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]

Experts Urge FDA to Rescind Approval of DNA-based Opioid Addiction Test
April 10, 2024
A group of scientists and experts are calling on the FDA to rescind their approval of a controversial DNA test that claims to predict genetic risk of opioid addiction. read more
Can DNA Be Collected from AC Units at Crime Scenes?
April 08, 2024
Researchers are using a new technique to potentially pick up and record airborne forensic DNA evidence from crime scenes wiped clean of fingerprints and other trace evidence. read more
Australia’s Wastewater Shows 75% Increase in Pentylone Use
April 01, 2024
Wastewater monitoring has revealed a 75% increase in detections of the synthetic stimulant pentylone across Australia, according to researchers at the University of South Australia. read more
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