Natural History Wanderings

DNYUZ reported

A remote forest in south central Pennsylvania seems to be the perfect place for a body to disappear, shrouded in leaves and covered in moss over time.

For the police who were investigating the skeleton of a woman believed to be in her 20s or 30s, discovered deep in those Pennsylvania woods in the first half of 2025, how long her remains had been there was an important question.

Soil samples and plant material such as roots, seeds and pollen have yielded crime-scene evidence for decades, but moss tends to be overlooked. Yet moss holds clues for investigators who know how to look for them.

read more In Criminal Cases, Moss Is Often Underfoot and OverlookedIn Criminal Cases, Moss Is Often Underfoot and Overlooked