Glass Micro traces from Mobile Phones: A New Forensic Tool
Organized by: International Forensic Scientist Awards
Website: forensicscientist.org
14th Edition of Forensic Scientist Awards 26-27 September 2025 | Mumbai, India
Introduction
Mobile phones are everywhere—from our workplaces and homes to crime scenes. But what happens when these devices break during an incident? The shattered glass fragments often go unnoticed, yet they can carry valuable forensic information. Until recently, smartphone glass microtraces have had limited use in forensic investigations because methods to analyze them were underdeveloped.
The Research
This study set out to change that. Researchers developed a model to determine whether tiny glass microfragments originated from smartphone screens or from other sources, such as:
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Window sheets or vehicle windows (CW)
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Glass containers (P)
To do this, they analyzed 23 smartphone glass samples (PED), 30 window/vehicle glass samples (CW), and 30 container glass samples (P).
How It Works
The elemental composition of each sample was examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Then, two likelihood ratio (LR) models—LRLDA and LRrar—were applied to classify the samples.
Key Findings
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Signals for aluminum (Al) and calcium (Ca) turned out to be the most reliable markers.
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These two elements alone were enough to correctly distinguish between phone glass (PED) and other glass types (CWP).
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Both LR models performed strongly, showing promising results for real-world forensic applications.
Why It Matters
This research proves that broken smartphone glass is not just waste—it can serve as important trace evidence. By applying SEM-EDS with LR models, forensic scientists may soon have a reliable method to identify whether a glass fragment came from a mobile phone or elsewhere. This opens new possibilities for solving crimes where mobile devices are involved.
Conclusion
Glass microtraces from smartphones may become a powerful forensic tool. With further development, this technique could help investigators connect evidence, reconstruct crime scenes, and strengthen cases in court.
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