Chemistry Matters' Blog

In my previous blog, I discussed how your laboratory measurements could be precise (the results are reproducible), yet inaccurate (the value is wrong).  

Have you ever noticed that when you are on vacation, your mind relaxes but starts thinking of work-related stuff?It isn’t a bad thing. I know I am supposed to forget about work when I am away but by relaxing, interesting things come to mind at the weirdest times.That is what happened while remote camping back in the...

In my last post, I discussed the difficulties in finding an expert. I presented some of the differences in the context of the word ‘expert’. The word means something different depending on your perspective and needs.

How hard is it to find an expert?

I am guessing… it's probably really hard.   Not because there are not experts out there.

There is an old adage, often referred to as Segal’s Law, that states: “A man with one watch knows what time it is, a man with two is never sure”. I use this a lot for my work when I am presenting. I am often given data where samples get sent to two different laboratories for the same analyses. It is usually done to...

It is arson awareness and here is our third blog for arson investigators. One of the most important parts of a successful arson investigation and potential conviction (other than having video or photographic evidence of the arsonist) is the collection of samples and identifying the presence of an ignitable liquid...

We recently discussed the issue of matrix and how the other stuff in your fire debris sample can be problematic for the laboratory in identifying ignitable liquid residue in your evidence samples.

This week is arson awareness week.  I have been working on arson investigations and the collection and analysis of fire debris samples for over 10 years. I was brought into the field of work by happenstance, and it has been an amazing experience applying legal and environmental forensic chemistry to the field of arson...

Models and modelling, I was never a big fan.  I always thought that you could make models say whatever you want them to say.  But, many years later, I have changed my tune, particularly for statistical models.  Used right, models can provide convincing lines of evidence that you have the correct answer to your ...

GI Joe was wrong!  Knowing is not  half the battle (in environmental work)!  It is barely a tenth of the battle, at best.  There is a lot of confusion in the environmental industry, maybe even misrepresentation of what a company or person is capable of doing and what they are actually qualified to do.  Especially...