It’s National Chemistry Week! This year’s theme is “Solving Mysteries Through Chemistry,” so today we have a roundup of past blog posts about how nanotechnology is used in forensics.

Investigating crime is only one example of “solving mysteries,” but it is an important one and there are many examples of how nanotechnology is contributing to forensic science. Here are just a few of our past Sustainable Nano blog posts that address this topic:

• The adventures of Dr. Nanock Holmes, solving a crime using nanoscience: Forensic Nanotechnology: A Scientific Whodunit, by Autumn Qiu
• An activity for middle school students to learn the scientific method through chemistry scenarios: The Mysterious Inspiration of Future Scientists, by Christy Haynes
• An array of anti-terrorism efforts based on nanotechnology: Nanoparticles – 5 Ways These “Little Fighters” Are Making a Big Impact in the War on Terrorism, by Taeyjuana Curry
• Nanotechnology developments in detecting explosives and substances: Nano Sensors: Small Size, Big Impact, by Laurel Hamers
• How nanoscale structures on butterfly wings inspired anti-counterfeit technology: Mimicking Nature’s Nanotechnology: From a butterfly wing to anti-counterfeit technologies, by Merve Doğangün
• Using fluorescence to investigate car accidents: How do Black Lights Work, Why do Highlighters Look So Bright, and How Can You Impress Your Significant Other with Science?, by Tom Kuech