Your fingerprints reveal more than you think | Simona Francese

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: congmei Han

Do you ever stop and think, during a romantic dinner,

你可曾在吃一頓浪漫 晚餐時，停下來想：

"I've just left my fingerprints all over my wine glass."

「我剛在酒杯上留下 滿滿的指紋了。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Or do you ever worry, when you visit a friend,

或者，你可曾在拜訪朋友時擔心過

about leaving a little piece of you behind on every surface that you touch?

在你所碰觸到的每個表面上 留下你的一小部分？

And even this evening,

甚至今晚，

have you paid any attention to sit without touching anything?

你是否有注意到在坐下來的 過程中不要碰觸任何東西？

Well, you're not alone.

嗯，你並不孤單。

Thankfully, criminals underestimate the power of fingerprints, too.

謝天謝地，罪犯低估了指紋的力量。

And I'm not just talking about the twisted parting of lines

我在談的不只是讓指紋獨一無二的

that make our fingerprint unique.

那些分開的彎曲線條。

I'm talking about an entire world of information

我談的是隱藏在 這通常看不見的小東西背後的

hiding in a small, often invisible thing.

一整個資訊世界。

In fact, fingerprints are made up of molecules

事實上，指紋是由分子所組成的，

that belong to three classes:

共有三類分子：

sweat molecules that we all produce in very different amounts ...

汗分子，這是我們都會產生的， 只是量有所不同……

我們帶入身體當中， 接著透過汗水排出的分子，

molecules that we introduce into our body and then we sweat out

and molecules that we may contaminate our fingertips with

以及我們的指尖沾到的分子，

when we come across substances like blood, paint, grease,

可能是在我們碰觸到 血液、染料、油脂這類物質，

but also invisible substances.

或看不見的物質時沾到的。

And molecules are the storytellers of who we are

分子會說故事，說出我們是誰，

and what we've been up to.

及我們過去做了些什麼。

We just need to have the right technology to make them talk.

我們只需要有對的技術， 就能讓分子說話。

So let me take you on a journey of unthinkable capabilities.

所以，讓我帶大家踏上一段旅程， 見識一下無法想像的能力。

Katie has been raped

凱蒂被強暴了，

and her lifeless body has been found in the woods three days later,

她失蹤的三天後， 她的屍體在樹林裡被發現，

after her disappearance.

已無生命跡象。

The police is targeting three suspects,

警方鎖定三名嫌犯，

having narrowed down the search from over 20 men

這三人是他們在追查了當天 在那個區域被人看見的

who had been seen in that area on the same day.

二十多名男子之後篩選出來的。

The only piece of evidence

唯一的一項證據

is two very faint, overlapping fingerprints

就是兩個非常模糊 且重疊在一起的指紋，

on the tape that was found wrapped around Katie's neck.

這兩個指紋位在纏繞在 凱蒂脖子上的膠帶上。

Often, faint and overlapping fingerprints cannot help the police

通常，模糊又重疊的指紋 無法協助警方

to make an identification.

辨識出指紋主人的身分。

And until recently, this might have been the end of the road,

直到最近之前，這都是死路一條，

but this is where we can make the difference.

但這正是我們可以 造成不同的地方。

The tape is sent to our labs,

膠帶被送到我們的實驗室，

where we're asked to use our cutting-edge technology

他們要求我們使用先進技術

to help with the investigation.

來協助調查這個案件。

And here, we use an existing form

我們使用了質譜成像技術的

of mass spectrometry imaging technology

一種既有形式，

that we have further developed and adapted

這種形式是我們進一步發展、

specifically for the molecular and imaging analysis of fingerprints.

並特別針對指紋的分子 和成像分析而改造的形式。

In essence, we fire a UV laser at the print,

本質上，我們對指紋 發射紫外線雷射，

and we cause the desorption of the molecules from the print,

我們會造成指紋分子 產生解吸附作用，

ready to be captured by the mass spectrometer.

就能夠被質譜儀捕捉。

Mass spectrometry measures the weight of the molecules --

質譜儀能測量分子的重量——

我們稱之為質量——

or as we say, the mass --

and those numbers that you see there, they indicate that mass.

各位看到的那些數字， 代表的就是質量。

But more crucially,

但，更重要的，

they indicate who those molecules are --

它們也能指出那些分子是什麼——

我是否有看到撲熱息痛（藥名），

whether I'm seeing paracetamol

or something more sinister, forensically speaking.

或是在法庭上來說， 更不好的東西。

We applied this technology to the evidence that we have

我們把這項技術用在 我們擁有的證據上，

and we found the presence of condom lubricants.

我們發現上面有保險套潤滑劑。

In fact, we've developed protocols that enable us to even suggest

事實上，我們延伸的實驗報告， 讓我們甚至可以指出

what brand of condom might have been used.

使用的保險套是哪個品牌的。

So we pass this information to the police,

我們把這項資訊交給警方，

who, meanwhile, have obtained a search warrant

這期間，警方取得了搜索令，

and they found the same brand of condom in Dalton's premises.

在達爾頓的房宅中找到了 同樣品牌的保險套。

And with Dalton and Thomson also having records for sexual assaults,

達爾頓和湯姆森都有性侵的前科，

then it is Chapman that may become the less likely suspect.

於是查普曼是嫌犯的可能性 就變得比較小了。

But is this information enough to make an arrest?

但光這項資訊就夠逮捕人嗎？

Of course not,

當然不夠，

and we are asked to delve deeper with our investigation.

我們被要求做更深入的鑽研調查。

So we found out, also, the presence of other two very interesting molecules.

所以，我們也發現指紋中 還有兩種相當有意思的分子。

One is an antidepressant,

其中一種是抗抑鬱藥的分子，

and one is a very special molecule.

另一種是非常特別的分子。

It only forms in your body

只有在你同時喝酒 又吸食古柯鹼時，

if you drink alcohol and consume cocaine at the same time.

體內才會形成這種分子。

And alcohol is known to potentiate the effects of cocaine,

已知酒精會加強古柯鹼的效果，

so here, we now have a hint on the state of mind

所以，這就暗示著一個人

在犯下犯罪時的心理狀態。

of the individual whilst perpetrating the crime.

We passed this information to the police,

我們把這項資訊交給警方，

and they found out that, actually, Thomson is a drug addict,

他們發現，湯姆森確實有毒癮，

and he also has a medical record for psychotic episodes,

他也有精神病的醫療病史，

for which presumably the antidepressant was prescribed.

據推測，針對精神病 所開的藥物就是抗憂鬱藥。

So now Thomson becomes the more likely suspect.

現在，湯姆森變成了 最可疑的嫌疑犯。

But the reality is that I still don't know where these molecules are coming from,

但現實是，我仍然不知道 這些分子來自何處、

from which fingerprint,

來自哪個指紋，

and who those two fingerprints belong to.

以及這兩個指紋是誰的。

Fear not.

別怕。

Mass spectrometry imaging can help us further.

質譜成像還能進一步協助我們。

In fact, the technology is so powerful

事實上，這項技術非常強大，

讓我們可以看到這些分子 位在指紋上的哪個地方。

that we can see where these molecules are on a fingerprint.

Like you see in this video,

如各位在這支影片中所見的，

every single one of those peaks corresponds to a mass,

每一個高峰都對應到一個質量，

every mass to a molecule,

每個質量對應到一個分子，

and we can interrogate the software, by selecting each of those molecules,

我們只要選擇每一個分子， 就能夠詢問軟體

as to where they are present on a fingermark.

這個分子出現在 指跡上的哪個地方。

And some images are not very revealing,

有些影像無法透露很多，

some are better,

有些比較好，

some are really good.

有些非常好。

And we can create multiple images of the same mark --

我們能對同一個痕跡， 創造多重影像——

in theory, hundreds of images of the same fingerprint --

理論上，針對同一個指紋 可以創造出數百張影像——

for as many of the molecules that we have detected.

就看我們偵測到多少個分子。

So step one ...

所以，步驟一……

for overlapping fingerprints, chances are,

對於重疊的指紋，有可能，

especially if they come from different individuals,

特別是它們是不同人的指紋時，

that the molecular composition is not identical,

它們的分子組成是不相同的，

so let's ask the software to visualize those unique molecules

所以，咱們叫軟體來將 那些只出現在一個指跡中，

在另一個指跡中沒有的 獨特分子做視覺化呈現。

just present in one fingermark and not in the other one.

By doing so,

藉由這個做法，

that's how we can separate the two ridge patterns.

我們就能把兩個指紋輪廓分離開來。

And this is really important

這點很重要，

because the police now are able to identify one of the two fingerprints,

因為警方現在能夠辨識出 這兩個指紋當中有一個

which actually corresponds to Katie.

符合凱蒂的指紋。

And they've been able to say so

他們之所以能肯定，

because they've compared the two separate images

是因為他們將兩張個別的影像和

with one taken posthumously from Katie.

凱蒂死後取得的影像做比對。

So now, we can concentrate on one fingerprint only --

所以，現在，我們只要 專注在一個指紋即可——

that of the killer's.

兇手的指紋。

So then, step two ...

接著，步驟二……

where are these three molecules that I've seen?

我看見的這三種分子在哪裡？

Well, let's interrogate the software -- show me where they are.

嗯，咱們來問問軟體—— 讓我看看它們在哪裡。

And by doing this,

這麼做，

only portions of the image of the killer's fingerprint show up.

就只會呈現出殺手指紋的

部分影像。

In other words,

換言之，

those substances are only present in the killer's print.

只會呈現出在兇手的 指紋中才有的物質。

So now our molecular findings start matching very nicely

現在，我們的分子發現， 開始與警方手上

關於湯姆森的情資很吻合了，

the police intelligence about Thomson,

should that fingerprint belong to him.

那指紋很可能是他的。

But the reality is that that print is still not good enough

但現實是，那個指紋還是沒有

to make an identification.

好到可以做指認。

Step three:

步驟三：

since we can generate hundreds of images of the same fingerprint,

既然我們可以針對同一個指紋

產生出數百張影像，

why don't we superimpose them,

我們為什麼不把它們疊起來？

and by doing so,

藉由這麼做，

try to improve the rich pattern of continuity and clarity?

也許可以試著改善圖案的 連續性和清楚度。

That's the result.

這就是結果。

Striking.

很驚人。

We now have a very clear image of the fingerprint

我們現在有了一個 非常清楚的指紋影像，

and the police can run it through the database.

警方可以在資料庫中比對。

The match comes out to Thomson.

比對的結果是湯姆森。

Thomson is our killer.

兇手就是湯姆森。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Katie, the suspects and the circumstances of the crime aren't real,

凱蒂、嫌犯，和犯罪情境

都不是真實的，

but the story contains elements

但這個故事中的元素，

of the real police casework we've been confronted with,

是我們一直在處理的 真實警方案件的元素，

and is a composite of the intelligence that we can provide --

這故事也混合了 我們能提供的情資——

that we have been able to provide the police.

都是我們曾經提供給警方的。

And I'm really, really thrilled that after nine years of intense research,

截至 2017 年，我們已經 做了九年的密集研究，

as of 2017,

現在我很興奮

we are able to contribute to police investigations.

我們可以對警方調查有所貢獻。

Mine is no longer a dream;

對我來說這不再是個夢；

it's a goal.

它是個目標。

We're going to do this wider and wider,

我們會把這研究做得更廣泛、

bigger and bigger,

更大，

and we're going to know more about the suspect,

我們將會對嫌犯了解更多，

and we're going to build an identikit.

我們將會建立一種容貌拼相。

I believe this is also a new era for criminal profiling.

我相信這個時代是 犯罪側寫的新時代。

The work of the criminologist

犯罪學家的工作

draws on the expert recognition of behavioral patterns

會需要用到專案來辨視行為模式，

that have been observed before to belong to a certain type,

根據過去觀察， 屬於某種特定類型、

特定側寫的行為模式。

to a certain profile.

As opposed to this expert but subjective evaluation,

相對於這種主觀的專家評估，

we're trying to do the same thing,

我們在試著達到同樣的目的，

but from the molecular makeup of the fingerprint,

但用的是指紋的分子組成，

and the two can work together.

這兩種方式能夠並行。

I did say that molecules are storytellers,

我說過，分子會說故事，

so information on your health,

所以，關於你的健康、

your actions, your lifestyle, your routines,

你的行為、你的生活方式、 你的日常慣例的所有資訊

they're all there,

通通都在指紋上，且可以取得。

accessible in a fingerprint.

And molecules are the storytellers of our secrets

分子會說出我們的秘密，

in just a touch.

只需要觸碰一下。

Thank you.

謝謝大家。

(Audience) Wow.

（觀眾）哇喔。

(Applause)

（掌聲）