Abstract Important progress occurred in pulse-stimulated thermography, in particular thanks to the TSR technique, a technique based on the decomposition of thermograms on a logarithmic polynomial basis and the use of the logarithmic derivatives to enhance the detection of defects in structures. Its fields of application begin to broaden to the characterization of transient internal heat sources in experimental mechanics and biomedicine. The TSR technique is presented, in particular the last developments leading to the production of a unique synthetic image. Two recent examples of applications in experimental mechanics and biomedicine, taken from literature, are described: in situ detection of damages in a composite material during mechanical tests and in vivo visualization of subcutaneous functional angioarchitecture in humans.