Sue Black: What stories do our skeletons tell?

<p>In today’s episode, we’re chatting to Professor Sue Black, an anatomist and forensic anthropologist. You might’ve seen characters doing her job on television, in shows like <em>NCIS</em> or <em>Silent Witness</em> – although, they’re not quite an accurate portrayal, as you’ll find out.</p><p><br></p><p>Over the course of her career, Sue has worked with the UK&nbsp;Foreign and Commonwealth Office&nbsp;and the&nbsp;United Nations, helping to identify victims and perpetrators from only sections of their bodies – perhaps a finger found in a bin bag, or the back of an assaulter’s hand caught on film. Her work has taken her to places such as Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq.</p><p><br></p><p>She talks to us about how science helps her piece together fragmented parts of a human jigsaw. This episode contains some graphic content, including descriptions of criminal acts and dissection, that some listeners might find upsetting.</p><p><br></p><p>Let us know what you think of the episode with a review or a comment wherever you listen to your podcasts.</p><p><br></p><ul><li><strong>Subscribe</strong>&nbsp;to the&nbsp;<em>Science Focus Podcast</em>&nbsp;on these services:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acast.com/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Acast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/science-focus-podcast/id1296673906?mt=2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">iTunes</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/immediate-media-2/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stitcher</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://rss.acast.com/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RSS</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://overcast.fm/itunes1296673906/science-focus-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Overcast</a></li><li><a href="http://sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/sue-black-reveals-the-secrets-stored-in-our-bones/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the full transcription</a>&nbsp;[this will open in a new window]</li></ul><p><b