Editing Scanning electron microscope (section)

== SEM in Forensic Science ==
The SEM is used often in [[Forensic science|Forensic Science]] for magnified analysis of microscopic things such as [[Diatom|diatoms]] and [[gunshot residue]]. Because SEM is a nondestructive force on the sample, it can be used to analyze evidence without damaging it. The SEM shoots a beam of high energy electrons to the sample which bounce off of the sample without changing or destroying it. This is great when it comes to analyzing diatoms. When a person dies by drowning, they inhale the water which causes what is in the water (diatoms) to get in the blood stream, brain, kidneys, and more. These diatoms in the body can be magnified with the SEM to determine the type of diatoms which aid in understanding how and where the person died. By using the images produced by the SEM, forensic scientists can compare diatoms types to confirm the body of water a person died in.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-21 |title=Forensic Applications of the Phenom Desktop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) |url=https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3801 |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=AZoNano.com |language=en}}</ref>

Gunshot residue (GSR) analysis can be done with many different analytical instruments,<ref name="Shrivastava-2021">{{Cite journal |last1=Shrivastava |first1=Priya |last2=Jain |first2=V. K. |last3=Nagpal |first3=Suman |date=2021-06-01 |title=Gunshot residue detection technologies—a review |journal=Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=11 |doi=10.1186/s41935-021-00223-9 |issn=2090-5939|doi-access=free }}</ref> but SEM is a common way to analyze inorganic compounds because of the way it can closely analyze the types of elements (mostly metals) through its three detectors: backscatter electron detector, secondary electron detector, and [[X-ray detector]]. GSR can be collected from the crime scene, victim, or shooter and analyzed with the SEM. This can help scientists determine proximity and or contact with the discharged firearm.<ref name="Shrivastava-2021" />