ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Simona Francese - Analytical chemist
Simona Francese is a chemist by training who is passionate about forensics.

Why you should listen

Simona Francese is a Professor of Forensic and Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK. As she writes: "I have been fascinated by forensics since I was 17, and I was determined to pursue an educational route that eventually would enable me to contribute to secure societies. As always in life, nothing is straightforward. I enrolled in the chemistry course because it was the closest degree at the time that could lead me to where I wanted to be. I ended up doing a PhD and post-doctorate fellowships working with viruses and diseases. But I was always focused on my ultimate objective, and throughout I developed a strong expertise in mass spectrometry, which is an extremely versatile analytical technique. This was crucial.

"When I obtained my first lectureship, I had the freedom to build my own research, and I used mass spectrometry imaging to develop ways to profile individuals from their fingermarks, thus helping police with their investigations. What has the suspect been handling? What is their lifestyle? What did he do prior to or while committing the crime? These are some of the questions that the developed technology can answer, and we are working on providing additional information -- for example, on the pathological or pharmacological state of the individual, just from looking at their fingermark! A fantastic achievement for me, but the best accomplishment was keeping the focus for 14 years and remaining determined to finally be able to do what I have always been so passionate about."

More profile about the speaker
Simona Francese | Speaker | TED.com
TED2018

Simona Francese: Your fingerprints reveal more than you think

西蒙娜·弗兰切塞: 你指纹透露的信息超乎你的想象

Filmed:
2,372,231 views

我们的指纹令我们独一无二——但它们也是揭露我们的行为、生活形态和日常生活信息的一个隐秘世界。在这个演讲中,化学家西蒙娜·弗兰切塞展示了她如何使用质谱仪来追踪分子,这种技术可以利用过去不可见的细节来分析指纹,她也展示了这种尖端的法医科学如何帮助警察抓捕罪犯。
- Analytical chemist
Simona Francese is a chemist by training who is passionate about forensics. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
Do you ever stop and think,
during a romantic浪漫 dinner晚餐,
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在进行浪漫晚餐的时候,
你们有没有停下来想想,
00:17
"I've just left my fingerprints指纹
all over my wine红酒 glass玻璃."
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“我刚在红酒杯上留满了指纹”。
00:20
(Laughter笑声)
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(笑声)
00:21
Or do you ever worry担心,
when you visit访问 a friend朋友,
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或者你有没有担心,当你拜访朋友时,
00:24
about leaving离开 a little piece of you behind背后
on every一切 surface表面 that you touch触摸?
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在每一个触碰中留下的那一丝痕迹?
00:30
And even this evening晚间,
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即便今天晚上,
00:31
have you paid支付 any attention注意
to sit without touching接触 anything?
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你们坐下时有没有留意不触碰任何东西?
00:36
Well, you're not alone单独.
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好吧,并不只是你们如此。
00:37
Thankfully感激地, criminals罪犯 underestimate低估
the power功率 of fingerprints指纹, too.
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谢天谢地,犯罪分子也低估了指纹的力量。
00:42
And I'm not just talking about
the twisted扭曲 parting离别 of lines线
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我说的可不只是那一条条让我们的指纹
00:46
that make our fingerprint指纹 unique独特.
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独一无二的扭曲线条。
00:49
I'm talking about
an entire整个 world世界 of information信息
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我谈论的是整个隐藏在
00:53
hiding in a small, often经常 invisible无形 thing.
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微小,常常不可见的物体中的信息世界。
00:57
In fact事实, fingerprints指纹
are made制作 up of molecules分子
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事实上,组成指纹的分子
01:00
that belong属于 to three classes:
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可以分为三大类:
01:02
sweat molecules分子 that we all produce生产
in very different不同 amounts ...
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我们产生的数量非常不同的汗液分子…
01:07
molecules分子 that we introduce介绍 into our body身体
and then we sweat out
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进入我们体内然后排出去的分子
01:11
and molecules分子 that we may可能 contaminate污染
our fingertips指尖 with
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和污染我们指尖的分子,
01:15
when we come across横过 substances物质
like blood血液, paint涂料, grease润滑脂,
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在我们遇到像血液,油漆,油脂那样的物质时,
01:18
but also invisible无形 substances物质.
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但也有不可见的物质。
01:21
And molecules分子 are
the storytellers讲故事的人 of who we are
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分子是我们是谁
01:26
and what we've我们已经 been up to.
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和我们一直所从事的事的说书人。
01:28
We just need to have
the right technology技术 to make them talk.
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我们只是需要有合适技术让它们开口说话。
01:34
So let me take you on a journey旅程
of unthinkable不可思议的 capabilities功能.
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所以,让我带你们踏上这段
不可思议的能力之旅。
01:42
Katie凯蒂 has been raped强奸
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凯蒂被强奸了,
01:45
and her lifeless死气沉沉 body身体 has been found发现
in the woods树木 three days later后来,
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她的尸体在她失踪后的三天
01:50
after her disappearance消失.
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在树林里被发现。
01:52
The police警察 is targeting针对 three suspects犯罪嫌疑人,
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警方锁定了三个嫌疑人,
01:55
having narrowed收窄 down
the search搜索 from over 20 men男人
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已从案发当天被目击路过那片区域的
01:59
who had been seen看到
in that area on the same相同 day.
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超过20人中缩减而来。
02:02
The only piece of evidence证据
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唯一的证据
02:04
is two very faint,
overlapping重叠 fingerprints指纹
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是缠在凯蒂脖子的带子上面
02:09
on the tape胶带 that was found发现
wrapped包裹 around Katie's凯蒂的 neck颈部.
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发现的两个非常模糊的、重叠的指纹。
02:13
Often经常, faint and overlapping重叠 fingerprints指纹
cannot不能 help the police警察
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通常情况下,模糊和重叠的指纹对警方鉴定
02:18
to make an identification鉴定.
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没有帮助。
02:20
And until直到 recently最近,
this might威力 have been the end结束 of the road,
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直至最近,这可能还是走不通,
02:25
but this is where
we can make the difference区别.
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但这是我们可以发挥作用的地方。
02:29
The tape胶带 is sent发送 to our labs实验室,
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带子送到了我们实验室,
02:31
where we're asked to use
our cutting-edge前沿 technology技术
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我们被要求使用最尖端技术
来帮助调查。
02:34
to help with the investigation调查.
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02:38
And here, we use an existing现有 form形成
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在这里,我们使用了一种
02:40
of mass spectrometry imaging成像 technology技术
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现成的质谱成像技术,
02:45
that we have further进一步 developed发达 and adapted适应
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我们已经专门针对指纹的
02:47
specifically特别 for the molecular分子 and imaging成像
analysis分析 of fingerprints指纹.
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分子和成像分析做了进一步的开发和适配。
02:53
In essence本质, we fire
a UVUV laser激光 at the print打印,
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原理上,我们朝指纹发射一束紫外激光,
02:57
and we cause原因 the desorption解 吸
of the molecules分子 from the print打印,
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去引发指纹上的分子解吸,
03:01
ready准备 to be captured捕获
by the mass spectrometer光谱仪.
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为被质谱仪捕获做好准备。
03:05
Mass spectrometry measures措施
the weight重量 of the molecules分子 --
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质谱法测量分子的重量——
03:09
or as we say, the mass --
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或者如我们所说,质量——
03:11
and those numbers数字 that you see there,
they indicate表明 that mass.
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你看到的这些数字,它们表示质量。
03:15
But more crucially关键,
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但更关键的是,
03:17
they indicate表明 who those molecules分子 are --
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它们表示这些分子是谁——
03:22
whether是否 I'm seeing眼看 paracetamol扑 热 息 痛
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我看到的是对乙酰氨基酚
03:24
or something more sinister险恶,
forensically法医 speaking请讲.
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或是从法医证物角度来说更罪恶的东西。
03:28
We applied应用的 this technology技术
to the evidence证据 that we have
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我们对证物采用这个技术
03:31
and we found发现 the presence存在
of condom避孕套 lubricants润滑油.
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并从中发现了避孕套的润滑剂。
03:36
In fact事实, we've我们已经 developed发达 protocols协议
that enable启用 us to even suggest建议
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事实上,我们开发了一套流程让我们甚至可以知道
03:40
what brand of condom避孕套 might威力 have been used.
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使用什么牌子的避孕套。
03:45
So we pass通过 this information信息 to the police警察,
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于是我们把这个信息传达给警方,
03:47
who, meanwhile与此同时,
have obtained获得 a search搜索 warrant保证
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警方,同时已经取得了搜查证
03:50
and they found发现 the same相同 brand
of condom避孕套 in Dalton's道尔顿的 premises房地.
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并在道尔顿的房子里发现了
同样牌子的避孕套。
03:57
And with Dalton道尔顿 and Thomson汤姆森
also having records记录 for sexual有性 assaults袭击,
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鉴于道尔顿和汤姆森也有性侵犯的记录,
04:02
then it is Chapman查普曼 that may可能 become成为
the less likely容易 suspect疑似.
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那么,查普曼就不太可能成为嫌疑人。
04:08
But is this information信息
enough足够 to make an arrest逮捕?
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但这个信息足够去逮捕人了吗?
04:11
Of course课程 not,
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当然不够,
04:12
and we are asked to delve钻研 deeper更深
with our investigation调查.
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我们被要求深入我们的调查。
04:16
So we found发现 out, also, the presence存在
of other two very interesting有趣 molecules分子.
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于是我们也发现了另外两个
非常有趣的分子的存在。
04:21
One is an antidepressant抗抑郁剂,
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一种是抗抑郁药,
04:24
and one is a very special特别 molecule分子.
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另一种是非常特殊的分子。
04:26
It only forms形式 in your body身体
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如果你同时喝酒和吸食可卡因,
04:28
if you drink alcohol
and consume消耗 cocaine可卡因 at the same相同 time.
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只会在你的身体中形成。
04:32
And alcohol is known已知 to potentiate使可能
the effects效果 of cocaine可卡因,
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众所周知,酒精会增强可卡因的作用,
04:36
so here, we now have a hint暗示
on the state of mind心神
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所以在这,我们现在有了一个
关于个人心理状态的提示。
04:41
of the individual个人
whilst同时 perpetrating偷梁换柱 the crime犯罪.
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04:45
We passed通过 this information信息 to the police警察,
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我们把信息传递给警方,
04:48
and they found发现 out that, actually其实,
Thomson汤姆森 is a drug药物 addict瘾君子,
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他们发现,事实上汤姆森是个瘾君子,
04:52
and he also has a medical record记录
for psychotic精神病 episodes发作,
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而且他也有精神病发的医疗记录,
04:56
for which哪一个 presumably想必
the antidepressant抗抑郁剂 was prescribed规定.
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大概是用抗抑郁药开的处方。
05:01
So now Thomson汤姆森 becomes
the more likely容易 suspect疑似.
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所以现在汤姆森成为了更有可能的嫌疑人。
05:07
But the reality现实 is that I still don't know
where these molecules分子 are coming未来 from,
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但事实是,我仍然不知道
这些分子是从哪里来的,
05:12
from which哪一个 fingerprint指纹,
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来自谁的指纹,
05:14
and who those two fingerprints指纹 belong属于 to.
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这两个指纹属于谁的。
05:18
Fear恐惧 not.
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不要害怕。
05:19
Mass spectrometry imaging成像
can help us further进一步.
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质谱成像可以帮助我们更进一步。
05:22
In fact事实, the technology技术 is so powerful强大
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事实上,这个技术是如此强大
05:26
that we can see where
these molecules分子 are on a fingerprint指纹.
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我们可以看到这些分子在指纹上的位置。
05:31
Like you see in this video视频,
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如这个视频中所看到,
05:33
every一切 single one of those peaks
corresponds对应 to a mass,
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每一个波峰都对应一个质量,
05:37
every一切 mass to a molecule分子,
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每一个质量对应一个分子,
05:39
and we can interrogate审问 the software软件,
by selecting选择 each of those molecules分子,
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我们可以通过选择每一个分子,并查询这个软件,
05:44
as to where they are present当下
on a fingermark指印.
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来了解它们在一个手指上的位置。
05:49
And some images图片 are not very revealing揭示,
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有些照片不能说明问题,
05:52
some are better,
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有些更好些,
05:53
some are really good.
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有些真的很好。
05:56
And we can create创建 multiple images图片
of the same相同 mark标记 --
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我们可以创建相同标记的多个图像——
06:01
in theory理论, hundreds数以百计 of images图片
of the same相同 fingerprint指纹 --
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理论上,对于我们检测到的很多分子,
06:05
for as many许多 of the molecules分子
that we have detected检测.
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可以创建同个指纹的上百张图像。
06:09
So step one ...
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所以步骤1…
06:12
for overlapping重叠 fingerprints指纹, chances机会 are,
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对于重叠的指纹,很大可能性是,
06:16
especially特别 if they come
from different不同 individuals个人,
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特别是如果它们来自不同的个体,
06:18
that the molecular分子 composition组成
is not identical相同,
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分子组成是不一样的,
06:22
so let's ask the software软件
to visualize想象 those unique独特 molecules分子
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让我们让软件来可视化这些
06:27
just present当下 in one fingermark指印
and not in the other one.
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只在一个手指上,而不在
另一个手指上的独特分子。
06:31
By doing so,
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这样做,
06:33
that's how we can separate分离
the two ridge patterns模式.
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这就是我们如何分离这两种嵴线类型的方法。
06:38
And this is really important重要
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这真是非常重要,
06:40
because the police警察 now are able能够
to identify鉴定 one of the two fingerprints指纹,
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因为警察现在就可以鉴定两个指纹中的一个,
06:46
which哪一个 actually其实 corresponds对应 to Katie凯蒂.
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其中正好和凯蒂的是相对应的。
他们现在可以这样说
06:49
And they've他们已经 been able能够 to say so
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是因为他们把这两张分开的图片
06:50
because they've他们已经 compared相比
the two separate分离 images图片
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06:53
with one taken采取 posthumously死后 from Katie凯蒂.
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跟死后的凯蒂上拍到的做了对比。
06:56
So now, we can concentrate集中
on one fingerprint指纹 only --
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所以现在,我们可以聚焦在只有一个指纹上了——
07:02
that of the killer's杀手.
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属于凶手的。
07:04
So then, step two ...
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然后,步骤2…
07:06
where are these three
molecules分子 that I've seen看到?
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我所见过的这三个分子在哪里?
07:10
Well, let's interrogate审问 the software软件 --
show显示 me where they are.
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好吧,让我们来查一下软件——
告诉我它们在哪里。
07:13
And by doing this,
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通过这样做,
07:15
only portions of the image图片
of the killer's杀手 fingerprint指纹 show显示 up.
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只有凶手的部分指纹出现了。
07:21
In other words,
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换句话说,
07:22
those substances物质 are only present当下
in the killer's杀手 print打印.
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这些物质只存在于凶手的指纹中。
07:29
So now our molecular分子 findings发现
start开始 matching匹配 very nicely很好
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所以现在我们的分子发现开始很好地匹配
07:34
the police警察 intelligence情报 about Thomson汤姆森,
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警察掌握的关于汤姆森的情报,
07:37
should that fingerprint指纹 belong属于 to him.
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那指纹应该属于他。
07:40
But the reality现实 is that that print打印
is still not good enough足够
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但事实是这个指纹仍然不够好
07:44
to make an identification鉴定.
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去做鉴定。
07:46
Step three:
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步骤3:
07:47
since以来 we can generate生成 hundreds数以百计 of images图片
of the same相同 fingerprint指纹,
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既然我们可以生成数百张相同指纹的图像,
07:54
why don't we superimpose叠加 them,
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我们为什么不把它们叠加起来呢,
07:57
and by doing so,
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通过这样做,
试着改善连续性和清晰性的丰富模式。
07:58
try to improve提高 the rich丰富 pattern模式
of continuity连续性 and clarity明晰?
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08:02
That's the result结果.
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这就是结果。
08:04
Striking引人注目.
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非常惊人。
08:05
We now have a very clear明确 image图片
of the fingerprint指纹
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我们现在有了指纹的清晰图像,
08:09
and the police警察 can run it
through通过 the database数据库.
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警察已经可以在数据库中检索了。
08:12
The match比赛 comes out to Thomson汤姆森.
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匹配结果显示是汤姆森。
08:15
Thomson汤姆森 is our killer凶手.
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汤姆森就是凶手。
08:17
(Applause掌声)
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(鼓掌)
08:21
Katie凯蒂, the suspects犯罪嫌疑人 and the circumstances情况
of the crime犯罪 aren't real真实,
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凯蒂、犯罪嫌疑人和犯罪现场都不是真实的,
08:28
but the story故事 contains包含 elements分子
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但这个故事包含了
08:31
of the real真实 police警察 casework个案
we've我们已经 been confronted面对 with,
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我们所遇到的真正的警察案件的元素,
08:36
and is a composite综合 of the intelligence情报
that we can provide提供 --
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而这也包含了我们所能提供给警察的
08:39
that we have been able能够
to provide提供 the police警察.
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情报信息的组合。
08:43
And I'm really, really thrilled高兴
that after nine years年份 of intense激烈 research研究,
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在9年的深入研究后,我真的真的非常激动,
08:47
as of 2017,
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在2017年,
08:49
we are able能够 to contribute有助于
to police警察 investigations调查.
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我们能够对警方的调查做出贡献。
08:53
Mine is no longer a dream梦想;
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我的梦想不再是梦想;
08:56
it's a goal目标.
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它是个目标。
08:57
We're going to do this wider更宽的 and wider更宽的,
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我们要做得越来越广,
09:00
bigger and bigger,
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越来越大,
09:02
and we're going to know
more about the suspect疑似,
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我们要了解更多嫌疑人的信息,
09:05
and we're going to build建立 an identikit容貌.
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我们要建立一个身份证明。
09:08
I believe this is also a new era时代
for criminal刑事 profiling剖析.
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我相信这也是犯罪档案的新时代。
09:12
The work of the criminologist犯罪学家
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犯罪学家的工作
09:14
draws on the expert专家 recognition承认
of behavioral行为的 patterns模式
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利用了将过去观察过的行为模式
归属于特定类型和画像
09:18
that have been observed观察到的 before
to belong属于 to a certain某些 type类型,
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09:22
to a certain某些 profile轮廓.
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的专家认可。
09:23
As opposed反对 to this expert专家
but subjective主观 evaluation评测,
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相对于专家这种主观评估,
09:28
we're trying to do the same相同 thing,
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我们在试图做同样的事情,
09:30
but from the molecular分子 makeup化妆
of the fingerprint指纹,
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但从指纹的分子结构去看,
09:34
and the two can work together一起.
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这两者可以一起工作。
09:36
I did say that molecules分子 are storytellers讲故事的人,
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我说过分子是讲故事的,
09:39
so information信息 on your health健康,
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所以关于你的健康信息,
09:42
your actions行动, your lifestyle生活方式,
your routines例程,
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你的行为,你的生活形态,你的日常生活,
09:46
they're all there,
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它们全在那里,
09:48
accessible无障碍 in a fingerprint指纹.
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可通过指纹获取。
09:51
And molecules分子 are
the storytellers讲故事的人 of our secrets秘密
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只需轻轻触碰,分子是
09:56
in just a touch触摸.
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我们秘密的说书人。
09:58
Thank you.
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谢谢
(观众)哇。
09:59
(Audience听众) Wow.
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10:01
(Applause掌声)
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(掌声)
Translated by jacks peng
Reviewed by Homer Li

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Simona Francese - Analytical chemist
Simona Francese is a chemist by training who is passionate about forensics.

Why you should listen

Simona Francese is a Professor of Forensic and Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK. As she writes: "I have been fascinated by forensics since I was 17, and I was determined to pursue an educational route that eventually would enable me to contribute to secure societies. As always in life, nothing is straightforward. I enrolled in the chemistry course because it was the closest degree at the time that could lead me to where I wanted to be. I ended up doing a PhD and post-doctorate fellowships working with viruses and diseases. But I was always focused on my ultimate objective, and throughout I developed a strong expertise in mass spectrometry, which is an extremely versatile analytical technique. This was crucial.

"When I obtained my first lectureship, I had the freedom to build my own research, and I used mass spectrometry imaging to develop ways to profile individuals from their fingermarks, thus helping police with their investigations. What has the suspect been handling? What is their lifestyle? What did he do prior to or while committing the crime? These are some of the questions that the developed technology can answer, and we are working on providing additional information -- for example, on the pathological or pharmacological state of the individual, just from looking at their fingermark! A fantastic achievement for me, but the best accomplishment was keeping the focus for 14 years and remaining determined to finally be able to do what I have always been so passionate about."

More profile about the speaker
Simona Francese | Speaker | TED.com