Overview

• Researchers at AMOLF and the University of Amsterdam developed a perovskite-based technique that makes gunshot residue glow bright green under UV light.
• The method, published in March 2025, provides faster, more sensitive, and field-ready detection compared to traditional lab analyses.
• Amsterdam Police are actively testing this method in crime scenes, with promising early results suggesting its potential use in court evidence.
• Controlled experiments demonstrated that residue patterns remain visible even after extensive washing and can detect traces on bystanders up to two meters away.
• The research team is also exploring broader applications, such as detecting lead contamination in environmental samples like water and soil.