to work with 13 Native American Tribes to spur economic development in the western U.S. by developing manufacturing capabilities for materials and products made from hemp. read more
‘Bootcamp’ Brings Multidisciplinary Approach to Tackling Substance Use Disorder
March 13, 2024
Researchers at MIT have taken a different approach to the drug crisis. A new hybrid program recently convened 34 innovators to build and pitch new ventures with the goal of bringing life-saving innovations to the field. read more
Astroforensics: Analyzing Bloodstain Patterns in Space
March 11, 2024
If there is ever going to be a permanent or even semi-permanent base in outer space, society needs to be prepared for the inevitable: humans committing crimes. read more
First Ancient DNA Study of Arabians Reveals Malaria Adaptation
March 11, 2024
Researchers extracted DNA from 25 people but—due to the age and hot climate—only samples from four individuals were suitable for sequencing. read more
35% of Drugs Bought on Dark Web are Not as Advertised
March 08, 2024
Scientists recently tested illicit drugs purchased online and were not surprised to find about 35% were not what they said they were, increasing the risk of unwanted side effects, potential overdose and death. read more
Report Shows Huge Increase in Use of ‘Gas Station Heroin’
February 14, 2024
According to CFSRE, Poison Control Center cases involving tianeptine exposure increased nationwide from 11 total cases between 2000 and 2013 to 151 cases in 2020. read more
First Arrests Under Florida’s New DNA Law, Pennsylvania Considers Post-arrest Testing
February 12, 2024
In the U.S., different states legislate DNA collection in different ways. In July 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that changed the law in the Sunshine State. read more
Electrochemical Sensor Can Detect Fentanyl in Seconds
February 08, 2024
In a new study, researchers outline the development of a first-of-its-kind, handheld electrochemical sensor that can accurately detect fentanyl in urine within seconds. read more
Was it a Hate Crime? Genealogy Solves 1988 Murder that Left Community on Edge
January 31, 2024
After 35 years, police in Prince Edward Island, Canada have made an arrest in the chilling 1988 murder of a gay man that had the island’s LGBTQ+ community living in fear after the suspect hinted there would be more victims. read more
Next Generation Sequencing Accepted in Court for First Time
January 29, 2024
For the first time in the U.S., evidence derived from next generation sequencing (NGS) has been accepted in a court of law. read more
Injectable Liquid Fentanyl is the Newest Opioid Threat
January 17, 2024
It is certainly not headline news that fentanyl is a threat in the U.S. and other countries. However, a new wrinkle in the ongoing opioid crisis has recently been discovered and labeled an “emerging threat”—injectable liquid fentanyl. read more
Ancient DNA from 34,000 Years Ago Reveals Modern Disease Clues
January 12, 2024
Researchers involved in the study analyzed DNA from the bones and teeth of 5,000 ancient humans, held in museum collections across Europe and Western Asia. read more
AI Matches Fingerprints from Different Fingers to the Same Person
January 10, 2024
A team of engineers from Columbia University and the University at Buffalo, SUNY say they have built and trained an AI that has proven not every fingerprint is unique. read more
New Drug Adulterant is More Potent than Zombie Drug
January 05, 2024
The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education has issued a public health alert regarding a novel psychoactive substance seen recently in illicit drug material that is similar to but even more potent than xylazine, the so-called “zombie drug.” read more
Police Reviewing Recommendations in JonBenet Ramsey Murder Case
January 03, 2024
The Colorado Cold Case Review Team has spent the last year reviewing the JonBenet Ramsey homicide investigation to generate investigative recommendations, which the Boulder Police Department and the Boulder District Attorney are getting ready to act on. read more
Forensic’s Top 10 News Articles of 2023
December 27, 2023
As we prepare to move into a new year, let’s take a look back at Forensic’s most popular news of the year, while reflecting on how far forensic science has come in the last 12 months. read more
Body Pulled from Lake 24 Years Ago Identified as FBI Fugitive
December 20, 2023
A body found wrapped in tire chains at the bottom of a lake in Kentucky in 1999 has now been identified as a man wanted by the FBI after an arrest for the alleged rape of a minor child one year earlier. read more
New York’s First Use of Genealogy to Solve Cold Case Rapes
December 18, 2023
For the first time in New York State’s history, investigators used investigative genetic genealogy to help generate a lead and make an arrest in two rapes that occurred 23 years ago. read more