Raychelle Burks
Raychelle Burks is associate professor in chemistry at American University, Washington, DC, US
OpinionCatalysing the clean-up of methamphetamine
Closing a meth lab is just the first step towards making it safe
OpinionThe toxic nature of yew, the tree of the dead
Historically associated with resurrection, yew is poisonous enough to kill
OpinionFrom the St Valentine’s Day Massacre to modern ballistics analysis
Computational methods are making firearm evidence more statistically sound
OpinionMass spectrometry to catch Christmas tree thieves and timber traffickers
Forensic chemistry can help uncover pine pilfering and fiendish fir felling
OpinionConfusing cannabinoids
Decomposition during GC–MS analysis can thwart efforts to determine if a product is legal
PodcastBook club – Murder isn’t Easy by Carla Valentine
Delving into Agatha Christie’s pioneering forensic writing with special guests Raychelle Burks and Kathryn Harkup
OpinionWhy eating a sleigh’s worth of candy canes is a bad idea
Like any compound, the festive flavour of peppermint can be harmful in high doses
OpinionThe dead of aconite
Whether human, witch or werewolf, beware a flower known as the queen of poisons
OpinionInsulin as a murder weapon
Forensic experts can tell if high insulin levels have a natural or criminal cause
OpinionStable isotopic analysis identifies unknown casualties of war
Humanitarian aid provided by forensic science
OpinionIdentifying mineralised tissue in the fight against wildlife crime
Is it horn, antler, teeth, ivory… or artificial?
OpinionAncient antidotes
Favourites of emperors and royalty, theriacs were the universal cures of their day
OpinionPoisons leave no mushroom for error
Will you enjoy a delicious treat, or endure excruciating agony?