Fingerprint 'developer' used to lift text from letter-containing envelopes

MacGyver and Maxwell Smart had a plethora of tricks up their sleeves (or shoes, as it were), but they never had this. One Paul Kelly and colleagues at Loughborough University have discovered that a disulfur dinitride polymer can not only turn exposed fingerprints brown as it creates a reaction with the nearly undetectable residues, but it can also lift text from departed letters. In an odd twist of fate, it was found that traces of ink jet printer ink can actually initiate the polymer just like print residue can, and the detection limit is so low that details from a letter that was once within an envelope can be seen after adequate exposure to the chemical. And you thought snail-mailing those interoffice love letters was a safe bet.

[Precurse @ Nov 10th 2008 9:50AM]

"Ink Jet"..

If you use an ink jet printer to print regular documents/letters, you really need to look at getting a laser anyways. Toner is undoubtedly cheaper by far, and must more easily refillable... With the cost of laser's being $100-200 now, you'll have it paid off after a few refills of black ink

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 10th 2008 12:12PM]

True, but most people won't surrender their inkjets until color laser printers become that cheap, then the 3 toners might be too costly. However, I'm happy with my little $80 laserprinter and my black and white DVD covers. =X

[schmitty338 @ Nov 10th 2008 12:57PM]

It's true that lasers are much more affordable now, but inkjets are still mainstream for home users. The ink is WAY to expensive, but that's why you buy third party. I have a Pixma IP4300 that takes 5 ink cartridges and are about $120 to buy a full set of Canon or staples, or whatever-branded ink.

But third party inks can be had for $15 for all 5. Even chipped ones, for those that don't want to chip-transfer are only $6/each and they last quite a long time with the 1 black 'pigment' and 1 blank 'ink' cartridge...

[Gabe @ Nov 10th 2008 9:50AM]

I guess I'm gonna have to start wearing gloves at the office.

[rick @ Nov 10th 2008 9:57AM]

You probably couldn't read it anyways because it would come out backwards.

What a waste of technology.

[MadMike @ Nov 10th 2008 10:04AM]

I hope your being facetious. It's as simple as holding the backwards text IN FRONT OF A MIRROR to read it easily.

[rick @ Nov 10th 2008 10:09AM]

yeah, like that would ever work. Who has a mirror in a lab?

[Samboini @ Nov 10th 2008 1:54PM]

The mirror lab?

[Zinger314 @ Nov 10th 2008 10:04AM]

Who...are you? Whowhowhowho?
Who...are you? Whowhowhowho? I really want to know WHO...ARE YOU?

[Samboini @ Nov 10th 2008 1:55PM]

That's the second reference to that film in just as many days. Not that i'm complaining.

[Zedem Mion @ Nov 10th 2008 10:10AM]

Couldn't you just put a piece of paper over the top page so that none got on the envelope itself? Or fold it inward so that no text touched the envelope? Or just shred the envelope like you would the paper?

[Pete W @ Nov 10th 2008 10:31AM]

Who would write anything that deflamatory in a letter anyway? Surely that kind of thing is reserved for hiding behind an avatar on the internets...

[Darwin @ Nov 10th 2008 11:29AM]

Definitely not a meme worth spreading. Enough illiterates in this country already.
http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Deflamation

[w4rh34rt @ Nov 10th 2008 10:53AM]

Whoa, I hope they mean Loughborough University in UK! I come from there =]

Shame it's something I don't really care about.. Fingerprints? Borrrring =] Hahah

[Josh @ Nov 10th 2008 11:37AM]

Yep, read the link, "UK fingerprint 'developer'....."

[Josh @ Nov 10th 2008 11:36AM]

You can buy sprays that temporarily make the front of envelopes translucent anyway..

[ran @ Nov 10th 2008 12:47PM]

What good use is that when people take the letters out?

[ran @ Nov 10th 2008 12:48PM]

Now I just need to shred my envelopes too.

[Pete W @ Nov 10th 2008 12:49PM]

Eek. I'll be sure to write short words for you in future Darwin.

SP: Defamatory.

Typo.