One forensic scientist is scraping bones for clues to time of death

Noemi Procopio is tracking down molecular clocks that could help identify skeletal remains

scientist facing a rack of boxes of skeletal remains

At some body farms, skeletal remains are stored in boxes such as these at the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University in San Marcos. Forensic scientist Noemi Procopio (shown) scrapes samples from such donated bones to find molecules that may hint at when someone died.

N. Procopio

In a quiet laboratory beyond the decomposing remains on a body farm in Huntsville, Texas, Noemi Procopio works carefully with her drill.